Posts filed under 'Foreign'
LE REFUGE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When Louis (Melvil Poupaud) dies of a drug overdose in Paris, his wealthy mother sees no other option but to take in his strung-out but pregnant girlfriend, Mousse (Isabelle Carré). Determined to keep her child, Mousse flees Paris for a country home. Louis’ brother (Louis-Ronan Choisy) visits, and she develops a fascination with him that is both erotic and angry. François Ozon crafts an intimate portrait of an enigmatic woman seeking a purpose.” Very good reviews.
Tags: drama
May 17th, 2010
THE LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE- Premise by Netflix. “The moment they meet, 8-year-olds Ana (Sara Valiente) and Otto (Peru Medem) know they have a special connection. After all, their names are both palindromes — spelled the same whether they’re read forward or backward — and each has a parent looking for a mate. But when their families finally meld, the two children, now young adults (played by Victor Hugo Oliveira and Kristel Díaz) realize that they, too, may share a romantic destiny.”
5/10- Interesting story, very good acting and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign, Romance
May 12th, 2010
KITES- Premise by Netflix. “Although Mexican bombshell Natasha (Barbara Mori) and Indian hunk Jay (Hrithik Roshan) don’t speak the same language, they quickly develop an intense, mutual attraction. But after they brazenly run off together, the sexy couple encounters severe danger and trouble with the law. Anurag Basudirects and co-writes this big budget Bollywood action movie that was filmed on location in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe.” Reviews are more positive than negative. TRDB.
3/11- Yet another Bollywood with exaggerated credentials. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: Drama/Romance
May 9th, 2010
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Inspired by a true story, director André Téchiné’s riveting drama centers on a young Parisian woman (Émilie Dequenne) who captures the attention of her country when she claims she’s been the target of a hate crime. International film legend Catherine Deneuve also stars in this ripped-from-the-headlines tale, which explores the power of prejudice and the diminishing credibility of modern-day media.” I liked the movie. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 6th, 2010
LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “With nowhere else to turn to after her unexpected release from prison, cold-blooded murderer Leila (Kaarina Hazard) reluctantly accepts a job composing letters for blind pastor Jacob (Heikki Nousiainen), whom she deeply resents at first but gradually grows to admire. A heartwarming tale of personal redemption, Finnish director and writer Klaus Härö‘s subtle drama also features Jukka Keinonen and Esko Roine.” Fair review at best in NY Times on 10/8/10.
3/11- A spiritual drama where all of the action takes place at the end. Fortunately it’s a very short movie. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 4th, 2010
ENTRE NOS- Premise by Netflix. “Abruptly abandoned by her husband in a country completely foreign to her, Colombian native Mariana (Paola Mendoza) struggles to take care of herself and her two young children on the unforgiving streets of New York City. Sebastian Villada, Laura Montana and Anthony Chisholm also star in this gritty independent drama jointly written and directed by Mendoza and her collaborator Gloria La Morte.”
5/10- A very good drama in which an abandoned woman attempts to make a life for herself and her children. I liked it. TRDB.
May 4th, 2010
ROAD, MOVIE- Premise by Netflix. “Reluctant to take over his father’s flailing hair-oil business, young Vishnu (Abhay Deol) becomes the sole proprietor of a traveling cinema after he happens upon an abandoned truck containing a library of film reels and a film projector. During his odyssey across small-town India, he befriends a young runaway, a gorgeous gypsy, a wandering minstrel and others in this funny and romantic adventure, a hit at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.” Very good reviews.
5/10- A cute Bollywood comedy. Worth the time to watch it. TRDB. Comcast on Demand.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 3rd, 2010
TETRO- Premise by Netflix. “Francis Ford Coppola writes, directs and produces this captivating drama that centers on the relationship between Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) and Tetro (Vincent Gallo), two brothers who reunite in Buenos Aires after a 10-year estrangement. Maribel Verdu, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Carmen Maura and Rodrigo de la Serna also star in this moving tale loosely inspired by Coppola’s own experiences growing up in a creative Argentine-Italian family.” Very good reviews.
5/10- I found this movie very creative and while a bit too long I did enjoy it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 24th, 2010
TOKYO SONATA- Premise by Netflix. “From Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa comes a drama about the Sasakis, an ordinary Japanese family living a bucolic life — until the father is abruptly laid off from his job and decides to keep the news from his wife and kids. Soon, the father’s sense of shame, and the indignity he faces while passing each day in the park in his suit and tie, quickly turns into a rage that proves to hold irrevocable consequences for all concerned.” Excellent reviews.
5/10-An interesting and also very poignant family study. Worth seeing. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 24th, 2010
OLD PARTNER- Premise by Netflix. “Set in the fertile fields of South Korea, Chung-Ryoul Lee’s pensive yet playful documentary examines the enduring bond between an elderly farmer and his loyal ox, forged over 40 years of service, while his sometimes jealous wife stands by. Mr. Lee tends to the ox with special care, feeding him by hand and keeping the land free of pesticides, while the aging beast faithfully carts him back and forth from town, never leaving his side.” Very good reviews.
4/10- This documentary is a sensitive study of man’s relationship to beast. It is also, I think, a study of aging in general. Very good. Netflix.
Tags: Add new tag, documentary
April 17th, 2010
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