A realistic and at the same time dramatic film by Stephane Brize which remains unfinished! Despite Vincent Lindon's admittedly excellent performance and avoiding any melodramas about a social phenomenon such as unemployment, he does not touch the subject in depth, thus presenting a one-sided image. This costs the film, because it lacks the courage to answer which key questions and leaves the viewer unsatisfied as to the social phenomena that lead man to his wrong choices. The system, the establishment, is omnipresent dominating the masses and leaving little room for any dignity. A dignity lost in the daily grind of survival. There is no more tragic thing than this and we live it without realizing the loss of our very existence. Thierry realizes it as soon as he can in the thick of things and simply makes his move...
Reviews
9 Reviews
Frozen River
(2008)
An Indie film you must see!
8 March 2023
A daily problem that plagues all modern societies, that of illegal immigration, is the main theme of this excellent low-key film. A family on the verge of financial impoverishment in a declining economy chooses for a better tomorrow - a house what else? - the only unorthodox solution is illegal immigration. It is a highly realistic approach to the subject without embellishments, with our heroes being authentically honest and direct, delving as much as they should into this extreme social phenomenon, the exploitation of man by man. That's what makes her so great at capturing the hope that something beautiful and pure will shine through at the end of the film. By all accounts it was justly honored at several festivals.
Child's Pose
(2013)
What a suprise from Romania!
8 March 2023
A sociological documentary that describes a world that is shiny and yet so deeply hollow at its core. With a well-crafted script, the film analyzes the dysmorphic relationship between a dynamic mother (a typical representative of today's Romanian upper social class) and her son. In a clear framework of criticism of today's Romanian reality, the film records the state corruption, the entanglement at every level, as well as the inhumane behavior of the ruling caste, thus presenting the glaring contrast between the newly rich and the rest of the population who still experience the position of pariah.
Staying true to the cinematic culture that has shaped modern Romanian cinema, the director and co-creator of the script Calin Peter Netzer, manages to lead the viewer in a cinematically masterful way (with the skillful movement of the camera from one protagonist to another), in everyday life of the modern urban family. Gold Award at the 63rd Berlin Festival.
Staying true to the cinematic culture that has shaped modern Romanian cinema, the director and co-creator of the script Calin Peter Netzer, manages to lead the viewer in a cinematically masterful way (with the skillful movement of the camera from one protagonist to another), in everyday life of the modern urban family. Gold Award at the 63rd Berlin Festival.
Conejo en la luna
(2004)
A must see masterpiece!
6 March 2023
A dark and scary film about corruption and fear that will keep you riveted for 110 minutes, literally! The villains of the case are very bad and obnoxious while the corrupt lawyer could be proclaimed as the absolute king of corruption. The relentless mental and physical violence is so intense that it leaves you stunned and without hope. The concept of justice and noble rivalry has no place here and people are pawns in a dark game of power where it depends on which side you are on. The quick editing as well as the complex premise is the key to this amazing thriller masterpiece. Without a doubt one of the best thrillers...
The Naked Island
(1960)
A true masterpiece...
6 March 2023
In a post-war, Japan trying to heal its wounds, the toil of farm life is as harsh as in any country in the world. The life of the family with the two small children who help with the chores, are the only creatures that give life to the desert landscape of everyday life. Despite the lack of dialogue - only the natural sounds of the family's activities and the environment - it never ceases to addict you to a hypnotic atmosphere created by the routine. The same activities at different times, consecutively, cyclically, without end. Kaneto Shindo films the sea, the sky, the mountain, the hut, the changing of the seasons, the shadows of the water on the faces, with amazing frames and creates interest without any action. Hayiash Hikaru's music is equally melancholic. A minimalist musical theme that repeats over and over and beautifully dresses up the imagery, with the flute constantly dominating. "Naked Island" is one of those movies that leave you speechless. Made up of images of incredible beauty, it forces you - it seduces you better - to pay attention to even the smallest detail: two butterflies flirting, a pinecone washed up by the wave on the shore, the crab on the sand... This is the greatness of the film!
Easy Rider
(1969)
Easy Rider is a film that marked the history of cinema and is now considered a classic.
6 March 2023
It concerns the adventures of two wandering motorcyclists, who try to discover their true selves and at the same time get to know life in the late 60s, an era marked by the questioning of the moral principles of society and the revolution of young people against the establishment. The film features unforgettable hits by bands of the era including: Steppenwolf, The Byrds, The Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Eva and The Electric Prunes. This alone gives a supreme value to the film. The huge commercial success of the film - with a budget of only 350,000 dollars - was seen by Hollywood as a promise of a recipe that would bring in money again, and a precursor to similar types of films. Much later, however, critics and producers realized that the film's innovation was not its low budget ("big profit from a small budget"), but its writing, storytelling and form. Slow movements, fast cuts, still images, use of black and white and color together, aggressive use of sound in relation to the image. The script is almost absent, while the immediacy and emotional charge from the improvised scenes is intense and has a catalytic effect on the understanding of the symbolism (gangsters-cowboys, machines-horses). The heroes/anti-heroes of the film are lost, directionless, failed people. The society in which they live is sterile, empty, and thus they redefine their relationship with nature and refuse the trappings of an entire false world. "A man went looking for America and couldn't find it anywhere..."
P. S. The original title of the film was "The Loner" but at the suggestion of Terry Southern (one of the three screenwriters) it was changed to "Easy Rider" which in slang means the man who lives off the money earned by a prostitute.
Central Station
(1998)
A trip so pure and human that it becomes magical.
28 February 2023
A truly great road movie showcasing the multiculturalism of Brazil, capturing the beauty through Carvalho's superb photography and stunning location. A story about the poor and marginalized people where despite the daily hardships and adversities of life, they do not lose their dignity. The point of the film is not so much whether the young protagonist Josue is able to find his father, (rather unlikely) but how his initially difficult, confused and hostile relationship with Dora can blossom into a strong bond of mutual care.
And interdependence. Both are alone in the world, both struggling to survive under harsh conditions. A bittersweet film shot on location covering over 8,000 miles over a ten week period that captures the authentic spirit of the country.
And interdependence. Both are alone in the world, both struggling to survive under harsh conditions. A bittersweet film shot on location covering over 8,000 miles over a ten week period that captures the authentic spirit of the country.
To Be or Not to Be
(1942)
A masterpiece of classic Hollywood and a great anti-war satire
28 February 2023
It takes guts and endless talent to make an anti-war satire in the middle of World War IIand Ernst Lubitsch possessed both. His film, which was considered in bad taste when it was released but is now recognized as a pure masterpiece, takes place in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, where a troupe finds itself embroiled in a mission to track down a German spy. Lubitsch's handling of the balance is astonishing, with the director lending an unseen narrative fluidity to the style of the film, which begins as a witty comedy, evolves into a tense thriller, and ends as a dark comedy that mocks the absurdity of war. All this without missing the intelligent sarcasm about the actors' jealousies and their dreamy temperament, which finally manages to save them from the horror.
The English
(2022)
Beautiful!
16 February 2023
This is the first and last word that comes to mind while watching Amazon Prime's slow-burning new western series. A journey of two diametrically opposed characters that end up on a straight line. Because this was probably the intention of the creator Hugo Blick from the beginning, to place his amazing actors in an environment that is convenient to keep your enemies closer than your friends.
There are no words for Emily Blunt in the role of 'The Englishwoman', since the last script she took and didn't make it her own was......never. Within the top 5 modern actresses easily. Melancholy for the loss of her son hidden in a fragile beauty, but also a sense of despair for the nihilistic environment she became involved in
The surprise came from Chaske Spencer in the shoes of the Indian Pony who has swallowed the entire scenery, while the interaction with Blunt is something else. Soft-spoken, situational, barbaric, the perfect tool in a lawless and unhinged situation.
In the midst of all this, Stephen Rea as a sheriff and famous characters of the genre in smaller roles like the amazing Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds fit perfectly.
The 6 episodes with some small bellies give plenty of space for a story that looks simple but ends up being complex, while at the end you feel full that you watched a television spectacle that winks at the cinema.
No pc screen, of course no tablet or mobile can capture the greatness of 'The English' photography, as all these unseen heroes hiding behind the cameras have delivered a Wild West straight out of a painting. Bigger is better in this case, where viewing on large screens should be included in the contract.
There was a hesitation, that in order for the series to reach a wider audience, we would have Black Friday in the field of violence, but we were bitterly denied.
The things that are needed to prove that we are not seeing a fairy tale, but a violent story of revenge in a miserable world, are captured in the very first half hour.
Without further ado: the western is here, the series is a masterpiece, and Sergio Leone somewhere up there is proud.
Poem, a reason to feel proud to love the 7th art. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
There are no words for Emily Blunt in the role of 'The Englishwoman', since the last script she took and didn't make it her own was......never. Within the top 5 modern actresses easily. Melancholy for the loss of her son hidden in a fragile beauty, but also a sense of despair for the nihilistic environment she became involved in
The surprise came from Chaske Spencer in the shoes of the Indian Pony who has swallowed the entire scenery, while the interaction with Blunt is something else. Soft-spoken, situational, barbaric, the perfect tool in a lawless and unhinged situation.
In the midst of all this, Stephen Rea as a sheriff and famous characters of the genre in smaller roles like the amazing Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds fit perfectly.
The 6 episodes with some small bellies give plenty of space for a story that looks simple but ends up being complex, while at the end you feel full that you watched a television spectacle that winks at the cinema.
No pc screen, of course no tablet or mobile can capture the greatness of 'The English' photography, as all these unseen heroes hiding behind the cameras have delivered a Wild West straight out of a painting. Bigger is better in this case, where viewing on large screens should be included in the contract.
There was a hesitation, that in order for the series to reach a wider audience, we would have Black Friday in the field of violence, but we were bitterly denied.
The things that are needed to prove that we are not seeing a fairy tale, but a violent story of revenge in a miserable world, are captured in the very first half hour.
Without further ado: the western is here, the series is a masterpiece, and Sergio Leone somewhere up there is proud.
Poem, a reason to feel proud to love the 7th art. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
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