Tulpan

What an unexpected pleasure as this Sergey Dvortsevoy film is a drama that has very gentle comedy, the best is that it made me softly laugh and enjoy a lot more the splendid cinematography, great performances by one actor and many non-actors, and a story that’s refreshing especially from the few films that I have seen that happen in steppes or in the middle of nothing!

Basically tells the story of Asa that after serving in the Russian navy goes back to the steppes and his dream of being a herdsman with his own ranch. To have his dream come true, he has to find a bride and with the help of friends he goes to ask for Tulpan’s hand. But Tulpan doesn’t like Asa, he has way too big ears! Obviously the story is the excuse to show everyday life in the solitude of the Hunger Steppes and you have no idea how desolated Kazakhstan steppes can be; that’s it if you have never seen a film from Mongolia.

Yes most compare this film to other Kazahstan movies that unfortunately haven’t seen, but to me the style (blending reality and fiction), pace, cinematography and story (without the humor) seem similar to Mongolia’s films like The Cave of the Yellow Dog. This comment is only meant as a reference and does not demerit the absolutely well-deserved honors that Tulpan collected since winning the Un Certain Regard award at the 2008 Cannes.

Have to share that everyone talks about one particular scene related to the birth of a sheep. The scene perfectly fits the story, but most of all is like a catharsis to everything that has happened before. Still, be aware that yes it’s a little hard to watch and perhaps is not for the weak of heart.

So if you wish to experience life in a remote and desolated area of the world you have to watch this fantastic movie that will definitively surprise you with the gentle and naïve humor. A must be seen film for everyone that like the word art in their movies.

I waited more than a year to have the opportunity to watch this movie and I had high expectations. The film surpassed my expectations by far as I really enjoyed this drama, comedy, recording of traditions and beautiful scenery; but must of all I absolutely enjoyed the realistic –yet magical- poetry of the visual and narrative storytelling from the debut feature film of a mostly documentary director. Bravo Dvortsevoy!! Hope he does many more movies.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch Trailer @ Movie On Companion.

25th Warsaw Film Festival Award Winners

The fest ran from October 9 to 18 and here are the winners.

International Competition

Warsaw Grad Prix: Lourdes, Jessica Hausener, Austria, Germany and France
Her effortless storytelling brings a beautiful simplicity to a complex subject.

Special Jury Prize: La Pasion de Gabriel (The Passion of Gabriel), Luis Alberto Restrepo, Colombia
For the depiction of human courage in the face of the complex socio-political conflict in Colombia.

FIPRESCI Prize: Rewers (Reverse), Borys Lankosz, Poland
Audience Award (tie)
The Dark House, Wojciech Smarzowski, Poland
Welcome, Phillipe Lioret, France

1-2 Competition
Sheva Dakot Be’gan Eden (Seven Minutes in Heaven), Omri Givon, Israel
Eastern Plays, Kamen Kalev, Bulgaria and Sweden

Free Spirit Competition
Purgatorio (Purgatory), Roberto Rochin Naya, Mexico
Mal Dia Para Pescar (Bad Day to Go Fishing, Alvaro Brechner, Uruguay

To check winners in shorts and documentaries go here.

This is a great idea that many fest should emulate, check the winners in the following video

Idealny facet dla mojej dziewczyny (The Perfect Guy for My Girlfriend)

Not very often I have the opportunity to watch a Polish movie, so I couldn’t resist watching this movie even when belongs to the comedy genre. The good news is that comedy Polish style is dry and darkish, which means that I was able to watch it completely and enjoy this satire about the Catholic Church, TV talk shows, madness and feminist movements. But also means that if you’re looking forward to a regular American type of comedy this is not the film to watch.

The movie totally belongs to the lesbian interest genre, but the story really portraits lesbianism in a very satirical and not positive way which may offend many and/or dismiss what you see as negative stereotyping. But everything that this story touches is portrayed not positively (it is a dry satire after all!), so definitively it’s not a particular attack to lesbianism. Still is a crazy comedy with a crazy story and lots of crazy characters.

As far as I was able to read in the net, the movie mainly satirizes a real radio station that has strong influence in Polish politics. Before watching I had no idea, but while watching I early noticed that comedy was the best way to ridicule and satirize touchy issues in Catholic countries like Poland and many others. Definitively noticing this made easier for me to watch the entire film.

So if you do not mind watching Catholic Church and feminist movement strong satire then perhaps you should give this movie a try. I’m not sure if regular audiences to the lesbian interest genre will like this movie as definitively does not look or feel like the regular films and stories in the genre.

Ah! The story. Not easy to explain. Hmm, let see, the main thing is that every character is related to one another in any way. A priest that does everything and anything to advance in the priesthood and to benefit the Catholic radio station. His sister that helps him until she finally accepts what she is. His other sister that’s in a mental institution and her son, Kostek, that is also going crazy, helps his uncle and aunt with their Church work and falls for a woman, Luna, that’s in a relationship with another woman, Klara. This allows me to go to the lesbian couple, where Klara is a feminist with a broke feminist group that to make money decides to do an erotic film that will empower women. The star is Luna and the leading man is Kostek. So it’s easy to imagine that Luna and Kostek end up together for real, while Klara ends up with Kostek’s ex-gf. Ah! Klara’s gay partner is Kostek father! Last, everyone is blackmailing the TV show host for air time; the reason: he’s married and used to have Luna as his mistress. Confused?

I know I almost gave the complete plot, but I wanted to do it so you can decide if you want to watch it or not.

I liked the movie as a satire, but not much as a lesbian interest genre film. So if you enjoy the genre, watch it at your own risk.

Enjoy!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Antichrist

I really dislike horror films and consequently haven’t seen many, so you can say that my genre knowledge is limited if not very basic. But today I’m asking what the horror genre really is as I cannot understand how a movie like the Antichrist is labeled as horror. But then I also cannot understand why is labeled as thriller. For me this is a drama. A sometimes shocking and violent drama, yes; but in my opinion there is nothing thrilling or horror related in this film.

The films tells a so common story about parents grief when their only child dies. But the mastery of Lars von Trier found a way to tell the story in the most unexpected, non-imaginable way while using the most outstanding visuals I have ever seen in any of his movies and in many other films by great cinema masters. The movie visually is stunning with compositions that absolutely take your breath away. Visuals come with extraordinary music and sounds that absolutely complement this unbelievable complete cinematic experience.

With all the controversy around the movie after the Cannes premiere it was impossible not to notice and become aware of the particular scenes with controversy. But me not wishing to be spoiled by any kind of clues heard and read headlines trying not to be contaminated. Still I knew about the “decapitation” of no head but of the sexual organ. The scene in the screen was not more than a few seconds and was nothing special, but the pain I felt was excruciating. Is this horror? Not for me. It was awfully painful like if it was done to me. But I wanted to see more, to continue watching the mesmerizing visuals and the quite brainy story of grief, pain, and despair as von Trier calls his first, second and third chapters.

When Lars von Trier got the idea and wrote the script he was suffering his first ever depression.

" Il y a deux ans j'ai fait une dépression. Ca a été une nouvelle expérience pour moi. Tout, absolument tout, me paraissait sans importance, futile. Je ne pouvais pas travailler. Six mois plus tard, juste pour m'entrainer, j'ai écrit un scénario. C'était une sorte de thérapie, mais aussi une recherche, un test pour voir si je pouvais encore faire un film. "

I do not know about you but I do believe that when you feel the worst is when you produce your best. Again, Trier found a way to tell an explored in many ways story in a totally different way and to me that’s outstanding.

Is the storytelling sexually graphic? Yes it is; but I’m no prude and remember that I do not like pornography at all; still I can take everything sexually graphic that I saw in this movie.

Is the storytelling violent? Yes it is; but I have seen more violent movies and seen those movies where violence is gratuitous. Here violence has a sense and is crucial to the story.

Today I’m still thinking about some issues in the movie and wish I could find only one explanation to many things that happen in the story. But I know that I will find as many explanations as I’m willing to find. That is why I call the story brainy and consequently, I know that viewers will find in the story whatever they wish to see. Still for von Trier the film is about “nature”.

"Une fois encore, le sujet était " la nature " mais d'une façon différente, plus directe qu'auparavant. Une façon plus personnelle. Le film ne contient aucun code moral particulier et possède seulement ce que d'aucuns appelleraient " le strict minimum " en termes d'intrigue. "

By the way I totally avoided reading non-European reviews and viewers comments as I’m aware that due to moral codes and likes/dislikes in films the tone and manner was going to be not positive. If you want to read about this film I strongly suggest you do the same.

I’m not a huge fan of the Danish “enfant terrible” and I admit that I didn’t enjoyed much some of his films (like Dogville); but Antichrist is absolutely outstanding from the storytelling pov, the production values and mostly because of the most amazing visuals even when telling hard to watch scenes. There are many visually stunning moments but the opening, the Prologue, really blows your mind and takes your breath away; it does it so much that you hardly pay much attention to what happens and now I realize that the storytelling really starts when She and He are having intense sex and She is looking to the camera.

Never before have I seen Willem Dafoe performing like this and yes I have seen Charlotte Gainsbourg in many excellent performances but this 2009 Cannes honored with the Best Actress award is one of her best. The entire film is a pas de deux between the two actors and is an amazing to watch display of acting excellence.

I strongly recommend this film that I know I will watch again and absolutely is a Must Be Part of my Collection when the DVD becomes available. Next time I will try not to get lost in the visuals and pay more attention to the story that still today puzzles me in a few points. Will I close my eyes to avoid feeling the excruciating pain in the infamous scene? Yes I will.

BIG ENJOY!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion