Mammoth (Mammut)

This Swedish/Danish/German co-production is Lukas Moodysson most recent movie, and I was looking forward to it. I already knew his work from movies like Show Me Love and A Hole In My Heart, and I thought highly of him.

The cast also seemed promising; I’ve had great experiences with movies featuring Gael Garcia Bernal or Michelle Williams, and with them on board and Moodysson directing, this movie could be something really special. I was anxious to watch it.

Ellen and Leo are an American couple, with successful careers. Leo is the creator of a gaming website, and a businessman travelling the world. Ellen is a surgeon. Their daughter Jackie is spending most of her time with her nanny Gloria. Gloria is from the Philippines and we get to see how her family lives, and how much her two young sons miss her. Meanwhile, Leo goes to Thailand in a business trip with an associate.

As the movie progresses, by thirty minutes into it, I was already feeling like pushing the fast forward button. I ended up watching the rest of the movie later on (one day later), and that is not a good sign. The movie drags itself and in my opinion could be a good half an hour shorter. The story doesn’t bring anything new, unless you have never travelled outside your country and also do not watch any documentaries or the news.

By now I’m quite aware how people with successful careers have great apartments and status but do not seem to find a way to balance their professional lives with their personal ones, and end up sacrificing their kids and family life and ultimately, their happiness. And I’ve seen how tough life can be in under developed countries, where money and education are not available to all. But, as I said, unless you are living under a rock or have been in a long, deep coma, we all know that. Personally, this movie didn’t bring me anything new. The story is painfully predictable and so are the characters.

You have good acting, as expected. But that is not enough to hold a movie and I know that I will soon forget about this one, except for the fact that it disappointed me so much. I expect a movie to be entertaining or thought-provoking and, either way, to arise some kind of emotions in me. This one failed completely.

Most reviews about this movie are very positive, and comments about it from viewers go from “really boring” to “the best movie ever”. So I give this one a Yellow Light, meaning, you are on your own deciding if you want to take a chance on it or not.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Pornochanchada

Terrible “sounding” word that I just learn a few days ago thanks to a great blog reader and I know that some of you know what it is and some will not. Me to denote my huge ignorance admit that never heard the word before.

The word comes from Brazil and is composed by two words: pornô (porn) and chanchada (light comedy) and to my surprise is a Brazilian cinema genre that was popular in Brazil thanks to the strict censorship of the military dictatorship of the ‘70s and early 80’s. According to a fast research, the films initially were produced in the downtown quarter of Sao Paulo with the nickname Boca do Lixo (Garbage Mouth) and collectively were also known as cinema da Boca (movies of the Mouth).

The genre had so much success that a subgenre was eventually generated and called pornochanchada carioca with films done in Rio de Janeiro.

When I first learned the word I related to the American sexploitation films and even if I still think that pornochanchada have to have an influence, the information I found is that were inspired by Italian cinema of the ‘70’s and I tend to believe that could be true as in that decade (and a little before) Italian cinema use to do a lot of “art” and “comedy” movies that have a very thin line bordering porn.

When the military dictatorship ended, the genre also disappeared and the actors and actresses that became so popular migrated to soap operas and “normal” cinema. What really blew my mind is to find that actors/artists like Caetano Veloso, Sonia Braga, etc. and even Xuxa did pornochachadas.

I’m really fascinated with this discovery more in the intellectual side than in the “I’m going to watch the movies right away” side, as I really dislike porn and I’m not a fan of sexploitation movies. But if I ever find a movie with Sonia Braga that belongs to this genre probably I will watch it for “educational” purposes. (I did!!)

Nevertheless I imagine the genre must be more comedy than porn as according to what I read, the strict censorship allowed this genre because they weren’t critical of the government and did not depict explicit sex.

When I have more time I will do a formal research about this genre and promise to not write in here about it. But now, after I did this post, I know I won’t forget about Pornochanchadas!

If you feel like watching some posters from the genre go here.

OMG!!! I just found that I have seen a Pornochanchada and had NO IDEA of the genre! In that page there is a poster for a Sonia Braga movie that of course I saw and liked! Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos!!! Still, the pic in this post is one movie I haven’t seen and the music is by Caetano Veloso... gosh! Veloso and Braga… hmm! Too Much to skip it!

LOL!

Ekko (Echo)

This Danish movie from director Anders Morgenthaler begins with a father taking his son on a weeks’ vacation to a lovely cottage in a remote place. We know right away that there is something more to it, but it’s only after the story advances for a while that we realize that Simon (the father) has a secret. The secret will explain his actions and ultimately lead to a dramatic outcome.

Though the plot could be explained in just a few lines, I never felt bored or uninterested as Morgenthaler seems to know very well how to keep you waiting for more information. And though you have to keep collecting those little pieces of information as they show up, they are all relevant and they are also all you really need to know. There is nothing superfluous on the movie.

Through a good part of the movie we only have two actors, Simon (Kim Bodnia) and his son Louie (Villads Fritsche). Later on, they are joined by the unconventional but lovely Angelique (Stine Fischer Christensen), and the three of them present us with great acting. In the all, there are about a dozen actors on this production and it’s always great to see how you don’t need lots of resources to tell a story in an effective way.

The movie was nominated for several awards, and those nominations were well deserved. I enjoyed specially the cinematography, in a movie where choices about light and absence of light, sound and silence make all the difference and are as revealing as the acting itself. Camera movement plays a key role in the emotional language of this film and I was amused by one particular slow motion little scene that provides an insight into Simon’s state of mind. Some Vivaldi music also fits perfectly the story.

A well-balanced movie that made me want to rent a cottage in some Danish coastal area. Seriously.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Lille Soldat (Little Soldier)

A very minimalist movie that allows you to see and hear just enough for you to get an idea of what soldiers coming back from war live, what life prostitutes could have and the consequences of a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. It will be up to you what to do/think with/about the information, as the film and story will only tell but will not make easy to digest the information by giving an opinion or message.

This Annette K. Olesen film tells the story of Lotte and Lily. Lotte is the soldier and Lily is the prostitute. Lotte came back from war bruised, traumatized and numb. The real Lily is also bruised, traumatized and numb; but she has a different and more pleasant face (mask?) for the boss –that’s Lotte’s father- and for her clients. A face probably very alike to the face Lotte had while she was in Iraq. In the end the father/boss relationship is what really makes both feel and be really alone. Yes is a complex mirrored story of so opposite characters not so easy to get, but if you’re sensible for women stories I know you will easily get it.

I usually pay no or low attention to music in movies; this movie is the exception as has one of the most outstanding music scores I have hear lately, is so good that even I had to notice and is no surprise that the composer won a Special Award at the 2009 Bodil Awards. Really remarkable and outstanding!

Technical specs are impeccable with top performances by actors, especially by one of the most admired actresses in Denmark, Trine Dyrholm that plays Lotte. But what has been called “a great find” -as she's a British TV actress- is who really steals the movie; Lorna Brown’s performance as Lily is truly compelling and remarkable.

The movie won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2009 Berlinale and was in competition for the Golden Bear. Also was nominated for Best Film and Best Director at the 2009 Robert Awards and the 2009 Bodil Awards. Honors that truly deserve for a great emotional cinematic experience especially driven by the tough story, great performances that hardly express any emotion (but you will feel emotions), bare excellent cinematography and a great filmmaker and storyteller.

I said I was not going to watch serious cinema, but who can resist? Apparently, not me. I’m so glad that I changed my mind, as this was a movie that captured my total attention since the very dark first screen up to the magnificent finale with an extraordinary long take. In between I was totally mesmerized by actors performances, story development and the remarkable music score.

I highly recommend this film to those that enjoy serious cinema with compelling (and complex mirrored) stories about women.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Second Life

Not often I have the opportunity to watch a mainstream movie from Portugal and I admit that I was curious. So for pure entertainment purposes I gave a try to this film and have to say that is one beautiful to watch film because quite extraordinary locations in Portugal and Italy. But besides the locations there is not much else in the movie.

The story is sort of a whodunnit? (or well written, who done it?) that starts with the dead guy watching his body from above and with non-linear narrative tells his life in Portugal and we see the too inconsequential and sexually charged small group of friends that attend his birthday party moments before he dies. After we find who or what killed him and we think the movie is finally over, we see a moment of choices in the past and the other life starts this time in Italy.

You could say that the story is interesting, that even all the questions we get as viewers are interesting, but the total film is not and is a shame, as I believe the idea behind the story is good.

There is something that I like in this movie and that many other filmmakers should emulate. The movie is in English, Portuguese and Italian, the real languages with no fake awful accents, as should be if the story is set in Portugal and Italy, and the lead character mother tongue is English. So refreshing to not hear one language that does not fit time or place.

One last comment for one blog reader. The film has some sex scenes but they are really not pleasant to watch and yes the scenes are with two women; I cannot call the scenes of lesbian interest as they look like -and are- targeted to men.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend this movie, but if by any chance you want to see acceptable good-looking actors and fantastic locations in Portugal, then give it a try.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Aruitemo aruitemo (Still Walking)

Ryota (Abe Hiroshi) returns to his parents' home with his new wife Yukari, as the family is holding a memorial for the eldest son who passed away 15 years ago. He is only attending because he feels obliged to. To his father, Ryota can never compare to his late brother, and this has caused bitterness.

As we spend time with this family, tensions arise, problems are discussed and we start to get a glimpse of their lives, their past, and the connections between them. Even if at moments the story seems to be about simple gestures and common life, this well crafted movie is perfect in showing us the feelings and motivations of all the family members. There is no lack of depth or characters neglected.

Above all, this is not the story of a Japanese family; it’s the story of a family, any family, in any part of the world. Even if some aspects can relate to the Japanese culture, most of the relationships and their subtleties are very universal and we all can relate to what is going on. What makes it special is the graceful and yet serious way in which the movie unveils under the unique direction of Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Apparently the story relates closely to Kore-eda´s personal experience and maybe that’s what makes it so real. At times serious, at others funny or endearing, I felt privileged to meet Ryota’s family. Does the movie provide closure? Only the kind of closure we get from life.

Not surprisingly, this movie has received several awards, including Best Director, and in my opinion should not be missed.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

El Niño Pez (The Fish Child)

The second movie by Lucia Puenzo, after her great XXY, is totally unexpected as the story is quite different to what I imagined according to the buzz and trailer. Based on the book Puenzo wrote when she was younger, this is a not too complex story about the need and what you’re willing to do for personal freedom.

I have to share with you all what I found most amazing; in the book the story is narrated by the dog! Well, I just imagine if the director had chosen to keep the movie narrated by a dog, that would have been something quite interesting to see how can be done. But the film follows a non-linear narrative of present and past until both tempos meet and the story flows forward up to the end, and no one narrates the story.

Perhaps for some and according to what I read in the net, the film may seem complex with many themes going on. I believe that if you find the story complex could be because the extraordinary editing that makes the story even more twisted with some great touches of the thriller genre. But for me that’s exactly what makes this film out of the ordinary.

Most scenes are filmed with minimum lighting and some not usual angles; thus, gives the impression that the viewer is inside the film like a participating intruder which makes you feel emotions that complete whatever is happening in the screen. Dialogue is not that important and has many incomplete sentences that finish with actors’ expressions and/or viewers imagination.

On the surface this is a story of strong love between two young women, but you will soon notice that the movie is not about that love. The love is the propeller of everything that happens in the story, but is totally secondary to the need to be free from everything that surrounds both of them.

So what you will see in the screen? You will see a privileged young woman Lala (Ines Efron – the same actress of XXY) that’s totally in love with young Paraguayan housemaid, La Guayi (Mariela Vitali). La Guayi came to the house when she was 13 and now 6 years after, both are about the same age and both are in love. But La Guayi’s life is not easy as she has a not so happy past and living in Buenos Aires is never easy for foreigners that willingly or not are forced to do many things, including sleeping with Lala’s father and other men that helped her when she first arrived. They want to leave and go to Paraguay, so Lala is selling things from her wealthy house to have enough money for the trip and to built a house near the lake in La Guayi’s small village in Paraguay. But nothing comes easy for this pair … until the happy end.

The movie touches quite a few subjects like incest, lesbian love, murder, police/prison corruption, xenophobia, class differences, indigenous population magical stories, punishment just because who you are and how you look like, the so common “tradition” of males in the household sleeping with the maids, and several others. But you have to see how flawlessly Puenzo blends these so diverse themes into one simple story about the desire to be free and discovering how much you are willing to do to obtain it and to stay together.

I find Puenzo’s second film a lot stronger than the first; not only because of the story but also for her visual style and how she flawlessly handled what could have been a very difficult film. Still, I would just have love if the dog narrated the story! Lol! This is another film that totally mesmerizes me and another great female director from the Latin American region that’s developing her own style. Bravo!!!

The movie is more art cinema that her previous film, so there has to be many that will not enjoy the flashbacks and will have some difficulty to follow the story. But if you appreciate good serious cinema with great tech specs, then I suggest you do not miss this film even if you do not particularly like the lesbian interest genre.

I was expecting a “normal” lesbian interest movie. This film definitively is not the regular fare in the genre, but I know that many that like the genre will be interested in watching and I suggest to lower your expectations about the lesbian content and perhaps you will enjoy this great film that goes beyond the traditional love affair between two women.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Dim Sum Funeral

I know that the movie name suggests either a downer drama or a funny comedy, but since I needed an escape moment I decided to give it a try. Well, it’s not a comedy even if you can smile once or twice. This Anna Chi film is a drama about another dysfunctional American-Chinese family more similar to Red Doors than to Saving Face and as happens in Red Doors this family also has a lesbian daughter, which was a total surprise for me as I was unaware of the lesbian interest in this movie.

The film tells a rather complex story about the Xiao family and starts when the Jewish housekeeper (Talia Shire) informs the offspring’s about the passing of their mother. None of the children and their spouses have good memories of her and they dislike one another, but all come to the funeral to find that her mother requested a traditional Chinese ceremony for the departed that requires them to spend together 7 days. What you will see in this movie is four adult siblings that are more American than Chinese (three of them speak only English) coming to terms with their mother death and trying to mend their own life troubles, the relationships with their spouses and with each other.

There is a great twist that somehow you imagine soon enough, but I can say that as you get caught in all the difficult situations the siblings are living you dismiss it to the back of your head and well, the surprise is not so big when finally happens.

Have to say that I liked the story that allows viewers to get a glimpse of the struggle that some first generation children of immigrants have to overcome when they adapt to a new culture, live their lives as part of the new culture and know very little about their forefathers culture and their strong traditions. I believe this is the essence of the story and the true value of this film that has a very happy ending after following a lot of incidents that in the screen are not really dramatic as the story evolves with “regular” situations and the essence runs in the backdrop and is left to the viewer to understand.

Tech specs and acting are acceptable and do not bother much if you get caught with the story like I did. I didn’t particularly liked the lesbian interest content in the movie, but have to say that the only couple that since the very beginning until the end was a happy couple is exactly the lesbian couple. Meimei and Deedee really had no chemistry in the screen, but their story is quite positive as the youngest daughter and her partner living a regular happy life. Still, this is not a movie to watch only for the lesbian interest as surely you will be, if not disappointed, left questioning what was the point of having lesbian characters in the story.

Now that I’m writing about the movie I realized how complex the story is and had a little trouble telling you about the story without giving out too much. But the film is quite easy to watch (not a downer or depressing drama at all) and you always have the choice to watch the film with only what’s happening in the screen and not pay much attention to the essence told in the background.

I liked the movie a lot more than Red Doors and even if I can’t find a relationship I’ll mention that some viewers relate the film to the Joy Club; so if you liked any of these two films then surely you will enjoy this one.

Enjoy!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I’ve never read a Harry Potter book; I fell asleep watching a part of the first movie. Granted, it was late in the evening, but I never felt like trying again. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being “Harry who???” and 10 being “I know more than J.K. Rowling about Potter”, I’d probably rate a 1,5.

Why then did I spend a couple of hours with this movie? Precisely because I knew nothing about it. The movie now rates a 7.8 on IMDB, with more than 30.000 people input. The critics seem to love it, and even the Vatican gave it its blessing (pun intended).

This movie is based on the sixth novel and the test was basically to determine how well the movie scores with a complete stranger to the Harry Potters saga, someone with a more objective opinion. Or an alien that just landed on Earth.

I watched the movie with a person that has read the books and seen all the movies, but I resisted the temptation of asking anything about the characters or plot. I didn’t want to ruin my ignorance about the subject under analysis. Let’s call it the scientific-amateur approach.

I found the story gripping, a concept that usually goes along with me not starting to think about my laundry chores or money worries in the middle of a movie. The characters are interesting and the acting quite good. That part I already suspected, been a long-time fan of Michael Gambon and Alan Rickman, just to name a few.

Very good special effects and attention to details, producing some quite impressive minutes of screen time. Also, you can admire the landscapes in Ireland and Scotland. London never seemed grayer and yet it looked so beautiful.

I especially enjoyed the comedy side of the story. Some moments are really funny. The ending with a cliff-hanger is likely to be something usual in the series but anyway, it works well. Even not having any information on the characters background, I was able to enjoy the movie and to follow the story. Though I didn’t turn in a Harry Potter fan by the end of the movie, I also didn’t feel like I was wasting two hours of my life at all. I really had fun. So, I give it a Green Light. Go for it! And take some popcorn with you.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

25th Amanda Awards Nominations

A while ago the jury president of these Norwegian awards announced the nominees. The Amanda Awards ceremony opens the 37th Norwegian International Film Festival and will take place on August 21st. The ceremony will be broadcasted live by TV2.

Here are some of the nominees

Best Film
Jernanger (Shooting the Sun aka The Storm in My Heart), Pål Jackman, Norway, 2009
Max Manus, (Max Manus: Man of War), Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning, Norway, Denmark, Germany, 2008
Nord (North), Rune Denstad Langlo, Norway, 2009 (I really want to see this film!)

Best Director
Erik Poppe for DeUsynlige (Troubled Water), Norway, 2009
Arild Fröhlich for Fatso, Norway, 2008
Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning for Max Manus, Norway, Denmark, Germany, 2008

Best Actress
Trine Dyrholm in DeUsynlige (Troubled Water), Erik Poppe, Norway, 2009
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal in Fritt vilt II (Cold Prey 2), Mats Stenberg, Norway, 2008
Ellen Dorrit Petersen in Iskyss (Ice Kiss), Knut Erik Jensen, Norway, 2008

Best Actor
Bjørn Sundquist in Jernanger (Shooting the Sun aka The Storm in My Heart), Pål Jackman, Norway, 2009
Aksel Hennie in Max Manus, (Max Manus: Man of War), Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning, Norway, Denmark, Germany, 2008
Kristoffer Joner in Skjult (Hidden), Pål Øie, Norway 2009 and Den siste revejakta (The Last Joint Venture), Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen, Norway, 2008

To check the nominees in all the categories go here.

Not very often I get the opportunity to watch Norwegian films but I believe that there are some quite interesting films with nominations. I’ll try to find trailers.

As soon as the NIFF lists the films in each program I will post them; the fest runs this year from August 20 to 27.

Watch trailers @ Movie On Companion

Il passato è una terra straniera (The Past Is a Foreign Land)

I had already become interested in Elio Germano's work in the movie "Mio fratello è figlio unico", so it wasn't much of a dilemma to decide on whether to watch this movie. I sometimes assume that some actors will guarantee a reasonably good experience regardless of the script or director, and so I took the plunge.

The story revolves around Giorgio (Elio's character), a Law student from a good family who gets driven into a spiral of criminality. At the beginning he seems to be pulled into that dark side by Francesco, a poker player that quickly reveals himself as a con artist and a dangerous company.

The movie has some harsh moments, and it's not easy to watch at all; some scenes are quite heavy and raw. Both Elio Germano and Michelle Riondino (Francesco) perform admirably, and the movie soundtrack is just perfect, adding to the tension.

By the end of the movie, I'm wondering if Giorgio is a pawn in Francesco's hands, an innocent that redeems himself when he realizes how low he has fallen. At the start point, he is following Francesco...but after a while he is doing a very good job as a criminal on his own. I see it the other way around - Francesco only recognized what was already there to begin with. And Giorgio's effort in coming back to the side of "Law" and "Good" is just a reflection of his will to distance himself from Francesco, who he sees as an inferior. His crimes stay unpunished and he cleanses his sins by accepting to be severely beaten for a crime he had actually not committed...this time.

If I'm not misquoting, Pascal once said that Man is neither angel nor beast. I happen to think Man is both. This movie shows how easily you can go from one end to the other.

Is the movie perfect? No. Are there quite a few loose ends? Yes. Will you forget this movie easily, without a second thought? I'm absolutely sure you won't.


PS - thank you Storyteller, for the warm welcome. I'll do my best to keep your Domain high standards!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

24 Settimana Internazionale della Critica Lineup

This year the 66th Venice Film Festival (Biennale) will run from September 2 to 12 and we hope to learn the fest lineup around July 30; but this parallel section today announced the lineup. Here are the seven first works in the Venice Critics’ Week.

In Competition

Café Noir, Jung Sung-il, Korea, 2009
Det Enda Rationella (A Rational Solution), Jörgen Bergmark, Sweden, 2009
Domaine, Patric Chiha, France and Austria, 2009 (gay interest)
Good Morning Aman, Claudio Noce, Italy, 2009
Kakraki, Ilya Demichev, Russia, 2009
Listicky (Foxes), Mira Fornay, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ireland, 2009 (could be interesting)
Tehroun (Tehran), Nader T. Homayoun, Iran and France, 2009

Out of Competition

Opening Film: Metropia, Tarik Saleh, Sweden, 2009
Closing Film: Chaleh, Ali Karim, Iran, 2009
Videocracy, Erik Gandini, Sweden, 2009

To read the complete article go here available only in Italian. As all are first works is going to be hard to find trailers but I’ll do my best to try to find them.

Watch (some) trailers @ Movie On Companion

Chaos

From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary we have that Chaos means:

2 a often capitalized: a state of things in which chance is supreme; especially : the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms
3 a: a state of utter confusion

I do not have an idea how Chaos will come to this blog, if more like the first, the second definition or a little from both; but one thing is true, as of today Chaos is part of Movie On and now we will have a new and different point of view about the stuff that makes this blog unusual.

So please give Chaos a warm welcome and let Chaos know that we are looking forward to the first and successive posts.

BIG WELCOME!!!

Betrayed

Sometimes you are really lucky to catch in cable a movie that you haven’t seen with an actress that you simply adore. But what was a huge surprise is to see Debra Winger in a film by none other than Costa-Gavras. That was totally unexpected and as many of you can easily imagine the film has Costa-Gavras written all over even when is pure heartland American tale about farmers, about family, and about romance than suddenly turns into a dark tale of crime and white supremacy. Gosh, only Costa-Gavras could do a film so masterfully with a so American story, with American actors and in a USA production and (also very surprising) Japanese co production.

This 1988 film has a very beautiful and young Debra Winger playing an undercover FBI agent that infiltrates the family of what her boss believe is a high player within the white supremacy organization. As soon as she meets widower Gary (Tom Berenger) and his two lovely kids she dismisses what her boss is saying and she reports that there is nothing wrong with this family. But she’s forced to go back and keep investigating. She starts to fall for Gary and Gary for her. They are in love, but with love comes sharing and Catherine Weaver never expected what love will bring to her.

Don’t you think that the above sounds like a typical Hollywood romance movie? Well maybe I could think so if I didn’t paid attention to the opening credits and saw Costa-Gavras name. You have no idea of how good is this film for the story inspired by true events, the amazing Costa Gavras’s filmmaking mastery, the best Tom Berenger performance I have ever seen and one of the most impressive performances by outstanding Debra Winger. It was hard for me to believe that I have never seen this movie.

If you have the amazing opportunity to watch this movie please do not forget that is directed by Costa-Gavras and will never be your regular Hollywood fare, as has amazing actors expressions and deadpan faces that totally tell about what is going inside the characters, extraordinary cinematography that you can hardly believe it is a 1988 film, great storytelling pace (slow when needed and a little faster to increase tension for the unpleasant moments that will come), some great camera takes and the particular (and peculiar) Costa-Gavras directing style. All right, there is something that does not fit at all and I prefer to think that Gavras was forced to do; the film has an unnecessary and very Hollywood happy ending!

This was a great find for the director and for an actress that since she left Hollywood I have missed so much and I’m glad that lately she decided to perform again. A movie that I highly recommend to everyone that loves Debra Winger and Costa-Gavras; but be prepared for a “heavy” ride into white supremacist America, a ride that has a few killing scenes (2), but mostly has projections of feelings from what seems like regular folks living a regular farmers life until they don’t and what seems so not human behavior becomes normalcy within them.

Enjoy!!!

Watch clip @ Movie On Companion

Mentiras y Gordas (Sex, Parties and Lies)

This film almost skipped my radar, as the title really does not call my attention. But I saw a clip from the film and decided to give it a try. If you have been watching Spain’s TV series Los Hombres de Paco (not only the Pepa and Silvia clips) then you will be familiar with two of the actors in this movie, Mario Casas (plays Aitor in LHDP) and Hugo Silva (plays Lucas in LHDP), which only means that that at least you will be familiar with two of the mostly unknown (to me) young actors in this film.

The film looks and feels like a young adults melodrama and tells about one summer in the lives of several characters that spend their time having sex, consuming drugs and dancing like crazy techno music. You have Toni (Mario Casas), that’s gay and in love with his best friend, Nico, since high school; Marina (Ana Maria Polvorosa) that’s “discovering” she’s lesbian and falls in love with model Leo (Duna Jove) and other characters like Carlos (Hugo Silva) that is lost in drugs, careless sex, and breaks up with his gf because she got fat. The rest of characters I can’t identify their names, but you have the “fat” girl that’s dumped by Carlos and fired from her job because she’s fat, her best friend that’s in love with Carlos and a girl that’s the drug dealer.

As some viewers say this is a film targeted to young adults or even teens and recommend watching without their parents (lol), as seems that’s a reflection of real decadence that many young adults are living in Spain. I personally tend to believe that what I saw in this film is probably true as honestly is not much different to what I lived many years ago while living in Spain and I was exactly the age portrayed in this film.

Anyway most of the characters have not happy ending stories, except for two, Marina and Leo that manage to start a relationship against all odds and knowing that is not a good idea as Leo is a woman pretending to be 22 when she’s 29, her real name is not Leo and many other lies. In brief, Leo is damaged goods while Marina looks innocent, centered and is just starting to release her attraction to other women; but Marina has also been lying to her parents about her education. I’m really glad that from all the many characters this couple is the only one with a “good” ending as not often lesbians are portrayed positively in an ensemble cast with diverse characters and obviously I strongly recommend this movie to those that enjoy the lesbian interest genre, but be prepared to watch many other forms of sex, constant drug consumption and diverse characters stories.

I tend to believe that for many this movie will seem trashy, especially to not young adults and those that see it mainly for the multiple sex scenes. But there is “something” in the story that I’m sure will appeal to a younger audience that will see a reflection of them no matter the country they live.

Definitively not a cinema masterpiece, but has an interesting lesbian story with nice to look actresses (great positive surprise when Leo removes her too much eye makeup) and well, the story is a reflection of what many young people live at that age.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Good News

This post is about really GOOD news … for me. Finally after months planning and selling as much as possible I’m ready to share the news with you all. I’m moving again, this time to another country.

So, for a couple -or more- weeks my posting here will not be as usual, even when for the past two months it hasn’t been as usual because the many little tasks that I had to do. But today the dates for all the house packing has been set and now I’ll have less free time until the date that my house ménage is packed, the movers take it and I take a plane.

One of the things that will travel with my house ménage is my desktop computer, which will be traveling by sea and unless the ship sinks (lol) I will get it in about five to six weeks after shipping. But I’ll try to continue posting as much as possible from my tiny laptop.

One of the few things I’ll be doing aside the moving related tasks is watching movies to relax, so definitively NO serious cinema in the following weeks… lol!

I really thank you all for visiting the blog, your feedback that has allowed me to “meet” some of you and hope to continue having your visits and comments even if my posting becomes irregular for a while in this and the other blogs.

Thank You!!!

In Tranzit (In Transit)

Two things attracted me to this movie, the cast and the story. The cast includes John Malkovich, Daniel Bruhl, and Vera Farmiga. The story seemed so interesting as tells about an empty Russian transit women’s prison (women from here go to the Gulag) in the aftermath of WWII where a group of male German prisoners of war are taken by “mistake”. The prison guards are women who have lost loved ones to the hands of the Germans that did atrocious things in St. Petersburg. So you can see the possibilities for a great script with a great story.

Based on true facts this UK and Russian production unfortunately does not deliver as has a very weak script that makes the film go nowhere even when the plot thickens as among the prisoners there is suspicion that there are some wanted SS war criminals (is true) plus Russian wardens and local lonely women start to fall for the “enemy”.

I cannot complain about the acting, as Malkovich does an unpleasant and unlikable character very well, Farmiga does a complex character good, and Bruhl is acceptable even when his character is always hidden among all the prisoners. Is basically a terrible script that lost the great opportunity to tell an interesting story in a dramatic, tense, romantic, relevant way and opt to tell the story in the most uninteresting and tedious way what makes this movie totally forgettable.

Still was remarkable for me to find what could be interesting tales about the aftermath of WWII in Russia. Tales that not often are told in movies for western viewers consumption.

I find the idea (and true story) fascinating and I just wish that another scriptwriter revisits the story to create a great script that I’m sure could make a great movie.

Definitively I cannot recommend this movie.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

À l'aventure

In the latest installment of what Jean-Claude Brisseau calls as his “exploration of desire and sexual pleasure” he really went further than what he did in his previous three films (L’Ange Noir, Choses Secrètes, Les Anges Exterminateurs) with the same theme. In my opinion he became really pretentious as gave us very basic lessons about physics, hysteria, hypnosis, (etc), and spent so much time talking about “cheap” life, world creation, (etc), philosophy that was truly annoying which make the sex scenes more raw as after all the “serious” talk, the scenes seem like they came out-of-the-blue with no plausible reason to be there.

The film basically tells the story of an unsatisfied woman, Sandrine, that leaves work, family, and friends in search of the “meaning of life” or better, something that explains her what is she doing in this world (which obviously she never finds!) or even better, how to achieve the strongest orgasm. So she embarks in a very talky/chatty adventure that the only moments when no one talks is when they are having sex in all the possible combinations that, as expected, includes one, two and three women having sex with each other. This time the lesbian sex is mostly not interesting to watch and definitively looks like the scenes are targeted to voyeurs, male voyeurs.

Also this film seems like the director wanted to make it all about erotic voices (in some scenes you have characters describing sex experiences or talking raw sex) that in my opinion his choice of actors was not successful as their voices are really monotonous and definitively not erotic.

If you saw his previous films and got the impression that the sex scenes were bordering porn, then I suggest you skip this film as definitively here Brisseau becomes more explicit and have less believable build ups.

On the positive side, the main character Sandrine is played by Brisseau’s new discovery, Carole Brana that is good looking, performs better than secondary characters, and makes quite easy to watch the film even with the annoying story developments. Also landscapes are great, some locations are spectacular and some scenes have great compositions.

The good news is that according to Brisseau, this is the last film he does with the desire and sexual pleasure theme and I’m really glad, as I couldn’t take another of his “explorations”.

I watched the complete film because I wanted to keep looking at the main actress and wanted to know where her adventure will take her. Unfortunately her adventure takes her nowhere. Thus, I cannot recommend this film to those that like the lesbian interest genre, French cinema, trashy arty films or whatever else. I cannot recommend this film to anyone!

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

11th Taipei Film Festival Award Winners

Recently the fest had the awards ceremony and here are the winners.

New Talent Competition

Grand Prize: Disgrace, Steve Jacobs, Australia and South Africa, 2008

Special Jury Prize: Parking, Chung Mong-hong, Taiwan, 2008

Special Mention:
Breathless, Yang Ik-June, South Korea, 2008
The Dark Harbor, Naito Takatsugu, Japan, 2008
La Nana (The Maid), Sebastian Silva, Chile, 2009

Audience Choice Award: Yang Yang, Cheng Yu-chieh, Taiwan, 2009

To check all the award winners go here.

Tapei Award

Winners are not posted at the official site in English, but from other sources here are some of the winners.

Best Film: No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti, Leon Ta, Taiwan, 2009
Special Jury Prize: Yang Yang, Cheng Yu-chieh Taiwan, 2009
Best Director: Chung Mong-hong for Parking, Taiwan, 2008
Best Actress: Sandrine Pinna in Yang Yang, Cheng Yu-chieh Taiwan, 2009
Best Actor: Chen Wen-ping in No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti, Leon Ta, Taiwan, 2009

Great Miao Miao won two awards for best cinematography and best editing.

Obsessed

Probably this movie is going to be the only summer –alike- movie that I’ll watch this year. Decided to watch because I really like Ali Larter and wanted to see what she did in this movie. To my surprise the only female lead that the movie really has is Ali, as Beyonce has so little screen time that I was so glad as her histrionic abilities are really on the bad side of the acting spectrum.

This is a very predictable film that you can guess everything before it happens; it is so predictable that I started to play a game where I say: now they are going to do this and that’s what exactly happened next. The story is so similar to Fatal Attraction, but here there is no consummation of “something” and one of the plot keywords IMDb uses to describe this movie is “Non Statuary Female On Male Rape Attempt”! Oh gosh, sounds so sensationalist that makes me laugh, but yes the story is about a woman (Ali) that becomes obsessed with a married man up to the point of (silly) madness. The trick is that you have to use your imagination to understand why she becomes obsessed -and you know I do not mind filling gaps at all- but in this movie I simply was not interested as I liked Ali Larter performance for more than half the movie and was enjoying a lot watching her. So, who cares why her character does what she does? Not me.

Like someone said, the script prepares everything for the climax that comes in the last minutes of the film when Sharon (Beyonce) and Lisa (Ali) have a very dull and predictable catfight and supposedly is the great Beyonce scene. Gee, it was so bad and not credible that I wish they had another actress playing Sharon!

Anyway this movie is only “watchable” if you like Ali Larter and for more half the movie you will definitively enjoy her character and performance.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

62nd Locarno Film Festival Line-up

As expected the fest announced today the line-up and noteworthy is that has 24 world premieres. Just in the International Competion there are 14 world premieres and 4 international premiers.

International Competition

A Religiosa Portuguesa (The Portuguese Nun), Eugène Green, Portugal and France, 2009
Akadimia Platonos, Filippos Tsitos, Greece and Germany, 2009
*Au Voleur, Sarah Leonor, France, 2009 (with Guillaume Depardieu)
Buben Baraban, Aleksei Mizgiryov, Russia, 2009
*Complices, Frédéric Mermoud, France and Switzerland, 2009
*Frontier Blues, Babak Jalali, Iran, UK, Italy, 2009
La Cantante de Tango, Diego Martinez Vignatti, Belgium and Argentina, 2009
La Donation, Bernard Emond, Canada, 2009
La Invencion de la Carne, Santiago Loza, Argentina, 2009
*L’Insurgee, Laurent Perreu, France, 2009
*Nothing Personal, Urszula Antoniak, Netherlands and Ireland, 2009
*Os Famosos e Os Duendes Da Morte, Esmir Filho, Brazil and France, 2009
Sham Moh (At The End of Daybreak), Ho Yuhang, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea, 2009
She, A Chinese, Xiaolu Guo, UK, France and Germany, 2009
*Shirley Adams, Oliver Hermanus, South Africa and USA, 2009
Summer Wars, Mamoru Hosoda, Japan, 2009
The Search, Pema Tseden, China, 2009
Wakaranai (Where Are You?), Masahiro Kobayashi, Japan, 2008

Out of Competition
La Paura, Pippo Delbono, France, 2009

The Jury of the International Competition
Jean-Marie Blanchand, former Director of the Grand Théâtre de Genève (France)
Pascal Bonitzer, screenwriter and filmmaker (France)
Nina Hoss, actress (Germany)
Luis Miñarro, producer (Spain)
Jonathan Nossiter, filmmaker (Brazil/USA)
Alba Rohrwacher, actress (Italy)
HONG Sangsoo, filmmaker (South Korea)

Filmmakers of the Present Competition

*A Fuga, A Raiva, A Danca, A Boca, A Calma, A Vida da Mulher Gorila, Felipe Bragança and Marina Meliande, Brazil, 2009
Castro, Alejo Moguillansky, Argentina, 2008
*Hälsningar Från Skogen (Greetings From the Woods), Mikel Cee Karlsson, Sweden, 2009
Ivul, Andrew Kotting, France and Switzerland, 2009
Kærlighedens Krigere (Warriors of Love), Simon Staho, Denmark, 2009
Koprudekiler (Men on the Bridge), Asli Ozge, Germany, Turkey, Netherlands, 2009
*La Reine Des Pommes, Valerie Donzelli, France, 2009
Mirna, Corso Salani, Italy, 2009
Miiyamoto Musashi: Soken ni haseru yume (Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai), Mizuho Nishikubo, Japan, 2009
Nikotoko Tou (Nikotoko Island), Takuya dairiki and Takashi Miura, Japan, 2008
*October Country, Michael Palmieri and Doanl Mosher, USA, 2009
Piombo Fuso, Stefano Savona, Italy, 2009
Sogno il Mondo il Venerdi, Pasquale Marrazzo, Italy, 2009
*The Anchorage, C. W. Winter and Anders Edstrom, USA and Sweden, 2009
The Marsdreamers, Richard Dindo, Switzerland and France, 2009
Todos Mienten, Matias Piñeiro, Argentina, 2009
*Un Transport en Commun, Dyana Gaye, France, 2009

The Jury of the Filmmakers of the Present Competition
Matías Bize, filmmaker (Chile)
Denis Côté, filmmaker (Canada)
Brillante Mendoza, filmmaker and producer (Philippines)
Angela Schanelec, filmmaker (Germany)
Ghassan Salhab, filmmaker (Lebanon)

The Jury for the Best First Feature
Esmeralda Calabria, film editor (Italy)
Sepideh Farsi, filmmaker (Iran)
Enrique Rivero, filmmaker (Mexico)

(*) First Feature

The section Ici & Ailleurs has around thirty programs of new short, medium length and feature films (26 world premiers) and here is the list of some programs.

Shorts
Jeonju Digital Project 2009
Voyages read aloud, the masterpieces of Japanese Literature
Anime Now
Le Fresnoy Program
Pointligneplan
D-Generation Program
Cinema/Image

There is a huge Japanese Manga program with many films, shorts, TV series and a book that will be published in the fall, as well as an exhibition.

To check the amazing program go here and select the language of your preference, as the program is available in English, Italian, French and German.

I’m going to try to find information about the movies but with so many first films it’s going to be hard. As soon as I have the info ready, I’ll post the link here.

Not many films have trailers, but if you want to check the synopsis and some videos from the films go Movie On Companion

62nd Locarno Film Festival News

The fest this year will run from August 5 to 15 and tomorrow, July 16, the official line-up will be annouced.

While we wait for tomorrow’s announcement here are some news.

Opening Film: 500 Days of Summer, Marc Webb, USA, 2009; the film was premiered at the 2009 Sundance and since then ha been screened at many USA fests. The international premiere was at Sydney fest. Not that I’m really looking forward to watch it but probably will be entertaining with all the music/songs involved.

The 2009 Leopard of Honour goes to American director William Friedking and the 1985 film To Live and Die in L.A. will be screen during the fest to mark the occasion. A masterclass will also take place at the Spazio Cinema and is open to the public.

The 2009 Excellence Award goes to none other than laurated Toni Servillo! Here is an excerpt from the press release.

Italian actor Toni Servillo will be one of the guests of honour at the 62nd edition of the Locarno International Film Festival, where he will receive an Excellence Award and will also conduct a conversation with the audience.

Open Doors Factory 2009

The jury for the Locarno Festival’s Open Doors co-production lab has selected 12 projects (out of 114 applications from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan Island) to participate in the final phase of the 2009 session. This year the Open Doors Factory is devoted to Greater China, and will take place from 9 to 11 August 2009, during the 62nd edition of the Locarno International Film Festival.

The selected projects are:

ABERDEEN by PANG Ho-cheung – Hong Kong
AN EVERLASTING DAY by Wanmacaidan – Mainland China
BLOODSHED by GUAN Hu – Mainland China
BUS N°8 by YANG Qing – Mainland China
DON'T EXPECT PRAISES by YANG Jin – Mainland China
ELEVEN FLOWERS by WANG Xiaoshuai – Hong Kong
FATHER by ZHANG Lu – Mainland China
HELP by LI Ying – Mainland China
LITTLE WINGS by Emily Tang – Hong Kong
TREE by HAN Jie – Mainland China
UFO IN HER EYES by GUO Xiaolu – Mainland China
WINTER VACATION by LI Hongqi – Mainland China

I know that summer is the worst time for good movies, but I’m glad that we have only one more month to come and summer will be almost over! Still in August there are some very interesting festivals like Locarno’s that help to pass this dry season faster.

I’ll be posting the official line-up plus the films in the different sections as soon as they become available.

The Group

Probably some of you were lucky enough to catch in TCM this movie that was recently broadcasted as part of TCM’s tribute to Sidney Lumet; if you did you probably had a hard time watching this very “chatty” movie that makes us remember how much women talk and if you didn’t have this remark in top of your mind, you definitively put it at the top after watching the film. Gosh, I really do not much enjoy talky, chatty movies!!!

I imagine that, according to what I read, this 1966 movie created controversy when first released as in those days not many talk freely about free love, contraception, abortion, lesbianism, socialism, communism, child education, classic psychoanalysis, and mental illness; topics that describe what this movie is all about. But more interesting is to think that in the 30’s the depression could motivate “wealthy and WASPy” women to work, start to change their conservative views, live alone, and -in general- increase their participation in society beyond the traditional social duties. The last was one of the things I liked about the movie, but obviously I know that this side of the story has to be more developed in Mary McCarthy novel of the same name.

The films tells the story of eight Vassar-like graduates that are the Class of 33, a depression era class that from this film you can hardly tell that hit their families; but if you read the novel, only three have a lot of money Lakey, Helena and Pokey, the rest come from wealthy families and depression reduces their affluence. In the film you will follow their lives up to 1940 and since is an ensemble cast it is expected that not all characters will be well-developed and exactly that happens with some characters that you wish had a lot less information (like Libby) and others (like Lakey) to have a lot more information as (today) these characters are more interesting.

But to be fair, there are some dialogues that simply amazed me. All the psychoanalysis and mental illness made me recall Freud’s good old times; the child education plus breastfeeding against the bottle references were unbelievable shocking (but these issues seems to move in cycles through time, isn’t) and I definitively was surprised by the communist characters as well as all the theme references made as is something that you do not see often in an American movie.

Then the cast is outstanding! I know most of the actresses and actors in this film and I was quite surprised to find that this was the first or second film for many as their previous work was on TV or the stage. Already knew about Candice Bergen –the only female with no previous acting credits- but I have been lost in the net reading the very colorful articles about her participation in this movie playing Lakey, the lesbian. Unfortunately her screen time is so short that if you’re interested in watching this movie for only the lesbian character you will be disappointed. But Bergen’s screen presence is unique and when she’s in the screen your eyes are fixed on her.

You also have Joanna Pettet (Kay) that probably is the one with the most screen time that does a good performance but today, 50 years after the film and 80+ years after the novel, the character story is one that has been explored in cinema too many times in all the possible ways, so I know that is hard to see Pettet’s performance without thinking not positively about her character. Almost the same happens with Jessica Walter’s (Libby) non-likeable character, but her good acting abilities makes us to highly dislike her character. Shirley Knight (Polly) performance –also has large screen time- is great with a sedative character that transforms perhaps in the most successful and happiest-ending character of all the eight. Larry Hagman (Harald) character is hideous and he does it quite well. Hal Holbrook (Gus) debut is good with a not well-developed character, but then this movie is all about women characters.

I believe that Elizabeth Hartman (Priss) character and story shown in the movie does not allow her to perform at her best. Even if she has not enough (for me) screen time, Joan Hackett (Dottie) character and performance was (besides Bergen’s) the one that most caught my attention.

The film earned Lumet a Golden Bear nomination at the 1966 Berlinale, Joan Hackett got a 1967 BAFTA nomination for Best Foreign Actress and seems that the film was Sidney Lument first commercial success (his previous films were critically acclaimed but didn’t make money) that paradoxically barely made the two million plus budget which was “the most expensive movie made to date in New York”.

The film is mostly a satire of women attitudes to life that I believe many still apply today. I wish I watched the movie not when released (too young), but at least a decade or two later as probably I could have enjoy it more. Still I watched until the very end, even when most of the chatty parts where really tiresome.

I was lucky enough to go to a mix school, but if I attended an all girl school probably would have enjoyed a lot more the film. So if you still have great relationships with your school female classmates, I’m sure you will enjoy this film just because the so diverse things that happen to each character where you will identify someone you know or even yourself.

I liked the movie as an early work by Sidney Lumet; but definitively his later works like 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Network, Equus, and many more up to his latest, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, show us better his filmmaker abilities.

I really thank a special friend for letting me know about the film -which made me create the Old Lesbian category- and mostly for letting me know about watching the film that has become the first in the category that I'm able to watch. Many Thanks!

Enjoy!

7th Paris Cinema International Film Festival Award Winners

Today the fest announced the award winners and here they are.

Jury Award: Gagma Napiri (The Other Bank), George Ovashvili, Georgia and Kazakhstan, 2009
Audience Award: La Nana, Sebastián Silva, Chile, 2009
Prix de l’Avenir: Vegas: Based on a True Story, Amir Naderi, USA, 2008

To check information about the fest and all the films go here and to check all the award winners go here.

La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow)

A very complex story in an intriguing film that since the very black screen first take tells you to prepare to travel into the magic of indigenous populations traditions and beliefs; and so you do with a full of contrasts images, deep silences that tell all, chilling songs, outstanding performance by lead actress and a horrendous tale of the consequences that war left in some women and mostly in their children. A tale that you will not see one image with something horrendous; but you will feel everything inside of you, in your bowels, in your heart and in your head.

I could totally feel Fausta’s fear –and pain-, almost as if it was happening to me. That’s how good is Magaly Solier performance and how good Claudia Llosas’s directing abilities are. But Llosas’ writing abilities are greater –if possible- as she created a light magical amusing story that at the same time is profoundly horrendous! As someone says, Llosa chose not to show any of the atrocities as even today no one dares to speak about them in their native country; but if you cannot see them, you can absolutely feel them.

What makes this film outstanding is that the story is peppered with urban indigenous special occasions traditions (like weddings), some unbelievable funny lines (one really shock me… but made me laugh loud!), and that makes us “live” the cultural contrasts between the poor urban indigenous population and the upper urban classes. Contrasts that start with different languages and go on up to the abuse that one class exercise into the other. Then there is a very surreal scene of a poor suburb of Lima where you see the house where Fausta lives with his uncle’s family and an improvised swimming pool that is so out of place, but so cheerfully realistic that is amazing and this is just one of the many scenes that just blew my mind.

I imagine that if you ever lived in a Latin American country with large indigenous populations you will probably not like the movie because the story touches a reality that many dare not to speak about and opt to not acknowledge that what we see here happens not only during civil wars, but also during peaceful times.

Anyway, cinematography is excellent and the film has great framing and editing; but the so important to the storytelling songs are chilling, appalling and beautiful; most interesting is to find that some songs are composed by Soler who performs all of them, except for the first one that’s performed by the non-actor that plays her mother.

The film won the Golden Bear at the 2009 Berlinale and was honored at the 2009 Guadalajara fest with Magaly Solier winning the Mayahuel Award for Best Actress and Claudia Llosa for Best Film.

So, what’s the story all about? The film tells the story of one young woman, Fausta, that while she was still inside her mother’s womb, soldiers raped her mother (as told in the chilling first song and later in one of the songs that Soler sings in Quechua). After Fausta was born, her mother’s pain/shame/sorrow was transferred to her daughter when she was breastfeeding her. That’s how Fausta got an illness that is not in any medical book, that’s how Fausta got La Teta Asustada (literal translation is “the frightened breast”) and that’s why Fausta lives in constant fear, fear of men. She’s so sick that to protect herself has a potato in her vagina, as men do not like revolting things and revolting things are the only thing that keep men away (as told in another song in Quechua).

Okay I told you a lot about the amazing story but I had to. I know is a horrendous and shocking story, but the movie is a lot more than what I told you above and you really have to watch this amazing story told in the most amazing possible way. By the way, the end is a very happy finale and there is much stuff I didn’t told you which all refers to her mother burial and that is what really happens along the entire movie.

I love Llosa’s debut film Madeinusa and I love La Teta Asustada that while both films tell indigenous population magical stories, both are very different. Her second film absolutely tells about a more mature director that is developing a very interesting particular directing style that masterfully mixes visual and dialogue narrative to create magical films well beyond the amazing magical stories she tells. Definitively I am looking forward to her next project that I hope comes fast, very fast. Big Chapeau to Claudia Llosa that definitively is one of the most interesting filmmakers that the region has.

I strongly recommend this movie to those that love great Latin American cinema, like to watch unbelievable good women stories and to those that appreciate serious cinema with slow pace, glorious silences, great actors expressions and a very magical story that will shock you, make you laugh, smile, feel pain, be revolted and be hopeful about the future.

Needless is to say that this film grabbed my attention since the very black and long first take and that I was absolutely mesmerized during the entire film; but my hypnotic state was constantly disturbed by shock, laughs, smiles, disgust and the amazing facial expressions of very exotic looking Magaly Solier.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

16th Melbourne International Film Festival

The fest will run from July 24 to August in Melbourne, Autralia. Called by many “the most significant film event in Australia” this year has another large (really large) program with many films organized by categories and here are the categories.

Accelerator Shorts
Animation Gallery
Animation Shorts
Anna Karina
Arts and Minds
Australian Post-punk
Backbeat
Documentaries
Documentary Shorts
Eros + Massacre (interesting!)
Exp/Concept/VideoArt Shorts
Fiction Shorts
Homegrown
International Panorama
Neighborhood Watch
Next Gen
Night Shift
Premiere Fund
Special Events
The End of Europe: New Balkan Cinema (there is one Romanian movie that seems interesting: Munta Muta (Silent Wedding), Horatiu Malaele, Romania, Luxembourg and France, 2008)
The Primal Screen
Vengeance is Mine
Young Blood

To check info about the films go here and/or check the catalogue here.

44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award Winners

Yesterday the fest had the awards ceremony and here are the winners.

Official Competition

Grand Prix – Crystal Globe: Un ange à la mer (Angel at Sea), Frédéric Dumont, Belgium and Canada, 2009

Special Jury Prize: Bist (Twenty), Abdolreza Kahani, Iran, 2009
Best Director Award: Adreas Dresen for Whisky mit Wodka (Whisky with Vodka), Germany, 2009
Best Actress: Paprika Steen in Applause, Martin Pieter Zandvliet, Denmark, 2009
Best Actor (tie):
Olivier Gourmet in Un ange à la mer (Angel at Sea), Frédéric Dumont, Belgium and Canada, 2009
Paul Giamatti in Cold Souls, Sophie Barthes, USA, 2008

FIPRESCI Award: Nije kraj (Will Not Stop There), Vinko Brešan, Serbia and Croatia, 2008
NETPAC Prize: Ddongpari (Breathless), Yang Ik-june, South Korea, 2008
Prize of Ecumenical Jury: Bist (Twenty), Abdolreza Kahani, Iran, 2009
Europa Cinemas Label Award: Applause, Martin Pieter Zandvliet, Denmark, 2009

Prize of Don Quijote FICC: Un ange à la mer (Angel at Sea), Frédéric Dumont, Belgium and Canada, 2009
Special Mention:
Волчок Volčok (Wolfy), Vassily Sigarev (Василий Сигарев), Russia, 2009
Cold Souls, Sophie Barthes, USA, 2008

East of the West Competition

Best Film: Poltory komnaty ili sentimentalnoje putěšestvije na rodinu (Room and a Half), Andrei Khrzhanovsky, Russia, 2008
Special Mention: Rysa (Scratch), Michal Rosa, Poland, 2008

Independent Camera: Eamon, Margaret Corkery, Ireland, 2009
Special Mention: La Tigra, Chaco, Federico Godfrid and Juan Sasiain, Argentina, 2009

Audience Award: Sipur Gadol (A Matter of Size), Erez Tadmor and Sharon Maymon, Israel, Germany, and France, 2009

Special Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema
Isabelle Huppert, France
John Malkovich, USA
Jan Švankmajer, Czech Republic

Festival President’s Award: Antonio Banderas

To check award winners in other categories go here and to read the official press release go here. If you want to see the fest in videos the Youtube fest channel is here.

Little Ashes

I know who Federico García Lorca, Salvador Dalì and Luis Buñuel are and I know very little about their lives -saw only one of them in the flesh (an unforgettable experience in Barcelona)- but definitively know more about their writings, paintings and films respectively. So, knew very little about García Lorca’s homosexuality, Buñuel homofobia and Dalì’s probable affair with García Lorca. My first reaction to the story in this film was surprise and I even asked myself, is this truth? After reading a little in the net, seems that most of what the story shows is true. So you can say that is a biopic inspired in some true events and other events that could be true.

The film should have a name like The Tormented Love Affair between Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalì as basically that’s what this movie is all about. Luis Buñuel is the third character but his presence in this story is only a reference to truth, in the sense that they were friends and met at the Residencia Estudiantil (students hostel) in the 20’s Madrid. Unfortunately after the Cadaqués moment the story and movie become really tormenting for the characters and for viewers, as starts to move in fragments with broken transitions in the storytelling breaking the flawless flow of the beginning.

Perhaps the director, Paul Morrison, got too much inspiration from Dalì (tried with no success to be surrealistic with his images) but what could have been a very interesting film because of the story became a little nightmarish after a while. Most annoying is the decision of using English with an awful accent (if they wanted to use English, actors should speak “normal” English) and the worst is García Lorca reading or reciting his works in Spanish while an English translation happens at the same time. Truly awful.

But not everything is bad in this movie as I really enjoyed the attention given to details and the great representation of the period with sets and costumes. I also have to admit that Robert Pattinson can act, as his Dalì interpretation has very good moments, especially when Dalì becomes the famous extravagant character that he really was and Pattinson in a few scenes really started to look like him. Javier Beltrán is also quite good playing a man that totally falls in love with another man for the first time.

If I see the movie as only about the love affair between García Lorca and Dalì I have to say that I like the film a lot; but having Buñuel doing nothing, inserting too many useless (to the affair) historic references and the awful use of the English language makes me think that the value of this film is only in the love story of two men that could have been not famous and probably the movie as a whole would have worked better.

I like some of the oeuvre of García Lorca; I really like many of the Dalì’s paintings (used to own one), and definitively believe that Luis Buñuel is a master filmmaker. Their real lives have to be very interesting but from this film you can hardly tell.

Now that I finished outpouring my disappointment about the historic content of this film, I’ll probably surprise some, but I will recommend this film to many that read this blog. Yes, I recommend it as an interesting story about the tormented love affair between two men, that's only if you can sustain the "torment" part.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

2009 Filmfest München Award Winners

Finally the award winners are posted at the official site in English and here are some of the winners.

Arri-Zeiss Prize: Una Semana Solos (A Week Alone), Celina Murga, Argentina, 2007

The Young German Cinema Award: Draußen am See (Losing Balance), Felix Fuchssteiner, Germany. 2009

CineVision Award: Everything Strange and New, Frazer Bradshaw, USA, 2008

One Future Prize: PA-RA-DA (The Clown), Marco Pontecorvo, Italy and Romania, 2008
Special Mention: My Neighbor My Killer, Anne Aghion, France and USA, 2009

Audience Award: Keep Surfing, Björn Richie Lob, Germany, 2009

To check all the award winners go here.

Trinidad

Here is another very worth-to-watch documentary that not only looks and feels like narrative but also will grab your attention immediately as this is the most “normal” (not even one second of sensationalism) transgender document I have ever seen.

I hope you can understand that what I’m about to say is said in the most respectful way, as not often (if ever) you can see ordinary middle age men that are transitioning or had the op. Most docs document the perhaps more colorful world of very queer man becoming female and I understand that in a so diverse community there are many diverse people with diverse attitudes toward life, sexuality and gender. But this documentary was really mesmerizing (for me) as it looks and feels so ordinary and common that I couldn’t take my eyes from the screen and I wanted more when was over. The documentary really motivated me to see transgender/transsexuals not as “oddities” but as real people that solve a real problem and become ordinary people that finally get a more happy life and more than less integrate into that particular and so special community established in Trinidad, Colorado.

The doc tells about Dr. Stanley Biber who pioneered the sex change operation and since his passing in 2006, one of his patients, Dr. Marci Bowens, took charge at the local hospital where the operations now actually pay for the rest of the hospital services.

The doc has been called an “elegant history of the sex change capital of the world” and the description really fits the debut of Jay Hodges and P. J. Raval as directors of an oeuvre that gives us a very compelling, normal, ordinary, realistic and yet, dramatic opportunity to understand better what gender reassignment means to those that do it and according to what some say, there have been around 5,800 gender reassignment surgeries done in Trinidad.

Whether you are or you are not interested in the theme, this is one document that I suggest as Must Be Seen to many that read this blog. Here I reproduce some words from the filmmakers that I find to be relevant to motivate everyone to watch this film. If you feel like reading the complete article go here.

Ultimately, we hope Trinidad helps viewers see beyond surface differences to the deeper elements of who we are as individuals. As Sabrina so eloquently states, "When people look at me, I hope they think, ‘If she has the guts to be who she is, then I should have the guts to be who I am.'" The experience of making Trinidad has certainly taught us that.

Great documentary!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion But be aware that unfortunately the trailer is not good, as presents the doc similar to many other “before/after” documents when is NOT like that at all.

Sonbahar (Autumn)

I found this film to be extremely beautiful to watch but has a story that if you know Turkey's history hits hard and if you don’t, still hits hard as a voyage into the last days of a very ill man -that in my personal opinion- revisits his past and grieves in silence his life.

The film written and directed by Özcan Alper is a complex story told mostly in silence –even when at moments gave excess of unnecessary information- and great expressions by main actors that gravitates around the not so long ago (the 90‘s) incidents that happened in Turkey and an idealist that ends up in jail for ten years only to be liberated because he’s dying, so he returns to his small mountain village only to find that most of the population are elderly people and a few younger ones that feel trapped in the village. Is a story of contrasts, of failure, of lost ideals, of repression and aggression, and most of all, of the reality that many had to face in Turkey during and after the 90’s.

The film has extraordinary cinematography with very poetic views of magnificent mountains that go from fall to winter. The music score is truly outstanding and highly contributes for you to feel the landscapes and main characters emotions. Performances are amazing with special mention to Onur Saylak that plays Yusuf and Megi Kobaladze that plays Eka, the Georgian prostitute.

Definitively not for all audiences and the best reference I can give is that if you enjoyed Nuri Belge Ceylan’s Climates, surely will highly appreciate this film. But here the story is powerful and hard-hitting. The movie won the Best Director at the 2009 Sofia fest and at the 2008 Tbilisi fest and awards are well deserved especially when is Alper’s debut film and definitively does not look or feel like his first oeuvre.

I loved the visuals, liked the story even when I felt it was really hard (but reality is hard) and highly recommend it to those that like great Turkish cinema.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion