Category Archives: Foreign
Foreign
Flash Movie Review: Blue is the Warmest Color
There is something special about one’s first love. I am not talking about a school crush; it is the first serious love where you think you could spend your entire life with that one incredible person. The reason you want to be with them is because of the way you feel around them; a change comes over you. As you near them; an invisible aromatic cloud swirls around you, making your nostrils quiver. At first contact your skin ripples with electric sparks as you willingly fall into this inviting hug, that feels as if it is enveloping you into the folds of a soft warm comforter. You take every new memory that the two of you have created and store it in a velvet lined room of your heart, with walls impervious to pain…or at least you thought so. I cannot recall the last time I was so emotionally drained from watching a romantic movie, such as this Cannes Film Festival winning film. Adele Exarchopoulos (La Rafle, Boxes) played young Adele, who was on the verge of discovering the intoxication of a first love. The jolt that awakened her was in the form of blue haired Emma, played by Lea Seydoux (Midnight in Paris, Inglourious Basterds). Adele’s journey into love would bring her into a world of new revelations. The acting in this dramatic movie was exceptional with a rawness and realness that went beyond most other films I have seen. I could not take my eyes off of Adele as she conveyed every emotion without a filter. This movie is not without some challenges, however. Running for nearly 3 hours, I found some scenes were unduly drawn out. Tighter editing would have helped in this matter. Another issue was the explicit sexual scenes. I am aware some people are uncomfortable seeing any type of strong physical intimacy, so this movie may not fit your comfort level. What took me some time to realize was the amazing job the director showed in Adele’s growth from young innocence to an assertive adult woman. Did he need three hours to accomplish it? I do not think so; but the fact that this is one of two chapters, I will be curious to see how memories of her first love propel Adele forward in life. French language with English subtitles.
3 1/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: Wadjda
In a child’s life there is a short span of time that heralds a final hurrah to their innocent youth. It takes place just before the child begins to understand the rules and customs of their culture and government. My memory of that time is still clear in my mind. It happened in 7th grade when my best friend and I were going out after dinner. His mother wanted to make sure we would be home before curfew. I had never heard the word “curfew” before and asked my friend about it as we left his house. When he told me there was a city law that made it illegal for people under a certain age to be out after a particular time, I was outraged. As soon as I came home I had to ask my parents about it. I was stunned when they confirmed what my friend’s mother had said to us. From that point on I began to understand there would be rules and regulations outside of my home that I would have to adhere to or face the consequences. Remembering those times made watching this dramatic film all the more amazing to me. From a country that had no movie theaters, where the one and only female director had to do everything from the inside of a van away from her male workers; the fact this movie was even made was somewhat of a miracle. It is the first film to come out of Saudi Arabia. Newcomer Waad Mohammed played 10 year old, hightop sneaker wearing, Wadjda. Wanting to beat her friend Abdullah, played by newcomer Abdullrahman Al Gohani, in a race; Wadjda came up with some creative ways to earn money to buy a bicycle. It did not matter to her that women riding bicycles was frowned upon by everyone around her. This film festival winner and official submission for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards had a gentle, humorous story. I found it fascinating the way writer/director Haifaa Al-Mansour created what life was like for men and women in Saudi Arabia without being judgmental. In addition, it was curious how this was the first film for many of the actors. The only main character listed as an actress was Ahd (The Imperialists are Still Alive), who played Ms. Hussa. Part of the charm of this film was being exposed to a culture that was so foreign to me. Despite the cultural differences, I could relate to Wadjda’s rebellious streak. Arabic with English subtitles.
3 1/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Attack
One of the fastest ways to learn about someone is to take a vacation with them. There are only a couple of friends I would take a trip with because I know they can handle my intensity. If I go with someone I have been dating, I try to dial myself down in the beginning; giving them a chance to get used to my idiosyncrasies. Now I do not want you to get the impression that I am some type of Tasmanian devil that feverishly spins out of control, as I subject the poor individual to nonstop action. Depending on what type of vacation I am on determines my energy level. If I am visiting a new city then I go at a faster pace as I try to see everything the place has to offer; in other words, a total tourist and more. If I am returning to a destination that I have visited before, then I am running in a lower gear. I use vacation time as a way for a person to get to know the real me; however, can someone really get to know someone well enough, their true essence? It is something to think about as the layered story played out in this dramatic film. Highly regarded Arab surgeon Amin Jaafari, played by Ali Suliman (Body of Lies, Lemon Tree), was puzzled when he returned to his Tel Aviv apartment only to find his wife Siham’s, played by Reymond Amsalem (Rendition, Lebanon), cell phone sitting on the table. The first word he would hear about his missing wife was when authorities came to talk to him about a recent terrorist attack. Based on the bestselling novel by Yasmina Khadra, this movie methodically built up the tension in the story. I found it fascinating the way the director and writers evenly presented Arab and Israeli viewpoints. The acting was excellent in this film festival winning movie. There were a few pockets through the movie where I felt the story dragged a bit, but there was still opportunity for me to ponder scenes that had just played out. This film posed some interesting questions, making me wonder if it is really possible to completely know everything about another person. There was a brief scene with blood in it. Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Grandmaster
I had no idea when I entered the intensive teacher training program, I would be part of the last class that would be taught by a yoga master. On the first day of class we were introduced to two yoga teachers and their assistants. They would be with us through the entire program, adjusting us into positions we did not realize we were capable of doing. As all of us blended into one cohesive body of students, I began to notice one of the instructors was the “go to” person to demonstrate the poses. He was amazing to watch as his body would willingly move into positions that looked to me like they would break him in two. I had a new appreciation for the strength of the human body because of him. When he told the class we were going to be his final graduating class I could see the sadness in the assistants, besides all the students. I will never forget his words to us about our future with yoga: Let your body remain in a fluid state, only displaying a muscle when it is needed for a pose. His genius with yoga was only matched by the artistry of the martial art skills of Ip Man, played by Tony Leung (Internal Affairs, Hero), in this dramatic biography. Inspired by a true story, the movie was about the life of Ip Man; the man who trained Bruce Lee. From writer and director Kar Wai Wong (2046, In the Mood for Love), this was one of the most exquisite martial art films I have ever seen. Ten years in the making, the editing and fight scenes in this movie were immaculate. Playing the daughter of a martial art master, Ziyi Zhang (Hero; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) was nothing short of breathtaking as Gong Er; I could not take my eyes off of her. She had such a screen presence, with believable martial art skills; I loved the character she played. Tony was an interesting choice to play the famous master; he had a quiet calmness that demanded respect. There was so much detail given to every visual aspect in this action film that I only wished the convoluted story would have been clearer. The movie went from Ip Man’s story to the Japanese occupation of China to Gong Er’s revenge to the division between the southern and northern martial art families; I found it bogged down the picture. If this beautiful movie had a stronger script it would have truly been a wonderful tribute to a gifted master; instead, I do not feel it did justice to Bruce Lee’s master teacher. Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese with English subtitles.
2 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Instructions Not Included
The past weekend was exhaustive for me. It was one of those where everything had to precisely coordinate like a finely tuned Swiss made watch. I even had to schedule in bathroom times. By Sunday night I was totally drained of energy, feeling defenseless against Earth’s gravitational pull. What propelled me through the weekend was the knowledge that Monday was a holiday and I could stay home to restore some semblance of balance back into my life. Believe it or not, the idea of leaving home to even see a movie was not something I wanted to do. Now you know I must have been super tired. But would you believe that little voice in my head kept badgering me, telling me I should go to the movies because one never knows what the next day will bring. Pulling a cap over my frantic, slept on hair; I forced myself to a matinee show. Having seen the trailer some time ago, I really could not recall anything about the film I was about to see. Several minutes into the movie I thought it was going to be a typical goofy movie about mistaken identities. But then something magical happened and the story lifted me out of myself, transporting me to Mexico. I was no longer tired; the demanding eventful weekend faded away and I was drawn into this dramatic comedy. Eugenio Derbez (Jack and Jill, La Familia P. Luche-TV) as Valentin was surprised when a former fling named Julie, played by Jessica Lindsey (Now You See Me), appeared at his front door with a baby. Having him hold his daughter so she could go pay the cab fare, Julie never returned. With fatherhood not being part of his plans, Valentin decided to take the baby and travel to America to track down Julie. As time passed, father and daughter began to depend and learn from each other in their new place. This tender movie scored a bull’s-eye to the heart. Though I found Eugenio’s acting to have an over emphasized quality to it, his timing was impeccable. The connection he had with his daughter Maggie, played by dynamite newcomer Loreto Peralta, was incredible. I found some scenes made a sudden jump between comedy and drama; however, it did not take away from the carefully laid out story. Not only did this movie do a wonderful job in showing how love made a family, it provided another example of how a movie can affect us. The story moved me while the movie took me away. I left the theater feeling revitalized, happy to have seen this sweet, tender film. Spanish with English subtitles.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Song of Sparrows
This gentle movie reminded me of a story my yoga instructor told us in class. A group of monkeys were circling several coconut trees. Each of them were gathering fallen coconuts except for one.This particular monkey saw a huge coconut lodged inside the hollow of a tree. Sticking its hand inside, the monkey was able to get a grip on it and tried pulling it out; but the hole was smaller than the coconut. The monkey kept trying, turning the coconut one way then the other; but nothing worked. In the meantime each of the other monkeys was acquiring a small stockpile that would easily last them several days. When all the coconuts were gathered up the one monkey with its hand inside the tree had nothing to show for it. The teacher asked us if we knew the moral of the story; none of us had a reply. He looked at each of us before he said, “Just let go.” All of us sat quietly as we let those words soak in before we attempted our next posture. I am sure each of us in class interpreted the moral differently and I feel the same could be said after viewing this film festival winning movie. Mohammad Amir Naji aka Rela Naji (Children of Heaven, Baran) played Karim, a ranch hand on an ostrich farm. When his oldest daughter Haniyeh’s, played by newcomer Shabnam Aklaghi, hearing aid broke just before an important test in school, Karim had no other option but to make the motorbike trip from his small rural village to Tehran, to get the hearing aid fixed. Upon reaching that bustling metropolis, Karim discovered opportunities that could change his and his family’s way of living; but at what cost? I was fascinated by the simpleness of this film, partly due to the scenes of Karim and his family. There was a charming intimacy created by the story as if I was an undetected observer, seeing a whole different way of life and culture. The pacing was kept slow with minimal dialog, which made the story more real for me. I did not see this so much as a movie but as a fable. For being such a plain and uncomplicated film; it spoke loudly about dreams, fortune and greed. Persian and Azerbaijani with English subtitles.
3 1/4 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Fill the Void
Where yesterday’s movie review talked about the internal struggle between the heart and the mind, today’s movie made me think about the external forces one could face regarding love. I find it perplexing when I hear people say, “He comes from a good family” or “You cannot marry someone outside your faith.” What do these things mean? To me being able to say, “I love you,” is one of the most profound statements a human being can say. It supersedes what anyone else has to say on the subject. Looking at relationships historically, marriages were arranged for various reasons. In some cases families were joined for political reasons, while others were done simply to combine farmlands. In this quiet drama the attempt to join two people in marriage was done, in my opinion, for selfish reasons. Yiftach Klein (Policeman, Noodle) played Yochay, the brother-in-law of Shira, played by Hadas Yaron (Out of Sight). When Yochay’s wife (Shira’s sister) died during childbirth; Shira’s mother Rivka, played by Irit Sheleg (Night Terrors, Abba Ganuv III), suggested Shira marry her brother-in-law and become a mother for the new born baby. On one level the story made me uncomfortable; however, when I viewed the movie as a glimpse into a family’s struggle between old world traditions and modern independent thinking, I was able to see it as a historical study. This film festival winner provided a peek into an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community in Tel Aviv Israel. The acting was well done by Hadas and Yiftach, as they used their bodies to convey the enormous pressures being placed on them. However, there was a negative side in focusing on the physical. I wished there had been more verbal interactions between the characters because I found myself getting bored. Gratefully the filming had a stark, sharp look to it. The way Shira’s pale whiteness contrasted with the darkly clothed men around her was interesting to watch. It may be due to my feelings about love being a personal thing, but I found this film to be somewhat sad. It is already hard enough when the heart and mind wrestle over the direction of love; but then adding outside influences creates a bigger challenge. Hebrew with English subtitles.
2 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Senso
If it has not happened yet, count on your heart coming out victorious at least once in a wrestling match with your brain. Many of us have experienced that one relationship where we know it is not the best for our mental health (sometimes physical health), but our heart has already bought the ticket for the ride. I can remember being in a relationship where the good times overshadowed the uncomfortable moments. It felt like I was sitting outside and watching the most spectacular fireworks display, yet I was shivering from the cool night breezes. The explosions of color aka my heart, kept me seated even though the wind aka my brain, was telling me to go inside. It happens to all of us, but maybe not as dramatically as it did with the La Contessa Livia Serpieri. Played by Alida Valli (Eyes Without a Face, The Third Man), the Contessa Serpieri lived in Venice Italy during the mid 1800’s when the area was under Austrian occupation. Trying to help her resistance fighter cousin; she set up an introduction to meet Austrian Lieutenant Franz Mahler, played by Farley Granger (Rope, Strangers on a Train). The meeting would set in motion forces that would jeopardize family, friends and even the very existence of Venice. This historical drama was a lush, musical movie to watch. Filmed in 1954 there was a different sensibility back then, where the actors exuded a more physical display of emotions. It almost appeared as if they were overacting. Keeping that in mind, it made sense since the sets were so voluptuous and abundant. In addition, filling the musical soundtrack with pieces by Giuseppe Verdi and Anton Bruckner; I felt I was in the middle of a grand opera, set in the beautiful city of Venice. For some this movie may seem way over the top; but to me, it was obvious this film was made from the heart. Italian and German with English subtitles.
3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: The Maid
It can be a struggle but I prefer being known for my actions than my profession. When I meet new people, I refrain from telling them I am a credit manager or a cycle and yoga instructor. Like most individuals, there are things I do to earn a living and there are things I do because I love doing them. There are times when someone hears I am a credit manager and forms false assumptions about me. Some people think I am all about the dollar or I have a tough personality. The same holds true if someone learns I am in the fitness industry. It is assumed that I only eat well balanced, healthy meals and can easily do any type of physical activity. Now grant you, I can easily figure out what each person’s share of a restaurant tab should be and I am a fast walker; but I do not want to be one of those individuals who live to work. I want to work to live. It is not always so easy to achieve. The main character in this Spanish dramedy was a perfect example. Catalina Saavedra (Old Cats, Trapped) was Raquel, a family’s maid for over 20 years. Her life had become so intertwined with them that she did not think of anything else but the family. When her employers Pilar and Mundo, played by Claudia Celedon (La Perra, Old Cats) and Alejandro Goic (No, Gloria), tried to hire additional help for the household, Raquel’s world was shaken to the point where she felt she had to defend her turf from the new intruders. This film festival winner had multiple scenes of humor and sadness, led by the wonderful acting of Catalina as Raquel. Having no experience with household servants, I was fascinated with the subtle nuances and posturing that took place between family members and hired help. With the introduction of Lucy, played by Mariana Loyola (The Dancer and the Thief, Cachimba), I enjoyed the way the story blossomed open. This was a touching movie that followed one person’s journey in discovering life. Spanish with English subtitles.
3 1/4 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Father of My Children
Each person has their own way of handling the pressures and stress of daily living. For some people their stress builds up like overstuffed pieces of luggage that they try to balance as they trudge through the day. Other individuals get lost into books or spend their day seeking out rich, decadent foods to use in stuffing their feelings deeper inside of themselves. Depending on the level of stress I am experiencing, I will either focus on exercising or short circuit my brain by watching television shows and movies. For some reason visual stimuli is the fastest way to get my brain to take a deep breath and release the taut strangle hold it has over my body. This dramatic story showed two points of view on the pressures affecting the Canvel family. Louis de Lencquesaing (Elles, In a Rush) played Moon Films studio owner Gregoire Canvel. The mounting financial obligations on the company were taking a toll on Gregoire and his family. Chiara Caselli (Beyond the Clouds, Sleepless) played his wife Sylvia who expected her husband to be present and available for her and their children. The sensitive story in this Cannes Film Festival winner showed how stress affected each family member. I was particularly moved by the oldest daughter Clemence, played by Alice de Lencquesaing (Water Lilies, Summer Hours). As a movie buff I found the behind the scenes aspect of movie making interesting. The scenes depicting the family’s casual events I found touching and realistic, enjoying their interactions. By the end of the film I questioned my feelings about having seen it. I thought the emotional aspects were all valid, but I felt as if I was still missing something. Maybe from my own experiences I wanted to see stronger reactions from the characters; the ending seemed too abrupt for me. Everyone handles stress differently; it is not something to judge. One can only remain supportive of each other as they find their way through life. French with English subtitles.
3 stars — DVD
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