Category Archives: Foreign
Foreign
Flash Movie Review: Don’t Tell
Everyone needs a place where they can feel safe. For many such a place would be their home, but it can be anywhere. Whatever that space may be it should offer one a sense of comfort and release as soon as they enter its area. Each of us has a set of awarenesses that have been honed by the outside world; they can demand a large quantity of energy from us. My safe haven growing up was the apartment building I lived in from the time I was born. Planted on the corner of a city block, it had multiple layers of protection for me. When I was being chased home from school by a group of bullies, the wide front door of the building would swing open with a whoosh, allowing me into a plain paster walled lobby that had brass mailboxes hanging on one side and a glass paned security door on the opposite. It could only be opened with a key, which I always had ready in my hand by the time I would reach home. Once past the security door’s threshold, the sweat pouring down my reddened face would lessen, my piston rapid breathing would slow down and every muscle that was tense with fire began to calm down into a smoldering buzz. That building was always my go to place as it was my protector for many of my early years. I was fortunate with my circumstances; sadly it was different for the main character in this Oscar nominated movie. Giovanna Mezzogiorno (Facing Windows, The Last Kiss) played Sabina, a young woman who began experiencing nightmares around the same time she found out she was pregnant. Her fragmented memories would lead her to the United States to seek out answers from her brother Daniele, played by Luigi Lo Cascio (Light of my Eyes, The Best of Youth). I thought the acting was exceptionally good from Giovanna and Luigi, along with Stefania Rocca (The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Card Player) who played Emilla. There was a sense of mystery in this drama that revealed itself in a horrifying way. Though there were a couple of slow passages in this film festival winner, overall I was engaged with the story and appreciated the way it unfolded. The acting was this movie’s strongest element; the script provided the fuel for it. One thing I appreciated in particular was the subtle way certain things were revealed. It kept me emotionally attached to the story even though I was uncomfortable at times. The story may be one you have heard before; but this film delicately handled it, providing a safe environment for the viewer. The majority of the film was spoken in Italian with English subtitles.
3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Ida
Some of us wear the identity we were given as a young child, while others wear the one they grew into and became when older. A child who was always told they were bad could grow up to be living proof of that statement. Labeled with a derogatory nickname like Chunky or Four Eyes can remain as part of a person’s identity throughout their lifetime; coloring many of their future decisions. Imagine an only child discovering years later their parent had children from a previous marriage; I wonder what that does to someone’s mindset? Last Oscar awards season after I saw the movie Saving Mr. Banks, I read a startling story about the author of Mary Poppins. If I remember correctly she adopted one child from a set of twin boys and never told her son he had a twin brother. Trust me I still cannot believe someone would do such a thing. You know though, they say there is this thing called karma and here is where it played out with the author. When her adopted son was a young adult his twin brother, after years of searching, walked up to him at a bar. As you may have guessed, the adopted son was stunned to discover he had a twin brother. Where I found this scenario to be tragically triumphant, the story in this alluring film festival winning movie was sadly startling. Set in Poland during the 1960s, newcomer Agata Trzebuchowska played Anna who was an orphan who grew up in a convent. The week before she was to take her vows to become a nun, Anna was told she had a living relative and would need to go visit her before her vows. When Anna met her Aunt Wanda, played by Agata Kulesza (Suicide Room, Rose), Anna found out she was not who she believed she was all these years. This black and white drama was beautiful to watch on the big screen. I found the camera angles told the story as well as the dialog; but the fact that the film made a square frame on the rectangular movie screen, creating an extra closeness with the audience, allowed us an intimate glimpse into the life of these 2 women. The acting was outstanding. The producers must have known these actresses were able to take a somewhat sparsely worded script and provide such richness to the scenes and story. What an amazing film and testament to the ability of humans to choose their identity. The dialog was in Polish with English subtitles.
3 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Edge of Heaven
There was no other option because we were hungry. A line of people standing outside the front door was how we determined the restaurant had to have good food. The problem was the way it served the food to the customers. Besides buffets, foraging in a trough or potluck meals; sitting at a table with strangers for family style feeding is not one of my approved methods of eating. I do not like passing a bowl around where people serve themselves. It is creepy when I see someone helping themselves to the food with their own silverware that was just in their mouth. Since there was nothing else around we had no other choice if we wanted to eat. Seated at a large round table with a dozen strangers, the opening conversation focused on where each of us came from then progressed to our reasons for being there. I was not comfortable at the table through the food was good; however, during the chitchat I heard about a part of the city that sounded like a real cool place to visit. No where did I see any mention of this area when I was searching for points of interest. We altered our travel plans to include this place and were quite surprised by it. I felt I had been rewarded for my uncomfortableness during lunch.The story in this dramatic movie had a similar swing of feelings for the main character. Nejat Aksu, played by Baki Davrak (Lola and Billy the Kid, Our Grand Despair), was displeased by his father Ali’s, played by Tuncel Kurtiz (Pains of Autumn, The Wall), choice for a live-in girlfriend; a prostitute named Yeter Ozturk, played by Nursel Kose (When We Leave, My Mother). Due to unexpected circumstances Nejat would have to travel to Turkey to search for Yeter’s daughter Ayten, played by Nurgul Yesilcay (Vicdan, 7 Husbands for Hurmuz). The journey would only be part of the change that began to affect different lives. This film festival winning movie started out with a strong script. I found the story similar to a jigsaw puzzle, where each scene was laid out like a puzzle piece. With chance and circumstance playing a large part in telling this story, the excellent acting only added deeper feelings in my interest to see how things would pan out. This gifted film transcended any language limitations or concerns with subtitles, for it told a complete story. I have to say this film was a great surprise because I had not heard any approving or disapproving remarks prior to receiving it. It now has my approval. There was German, Turkish and English languages used with subtitles.
3 1/4 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: The Raid 2
The room had faded floral wallpaper with tired looking edges resembling sleepy eyelids. There was a brightly polished maple table in the middle of the room where a small woman with large glasses stood. She greeted us with a delicate smile. My friends and I arranged to visit her because we were told she had a unique gift. Each of us sat with her separately and when it was my turn I sat down across from her. She asked to see the palm of the hand that I use for writing. Looking at it she began telling me what type of personality I had, emphasizing I had strong teaching skills. Now it was funny, before sitting with her one of my friends whispered in my ear to remember the things that did not make sense. “Strong teaching capabilities” was more of a general statement, though she did not know I was an instructor. She peered closer at my palm and told me that in a former life I was a spy. I was able to go back and forth between opposing sides with no trouble. The reason I became a spy was due to my inner strength and ability to not reveal my true convictions. I evidently had a knack for quickly changing my mindset, able to avoid being captured by anyone. I had not thought about this for many years until I saw this action adventure film. The reason was the main character Rama, played by Iko Uwais (Merantau, The Raid franchise), had to do the very thing I supposedly did another lifetime ago. With the city being divided up into gang territories, police officer Rama agreed to go undercover to work his way into the criminal underground hierarchy. His plan involved getting close to Ucok, played by Arifin Putra (Macabre, Badai di Ujung Negeri), who was the son of a crime lord. This was one of those sequels where you did not have to see the previous film. It was a good thing because my review of the earlier one received only a rating of 1 3/4 stars. Where that one was a poorly done film, this one had more going for it. Iko Uwais’ martial arts skills were killer, pun intended. The fight scenes were the main attraction of this crime thriller and they were pretty amazing. I cannot say much about the acting but at least there was more of a story, a motive and fluidity to this picture. My guess would be this movie would only appeal to those who are fans of the genre. There was extreme violence and bloodshed throughout the film. If you are curious to see incredible fighting feel free to go incognito into the theater. The dialog was Indonesian and Japanese with English subtitles.
2 2/3 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Lunchbox
It only took a couple of dates and I knew there was something special going on. There was an easy laughter and a nice flow of bantering between us. I was enjoying the direction both of us were going, into a possible relationship. However, suddenly a detour appeared in the middle of our road; they were being assigned to a work detail that would take them out of state anywhere from 6 to 12 months. We were so new to each other that we decided not to place any pressures on ourselves and to let fate play a hand in this new direction. Not only did we stay in touch by phone after the move, we started up a dialog that was carried out by cards and emails. Being a big fan of greeting cards, I had bought a huge stack of different types of cards and began a process of mailing at least 1 to 2 cards a week. I did not know if it was the cards that sparked our way of communicating, but the cards and emails took on a deeper level of emotional depth. I was allowing myself to be more vulnerable in the things I was writing, while the correspondence I was getting had a new flirty flavor that was intoxicating to me. Though we did not have traditional date nights, we both began to feel a special bond between us. In this dramatic romantic film I loved the way a simple mistake was able to unlock a person’s buried feelings. Nimrat Kaur (One Night with the King, Peddlers) played neglected housewife Ila. Using Mumbai’s lunchbox delivery system every day to send a meal to her husband’s office, one day her prepared meal was accidentally given to office worker Saajan Fernandes, played by Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, The Amazing Spider-Man). Confused at first, the scrumptious packaged meal was a special treat for Saajan. With the start of a simple thank you note with the containers, a written dialog began between the two strangers. This delicate film festival winning movie carefully layered the story out from scene to scene. I enjoyed the clever way the writers used the character Shaikh, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur), to play off of Saajan as his new replacement. The pacing tended to be slow at times but I did not mind it. A little more editing could have solved it. This film was such a sweet treat in the way it conveyed its message, showing me how there are no rules when it comes to love. The dialog was in Hindi with English subtitles.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Stalingrad
Situated in the middle of a city block sat an empty lot, where a six story apartment building used to stand. A developer bought the land and knocked the building down so he could construct a bigger building, but when the economy soured he went bankrupt. All that remained on the lot was gravel and pieces of broken cement that looked like they were once part of a cliff that had been weathered away by the wind. A chain-link fence surrounding the property was now dull with rust that had stained the ground like ruined brown mascara off of a crying face. There was nothing to see in the rubble at first glance; however, if you closely peered at one of the larger cement boulders towards the left side, a single small flower had broken through a crack, releasing a bloom shaded in midnight blue with white star like flecks. It was extraordinary to look at and amazing it could live among the ruins. Finding beauty in a hostile environment was the hook in this dramatic World War II movie about an epic battle in history. A small group of Russian soldiers were holed up in a strategic apartment building, trying to defend it from Nazi troops led by Captain Kan, played by Thomas Kretschmann (Wanted, King Kong). As the two sides fought for control of the building Katya and Masha, played by Mariya Smolnikova (The Daughter) and Yanina Studilina (Yasnovidyashchaya), found their lives going down different paths among the horrors around them. The opening scenes in this action film were unbelievable and frightening at the same time. The production values were quite good in both outdoor and indoor scenes. I do not know how accurate the story was compared to the actual battle; but the writers had ample help to create a historic, dramatic story. Unfortunately it was a big letdown for me because the acting and the script collapsed in the scenes. There were some scenes that really were tough to watch but I sat in my seat without much reaction. From such a boffo opening this movie seemed to slide down into disrepair. I am afraid the beauty I thought I saw in this film turned out to be a mirage. The languages spoken were Russian and German with English subtitles. There were scenes that had blood and violence in them.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Gloria
I have an innate mistrust of people who are perpetually happy. Not the ones that would be classified as optimists; I am talking about the everything is wonderful, turn that frown upside down, perky type of individuals. I am a defensive pessimist so I understand the glass is half empty or half full thing; but people who display only one emotion appear extreme to me and I am not comfortable with anyone who is extreme. It is similar to the people who always reply “fine” when you ask them how everything is going. Within my circle of friends we tell it like it is; if someone is having a bad day they just say it. Maybe it is due to my philosophy that no one has the right to tell another person how they should feel, but I never sugarcoat how I am feeling. I do admire those who are optimistic and sometimes wish I could be like that, but it is not in my nature. One of the things I enjoyed about this dramatic comedy was the honest portrayal of the main character, Gloria. Paulina Garcia (Cachimba, Casa de Remolienda) played middle-aged divorcee Gloria. With her children grown, she had made a life for herself where she could find joy in the simplest of things. Frequenting one of Santiago’s dance clubs, Gloria met recently divorced gentleman Rodolfo, played by Sergio Hernandez (No, A Sure Deal), who found her spirit attractive; but can two people with different outlooks on life have a serious relationship? The main draw to this film festival winning movie was Paulina Garcia. She was outstanding in her role, showing a real and believable character. What helped of course was the direction and screenplay. Though there were a few slow parts, I enjoyed watching Gloria’s reactions being easily conveyed by her expressive face. To give you an example, I mentioned in my review of the film “At Middleton” how ridiculous was the marijuana scene. In this movie Gloria played it where it came across as natural and plausible. Once again I have to say I admired Gloria’s spunk and fortitude; she was a very relatable character. I may not have her outlook on life but I certainly can appreciate the positive attitude; I wish I had more of that in me. Spanish dialog with English subtitles.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Almost every town, neighborhood and village has its own folk tales. In the neighborhood where I grew up there were 2 houses that all of us kids believed were haunted. One house was perched on the corner of my block. Painted in a dark brown color, there were curling vines that creeped up the sides of the house scarring the paint off the wood, leaving the brooding house looking wounded. The other house was a couple of blocks away from our apartment but I never ventured by its rounded gate that had spikes on the top. My friends and I knew not to stop at these houses during Halloween. In my travels I have come across an area’s legends and stories; some had a fun quirkiness to them while others were used to explain the unexplainable. In this adventure fantasy film I loved the folklore presented to set up the story. While a mysterious archaeological dig was taking place in the mountains above the village; young Pietari Kontio, played by Onni Tommila (Last Cowboy Standing) noticed several children had gone missing right before Christmas. This film festival winning movie captured my attention immediately even with it also being considered a horror film. Set in the mountains of Finland, I felt I was transported to the coldness of the town as little clues were being dropped to the viewer, leading us like a lamb to slaughter. I knew no one in the cast, such as Jorma Tommila (Priest of Evil, Sisters Apart) as Pietari’s father Rauno and Tommi Korpela (The Home of Dark Butterflies, A Man’s Job) as Aimo; but it did not matter, it only heightened my belief that I was watching the actual town folk. The story was wickedly dark and amusing at the same time; I just found it creative in a twisted sort of way. Now I have no idea whether this tale was actually based on some true folk legend, but I found it to be a brilliant method to keep the viewer guessing as the plot unfolded. It was amazing to me how the writers took basic things most of us knew or had heard of and turned them into something different with sinister overtones. If you plan on seeing this picture be prepared because there were a couple of gruesome scenes. As some of you know I am not a big fan of horror movies, but I have to tell you I had a great time watching this film. It certainly gave a new meaning to the phrase, “…who was naughty or nice.” There were a couple of scenes with blood that some may find disturbing. Finnish with English subtitles.
3 1/4 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: The Past
There is a method to my madness, just hear me out. Until I see a movie I avoid reading any reviews of it. I want to know as little as possible about a film, only allowing myself to see the movie trailer, though sometimes the trailer is better than the whole picture. After I have seen the movie then I will look at some of the reviews. This is why in my reviews I barely mention any particular scene details or facts about the story line. With today’s review, this is the perfect example to show you why I prefer to blindly walk into a theater with my mind an open and blank slate. I had no idea this dramatic mystery was directed by Asghar Farhadi (About Elly) who directed one of my favorite films of 2011, A Separation. Gratefully I did not know which movies won at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival because this movie was a winner. The only thing I knew when I went to see this picture was it had subtitles. The movie started and I immediately found myself in Paris, witnessing a separated couple finishing up the process of their divorce. There were children involved from past and present relationships; however, hanging over everyone like a dense fog, hampering everyone’s senses was a woman in a coma. Every scene in this movie had an authentic sense of true emotion; the cast could have easily been a friend, relative or acquaintance of yours because they never came across as if they were actors acting. They were just being real. Let me name a few of the exceptional performers: there was Berenice Bejo (The Artist, A Knight’s Tale) as the soon to be ex-wife Marie Brisson; Ali Mosaffa (Leila, The Last Step) as the Iranian husband Ahmad and Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, The Eagle) as the live-in boyfriend Samir. I felt as if I was a guest invited into the lives of these individuals, sitting with them when they were eating, wanting to comfort them when they were sad. There were no special effects needed, no sudden unexplained turns in the story that would leave one wondering; all that was there were genuine feelings of fear, guilt, love and doubt. This film is one of the reasons why I love going to the movies. I do not have to pack an overnight bag, wait in long security lines or dress in a particular way; yet, I do get to leave all the things that make up my daily life and experience for a moment how other people live their lives. The dialog was done in French and Persian languages with English subtitles.
3 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Incendies
There are people walking this earth who are related to me, but I have no idea who they may be. With my family roots coming out of England, Lithuania and Russia, there is not a trail of records that would form a clear family tree of relatives for me. I wish there was a way to find these individuals and hear their life stories, let alone look to see if there were any physical resemblances that were passed down to each generation. To hear a different version of a family member you were familiar with would be a heady experience, I would think. As far as I know there have not been any relatives that had a secret spouse or child, but I have to assume anything is possible. This very topic was the heart of the story in this Oscar nominated movie. At the reading of Nawal Marwan’s, played by Lubna Azabal (Body of Lies, Coriolanus), will; her children Jeanne and Simon, played by Melissa Desormeaux-Poulin (Through the Mist, Taking the Plunge franchise) and Maxim Gaudette (Polytechnique, Cheech), discovered their father was alive and they had a brother they never knew existed. Per their mother’s wishes the two children set off on a harrowing trail that would lead them to some deep family secrets. This dramatic mystery grabbed my attention right from the start. The parallel stories were easy to follow and augmented each other with a buildup of drama. Even though the actors were speaking in a foreign language to me, I thought the actors’ acting came across vividly, with emotions easily pouring out of them. It especially added strength to the scenes that had a higher level of intensity. The directing was right on target; I only had a minor complaint of not always knowing what location was being shown at first. As I said it was not a big deal since the gripping story kept my interest in this film festival winning movie. How ever you define family, some people’s focus is solely on their family members; for others it is not a priority. This film presented an unbelievable option that never even occurred to me. This Canadian movie was spoken in French and Arabic languages with English subtitles.
3 1/2 stars — DVD
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