Posts filed under 'Foreign'
OUTSIDE THE LAW- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Left without a home in their homeland, three Algerian brothers (Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem and Sami Bouajila) split from their mother and seek out strikingly dissimilar lives. But fate won’t keep the siblings apart, eventually summoning them all to Paris for a reunion. This foreign-language drama from writer-director Rachid Bouchareb is set amid Algeria’s post-World War II fight for independence from France.” Very good reviews.
Tags: docudrama
January 4th, 2011
OF GODS AND MEN- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.” Great reviews. Opens in NY on 2/25/11.
3/11- Very well done and well acted but a bit too long and definitely not for a general audience. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
January 4th, 2011
THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In 1950s Portugal, a well-to-do family hires a young photographer named Isaac (Ricardo Trêpa) to take the last photograph of their deceased daughter, Angelica (Pilar López de Ayala). Upon seeing her, Isaac fallls deeply in love soon finds her returning to life in his camera lens. Now, romance fills his life for the first time. Acclaimed filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira wrote and directed this Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
3/11- Despite the good reviews I found this allegorical tale boring. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 29th, 2010
OWL AND THE SPARROW- 2007. Premise by Netflix. “After angering her stern uncle (Trong Hai), 10-year-old Thuy (Han Thi Pham) runs away and lands on the tough streets of Saigon. There, she befriends shy zookeeper Hai (The Lu Le) and flight attendant Lan (Cat Ly). Dreaming of a new family, Thuy plays matchmaker to bring the two together. Meanwhile, Thuy’s furious uncle tracks her through the city. Stephane Gauger wrote and directed this Los Angeles Film Festival Audience Award winner.” Good reviews.
12/10- Great, touching film!!! TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 21st, 2010
SECRET SUNSHINE- 2007. Premise by Netflix. “Trying to piece her life back together after the death of her husband, Lee Shin-ae (Do-yeon Jeon) moves to the small village where he was born with her young son in tow. Life seems to return to normal, until the boy is kidnapped and Shin-ae is devastated. Jeon won the Best Actress award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in this emotionally gripping drama by director Chang-dong Lee.” Very good reviews. Great review in NY Times on 12/22/10.
9/1/11- An unusual movie that well captured the horror that the mother endures and her attempts to become “normal” again. I liked it very much. TRDB.
Tags: drama
December 20th, 2010
THE WIND JOURNEYS- 2009. “In the wake of his wife’s death, Ignacio leaves his small Colombian town and journeys to the country’s remote northern region, resolving to return his devil-cursed accordion to the teacher who once gave it to him. His traveling companion is teenager Fermín, who aspires to emulate Ignacio’s past life as an accordion-playing troubadour who roamed the countryside. Marciano Martínez and Yull Núñez star in filmmaker Ciro Guerra’s enthralling odyssey.”
12/10- A bit long but an interesting journey and definitely worth seeing. Great photography. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 17th, 2010
DHOBI GHAT (MUMBAI DIARIES) 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Taking its name from the Mumbai neighborhood where much of the city’s washing is done — traditionally by members of the Dhobi caste — this ensemble film represents the directorial debut of Kiran Rao, wife of Bollywood star Aamir Khan. The intimate social drama focuses on a quartet of individuals from different castes — a situation that would normally preclude them from forming friendships. Unique circumstances, however, draw them together.” Good early reviews but just a fair one in the NY Times on 1/21/11.
4/11- Bollywood without music and not bad at all. The first one I’ve watched through for a long time. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 4th, 2010
WASTE LAND- 2010. Directed by Lucy Walker. Premise by Netflix. “World-renowned artist Vik Muniz embarks on one of the most inspired collaborations of his career, joining creative forces with Brazilian catadores — garbage pickers who mine treasure from the towering trash heaps of Rio’s Jardim Gramacho landfill. In this Sundance award-winning documentary, the catadores prove to be unique and surprising individuals in their own right, waxing philosophic as they impart a valuable lesson about what society discards. Great reviews.
3/11- A very well done documentary that I enjoyed very much both for the topic and the technique. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: documentary
December 2nd, 2010
TROPICO DE SANGRE (RAINS OF INJUSTICE)- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Writer Juan Delancer aslo directs this stirring foreign-language drama based on the true story of Minerva Mirabal (Michelle Rodriguez) and her sisters (Sharlene Taulé, Celines Toribio and Luchi Estevez), married women and political dissidents who lost their lives standing up to Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (Juan Fernández). Although they once led lives of privilege, the sisters risked everything for what they believed was right.” Only 1 review and it’s bad.
2/11- I have to agree with the 1 bad review. An awful movie about a true story. I turned it off after 30 minutes. Avoid it! TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 23rd, 2010
IN THERAPY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “From the comfort of a therapist’s couch, middle-aged wife and mother Mercedes (Lília Cabral) dissects the details of her life and contemplates the choices she’s made — from getting married to having two children — over the course of three tumultuous years. José Alvarenga Jr. directs this award-winning tragic-comic portrait about growing older, growing wiser and making peace with one’s decisions.” No reviews at this time.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 23rd, 2010
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