Posts filed under 'Foreign'
BRIDE FLIGHT- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “In an Israel still recovering from World War II yet also grappling with the tumultuous “Swinging Sixties,” teenager Arik (Tuval Shafir) works for matchmaker Yankele Bride (Adir Miller) as a “spy-guy” who investigates potential clients, and gets a master class in the art of love. Yankele, who operates in an unsavory area of Haifa, is in love with fellow Holocaust survivor Clara (Maya Dagan), while Arik finds romance with a wild American (Neta Porat).” Very good reviews.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 22nd, 2010
THE MATCHMAKER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In an Israel still recovering from World War II yet also grappling with the tumultuous “Swinging Sixties,” teenager Arik (Tuval Shafir) works for matchmaker Yankele Bride (Adir Miller) as a “spy-guy” who investigates potential clients, and gets a master class in the art of love. Yankele, who operates in an unsavory area of Haifa, is in love with fellow Holocaust survivor Clara (Maya Dagan), while Arik finds romance with a wild American (Neta Porat).” A few good reviews.
8/17/12- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 22nd, 2010
NOTHING PERSONAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In this moody drama from Polish director Urszula Antoniak, Anne (Lotte Verbeek) is a loner and a drifter, hitching rides through the Irish countryside, until she comes across an isolated cabin and strikes up an uneasy relationship with its owner (Stephen Rea). Each one has something to offer the other — the solace of his cabin, her welcome companionship — and in time, they begin to trust and even care for one another.” Good review in NY Times 11/19/10.
10/8/11- Interesting and very different even by my standards. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 20th, 2010
LEMON POPSICLE- 1978. “In 1950s Israel, Benzi (Yftach Katzur), Momo (Jonathan Sagall) and Yudale (Zachi Noy) are typical teenagers with one-track minds. Obsessed with losing their virginity, the three embark on a sex expedition. Calling on young girls, middle-aged nymphomaniacs and prostitutes with questionable hygiene, the boys are well on their way to becoming men. Director Boaz Davidson’s amusing coming-of-age jaunt earned a Golden Globe nomination.”
11/10- Very well done with excellent sound track. I liked the movie despite it being dubbed into English from Hebrew. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 20th, 2010
INSPECTOR BELLAMY- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “From renowned French director Claude Chabrol comes this intriguingly low-key police thriller in which vacationing detective Paul Bellamy (Gérard Depardieu) can’t keep himself from getting involved when a mystery rears its head on holiday. Of course, his wife (Marie Bunel) is less than thrilled to share her vacation with criminals, and when Bellamy’s brother pays an unexpected visit, the family tensions ratchet up as high as the professional ones.” Good reviews.
11/10- Classic Claude Chabrol who died shortly after making this movie. I liked it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Tags: Foreign, Mystery
November 15th, 2010
WHITE MATERIAL- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Writer-director Claire Denis returns to her childhood home of Cameroon — and the site of her 1988 film, Chocolate — to spin this tale of a country torn apart by civil war, as African soldiers force French nationals to abandon their land. At the center of the story is Maria (Isabelle Huppert), a white woman who ignores her family’s fears and steadfastly refuses to leave her coffee plantation. Isaach De Bankolé and Christopher Lambert also star.” Great reviews, especially NY Times 11/19/10.
11/10- Despite all of the great reviews I found this movie disjointed with lots of individual scenes and no glue between them. Isabel Huppert is great as usual. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 15th, 2010
ME, TOO- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Proving everyone is equal in their need for — and ability to feel — love, Daniel (Pablo Pinedo), a thirtysomething office worker with Down’s syndrome, embarks on a romance with Laura (Lola Dueñas), a neurotic but “normal” co-worker. Despite their apparent differences, Laura is attracted to Daniel, who is the first European with Down’s to graduate from a university. Álvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro co-directed this touching, thoughtful drama.” Good early reviews. NY Times liked it- 11/19/10.
9/6/11- A wonderful movie about people accepting people for who and what they are. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 15th, 2010
THE PORTUGUESE NUN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When a French actress shooting a movie in Lisbon sees a nun praying earnestly night after night in the chapel where the crew is filming, the young starlet tries to understand what drives the mysterious sister’s heartfelt devotion. But as she learns more about the nun’s spiritual calling, the actress discovers unexpected inspiration herself. This atmospheric drama from Eugène Green stars Beatriz Batarda, Leonor Baldaque and Francisco Mozos. Good early reviews.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 11th, 2010
SAMSON & DELILAH- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In the desert of Central Australia, aimless Samson (Rowan McNamara) takes a fancy to Delilah (Marissa Gibson), a fellow teen who takes care of her grandmother. Branded as outcasts by the rest of the community, Samson and Delilah set out for Alice Springs on a grueling road trip. The epic journey subjects the aboriginal duo to poverty, addiction and hunger in writer-director Warwick Thornton’s sparse and grittily beautiful feature debut.” Good review in NY Times on 10/15/10.
10/10- I saw this about 6 months ago and it’s one of the few that I hated. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 19th, 2010
BUDRUS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarian Julia Bacha delves into the fraught world of Palestinian-Israeli relations in this amazing account of one family’s leadership of a movement to prevent Israel’s Separation Barrier from slicing the Palestinian village of Budrus in half. Ayed Morrar inspires nonviolent protests of the giant barrier by numerous factions, and his 15-year-old daughter, Iltezam, leads a women’s group. Archival footage and interviews illuminate the action.” Excellent reviews.
6/2/11- A poignant but somewhat one-sided documentary showing that occasionally peaceful methods can work in the Middle East conflict. TRDB. Netflix.
7/15/12- I saw this again today at the Hebrew Center in Martha’s Vineyard and found it just as interesting and thought provoking as I did last year. Still one-sided as well. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
October 15th, 2010
Newer Posts
Older Posts