2014 Guldbaggen Awards Winners

To my surprise the awards ceremony was streamed live but my Swedish is really poor, still watch a bit of a sketch with a drinking man, which is highly unusual.

Anyway winners are in *BLUE. To check winners in all categories go here.

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1/3/14
Today the Swedish Film Institute announced the nominations for the 50th Annual Guldbaggen Awards and the great news is that most movies are new to me so I'll be looking forward to watch them as soon as possible. Leading the pack is Monica Z with 11 nominations followed by Känn ingen sorg with 9; but most interesting is The Reunion directed by Anna Odell as Odell not only directed but also performs and wrote the screenplay, giving her 4 nominations.

Awarded annually since 1964, the Guldbagge, or Golden Beetle, is the Swedish Film Institute's award for achievements in film from the previous year. The beetle-shaped award was designed by Swedish sculptor Karl Axel Pehrson. Award ceremony will include the Gullspira (for extraordinary contribution in films for children plus the Audience Award and will be on January 20, 8pm, at Cirkus in Stockholm; hope that will be streamed live as they did last year but for those living in Sweden Swedish Television (SVT) will be broadcasting the event live.

Best Film
*Återträffen (The Reunion)
Känn ingen sorg (Shred No Tears)
Monica Z

Best Director
*Per Fly for Monica Z
Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein for Känn ingen sorg (Shred No Tears)
Anna Odell for Återträffen (The Reunion)

Best Actress
*Edda Magnason in Monica Z
Anna Odell in Återträffen (The Reunion)
Gunilla Röör in En gång om året

Best Actor
Robert Gustafsson in Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann (The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared)
*Mikael Persbrandt in Mig äger ingen (Nobody Owns Me)
Matias Varela in Snabba cash – Livet deluxe (Easy Money: Life Deluxe)

To check nominees in all categories go here or here.

Another Winter Movie Bits

Winter is almost over so let's recall some of the movies I have seen during the cold season.

Infancia Clandestina (Clandestine Childhood), Benjamín Ávila, Argentina, Spain and Brazil
Known for his documentary Nietos (Identidad y Memorial) Avila debuts with his first feature film about a similar subject, the children in the troubled Argentinean days of the late 70's. As stated by Avila film story is not autobiographical even when he mixes some of his personal memories with fiction and tells story from a child point of view, which is very safe but becomes a lot less engaging for viewers as at moments becomes a melodrama about puppy love more than how to handle a double identity when you are so young. In this sense while watching story became very familiar for me and not unique as similar stories were told by films like 1988 Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty and 2000 Christian Petzold's Die innere Sicherheit (The State I Am In). The second is also Petzold's feature film debut and for a debut is a very engaging film and story, an opportunity that is lost in Avila's film perhaps because is not easy to objectively direct a film about what happened in your real life.

As we know was Argentina's submission to 2013 Oscar, an honor that perhaps was given more for the story film tells than for film's quality. Still stories like this one need to be told and people need to know them. Watch at your own risk but do not expect much from film specs and perhaps you will enjoy it more than me. Enjoy!  Trailer.


Las Malas Intenciones (The Bad Intentions), Rosario Garcia-Montero, Peru, Argentina and Germany
The debut feature film by Garcia-Montero that also has a story centered in a child and her view of everything that surrounds her in the critical and violent moments in Peru of the early 80's. This time the story is set in a wealthy family where the lonely young girl world collapses as her mother tells her she is going to have a sibling, which is the excuse to lightly explore Peru's conflicts. Not many stories have been told from this specific conflict, so there was a big opportunity for this film to excel at least for the story told, but no it did not as the little girl personal story overshadows everything else that is also told. Then you have the problem of not-so-good acting which makes film very hard to sustain watching.

Peru's submission to 2013 Oscar definitively has not the quality of films by more accomplished Peruvian directors like Claudia Llosa or Vega brothers outstanding films so suggest to watch at your own risk not expecting a great film and maybe you will enjoy it more than what I did. Sigh. Trailer.

Todos Tenemos Un Plan (Everybody Has a Plan), Ana Piterbarg, Argentina, Spain and Germany
Another debut feature film by Ana Piterbarg that unfortunately is not much amazing perhaps due to the lack of developed directorial skills as film starts very well both story wise and tech specs but around the middle film clearly lost direction after setting up some really interesting concepts that are abandoned for stretching a film too long without a clear direction to a much predictable end.

The best film has is that Viggo Mortensen performance looks great thanks to other actors really bad performances. Alright there is something else, Piterbarg style suggests that she will have a good future in filmmaking when her directorial skills improve. Enjoy.  Trailer.

Blancanieves, Pablo Berger, Spain
A very interesting take on classic Snow White tale as film is one of the most clearly Spain's values showcase that I have seen in ages, not only because is about bullfighting, has great music score (mostly Flamenco) but because is set in the 20's and has some great costumes. Also as film is black and white delights us with some very interesting use of light creating some outstanding to watch compositions. The silent film is an homage to German Expressionism which makes film very different to the "other" recent silent film and makes it a very artistic feast to the eyes. That's the good part.

On the not-great side, unfortunately some of the performances doesn't fit what you expect from a silent film nor recreates the fantastic performances in films of the German Expressionism era. For me performances are "too modern" with the occasional exceptions when the necessary silent film dramatic-exaggerated performance is present in scenes by Maribel Verdú. Still and considering modern performances is Macarena García who captured my attention and who I enjoyed most in film.

Spain's submission to 2013 Oscar was surely overshadowed by last year Best Picture Oscar winner but do not let this fool you as this is a movie that I strongly suggest you do not skip especially if you appreciate art in movies but somehow I know that due to the known tale very unconventional adaptation could please wider audiences that never imagined Snow White could be told as is told here. Enjoy!!! Trailer.

Hypnotisören (The Hypnotist), Lasse Hallström, Sweden
A great entertaining film that in my opinion represents well Nordic mainstream films as absolutely has the fantastic cold performances style, blueish/greyish look, slowish pace and a story that can easily capture your attention. But one word of advice, do NOT expect this film to be a Hollywood thriller as thankfully it is NOT.

My best reference is that if you enjoyed 2008 Tomas Alfredson's Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In), 2006 Baltasar Kormákur's Mýrin (Jar City) and/or the original 2009 Niels Arden Oplev's Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) then perhaps you will also enjoy this film that was Sweden submission to 2013 Oscar. Enjoy!! Trailer.

Den skaldede frisør (Love Is All You Need), Susanne Bier, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France and Germany
Was expecting a less mainstream movie but movie is really mainstream cinema and perhaps the most crowd-pleaser/feel-good that Bier has done. Unfortunately and mainly due to casting but also because story, film makes you think about Mamma Mia! -without the songs- which somehow didn't help me to enjoy more film. Still film has some great Nordic style performances by Trine Dyrholm's as Ida and Paprika Steen as very unpleasant Benedikte; the only cast misfortune is Pierce Brosnan even when his performance is not bad, role should have been given to another good actor that hasn't star in a similar story high profile movie.

This romcom is nice to watch but please do not expect a Hollywood romcom as there is nothing American in this film, not the performances, not the storytelling style, not the humor, not the background drama, nor anything else. Film is an enjoyable entertaining moment that could please many that enjoy European cinema. Enjoy!! Trailer.

Cloclo (My Way), Florent-Emilio Siri, France and Belgium
Was more interesting in recalling the life of Claude François than watching film as a film, so you can say that my expectations were very low which was perfect as film as a film is not that good. Assume that this biopic will please many fans of the French pop singer but wonder if those not familiar with him and his brief life could enjoy film that much. Still Jérémie Renier performance is very acceptable as if not has the true looks has most of the mannerisms of Claude François, however is Benoît Magimel transformation what impressed me the most.

For those not familiar with the French singer (he was contemporary of Gilbert Bécaud, Johnny Hallyday and Frances Gall -all are in movie) perhaps knowing that he was the co creator of one of the most famous songs in the world, My Way that Paul Anka bought the rights, created new English lyrics and Frank Sinatra made it an international success. In this sense perhaps what film also has is an interesting take in how songs are translated into other languages to make local singers very popular in that language-speaking countries, sometimes overshadowing locally the success of the "original" song/singer and this story works BOTH ways here, from English to French and from French to English.

It is a very French film with a very French story that I am not sure non-French can enjoy, so my best suggestion is to watch Youtube video clips of the real Claude François before watching movie. Enjoy! Trailer.

The Paperboy, Lee Daniels, USA
With the mostly not positive reviews was expecting a film that I could not enjoy, but surprise, surprise film is truly "trashy" but highly enjoyable with one scene that I know will NOT forget, ever. This particular scene made me jump with a mix of disgust and incredibility as even when during the entire movie I really forgot I was watching Nicole Kidman in the screen, during this scene I couldn't help but seeing her doing a very sexually graphic scene (actually you see not much as almost everything is suggested) that yes, shocked me. Please do not allow me to confuse you, this is one the best Kidman's performances I have seen and one that everyone should see.

Know that film is not for everyone as is very violent, very sexually suggestive (not much is actually shown but it is suggested and makes your imagination flow into only one direction), highly homoerotic (again not much shown but suggested) and story is in one word, bizarre. But somehow Daniels take on the Pete Dexter award winner novel reminds me of Tarantino and bet you all that if Tarantino dared to tell this story, many will praise his work. Then you can't forget that Pedro Almodovar produced film which makes the Daniels-Almodovar collaboration very unconventional and yes, bizarre. Great.

I couldn't watch Daniels previous film as was too much for me, but this one strongly recommend you watch it; however prepare yourself for a sleazy/trashy very unconventional film. Enjoy!!! Trailer.

Have seen many more films but this is it for today. Cheers!

36th Göteborg International Film Festival Awards Winners

Last night at the Stora Teatern the fest had the Dragon Awards ceremony and here are all the award winners.

Dragon Awards

Best Nordic Film
Før snøen faller (Before Snowfall), Hisham Zaman, Norway, Germany and Iraq
Jury’s motivation: “The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film goes to a film with an original and honest vision that goes beyond clichés. By using an exceptional cast and a precise and vivid style of cinematography the director succeeds in telling a story that reveals the impact of tradition and culture and the fact that they can be conquered by naive, true love. The winner is Before Snowfall.”

The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award
Carne de Perro (Dog Flesh), Fernando Guzzoni, Chile, Germany and France
Jury’s motivation: ”A man cannot cope with the deeds of his past and experiences an intense daily suffering. An exceptional performance constitutes the chore in a multilayered tale of redemption, executed with complete artistic control.”

Best Nordic Documentary
Laulu koti-ikävästä (Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart), Mika Ronkainen, Finland and Sweden
Jury’s motivation: “The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Documentary goes to Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart, a touching story of inner and outer exile, which brings out a rarely discussed trauma of the Swedish welfare state of the prosperous 60s and 70s. With great sensibility and refinement, the director describes a personal relationship between father and son and their emotional trip down memory lane in the search of a sense of belonging. Their conversations and meetings with other Swedish Finns along the way gradually unfolds the theme of rootlessness and estrangement, while intertwined live recordings of Finnish immigrant songs from the 70s poetically comment on the theme and widens the picture to encompass an entire culture.”

Lorens Award
Malik Bendjelloul for Searching for Sugar Man, Sweden and UK
Jury’s motivation: “Behind this exceptionally well-produced film lies labor that persevered, often against the odds. Despite considerable solitary labor, it has become an international success story. The film has prevailed at something unusual for documentary film: namely reaching out to a greater audience and using the full potential of cinematography. No journey was too long and no effort too great for the launch and contact with the public. The jury was completely unanimous that the 2013 Lorens Award would be awarded to Malik Bendjelloul for the film Searching for Sugar Man."

FIPRESCI Prize
Nordvest (Northwest), Michael Noer, Denmark
“For its solid acting performances and its balanced and realistic portrayal of a young man's descent into a criminal world.”

Audience Awards
Best Feature Film: Wadja, Haiffa al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia and Germany
Best Nordic Film: Kapringen (A Hijacking), Tobias Lindholm, Denmark

The Church of Sweden Film Award: Godheten, Stefan Jarl, Sweden (documentary)

Short Films
Dragon Award New Talent: La Ravaudeuse, Simon Filliot, France, 10'
Jury’s motivation: “So said—but so beautiful. Poverty, greed, fraternal affection, eroticism and painful death. It all begins with a dramatic birth in a home in the crack between dream and reality—where loneliness hangs over everything. With their accomplished craft, the director invokes both tension and strong characters. With La Ravaudeuse, Simon Filliot has created something entirely new, a completely living world of sackcloth, twine and tangled wool. A moving and well-made pastoral drama that leaves no one untouched.”

Startsladden Award: Gabriel och lasermannen (The Day my Dad was Shot), Babak Najafi, Sweden, 13'

Best Swedish Novella Film: Vatten, Niclas Larson, Sweden, 30'
Special Mention: 10 Guds Siffror (Remnants of a Life), Ivica Zubak, Sweden, 30'

Audience Award: Vatten, Niclas Larson, Sweden, 30'

Last, the best photo from this year's festival:  Baby Dragon.

36th Göteborg International Film Festival Line-up

Since January 25th and until February 4th one of the most famous Swedish film festivals has been running and as soon, on Saturday February 2 will be the awards ceremony, I'm sharing with you all some of the great films that are in the two main competitions.


Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film

8-Pallo (8-Ball), Aku Louhimies, Finland
Djúpið (The Deep), Baltasar Kormákur, Iceland
Faro, Fredrik Edfeldt, Sweden
Før snøen faller (Before Snowfall), Hisham Zaman, Norway
Kapringen (A Hijacking), Tobias Lindholm, Denmark
Nordvest (Northwest), Michael Noer, Denmark
Som du ser meg (I Belong), Dag Johan Haugerud, Norway
Uskyld (All that matters is past), Sara Johnsen, Norway

The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award

36, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Thailand
Carne de Perro (Dog Flesh), Fernando Guzzoni, Chile, Germany and France
Crawl, Hervé Lasgouttes, France
Gözetleme Kulesi (Watchtower), Pelin Esmer, Turkey
It Felt Like Love, Eliza Hittman, USA
Lemale et ha'halal (Fill the Void), Rama Burshtein, Israel
Wadjda, Haifaa al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia and Germany
Zwei Leben (Two Lives), Georg Maas, Germany and Norway

To watch trailers for the above and more movies go here. This year the fest is larger than ever as the program includes almost 500 films from 84 countries and to check films in the many sections please go here.

2013 Guldbaggen Awards Winners

On January 21st the Swedish Film Institute held the gala ceremony for the 48th Annual Guldbaggen filmpris and Gabriela Pichler's Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die) was the big winner as came with five nominations and won four. Winners are in *BLUE.

1/13/13
The Swedish Film Institute announced today the nominations for the 18 categories that will be honored this year (7 are new) and Mikael Marcimain's Call Girl leads with 11 nominations followed by Jan Troell's Dom över död man (The Last Sentence) with 6 nods and Malik Bendjelloul's Searching for Sugar Man with 5 nominations.

Awarded annually since 1964, the Guldbagge, or Golden Beetle, is the Swedish Film Institute's award for achievements in film from the previous year. The beetle-shaped award was designed by Swedish sculptor Karl Axel Pehrson. Award ceremony will include the Gullspira (for extraordinary contribution in films for children plus the Audience Award and will be on January 21, 8pm, at Cirkus in Stockholm; hope that will be streamed live as they did last year but for those living in Sweden Swedish Television (SVT) will be broadcasting the event live.

The nominations.

Best Film
*Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die) by Gabriela Pichler
Call Girl by Mikael Marcimain
Searching for Sugar Man by Malik Bendjelloul

Best Director
Mikael Marcimain for Call Girl
*Gabriela Pichler for Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die)
Jan Troell for Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)

Best Actress
Pernilla August in Call Girl
*Nermina Lukač in Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die)
Linda Molin in Bitchkram (Bitch Hug)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Léonore Ekstrand in Avalon
Yohanna Idha in Katinkas Kalas (Certain People)
*Ulla Skoog in Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)

Best Actor
*Johannes Brost in Avalon
Bengt C.W. Carlsson in Lycka till och ta hand om varandra (Good Luck. And Take Care of Each Other)
Matias Varela in Snabba cash II (Easy Money II)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
*Peter Carlberg in Avalon
Milan Dragišić in Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die)
Fares Fares in Snabba cash II (Easy Money II)

Best Screenplay
*Malik Bendjelloul for Searching for Sugar Man
Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten for Call Girl
Gabriela Pichler for Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die)

Best Cinematography
*Hoyte van Hoytema for Call Girl
Måns Månsson for Avalon
Jan Troell and Mischa Gavjusjov for Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)

Best Editing
*Andreas Jonsson, Hanna Lejonqvist and Niels Pagh Andersen for Palme
Kristofer Nordin for Call Girl
Malik Bendjelloul for editing Searching for Sugar Man

Best Costume Design
*Cilla Rörby for Call Girl
Katja Watkins for Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)
Jaana Fomin for Mammas pojkar (Metal Brothers)

Best Sound
Jonas Jansson for Snabba cash II (Easy Money II)
*Petter Fladeby and Per Nyström for Call Girl
Malik Bendjelloul and Per Nyström for Searching for Sugar Man

Best Make-up/Hair
Eros Codinas for Call Girl
*Jenny Fred for Snabba cash II (Easy Money II)
Maria Strid Zackrisson for Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)

Best Music
*Benny Andersson for Palme
Malik Bendjelloul and Sixto Rodriguez for Searching for Sugar Man
Johan Söderqvist and Andreas Unge for El Médico: The Cubaton Story

Best Production Design
*Lina Nordqvist for Call Girl
Sandra Lindgren for Bitchkram (Bitch Hug)
Pernilla Olsson for Dom över död man (The Last Sentence)

Best Visual Effects
Tim Morris for Call Girl
Torbjörn Olsson for Hamilton – I nationens intresse (Agent Hamilton - In the Interest of the Nation)
*Andreas Hylander for Isdraken (The Ice Dragon)

Best Foreign Language Film
*Amour, Michael Haneke
Laurence Anyways, Xavier Dolan
Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson

Best Documentary
Palme, Kristina Lindström and Maud Nycander
Pojktanten (She Male Snails), Ester Martin Bergsmark
*Searching for Sugar Man, Malik Bendjelloul

Best Short Film
*Dance Music Now, Johan Jonason
Fotografen (The Photographer), Vanja Sandell Billström
Gläntan (The Clearing), Peter Grönlund

I'm so glad that Searching for Sugar Man is being honored as is the best EVER documentary I have seen up to date and definitively is better than many feature films (non-documentary) I have seen in recent years. The honors include a nomination in Best Documentary but also as Best Film, both are highly well-deserved as well as the other four nominations it got (editing, music, script and sound).

But Malik Bendejelloul debut film has strong competition in the Best Film category from great Jan Troell with his period drama and most of all from also first timer Mikael Marcimain (have done mainly TV movies/series/miniseries) with his fictional recount of a real-life Swedish political scandal known as Bordellhärvan which linked underage prostitution with powerful customers believed to come from the highest levels of society.

If you wish to check info plus watch trailers check the new Guldbaggen website here and to read the official press release go here.

23rd Stockholm International Film Festival Award Winners

While the previous post festival was having their award ceremony, the more (a lot more) interesting Swedish festival was also having their award ceremony that gave awards to much interesting films.

The fest big winner is Lore by Cate Shortland that not only got the top award but also three more awards. The following are all the award winners.



Bronze Horse for Best Film: Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany, Australia and UK
The motivation of the Jury: A coming of age story that is beautiful and brave and transfers it’s audience to a time and place that we have all known many times before. Only this time the perspective is different. A historical drama with timeless brilliance.

Best Directorial Debut: Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild, USA
The motivation of the Jury: For achieving a sense of naturalism in a fantastic universe and grabbing a hold of his audience and never letting them go. For his belief in humanity in a cinematic landscape that so often cannot pull itself out of the mire of misanthropy. Like our hero Hushpuppy, Benh cannot help but hear and embrace the beating heart that keeps all of us going.

Special Mention for Directorial Debut: Karzan Kader for Bekas, Sweden, Finland and Iraq
The motivation of the Jury: For telling a beautiful tale of an unbreakable bond and endless hope in the face of adversity, capturing two amazing performances from his young leads, and making a film that moved this jury. We eagerly await this director's next film.

Best Actress: Saskia Rosendahl in Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany, Australia and UK
Special Mention for Acting: Eloise Laurence in Broken, Rufus Norris, UK
Best Actor: Tim Roth in Broken, Rufus Norris, UK
VIASAT Film Rising Star: Nermina Lukac in Äta sova dö (Eat Sleep Die), Gabriela Pichler, Sweden

Best Script: Andrew Dominik for Killing Them Softly, Andrew Dominik, USA
Best Cinematography: Adam Arkapaw for Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany, Australia and UK
Best Music Award: Max Richeter for Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany, Australia and UK

FIPRESCI Prize: Everyday, Michael Winterbottom, UK (film was shot over the course of five years, a few weeks at a time)
Telia Film Award: Una Noche, Lucy Mulloy, USA, UK and Cuba
Silver Audience Award: Call Girl, Mikael Marcimain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland

Stockholm Feature Film Award: director Amanda Adolfsson and producer Gila Bergqvist-Ulfung with the film project Unga Sophie Bell (Young Sophie Bell)
1Km Film Scholarship: Johanna Paulsdotter for Århundradets Brott (Damaged Ones), Sweden

Best Short Film: Curfew, Shawn Christesen, USA
iFestival Winner: Bejamin's Flowers, Malin Erixon, Sweden

Stockholm Achievement Award: Willem Dafoe
Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award: Jan Troell
Stockholm Visionary Award: Jacques Audiard

There are several must be seen movies in this list, hope to be able to watch as soon as possible.

2012 Stockholm Film Festival Feature Film Award Nominations

In four days one of the festivals that I follow will start but this year has films that I'm already familiar with so will publish only the winners. Still I suggest you check their lineup especially the most interesting section "1km film" and suggest to not miss the iFestival with their online short film competition.

One of the most interesting awards in this festival is the Feature Film Award that was launched to realize untapped potential among female filmmakers; the wining project will premiere at the 2014 Stockholm fest as well as receive a prize to be used in production financing and distribution aid.

This is the second time this award is presented, last year the winner was Sofia Norlin's project Tenderness which is premiered in this year fest in the Work in Progress section of the Industry program. By the way in the Industry program one of the Master Classes will be given by none other than Ursula Meier and the most exciting news are about Pernilla August latest project Arvingerne (The Legacy) that also is in the Work in Progress section, is a Danish TV drama series that will premiere in Denmark on January 2014 and on BBC1 in the spring of 2014.

These are the nominated projects.

Cayuco by Görel Crona
Synopsis: Drama about 16-year-old Sara from Sweden who is on the Canary Islands when an overloaded refugee boat goes aground. Among the survivors from the difficult journey towards the Europe of dreams we find youngster Mamdou.

Unga Sophie Bell (Young Sophie Bell) by Amanda Adolfsson
Synopsis: Friendship, love and death. A thrilling and touching depiction of growing up, facing the future and simultaneously handling your past.

Wasted by Marietta von Hausswolf
Synopsis: Will you survive your last year as a teenager without losing everything? Will you handle turning 20? A story of survival with a strong and complex female lead

The winner will be announced in the festival awards ceremony on November 17.

En kongelig affære (A Royal Affair)

I was really impressed with this movie, the remarkable performances, the little known (for me) piece of history and how Nikolaj Arcel was able to do "another" European period movie quite different to many that I have seen. So, just imagine the "cultural" shock I had when discovered the not so good reviews movie gets mainly, but not only, in English from a few professional critics and many viewers. This motivates me to do a different approach here as seems like if I saw (again) a different story than many did.

The Film Story - Part 1

Film tells the story of a young queen, Caroline Mathilde, who is married to insane king, Christian VII of Denmark, falls secretly in love with the king's German physician, Johan Friedrich Struensee, and together change too early what later becomes the norm not only in Denmark but across the civilized world or -if you wish- Europe. Is told from the queen's perspective and accordingly to what I read is based primordially on the novel Prinsesse af blodet (Princess of Blood) by Danish author Bodil Steensen-Leth where the queen is the protagonist and the one who narrates story; but also is based on the novel Livläkarens besök (The Visit of the Royal Physician) by Swedish author Per Olov Enquist. So these gives us some clues that story even do is based on actual facts has to have some fiction.

The History

As I'm not that much familiar with Danish history my first instinct told me to check what was fact, so I did a little research from reliable sources. Seems movie is a good dramatization of actual events but there are several issues that seems today are still questionable; most are related to the "affair" or the romance. Some still doubt that Struensee had an affair with the queen, but others confirm that the daughter pictures show resemblance to him and many claim that he had an affair with the queen and also with another woman in the court, which made both women very jealous of each other.

What seems to be real is everything related to Struensee ascension to power, his ahead of time rulings based on his studies of Enlightenment philosophers, and his fall to the aristocrats that had lost all power and finally got it back. All this happening in Denmark 20 years before the French Revolution.

The Story - Part 2

Seems that most viewers see film and only watch the romance, after all who can blame them as if you read the movie title is none other than "A Royal Affair", which most will relate to the romance and not to the other kind of affairs. All right I also saw the romantic affair and admit that it was good, interesting; yet was similar to many European royal stories that we have seen in film, including one mentioned profusely in viewers reviews: the story of Camelot. Most like the romance movie and some even call it a "girlie" film, meaning that is suited only for female audiences. I totally disagree, but then I saw more the "other" story, the one that really captured me to feel all kind of intense emotions, the one that made me think that infamous phrase: "people have the government they deserve".

As movie begins to introduce us to the characters, the queen's tragedy, the king's insanity and whatever follows I was seeing the film with "romance" eyes; but there was one scene that changed all and made me think that there was something more in this story. I'm talking about the scene where the queen finds the books hidden behind the front books in the bookshelf. From that moment on I awoke and started to see film with different eyes. What captured my attention are all the elements that seem to be history accurate and that story seemed to me just fascinating.

I was not aware of this piece of history that happened 20 years before the French Revolution, regret that is lost in history annals and probably will be lost for many even after seeing this film. Won't get into analyzing all the implications but due to Arcel's so contemporary storytelling style plus the outstanding screenplay, made me think about what is happening nowadays around the world, where history tends to repeat itself many times. About the fear of change that some have because will lose their power while others because ignorance. Then, just imagine if Struensee had remained in power world history would have been told quite different today.

The Film

Nikolaj Arcel might be known to some of you because he wrote the outstanding screenplay of Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), that for me is the best of the Millenium saga films; so was not surprising that the screenplay of this movie won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Berlinale that he co wrote with Rasmus Heisterberg. I believe that what makes this movie quite outstanding is the remarkable screenplay that spectacularly blends romance, some humor and historic events while impregnating a very contemporary feel.

Performances by Alicia Vikander (the queen) and Mads Mikkelsen (Struensee) are remarkable but the one that steals the movie for me is Mikkel Boe Følsgaard that gives his insane king performance many layers to make our eyes fixed on him every time he is on the screen. Production design is lavish as well as costumes and production values are on the high end of the scale.

In the end the film is as good as many other European royal period films if you think only about the production values but what makes this film very different is not only the story it tells but also how is told.

As we know film is Denmark's submission to Oscar and before reading reviews I was sure this film will make it to the shortlist of nine and maybe will get a nomination; now I think that only if Academy members see the "other" affairs and how magnificently is blend into romance then perhaps will make the shortlist. Sigh.

Still this is a film I highly recommend to many regular readers as know will enjoy the romance and will appreciate the historic value of this film.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Eu când vreau să fluier, fluier (If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle)

Truly amazing film that takes us slowly into an intense study on human reactions to impotence, inability to stop something and how far can we go trying. Took me a while but finally was able to see Florin Serban's 2010 highly acclaimed feature film debut that won the 2010 Berlinale Jury Grand Prix, was Romania submission to Oscar in 2011, and collected many honors in the fest circuit and awards season. Some things are worth waiting for and definitively this film was one of them.

Set in a youth-reformatory tells the story of Silviu (George Pistereanu) last days of sentence where after years of being an exemplary recluse starts to transgress the prison rules thanks to learning that his mother came back from Italy to take his younger brother back with her. Film is set in a prison but in my opinion this is not a prison movie at all, as I believe is used because is a setting that perfectly allows to show a microcosm where due to forceful confinement naturally facilitates impossibilities to do what you wish to do. And that's what exactly happens in film, as Silviu after unsuccessfully trying reasonable ways to help him stop his mother, has to resort to extreme measures.

It's a simple story that becomes outstanding thanks to absolutely impressive performance by Pistereanu and the mind-blowing Serban's abilities as a filmmaker and storyteller. Film is so good that is one of the few films that I have seen that very successfully translated a play to the big screen, as film is based on the stage play with the same name by Andreea Valean.

Film gloriously closes with an open end where you have to imagine what comes next, was Silviu successful? Did he stopped his mother? Was everything worth it? It's up to you to close this story with a classical happy ending or opt for a different outcome. I simply love when filmmakers leave to us viewers the opportunity to close the story, especially after a very intense, very emotional ride. Fantastic.

I know that film is not for general audiences as has a very slow pace, has many silences, actors express what happens more with face and body expressions than words and yes, nothing is spelled-out in here, you have to get inside the movie to highly enjoy the ride. Almost my perfect kind of movie as the only thing missing was to be visually stunning, but in this case I forgive filmmaker as beauty definitively is something that could not be present in this film and story. This is glorious raw realism.

If you haven't seen film yet, strongly suggest you do so if you enjoy great Romanian new wave cinema.

BIG ENJOY!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Babycall (The Monitor)

Another extraordinary performance by Noomi Rapace in the most nerve-wracking movie I have seen in years, I was so much into the movie that even forgot that I was watching Noomi which tells about how good an actress she is but also tells about how good the movie was constructed as starts quite slowly introducing the characters but as soon as the main character, Anna (Rapace), buys the baby monitor film spirals into turmoil where you don't know what is real and what is not. Fantastic.

All right, there is a moment where a key element becomes evident and I know most of you will guess right, but doesn't matter if you have been following what this movie could really be all about, which basically has absolutely nothing to do with the monitor, but with what Anna is feeling/living after ... what? You will not know until the very end that was kind of a downer as it was "spelled" for you.

But director and screenplay writer Pål Sletaune spiced his finale with a sideline story that makes congruent to close Anna story so literal and open the "other" story that was happening in front of you and perhaps you didn't notice that much. Then the "other" story of course is not closed and the open-end leaves you thinking a lot more about what was really happening in this movie. Brilliant.

Absolutely not a movie to relax as will crush your nerves and make you think a lot about what is happening while watching plus when is over the thinking or re-thinking starts and even do I read all over the net for someone that could give me some light about the "other" story and the "new" movie story in general, I was not able to find something. I'm exhausted from watching and thinking, which I find quite exciting as it's been a long while since a movie leaves me in this state of mind and yes, also body.

Somehow even when movies are quite different, this movie makes me think about Daisy Diamond but surely is because the intensity that Noomi Rapace gives to both lead characters is not only similar but the result is equal, excellence in performing. Still fact is that Babycall has the Nordic cold look and feel of Daisy Diamond, so if you liked the second surely will like this one.

As a movie has excellent production values, with some beautiful photography that allows you to pause for seconds, great performance by all the cast, and a hand that puts together quite effectively a complex story that, especially after reading reviews, can be so complex and thinking-consuming that seems most avoid doing it and satisfy themselves by seeing a regular American thriller story/movie with a predictable end, which in my opinion is not at all and suggest you do not think will be. Nevertheless Pål Sletaune twisted mastery takes us into a great, very complex, narrative and visual ride. Great and thank you Mr. Sletaune for the experience.

I highly recommend movie but if you enjoy American thrillers I strongly suggest to try to not think that this movie is alike, maybe then you will not only enjoy movie more but also will be able to tell me what the "other" story told at the very end changes everything we thought we saw. I have several ideas but there is not one that fully convinces/satisfies me.

Will leave you without telling what story is about, as this is the kind of movie where is better not to know much about it and hope I didn't gave away spoilers.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC (the trailer with English subtitles makes movie look like horror, which is not, suggest avoid watching it)

PS: left one interpretation as a comment, which is a major spoiler, so if you haven't seen the movie, please do not read it. Thanks.

Kärlekens krigare (Warriors of Love)

Have seen old movies like this one, but lately seems like not many filmmakers are revisiting the style as probably is not easy to sustain for viewers as has extremely long shots with fix camera, extremely slow-pace, sort of experiential style that no longer is experimental, deadpan expressionless performances, dialogues with no characters in screen and only two actors that pretend to be something they are not. Yes is quite hard to watch this movie that was in competition at 2009 Locarno in the Filmmakers of the Present section.

If visually is hard to watch because the storytelling style, story is quite disturbing and style only makes it more disturbing; still have in my mind some of the dialogue and I hope to fast get rid of as the coldness when delivering the lines is chilling, disturbing and that's how I'm hearing the words again in my head. Awful.

Film story has been labeled as the "lesbian Romeo and Juliet"; I can assure you that there is nothing in here slightly resembling the Shakespeare story, as tells about a couple of young women (actress look adult but dress like teens, odd effect) that go to the countryside where the father of Ida lives, slowly and in the most disturbing way (only with words that many times are worst than images) we learn that the father abused her, so they decide to kill him. I watched with most disgust until this moment as afterwards story became really silly and -please excuse my word- stupid. As I will not recommend watching this movie will spoil the story, in the end the women hang themselves to death.

I have seen very disturbing movies, but this one besides being quite disturbing is VERY unpleasant to watch, truly disgusting, no matter the great black and white cinematography. So, I strongly suggest you skip this very unpleasant movie.

Awful!

Watch trailer @MOC

Островът, Ostrovat (The Island)

One of the most interesting and surprising films that I have seen lately and one that I strongly suggest you read nothing about the story so you can be surprised as I was as well as many other that have enjoyed the film. Critics and viewers comments tend to manifest dislike for the movie when they were aware of what story was about, so I insist you go “virgin” to this movie.

Can share with you that movie has three parts, the first very brief is quite realistic and has the amazing cameo by none other than Alejandro Jodorowsky; the second happens in a small island in the Black Sea where the main character lives an interior cataclysm and the third happens in a big city, a modern society. The point is that each part has a different style and Kamen Kalev really plays with the styles plus with you, the viewer, if you allow yourself to get inside the story and film. As you can imagine is not a regular art or European cinema, this is quite unusual storytelling that could blow your mind or make you go to the other extreme, bore you to death.

One of the most surprising elements of this film is that is the only film I know where Laetitia Casta has a more than acceptable performance as indeed her performance is very credible; but movie belongs to Thure Lindhardt that speaks Bulgarian phonetically and more than what he says is what he doesn’t say –his face expressions and body language- what really amaze you.

I have not seen Kalev’s debut movie as I really dislike the actor in the lead, but after watching this movie with another not pleasant to watch actor in the lead, I’m warming into watching his first and most acclaimed oeuvre Eastern Plays. I know has to be a good movie as from trailer know cinematography looks spectacular, which by the way in this film cinematography is also spectacular both outdoors as indoors.

First part is so brief that suggest you pay attention as introduction is key to second part that very slowly involved me –almost lost me, so try to endure- but when third part started my reaction was with amazement –incredulity- and you have no idea how could enjoy such a style, story and unconventional ending. This movie is quite unique.

I do recommend to those that really do not like to read about story before watching a movie, like slow story development with some tension building and most of all, enjoy at being surprised with most amusing and unexpected situations.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 Winter Movie Bits

Here are some bits about movies that didn’t touch me enough, at least enough to write something about them.

This Must Be The Place. I have no clear idea of what was I expecting from this movie but Paolo Sorrentino credentials gave me expectations of an intense cinematic experience. Can’t say movie is bad as it’s not, much less that Sean Penn is bad as he gives an excellent performance but there is something that bothered me. I saw two styles, thus two movies; one I liked, happened in Europe, the other I didn’t, set in USA. Not as intense as I was hoping and wish film styles blended better; hope next Sorrentino film stays in Europe only. Enjoy! Italy, France and Ireland.

Drive. With all the awful marketing promotion I delayed watching as much as possible as imagined movie was going to be very violent. It is not and end up enjoying the story, the performances and fabulous Nicolas Winding Refn style. If you don’t care about violent movies do not skip this one as not only is not that violent but you will be missing a great movie with great actors’ performances and an acceptable story. Enjoy!!! USA.

Martha Marcy May Marlene. Actually I liked movie and as I said after watching if it wasn’t for them talking English I would have say that this is an European movie, maybe German, good German cinema and Elizabeth Olsen has a great performance, should have gotten an Oscar nod as she does world class acting. If you haven’t seen it, do not skip it worth watching no matter how story is. Enjoy!!! USA.

Young Adult. I believe I’m a Diablo Cody fan and really are looking forward to her directorial debut. In a nutshell this Jason Reitman film has outstanding –and very sharp- dialogues and an amazing performance by Charlize Theron, so good that the classic drunk scene made me feel very awkward, so much that had to “close” my ears and really close my eyes. Do not skip this movie as is a fantastic movie about those really dysfunctional individuals that never grow up. Enjoy!!! USA.

The Iron Lady. Meryl Streep does an outstanding performance that in my opinion does not save the movie that should have been more a made for TV movie, unlike the famous The Queen. I really HATED the story as was a not-kind and very unpleasant to watch portrait of a famous woman. There was NO need to tell the story from this point-of-view even when intention was to humanize Mrs. Thatcher. Can you think about an alive male statesman that was an object of a “humanizing” portrait such as this one? I can’t. Anyway even when Streep deserves Oscar I wish the American Academy wouldn’t celebrate her greatness in such a poor movie. Sigh. UK and France.

J. Edgar. Talking about humanizing famous man this Clint Eastwood film does that with perhaps one of the must “larger-than-life” American infamous law iconic figure and in this sense Eastwood absolutely succeeds as Hoover is seen more like a person than a not-so-positive legend. But film has something that makes the end product not outstanding and not relatable. I believe is the screenplay and yes, performances, the later is hard for me say as I believe Eastwood is a master filmmaker, but I know that once in a while he does movies that leave me wondering why he did them and these films have big stars as leads –remember Angelina Jolie movie? Anyway, watch it without expectations and maybe you will learn that Hoover actually did something good. Enjoy. USA

A Dangerous Method. Complex movie, too much psychoanalysis (as it should be) not much entertaining as is very brainy, thus “dry”; but then what was there to expect from a movie about the founders of modern psychology? (lol!) Indeed most of what I heard already knew and had to pay to learn it! Didn’t enjoy much actors’ performances especially Keira Knightley was not good and at times very unpleasant to watch. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Canada, UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

Octubre (October). Been waiting a long time to watch this Vega brothers film and no, I was not really impressed with their much praised film. Peruvian cinema has so much evolved and leaped into the international arena that I was hoping for a world class cinema experience. It was not. Movie has more the regular Latin American style and well, has an entertaining story good enough for an entertainment escape moment. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Peru.

Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Away). What do you think of a story that starts with a cow falling from the sky into a small boat and killing the woman that was about to get a marriage proposal? That’s exactly how this sometimes comedy sometimes drama starts plus sets the tone and manner to everything that follows. Is an entertaining movie quite well done with the always outstanding and reliable performance by Ricardo Darin. Enjoy!! Argentina and Spain.

Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven). For me Violeta Parra is an icon and watching her bio was not easy as tells –and made me recall- about turbulent times in the Latin American region not only Chile. Still, I believe Andres Wood does a good job as she was portrayed as what –everyone says- she was, a not pleasant woman. I like her songs and this movie will not change that, but maybe I liked better the idea I had of her in my head than the one portrayed here. Watch at your own risk, especially if you know who Violeta Parra is and her outstanding poetry in her lyrics. Enjoy. Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Apflickorna (She Monkeys). Lisa Aschan much honored debut film is a very interesting essay on very young and young women –or should I say children?- behavior as story is strong and yes, not easy to watch. But what makes film quite outstanding is Aschan magnificent visual and narrative storytelling style. Looking forward to her next film and suggest you do not skip this movie, but be prepared as story is not light. Yes has some lesbian interest but in my opinion film transcends the label both because story as because the superb filmmaking style, so wider audiences should be able to enjoy this very European movie. Enjoy!!! Sweden. Lesbian interest.

Poulet aux Prunes (Chicken with Plums). After Persepolis I was really hoping for an outstanding story and was looking forward to see how directors move from animation into live filmmaking; then Mathieu Amalric is a very special performer that either you love him in a particular role or you don’t. Here Amalric is the don’t-like kind and live film does not reach the same great levels of their animation film. For me story is not that interesting –at least as much as was Persepolis- even when I recognize that’s magical. Some say is a very French movie, I don’t agree, film does not look or feel French or European at all. But I hope next film by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi regains the magic that Persepolis had. Enjoy! France, Germany and Belgium.

La Source des Femmes (The Source). I was really looking forward to watch this Radu Mihaileanu film with a story that revolves around women. I really like Leïla Bekhti performances as well as excellent Hiam Abbass and good Hafsia Herzi; can’t complain as it was good watching them here but didn’t enjoy much the story as I believe is one I have seen before told in many more compelling ways. Still, visually this film is a true beauty that will feast your eyes. Enjoy! Belgium, Italy and France.

Les Géants. Bouli Lanners films are not easy to watch for me as was unable to watch Eldorado, but wanted to try to watch this Cannes honored movie. I couldn’t, had to stop watching as was feeling physical sick and very uncomfortable. A story of three kids that never imagined could be portrayed so not easy to watch for the most non-sense simple situations. Watch at your own risk. Sigh. Belgium.

Polisse. Not sure what was going to watch here as Maïwenn movies are always not very easy to watch or enjoy. Well, definitively this one has not her usual style and style becomes maybe more commercial as film looks and feels like mainstream cinema –and could extend it to being like a movie made for the small screen. Still film tells a compelling story about children and actors give very good performances, which makes film worth watching. Do not skip it, even if you don’t particularly like French cinema, you will enjoy this movie. Enjoy!! France.

Les Femmes du 6e étage (The Women on the 6th Floor). Watched because Carmen Maura got a Cesar nomination –which she won- but I’m no fan of French comedies as no, I don’t particularly enjoy their humor. Still film is a lot more a drama than a comedy and was a true pleasure to watch Fabrice Luchini performance. Movie is quite watchable and yes I do recommend it for an escape moment, French style of course. Enjoy!! France.

وهلّأ لوين؟ Wo Hallah La Wen? (Where Do We Go Now?) Nadine Labaki mesmerizes me as an actress and most of all as a director. I really LOVED Sukkar Banat (Caramel) so can deny that had HUGE expectations for her next movie. In my opinion her second movie is VERY different to her first and yes, I did enjoy a lot more her first than her second. Story here is very relevant plus her visual and narrative filmmaking style are interesting, but I have seen this story told before in more compelling and emotional ways. Still it was a true pleasure to watch Nadine Labaki in the screen, which makes movie worth watching. I’m really looking forward to her third movie that hope has a more universal story developed with her particular style. Enjoy. France, Lebanon, Egypt, and Italy.

Café de Flore. A very pretentious movie by Jean-Marc Vallée that many say is about love, me I say is an anatomy of a separation told by mirrored stories that happen in the past (Paris) and the present (Montreal) but thanks to pretentious editing –yes editing is what makes this film pretentious- time is senseless crisscrossed, rewind, and forwarded. Better editing could have made mirrored stories more flawlessly intertwined and movie more enjoyable. I really enjoyed Hélène Florent performance and believe she stole the movie. If you don’t mind to watch a movie that moves (too much) in time to tell a story that somehow is predictable (was for me) and journey is not that enjoyable, then watch this film for the love story that many people see in it. Enjoy. Canada and France.

Oslo, 31. August (Oslo, August 31st). Loved Reprise and yes had expectations. Second Joachim Trier film has the same great filmmaking style as his first film but tells a simple story that with his style becomes quite disturbing. So much disturbing that yes, I do suggest you avoid this film as you could get really depressed by Trier’s interpretation of Pierre Drieu La Rochelle’s 1931 Le Feu Follet. Here is not an alcoholic but a drug addict, yet drama is SO well developed that will hurt you inside –where hurts more. Okay, is a very good movie, but find a good state of mind to watch it or you will get very depressed. Enjoy! Norway.

The Artist. Just realized that I didn’t wrote about this movie that in my opinion glorifies Hollywood cinema like no American film has ever done, so it’s no surprise that film became a favorite of critics and the American industry. I enjoyed movie, it was entertaining but as I mentioned elsewhere, if I wanted to honor American silent cinema I could watch so many good films with many excellent silent actors that this film will absolutely pale in the comparison. Obviously film doesn’t look or feel like French cinema and wonder if the honor of being the most honored French movie of all times really celebrates this cinema and not the American one. Watch movie just because won Oscar and if you have to watch all Oscar wining movies. Enjoy! France and Belgium.

I’m sure I forgot many more movies but this is it for today.

Cheers.

2011 Guldbagge Awards Winners

Watching Awards ceremony live and it's quite entertaining, especially when my Swedish is very basic (lol!) but it takes no genius to understand category and winner. Winners in all categories will be at the official site here. Winners are in *BLUE.

--//--

1/5/2012

Yesterday the Swedish Film Institute announced the nominees for this prestigious award and here they are for the main categories. Simon och ekarna leads with 13 nominations followed by Play with 7 and The Crown Jewels with 5.

Best Film
*Apflickorna (She Monkeys), Lisa Aschan
Play, Ruben Östlund
Simon och ekarna (Simon and the Oaks), Lisa Ohlin

Best Director
Lisa Aschan for Apflickorna (She Monkeys),
*Ruben Östlund for Play
Lisa Ohlin for Simon och ekarna (Simon and the Oaks)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
*Ann Petrén in Happy End
Magdalena Poplawska in Between 2 Fires
Helen Sjöholm in Simon och ekarna (Simon and the Oaks)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Mikael Persbrandt in Stockholm Östra (Stockholm East)
*Sven-Bertil Taube in En enkel till Antibes (A One-way to Antibes)
Kevin Vaz in Play

To check nominees in all categories go here. Awards ceremony will be on January 23, 2012 at Cirkus, Stockholm and Swedish TV (STV) will broadcast the event live.

Only in Sweden could happen that two out of the three films nominated for Best Film and Best Director are by female directors; know it has to be a milestone and should be celebrated as great achievement. Then somehow I really miss Noomi Rapace in these awards as unfortunately she’s doing very strange films (for her profile and career) so I hope she goes back soon to make outstanding Swedish productions –sigh.

Autumn Movie Bites #2

Some bites to remind us that I have seen the movies and what I think about them.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes by Rupert Wyatt. USA. I start by saying that have seen the old movies, thus I know story; so my big surprise was to find that I liked the prequel, is a lot better than what I could ever imagined or expected. Loved the new apes, especially the protagonist with an amazingly expressive face that really transmitted feelings, truly fabulous how cinema technology has advanced and how good can be when is well-used. If you haven’t seen it, go ahead and watch if only just to pay attention to the great expression by the protagonist ape. Enjoy!!

What Women Want by Daming Chen. China. I’m crazy about Gong Li and will watch everything with her, but I have no idea why did she accepted to do this remake of the Hollywood movie with the same name. Much less because I did enjoyed original and gee, this remake was really awful and got me feeling embarrassed for Gong Li performance. If you love Gong Li please do not watch this movie. Sigh.

Margin Call by J. C. Chandor. USA. Nice entertaining drama about the financial crisis that seems will be explored from many points of view; this time telling about an investment bank that rushes to dump their positions before everything explodes and pushing fast-forward the crisis. Great cast with the likes of Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, and well, Demi Moore. Movie is starting to collect honors in this award season and yes, is well-deserved as film is a good representative of current American cinema that doesn’t target teenagers and doesn’t use special effects to fill movie duration. Enjoy!

The Help by Tate Taylor. USA, India, UAE. No, haven’t read the book and was expecting a not-easy-to-watch American period drama before civil rights were a possibility. To my surprise the story engage me to the point of making me very uncomfortable at moments as many things that are depicted in the movie are still true today between maids and their mistresses from many Latin American countries. Film is well done, so well that does generate emotions in viewers and I’m no exception, but great performances enhance story and movie in general, especially Viola Davis that I’m sure will get an Oscar nomination. Watch movie is entertaining and surely will make you laugh, shred a few tears, make you think a lot, and for some, wonder why no one has written a successful book about Latin America’s maid/mistress relationship. Enjoy!!!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Wayne Wang. China and USA. Film tells parallel stories between 19th century China and present day Shanghai with tales of two women joined by laotong, a biding vow and contract to be eternal friends and share each other lives communicating with a secret women’s language called nushu beautiful written on the folds between the spines of silken fans. Nice story isn’t? Unfortunately film does not match the greatness of the story and what could have become interesting, thrilling and engaging becomes banal, not interesting and focus less. If you skip movie won’t miss much, but I do suggest you read book by Lisa See. Enjoy.

Melancholia by Lars von Trier. Denmark, Sweden, France and Germany. Lars von Trier has said publicly that this is his most American-like (ie mainstream or commercial) movie ever and you have no idea how right he is as this film definitively is not the regular greatness von Trier imprints in his works. Maybe the cast helps too much to his Americanization, as the first part with Kirsten Dunst character story is really not-engaging and for me, dull. Thing change a bit in the second part when Charlotte Gainsbourg commands the story and the screen but by then you know the end is coming and effectively comes with a bang done more with light than with impact. I suppose that most honors will come because film is not as crude as for example The Antichrist, is a lot more easy to watch and one-dimensionally understandable. Sigh. All right because I really liked second part, let say is Enjoy! (I hope he goes back to do his remarkable movies that so goodly shock us).

The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick. USA. Let me get this out of the way I have seen Malick’s movies and yes there are some I don’t like (The New World) and some nobody liked but I did (Days of Heaven); so many like his latest and surprise, surprise I did not. Just let me share that can’t understand why to reproduce the big-bang for about 20 minutes (more or less) with images that look more belonging to Natgeo, Discovery or any of those cable TV channels than to a “serious” film. I literally forced myself to watch the complete movie, but boy that was really a very hard thing to do and do not suggest anyone to do it. Too hard-to-watch (ie boring) but got the Palm d’Or and praises from everyone, except me. Sigh.

Beginners by Mike Mills. USA. Could you believe I watched this movie because Mélanie Laurent? Lol! It’s an entertaining movie thanks to very good performances by Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor as father and son. Film is a drama that tells about a man inability to keep a relationship surely due to what he saw his parents live, especially after her mother dies and his father recuperates the ‘joie de vivre’ when he tells everyone that he’s gay. It’s a complex story with many layers that I got them but somehow didn’t engaged me and watched from a comfortable distance, I was just an spectator of whatever was going on in the screen. Enjoy!!

Attenberg by Athina Rachel Tsangari. Greece. Very crazy movie, so crazy that I love it! But know that is not for everyone not for the story, not for the performances, not for the style and not for the whole that to me feels not hot like Greece but very cold like Finland –somehow film made me think of Aki K. films-. There is nothing lesbian interest in this film as I thought, so watch film only if you like cold-expression-less performances in very complex layered stories. If you dare to watch film I bet you will enjoy it a lot more than you expect, obviously you have to like art/arthouse films too. Enjoy!!!

Le Gamin au Vélo (The Girl with a Bike) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. Belgium, France and Italy. Typical and particular Dardenne brothers visual style, amazing storytelling technique/style, and excellent directorial style that makes something very simple into a true masterpiece that’s a pleasure to watch. Period. Both Cécile De France and Thomas Doret give impeccable performances. A must be seen film for all of us that love the work of great Dardenne brothers. Enjoy!!!

Elena by Andrei Zvyagintsev. Russia. This movie has been killing me since the moment I finished watching and as days went by it has gotten worst. See, my spontaneous reaction when I saw the movie was: it’s an okay movie, Russia now looks/behaves like the rest of us… hmm, not good. Liked the visuals but believed they’re not as good as in Izgnanie or The Return. But since I like this director way beyond what I saw, I replayed movie in my mind and from that moment on movie is killing me. I know there are a lot of symbols and film explores the capitalist dichotomy of poor-rich, have-have not’s, plus the roles nouveaux riches play in their societies and I suppose that in Russia those that have money have not old money, but new money. Then started to read about movie and gee, almost each review, no matter the language, has slightly different story interpretations. I even read what Zvyaginstsev says about story and yes is slightly different. So my conclusion, is that movie story could have as many interpretations as people who see the movie, there is a very easy to understand story essence that deals with what I said above plus the morals of committing murder, but when you see story essence you know there is more and indeed people find more. One thing I’m sure if you enjoy great Russian films, this is must be seen for you. Big Enjoy!!!

جدایی نادر از سیمین Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (Nader and Simin, A Separation) by Asghar Farhadi. Iran. Excellent movie, for me as good as Farhadi previous two films, Fireworks Wednesday and About Elly; but this film has something new as story flawlessly travels several genres and engages us viewers not like spectators but like we are inside the movie and sometimes we side with Simin, then with Nader, the with Razieh, then with the judge, then with no one, then we are completely immersed inside the story and film. Fabulous! Until you see this brilliantly crafted very simple story you have no idea how seeing something so banal and common can become a masterpiece in the hands of a master filmmaker. Chapeau Mr. Farhadi. I don’t doubt that has huge possibilities of winning the Oscar and if so, will be well deserved, especially now that I know Pina is also competing in the documentary category. I strongly recommend this film as must be seen for all everyone that loves great world cinema. BIG ENJOY!!!

There are many more movies, but this is it for today. Cheers!

Autumn Movie Bites #1

Here are some bites about lesbian interest movies. Enjoy.

Circumstance by Maryam Keshavarz. France, USA, and Iran. Bit confused about film as found stays like in the middle not going in depth with something. As a genre film tells a known story –set in the Middle East too- with love scenes that are more sex scenes filmed from a male-point-of-view than with female eyes. Not the best lesbian interest film with similar theme that I have seen. Then as a political statement is not strong as there are other female centered stories that have more successfully shown how Middle Eastern cultures/traditions/religion converts women to almost non-existence within their society. Maybe if film had no lesbian interest content political message could have been developed more; likewise if had no political message then the lesbian interest story could have been developed more and more appropriately. Still, film is watchable. Enjoy.

You and I by Roland Joffé. Russia and USA. Not pleasant to watch thanks to a terrible script with absurd dialogues and lack of clear focus in a story that pretends to show youth decadence in contemporary Russia by telling the “falling in love” story of Janie (Shantel VanSanten) and Lana (Mischa Barton). If you skip movie you will be missing absolutely nothing. Sigh.

Sour Sorriso (Sister Smile) by Roger Deutsch. Italy. This 2001 film is more a fictitious account of what infamous Belgian nun surely didn’t live; but not like the more recent version, clearly presents a woman that loved women. The problem is that the director to tell a 60’s set story used a 60’s cinema style that today makes story and film not easy-to-watch plus hard to be related to. Sigh.

80 Egunean (For 80 Days) by Jon Garaño and José María Goenaga. Spain. Film tells about “Axun and Maite meeting at secondary school during a repressive that never allowed their relationship to go beyond friendship” and when they meet 50 years after they can’t really become a couple as seems is too late. Not particularly liked message as I do believe that NEVER is too late, but how writers decided to end story makes message “more politically correct” but less human as we have to end up doing what others want and not what we really want. Film has very good production values and performances that will entertain you. Enjoy!!

Die Konkurrentin by Dagmar Hirtz. Germany. This 1997 German TV movie has a very nice love story between two women as only –I believe- German television can do SO good, which makes it absolutely must be seen for those that enjoy the genre and have seen before (great) German lesbian interest TV movies. The last is because whatever else happens in story (here is Business Corporation drama) is secondary to their typical seductive way of making their protagonists fall in love and have a happy ending. Still surprises me that German audiences were able to watch lesbian interest movies in that decade, when still today -40 years after- many countries TV will never show them. Enjoy!!

Break My Fall by Kanchi Wichmann. UK. Can’t deny that film has an interesting style that makes it look and feel quite realistic. For a 40,000 UK pounds production, have to say that film is really great. Story is raw and like in all stories about a relationship last days we will not see romantic moments; if performances are good then story will be felt a lot more and this is the case with this film. It’s a lesbian story about something that hasn’t been explored too much in the genre and suggest to many to watch it with no romance expectations and maybe you will enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy!!

Como Esquecer (So Hard to Forget) by Malu de Martino. Brazil. Nope is not about how the relationship ends, but how the one that didn’t want to break up abandons herself into depression, how she starts to overcome not being with Antonia anymore and finally meets someone that allows her to give herself another chance to care for someone. Gee, sounds kind of sad BUT honestly is NOT as this Brazilian movie has all over the Brazilian “joie de vivre” more in style than in story, plus acceptable to good performances by good-looking cast makes the ride really easier. Can be entertaining if you have no expectations and just enjoy the ride. Enjoy!!

Leading Ladies by Daniel Beahm and Erika Randal Beahm. USA. My big mistake was that I had expectations about this movie, “dancing expectations” lol! Honestly is not a good movie and there is not much dancing; but if you enjoy typical American comedy style (which I don’t) maybe you will enjoy this “zany” comedy a lot more than me. Sigh.

Tomboy by Céline Sciamma. France. An entertaining film that surely is more mainstream than Sciamma’s previous Naissance des pieuvres, which I simply loved. As you can imagine was expecting a film more in the style of Naissance des pieuvres and definitively Tomboy is different; still is an engaging story about a girl that sees her moving into a new neighborhood as the opportunity to be more what she really feels like: a boy. Okay I should explain myself so I will not confuse anyone, this film is NOT mainstream, is arty; but if you compare both Sciamma’s films then you will see that her second is more commercial than her first thanks to the story mainly. Not your regular genre film, but worth watching. Enjoy!!

Kyss Mig (With Every Heartbeat) by Alexandra-Therese Keining. Sweden. Has this film a predictable story? Yes. Indeed is true, very predictable BUT film is highly enjoyable, so it’s not about the destination is about the trip. You have no idea how good your trip into the lives of Mia and Frida will be as performances by complete cast is quite good, cinematography is super, production values are high and director is so good that I’ll watch her future films for sure. I loved this movie and if you have the patience to enjoy a great ride to a predictable destination, then this film is definitively for you. Enjoy!!!

Mein Freund Aus Faro (To Faro) by Nana Neul. Germany. This 2008 film has been labeled as the German version of Boys Don’t Cry and indeed has a similar story but fortunately fictional To Faro does not have the violence of the real story. Tells about Melanie that meets Jenny and falls in love; but Jenny think she’s met Miguel from Faro, Portugal. Film is nothing special, entertaining but not much more. If you been delaying watching because of violence (as I did) be assure that there is none here, so go ahead and watch. Enjoy.

Luan qing chun (Beatiful Crazy) by Chi Y. Lee. Taiwan. Couldn’t enjoy film even when I tried harder (lol!), yes is arty but unfortunately not really interesting. Not much lesbian interest, just what seems like a few seconds. If you skip it, won’t be missing much. Sigh.

Albert Nobbs by Rodrigo García. UK and Ireland. Honestly I had no lesbian interest expectations for this movie as I’m familiar with main character story, so finding that perhaps the most digestible/funny character the movie has is the one played by Janet McTeer (Page) who happens to be lesbian and lives with her wife was most refreshing. Glenn Close really gets lost into her male character and does a great performance but character is truly lame -and definitively not lesbian at all- as Albert Nobbs is a woman trapped in a man cover that resigned herself to live a life of loneliness, that’s it until she meets Page as sees an opportunity to change her destiny. Unfortunately she does not look for love, she looks for convenience and pursues Helen (Mia Wasikowska) that definitively doesn’t need “convenience” at that moment. Maybe if Nobbs had seduced Helen then things would have been different, but obviously that will happen later when Page starts to seduce Helen. I believe that Close does really good her character but character is so unappealing and is so well-done that some are saying that her performance made the character one-dimensional, flat, pan faced, etc; but I do believe that’s the way it was supposed to be. Anyway this is a movie to watch not because has lesbian interest moments but because is a story of women that had to dress like men to be able to earn a living when for whatever reason, there was no man to take care of them. Enjoy!!!