SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Report 1

Let's start at the TOP. I'm giving short comments and a grade--more detailed info when the films open. Hopefully this will help anyone needing some guidance for picking films when the Festival opens officially on May 23rd.

GRADE ---A
NOWHERE BOY (United Kingdom)--Probably the most liked film of the screenings so far, this well acted account of the early teen years of John Lennon has three incredible, fascinating actors, a dramatic story to tell, and charges on all cylinders (direction, script, cinematography, music, etc). Excellent, moving drama.

GRADE---A-
LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB (Sweden)--A hardened lifer (for murder) is pardoned after years in prison, and she takes a position helping old and blind Father Jacob answer letters to those in need, with some expected and unexpected results. Bring the hankie for this one. Extremely moving, beautifully done little (79 minutes) parable.

AHEAD OF TIME (USA)-- Documentary of Ruth Gruber who earned her doctorate degree at age 19 and became a well known author, journalist and humanitarian, becoming the first woman to write about life in the Arctic, life in Germany during Hitler's rise to power, and her amazing pictorial and writings of the EXODUS 1947 book about the struggle of Jewish people to start settling in the newly created state of Israel. Fascinating and moving.

GRADE---B+
I AM LOVE (Italy)--Tilda Swinton gives a fascinating and bold performance as a born-in-Russia Italian (she speaks fluid Italian in this film...)who is the trophy wife of a very rich magnate. The first part of the film shows her in a cocoon of privilege and wealth, but several revelations open her up to sensuality, sexuality and deep emotional realization. I loved the intellectual impact of the film, but the audience was deeply divided over some melodramatic contrivances. You're going to love it or hate it--either way it's well worth seeing for stunning photography, music, eye-candy, costume and set design, and especially Ms Swinton, who also produced the film.

GRADE---B
FARSAN (Sweden)--A charming elderly man sets out to find a new wife at the urging of his devoted son, though his efforts are rather unconventional. A warm, funny, charming film with endearing characters.

THE CHEF OF SOUTH POLAR (Japan)--The new chef for an eight man crew of technicians stationed in the Antarctica tries to overcome his loneliness by throwing himself into his job by creating masterpieces of cuisine out of canned and frozen food. A good natured, Food film featuring amusing hi jinks and quirky characters.

HIDDEN DIARY (France)--When a young woman comes home to visit her cold, distant mother, she finds a diary written by her grandmother which reveals a lot of family secrets. The majestic Catherine Deneuve beautifully and subtlety plays her frigid mother. Many film goers seemed to like this much more than I.

GRADE---B-
HOLY ROLLERS (USA)--A twenty year old Hasiddic Jew training to become a rabbi becomes sucked into the world of drug smuggling. Based on a true story, the characters and setting transcend the predicable plot arch.

RAPT (France)--An engrossing thriller about the kidnapping of a rich industrialist, and the efforts of his family and company and police to secure his freedom. Unfortunately for him, his double life is revealed by the press and as time goes by, there's less enthusiasm to free him. The film loses some energy, and the final scenes seem sadly predictable.

EXCITED (Canada)--A comic relationship movie where the main character is dealing with severe premature ejaculation (!) but in a mature, smart manner. A funny, thoughtful dramedy, but somewhat minor in retrospect.

GRADE---C+
FRENCH KISSERS (France)--Lively but tiresome, constantly masturbating teen boys want sex and girls, but are too geeky to get it right. Some amusing scenes, but we've seen it all before in better US movies.

GRADE---C-
KANIKOSEN (Japan)--There's one great, awful funny scene early in this Japanese (folk-tale) Manga film where about two dozen enslaved sailors, thinking they will be reborn into richer families when they die, try to all hang themselves at the same time aboard a ship that is pitching around in the ocean, but the rest of this oddity is a snooze. I counted 5 people around me with their eyes closed, heads resting on chest, or sunk down in the seat at one point. I struggled to stay engaged, too, until finally at the one hour mark a reel of film started playing upside down and backward and stayed that way for 20 minutes, I heard. I bolted.

So it was a very decent, well above average week, with at least four MUST SEE films to choose from.
More next week.