From the dramatic widescreen shots of a lone figure walking across a desert that open the film to its final, heartbreaking, close-up images, Son of Babylon (2009) had me enraptured throughout.
Son of Babylon is set in 2003, in the immediate aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s fall, and tells the story of a Kurdish grandmother and the search for her son, Ibrahim, a soldier missing since the Gulf War in 1991. A letter from a fellow soldier informs her that he had been arrested and was held in Nasiriyah prison, so twelve years later she sets out with her grandson, Ahmed, on the long journey from the Kurdistan region in the north to Babylon in the south.
On the way, they encounter various characters, experience small acts of kindness from ordinary people and survive some near mishaps. In one heart stopping moment, when a Baghdad bus drives off with Ahmed inside and the grandmother running behind,...
Son of Babylon is set in 2003, in the immediate aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s fall, and tells the story of a Kurdish grandmother and the search for her son, Ibrahim, a soldier missing since the Gulf War in 1991. A letter from a fellow soldier informs her that he had been arrested and was held in Nasiriyah prison, so twelve years later she sets out with her grandson, Ahmed, on the long journey from the Kurdistan region in the north to Babylon in the south.
On the way, they encounter various characters, experience small acts of kindness from ordinary people and survive some near mishaps. In one heart stopping moment, when a Baghdad bus drives off with Ahmed inside and the grandmother running behind,...
- 2/13/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
True Grit (15)
(Joel & Ethan Coen, 2010, Us) Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper. 110 mins
The Coens surprise everyone by not making a Coens movie, but their celebrated attention to dialogue, landscape, casting, period detail and just about every other aspect of film-making gets this well past the "why are you even doing this?" point. Steinfeld's smart-mouthed little avenger and Bridges's un-Wayneish old buzzard share our sympathies, as well as the all-important Grit, and even if the result is almost a straightahead western, it's a superior one.
Never Let Me Go (12A)
(Mark Romanek, 2010, UK/Us) Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley. 104 mins
With a top cast and a story that's not about royals, it's a shame this bold, new Britpic is so depressing. The setting is a boarding school in an alternative Britain (best not to spoil the twist – the movie does that itself), where three friends struggle against the status quo,...
(Joel & Ethan Coen, 2010, Us) Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper. 110 mins
The Coens surprise everyone by not making a Coens movie, but their celebrated attention to dialogue, landscape, casting, period detail and just about every other aspect of film-making gets this well past the "why are you even doing this?" point. Steinfeld's smart-mouthed little avenger and Bridges's un-Wayneish old buzzard share our sympathies, as well as the all-important Grit, and even if the result is almost a straightahead western, it's a superior one.
Never Let Me Go (12A)
(Mark Romanek, 2010, UK/Us) Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley. 104 mins
With a top cast and a story that's not about royals, it's a shame this bold, new Britpic is so depressing. The setting is a boarding school in an alternative Britain (best not to spoil the twist – the movie does that itself), where three friends struggle against the status quo,...
- 2/12/2011
- by The Guide
- The Guardian - Film News
Film-making was a lost art in Iraq, until Mohamed Al-Daradji set about making an epic road movie. He tells Kate Connolly how difficult it was, and its significance to everyone involved
Yasser Talib squirms in his seat. It is the 12-year-old's first visit to a cinema, and he is writhing with embarrassment. "He didn't tell me he was going to show me in my underpants. And they look so childish!" he says. His pain is focused on his friend and mentor, director Mohamed Al-Daradji, whose film Son of Babylon shows Yasser, who plays a boy called Ahmed, being dressed up in a smart shirt and trousers by his grandmother in anticipation of a reunion with his long-lost father. They set off in search of Ahmed's father three weeks after the fall of Saddam in April 2003, and their journey, from the mountains of Kurdistan in the north to the sandy ruins of Babylon in the south,...
Yasser Talib squirms in his seat. It is the 12-year-old's first visit to a cinema, and he is writhing with embarrassment. "He didn't tell me he was going to show me in my underpants. And they look so childish!" he says. His pain is focused on his friend and mentor, director Mohamed Al-Daradji, whose film Son of Babylon shows Yasser, who plays a boy called Ahmed, being dressed up in a smart shirt and trousers by his grandmother in anticipation of a reunion with his long-lost father. They set off in search of Ahmed's father three weeks after the fall of Saddam in April 2003, and their journey, from the mountains of Kurdistan in the north to the sandy ruins of Babylon in the south,...
- 2/4/2011
- by Kate Connolly
- The Guardian - Film News
Iraq's foreign-language Oscar entry "Son of Babylon" has been picked up by Luis Angel Bellaba's Aquelarre which has won all Spanish rights to Mohamed al-Daradji's film. The story of a two-year-old Kurdish boy's odyssey across Iraq with his grandmother, in order to try find his father. Starring are Shazada Hussein and Yasser Talib. U.K. company Human Film produced the film alongside Iraq-al-Rafidian and French company Crm-114. "Babylon" won top honors at the Seville European Film Festival (Seff) this past November...
- 12/30/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Iraq's foreign-language Oscar entry "Son of Babylon" has been picked up by Luis Angel Bellaba's Aquelarre which has won all Spanish rights to Mohamed al-Daradji's film. The story of a two-year-old Kurdish boy's odyssey across Iraq with his grandmother, in order to try find his father. Starring are Shazada Hussein and Yasser Talib. U.K. company Human Film produced the film alongside Iraq-al-Rafidian and French company Crm-114. "Babylon" won top honors at the Seville European Film Festival (Seff) this past November...
- 12/30/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sundance released their slate for 2010. It includes:43 documentaries on the Middle East12 films about friends who 'discover' something33 movies about people you've never heard about1 comedyHopefully the lineup this year is strong but it doesn't look that way compared to last year. Last year we had Push (Precious), that Lil Wayne documentary that never went anywhere, Mystery Team which might make my top ten, Moon, Mike Tyson documentary, Cold Souls. Just so much last January that was excellent. I hope I don't go out therer and freeze my tail off just to see...I don't know, a documentary about a former Pakistani prime minister or something silly like that.Here's the lineup so far: Premieres To showcase the diversity to contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival Premieres section offers the latest work from American and international directors as well as world premieres of highly anticipated films. Presented by Entertainment Weekly.
- 12/3/2009
- LRMonline.com
I feel a special bond with the Sundance Film Festival. Not because I’ve been there, but because the guy in charge of it this year, John Cooper, shares my name. Because we share this bond, I feel that I’m able to take license in referring to the man as Coop for the rest of this article.
For the annual event held in Park City, Utah from January 21-31, thousands of films are submitted and screened — this year, 3,724 films were viewed by the festival’s ten programmers. I wonder when they slept.
Coop has high hopes for the festival as a whole:
“We may even be going into a golden age for independent films, in that the technology will make it possible for the films to be made and for audiences to see them. The industry is going through a major evolutionary stage right now, there’s no doubt about that,...
For the annual event held in Park City, Utah from January 21-31, thousands of films are submitted and screened — this year, 3,724 films were viewed by the festival’s ten programmers. I wonder when they slept.
Coop has high hopes for the festival as a whole:
“We may even be going into a golden age for independent films, in that the technology will make it possible for the films to be made and for audiences to see them. The industry is going through a major evolutionary stage right now, there’s no doubt about that,...
- 12/3/2009
- by John Cooper
- ReelLoop.com
Sundance released their slate for 2010. It includes:43 documentaries on the Middle East12 films about friends who 'discover' something33 movies about people you've never heard about1 comedyHopefully the lineup this year is strong but it doesn't look that way compared to last year. Last year we had Push (Precious), that Lil Wayne documentary that never went anywhere, Mystery Team which might make my top ten, Moon, Mike Tyson documentary, Cold Souls. Just so much last January that was excellent. I hope I don't go out therer and freeze my tail off just to see...I don't know, a documentary about a former Pakistani prime minister or something silly like that.Here's the lineup so far: U.S. Documentary Competition This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere. Bhutto(Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting journey through the life and work of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto,...
- 12/3/2009
- LRMonline.com
The Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the lineup of films playing in competition from January 21 through January 31, 2010. The early fest typically debuts some of the best films the year has to offer, like 2009’s Precious, (500) Days of Summer, and Moon.
I’m bummed I won’t be in Park City, Utah next month because the lineup looks great, and these are just the films playing in competition. Here’s a few that stood out to me:
The Allen Ginsberg trial film Howl starring James Franco, a documentary by Alex Gibney (a truly great filmmaker) on Jack Abramoff, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut Sympathy for Delicious, a doc about Joan Rivers, the directorial debut of “How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor titled Happythankyoumoreplease (I wrote a glowing script review of it here), Hesher with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman, and Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
I...
I’m bummed I won’t be in Park City, Utah next month because the lineup looks great, and these are just the films playing in competition. Here’s a few that stood out to me:
The Allen Ginsberg trial film Howl starring James Franco, a documentary by Alex Gibney (a truly great filmmaker) on Jack Abramoff, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut Sympathy for Delicious, a doc about Joan Rivers, the directorial debut of “How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor titled Happythankyoumoreplease (I wrote a glowing script review of it here), Hesher with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman, and Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
I...
- 12/3/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Sundance Film Festival 2010 is a little over a month away and that means we can now bring you a list of the competition films that will be playing. Here you go boys and girls… enjoy!
Documentary Competition
“Blue Valentine” – Directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, a portrait of an American marriage that charts the evolution of a relationship over time. With Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman. “Douchebag” – Directed by Drake Doremus, written by Lindsay Stidham, Doremus, Jonathan Schwartz and Andrew Dickler, in which a man about to be married takes his younger brother on a wild goose chase to find the latter’s fifth-grade girlfriend. Features Dickler, Ben York Jones, Marguerite Moreau, Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson, Wendi McClendon-Covey. “The Dry Land” – Directed and written by Ryan Piers Williams, in which a returning U.S. soldier tries to reconcile his experiences overseas with his life in Texas.
Documentary Competition
“Blue Valentine” – Directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, a portrait of an American marriage that charts the evolution of a relationship over time. With Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman. “Douchebag” – Directed by Drake Doremus, written by Lindsay Stidham, Doremus, Jonathan Schwartz and Andrew Dickler, in which a man about to be married takes his younger brother on a wild goose chase to find the latter’s fifth-grade girlfriend. Features Dickler, Ben York Jones, Marguerite Moreau, Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson, Wendi McClendon-Covey. “The Dry Land” – Directed and written by Ryan Piers Williams, in which a returning U.S. soldier tries to reconcile his experiences overseas with his life in Texas.
- 12/3/2009
- by Scott
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Photo: Sundance Today the Sundance Institute announced the films that will be in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in both the U.S. and International dramatic and documentary categories. The festival will run from January 21-31 in Park City, Utah. There are a few changes this year as there will be no opening-night picture and the festival will take select festival films to eight cities during as the fest plays out.
Last year notable films such as this year's major Oscar contenders Precious and An Education debuted at Sundance 2009 as did audience and critical favorite (500) Days of Summer.
As for this year's crop I have highlighted a few titles among the list below in red, but I have primarily done so considering the names attached to the pictures not necessarily based on any advanced buzz I've heard around any of the films. Names to look out for include Ryan Gosling,...
Last year notable films such as this year's major Oscar contenders Precious and An Education debuted at Sundance 2009 as did audience and critical favorite (500) Days of Summer.
As for this year's crop I have highlighted a few titles among the list below in red, but I have primarily done so considering the names attached to the pictures not necessarily based on any advanced buzz I've heard around any of the films. Names to look out for include Ryan Gosling,...
- 12/2/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
And the first announcement is upon us and includes quite a few movies we've already reported on.. What does that include?
The incredible looking Estonian drama The Temptation of St. Tony for which we got the exclusive trailer on a while ago. It's by Veiko Õunpuu who did the incredible Sügisball and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing this.
From Spencer Susser, the director of the incredible zombie short I love Sarah Jane comes Hesher, his first feature which stars Jgl!
David Michôd's Australian thriller Animal Kingdom which stars Guy Pearce.
From Taiki Waititi, director of Eagle vs Shark comes Boy which we previously reported on, but then it was known as The Volcano.
Full list after the break!
U.S. Documentary Competition
This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Bhutto (Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting...
The incredible looking Estonian drama The Temptation of St. Tony for which we got the exclusive trailer on a while ago. It's by Veiko Õunpuu who did the incredible Sügisball and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing this.
From Spencer Susser, the director of the incredible zombie short I love Sarah Jane comes Hesher, his first feature which stars Jgl!
David Michôd's Australian thriller Animal Kingdom which stars Guy Pearce.
From Taiki Waititi, director of Eagle vs Shark comes Boy which we previously reported on, but then it was known as The Volcano.
Full list after the break!
U.S. Documentary Competition
This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Bhutto (Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting...
- 12/2/2009
- QuietEarth.us
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