HIDING DIVYA
HIDING DIVYA- Premise by Zap2it. “An Indian woman’s bipolar disorder has consequences for herself, her daughter and granddaughter.” Only one review so far and it’s great!
Add comment August 12th, 2010
Posts filed under 'Foreign'
AJAMI
AJAMI- Premise by Netflix. “When their uncle wounds an important clan member, 13-year-old Nasri (Fouad Habash) and his older brother, Omar (Shahir Kabaha), fear he has put their whole family in terrible danger in this moving, Oscar-nominated drama set on the West Bank. A truce is arranged, but Omar must start selling drugs to pay the fine he now owes. Meanwhile, a number of other locals struggle to negotiate the political and social tinderbox of Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood.”
Very good reviews but I found it fairly sterile and could not get into the main characters. TRDB.
Add comment August 12th, 2010
TOI ET MOI
TOI ET MOI- 2006. France. Premise by Netflix. “Lena (Marion Cotillard) and her sister Ariane (Julie Depardieu) are both single girls weary of looking for Mr. Right. At least Ariane’s job writing captions for romantic photo stories gives her an outlet, as she uses her dreams for inspiration. But she’s also idealized love beyond reality. When the perfect guy finally shows up, will either woman be prepared? Jonathan Zaccaï, Eric Berger and Chantal Lauby co-star in this knowing romantic comedy”
8/10- A bit simple at times but I did like the characters, especially Marion Cotillard and I’d recommend the movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment August 10th, 2010
THE BUTCHER’S SON (LA SOGA)
THE BUTCHER’S SON (LA SOGA)- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Making his screenwriting debut, Manny Perez stars in this tough chronicle of Luisito, a young man walking the line between honesty and the corruption he sees all around him in the Dominican Republic. As a child he was called “sensitive” by his butcher father, but as an adult, Luisito has been hardened by the brutal life on the streets — and by his obsessive thirst to avenge his father’s murder. Denise Quiñones co-stars in this gritty actioner.” Good early reviews.
5/7/11- An interesting movie with very good acting and screenplay. I enjoyed it despite the contrived romance included. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 8th, 2010
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEHIVE- 1973. Premise by Netflix. “In this mesmerizing allegorical tale set in post-Civil War Spain, precocious young Ana (Ana Torrent) becomes obsessed with finding the spirit of Frankenstein’s monster after watching director James Whale’s 1931 classic. When she happens upon a wounded military deserter, Ana believes that she’s evoked the cinematic creature. Helmed by Victor Erice, the film also stars Fernando Fernan Gomez and Teresa Gimpera as Ana’s disengaged parents.”
8/10- Great reviews but I had trouble getting into the film. The child actress Ana Torrent is special. TRDB.
Add comment August 8th, 2010
PATRIK, AGE 1.5
PATRIK, AGE 1.5- Directed by Ella Lemhagen. Premise by Netflix. “After moving from the city to a small town, gay couple Sven (Torkel Petersson) and Goran (Gustaf Skarsgård) adopt a child. But when Patrik (Thomas Ljungman) arrives in their lives, it turns out he’s not 1.5 years old as they were told by the adoption agency — he’s a rebellious, homophobic 15-year-old. While the couple houses the angry boy until the mix-up is resolved, his presence causes them to reassess their lives.” Good review in NY Times.
1/11- I found this movie very real and very moving and I’d highly recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 7th, 2010
SAMARITAN GIRL
SAMARITAN GIRL- 2004. Korea. Premise by Netflix. “Hoping to save enough money to travel through Europe, teenagers Yeo-jin (Ji-min Kwak) and Jae-young (Min-jeong Seo) enter into a risky trade: Jae-young becomes a prostitute, and Yeo-jin manages their business. After Jae-young is killed, Yeo-jin assumes the role of sex worker to keep their clients happy. But Yeo-jin’s father (Eol Lee) discovers his daughter’s secret, setting off a chain of events that bring father and daughter to a crossroads.”
8/10- This movie got very mixed reviews but I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 4th, 2010
BEAUFORT
BEAUFORT- Premise by Netflix. “In the final days of the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, a band of soldiers prepares for the evacuation of a mountain stronghold called Beaufort. Their leader is 22-year-old Liberti (Oshri Cohen), whose strict adherence to the rules puts the men in harm’s way. As the evacuation draws near, Hezbollah steps up its attack, testing Liberti’s mettle and the men’s allegiance to him. Eli Altonio co-stars in director Joseph Cedar‘s Oscar-nominated film.” I saw this film in January ’08 at the Palm Springs Film Festival and liked it very much.
Add comment August 1st, 2010
THE WAITING CITY
THE WAITING CITY- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton star as adoptive parents-to-be, en route from Australia to Calcutta to pick up their new baby, in this unconventional love story infused with the exotic charms of India from director Claire McCarthy. To foreigners who have never been on Indian soil, the city is at once intoxicating and overwhelming. But it also has the power to pull the couple’s already fragile marriage apart at the seams.” Reviewers were OK with this one but audience reaction was poor. TRDB.
6/4/11- I enjoyed this movie that was clearly as much about India as it was about the principal characters. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment July 31st, 2010
THE SICILIAN GIRL
THE SICILIAN GIRL- 2009. By Marco Amenta. Premise by Netflix. “In this taut drama based on a true story, 17-year-old Rita (Veronica D’Agostino) is leading a privileged life when her father and brother are slain by rival Mafiosi. Bent on revenge, she turns to a sympathetic magistrate (Gérard Jugnot) and breaks the code of silence. In her journey from self-centered teenager to fearless advocate for justice, Rita enrages Sicily’s most powerful men, putting her life in jeopardy.” Very good reviews.
2/11- More of a drama than a documentary, this film was beautifully acted and very realistic. Highly recommended. TRDB. Netflix Streaming. Also available on DVD.
Add comment July 29th, 2010