Posts filed under 'Foreign'
THREE MONKEYS- Premise by Netflix. “When a politician accidentally runs down a pedestrian, he pays his driver to take the rap and serve the jail term. But as the driver’s family grows restless, seeing, hearing and speaking the truth cannot be ignored. Who will ultimately pay the price? Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, this provocative Turkish drama stars Hatice Aslan and Yavuz Bingol and won the Best Director Award at Cannes Film Festival.” Some called it plodding but others said it was very good. I’ll get it.
11/24/09- I just saw this movie and loved it. Very subtle and very powerful at the same time. Terrific acting as well. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 5th, 2009
THE MAID- 2009. By Sebastian Silva and starring Catalina Saavedra. About a 41yr. old woman who has been a live-in maid for a well-to-do Chilean family for 20yrs. Either depressed or psycho she pouts through most of the movie and has a hostile dependent relationship with each member of the family. It’s only when an assistant hired to help her takes a liking to her and shows her that there’s more to life than taking care of someone else’s family that she begins to smile and take an interest in life.
I liked the movie very much and agree with the reviewer who said that this movie was “an intelligent microcosm of Latin social hierarchy.” TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 5th, 2009
THE WHITE RIBBON- Premise by Netflix. “At a rural school in northern Germany in 1913, a form of ritual punishment has major consequences for students and faculty. But the practice may have bigger repercussions on the German school system — and maybe even on the growth of fascism. Celebrated Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke helms this searing and sumptuously photographed black-and-white drama that stars Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Tukur and Theo Trebs.”
3/10- I saw this in Palm Springs and did not particularly care for it. TRDB.
November 1st, 2009
A WOMAN IN BERLIN- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Play Preview Based on the best-selling diaries of an anonymous German woman who survived the Soviet invasion of Berlin at the end of World War II, this gripping drama tells the story of a photojournalist’s (Nina Hoss) forbidden relationship with a Soviet officer (Yevgeni Sidikhin). After being sexually assaulted by members of the invading Red Army, she turns to the officer for support, but soon finds herself falling for him.” This movie has received very good reviews and I look forward to seeing it.
11/10/09- I just saw this movie and agree that it was very good. Written and directed by Max Farberbock and starring Nina Hoss. It’s really about one woman’s manner of survival from the rapes the Berlin women suffered at the hands of the Russian soldiers. TRDB
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 31st, 2009
THE WEDDING SONG- 2009. France. Directed by Karin Albou and starring Lizzie Brochere and Olympe Borval. The movie takes place in 1942 and is about 2 young women in Tunisia, one Jewish and one Muslim who have been long term best friends and how their relationship is altered when the Nazis occupy the country. Very good. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 29th, 2009
SHOW ME LOVE-Premise by Netflix. “Elin (Alexandra Dahlstrom) and Agnes (Rebecka Liljeberg) are social opposites. While Elin is gorgeous, lively and wildly popular at school, Agnes is sullen, lonely and rejected as a nerdy lesbian. But when Agnes develops a crush on Elin, the exploration of love between them alleviates Elin’s perpetual boredom. This Swedish award-winner reflects the joy and pain of relationships, the insecurity of youth and the courage it takes to be different.”
Here’s my review-
SHOW ME LOVE- 1998. Sweden. Directed by Lukas Moodysson and starring Alexandra Dahlstrom and Rebecca Liljeberg. About two teenage girls in Sweden dealing with sexual feelings, fitting in with peers, and their feelings for each other. Very good depiction of teen angst in general. Netflix Streaming. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 28th, 2009
DON’T LOOK DOWN- 2008. Argentina. Directed by Eliseo Subiela (Man Facing Southeast) and starring Antonella Costa and Leandro Stivelman. A young man meets a somewhat older woman by accident when he sleepwalks and literally falls into her bed. She educates him in the ways of love and sex through spirituality. I liked the movie. Netflix. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 26th, 2009
CLOUD 9- 2008. Germany. Directed by Andreas Dresen and starring Steffi Kuhnert and Horst Rehbert. Sixty year old Inge begins an affair with a much older man and insists on telling her long time lover (30 years) about it. Lots of very naked geriatric sex, certainly a new frontier in cinema. Very good. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 25th, 2009
LORNA’S SILENCE- Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and starring Arta Dobroshi. About a woman from Albania who has just become a Belgian citizen and has married a junky in a sham marriage in order to raise money for a dream of hers. I felt that the movie was OK. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 25th, 2009
SERAPHINE- 2009. Directed by Martin Provost and starring Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur. The artist Seraphine Louis is working as a maid at a guest home when her painting is discovered by the German art critic Wilhelm Unde who then takes her under his wing. Good movie but not great as some had said. 10/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 25th, 2009
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