Posts with the tag 'Foreign'
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
TOKYO STORY- 1953. Premise by Netflix. “Director Yasujiro Ozu focuses on an elderly couple (Chishu Ryu and Chieko Higashiyama) in post-World War II Japan who travel to Tokyo to visit their children but are received rather coldly by their offspring; in fact, the only one happy to see them is their widowed daughter-in-law (Setsuko Hara). In an attempt to get them out of the way, the children shuttle their aging parents off to a health spa, a decision that could come back to haunt them.”
10/10- A sad story about family relationships. Well done and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 13th, 2010
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST- Premise by Netflix. “Third in a trio of films inspired by Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium Trilogy,” this thriller follows feisty computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) as she finds herself hospitalized, suspected of murder and targeted for death by thugs. Meanwhile, Lisbeth’s journalist pal, Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), crusades to prove her innocence. Daniel Alfredson directs this film that also stars Lena Endre and Jacob Ericksson.” I felt the first one was OK, didn’t like the second and have no reason to believe I’ll like the third. Audience reaction has been good.
Tags: drama, Foreign, Mystery
October 4th, 2010
SILENT SOULS- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “Paul Hanganu (Mimi Branescu) is in love with two women: Adriana (Mirela Oprisor), his wife of 10 years, and Raluca (Maria Popistasu), his mistress of the past several months. Now, at a crossroads, Paul is forced to choose between them in this drama from Romanian director Radu Muntean. Combining careful staging and emotionally intense dialogue, the film presents an unblinking profile of a man in crisis and the women whose lives he’s ensnared.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
September 25th, 2010
PURITY- 2002. Directed by Anat Zuria. Israeli documentary about the Jewish ritual mikvah.
10/10- I found this to be quite interesting and I learned a lot from it. Just 63 minutes long. TRDB. At Purchase College.
Tags: documentary, Foreign
September 22nd, 2010
JAFFA- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In the Israeli city of Jaffa, an Arab father and son — Hasan and Taufik — work at a garage owned by a Jewish family that includes the pretty Mali (Dana Ivgy). But the tensions simmering beneath the surface of the genial workplace are about to come to a boil. A secret affair between Mali and Taufik has grave repercussions when Mali becomes pregnant in this gripping drama, an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.” Mixed reviews but more negative than positive.
11/10- A very well acted and thought provoking drama and I recommend it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
September 22nd, 2010
UNCLE BOONME WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Under the care of his dedicated sister-in-law (Jenjira Pongpas), terminally ill Uncle Boonmee (Thanapat Saisaymar) spends his final days reminiscing about his past lives with the recently arrived ghost of his dead wife (Natthakarn Aphaiwonk) and his long-missing son (Geerasak Kulhong). Directed by celebrated Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, this free-floating fantasy film took home the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Three reviews, all great. TRDB.
7/12/11- Well, maybe it’s me but this well reviewed movie failed to movie me except to think about turning it off, probably because of my expectations. Beautiful landscapes but the story was so esoteric and mysterious that I often failed to see his point and at some level I felt that this was another example of “the emperor’s new clothes.” TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
September 14th, 2010
HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “At an isolated science station in the Arctic, meteorologist Sergei and young intern Pavel face the impending closure of the now-irrelevant base. While Sergei eagerly anticipates returning to his family, Pavel still hopes for a grand adventure. Time is distorted so far north, where the never-setting summer sun can make a day stretch into weeks, and this engrossing thriller examines how altered perceptions affect the two men.” Mostly good reviews.
5/15/11- Way too long but still an interesting story. I’d rate it as OK. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
September 8th, 2010
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