Posts with the tag 'Foreign'

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

101 REYKJAVIK

101 REYKJAVIK- 

101 REYKJAVIC- Premise by Netflix. “Hlynur, an Icelandic slacker who would rather watch porn and get drunk than work, still lives at home with his sympathetic mother. He has a brief fling with the beautiful Hofy, but is too disinterested to actively pursue the relationship. The arrival of his mother’s flamenco-dancing friend Lola (Victoria Abril), however, changes all of that. Can you say tryst?”

7/10- Slow as the glaciers and very little happens. Just OK. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment July 29th, 2010

STRANGERS

STRANGERS- Premise by Netflix. “At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Palestinian Rana (Lubna Azabal) and Israeli Eyal (Liron Levo) meet on the Berlin underground and soon fall in love. Taking place over six intense days, this film follows their emotional journey to connect and find happiness together. When Rana is suddenly called back home to Paris, Eyal must quickly decide whether he should continue to pursue the fledgling romance.”

7/10- An interesting drama with very good acting and despite a few weaknesses in the story I liked it a lot. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

Add comment July 29th, 2010

VIBRATOR

VIBRATOR- 2003. Japan. Premise by Netflix. “After meeting a handsome truck driver (Nao Omori) in the midst of an urban mini-mart, a 30-something freelance writer (Shinobu Terajima) embarks on a life-changing emotional journey of sexual self-discovery. Ryuichi Hiroki (I Am an S&M Writer, Tokyo Trash Baby) directs this critically acclaimed road movie based on the novel by Mari Akasaka.”

7/10- Not what you are thinking but actually quite an interesting movie about an emotionally disturbed 31yr. old woman. TRDB.

Add comment July 27th, 2010

CRIA CUERVOS

CRIA CUERVOS- Premise by Netflix. “Director Carlos Saura‘s haunting tale — part psychological drama and part political parable — features a mesmerizing turn by Ana Torrent. After watching her mother (Geraldine Chaplin) succumb to cancer, 9-year-old Ana (Torrent) blames the death on her womanizing father (Héctor Alterio) and tries to poison him. When he dies of a heart attack while in bed with a lover, Ana mistakenly assumes she’s responsible for his demise.” Excellent reviews.

7/10- Very interesting psychological mix of reality and fantasy with great acting, especially the middle daughter, Ana Torrent. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment July 25th, 2010

SEE THE SEA

SEE THE SEA- Directed by Francois Ozon. Premise by Netflix. “Sasha is a young mother staying in an isolated French beach community with her baby, awaiting her husband’s return. Her solitude is broken by the appearance of Tatiana, a brooding backpacker who asks to camp outside her cottage. Sasha grows increasingly fascinated with her mysterious visitor … even as Tatiana becomes increasingly ominous and insinuates herself into Sasha’s home.”

7/10- A weird movie that had me unnerved but I watched to the end. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment July 25th, 2010

FAREWELL

FAREWELL- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this thinking man’s spy thriller, KGB agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) plans to hand over hard evidence that proves the depth of his agency’s penetration of U.S. intelligence, in a one-man crusade to bring down the Soviet empire. French engineer Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet) is drawn into this web of espionage against his will, but proves a surprisingly resourceful operative in the process.” Mostly good reviews.

5/16/11- A fairly good spy thriller. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment July 24th, 2010

HOME

HOME- 2008. France. Premise by Netflix. “When an unused highway next to their home is rebuilt and put back to use, Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Marthe (Isabelle Huppert) soon discover it’s an affront to their once peaceful life, adding din and dust to their daily existence. Their extroverted son, Julien (Kacey Mottet Klein), grows more introspective; their daughter, Marion (Madeleine Budd), turns obsessive; and Julie (Adélaïde Leroux) is a near lost cause. But how can they fight back?” Fairly good reviews.

7/10- Interesting drama and very good acting especially the wonderful Isabelle Hupert. I liked it. TRDB.

Add comment July 20th, 2010

THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN

THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN- Premise by Netfllix. “After 35 years of shipyard work in the French port town of Sète, Tunisian immigrant Slimane (Habib Boufares) takes his severance pay and pursues his impossibly expensive dream of opening a couscous restaurant. His only hope lies in his fractured family, including his mistress, Lilia (Leila D’Issernio), her entrepreneurial daughter, Rym (Hafsia Herzi), and his ex-wife and ace couscous cook, Souad (Bouraouïa Marzouk), in this César-winning drama.”

7/10- I saw this about a year ago and I liked it a lot. TRDB.

Add comment July 20th, 2010

SEASIDE

SEASIDE- Premise by Netflix. “Marie (Helene Fillieres) lives in the small seaside town of Cayeux, so renowned for its pebbly beach that it has a factory that cleans the stones. An employee at the factory, Marie’s become restless with her job and her life and dreams of exploring the world; just as the town has a seasonal life — popular in the warmer climes, isolated in winter — so, too, must its residents ebb and flow with the seasons. Will Marie leave to find her dreams?”

7/10- This movie was as boring as the town of Cayeux was portrayed to be. Small town ennui. TRDB.

Add comment July 17th, 2010

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