SIFF Report May 24th--27th

Looking for some good films this Memorial Day Weekend???--Here's a quick list of great films playing this long weekend--------I AM LOVE, THE CONCERT, WASTE LAND, FARSAN, TOPP TWINS-UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS, WINTER'S BONE, THE HEDGEHOG, LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB, MAO'S LAST DANCER, CAIRO TIME, ME TOO (YO TAMIEN), WHEN WE LEAVE, JOAN RIVERS-A PIECE OF WORK----these all received a grade of B or better--see above and below for more options and information.......


GRADE---A

CHILDREN OF DIYARBAKIR--(Turkey)--Excellent story of young children whose parents are killed and end up being thrown out onto the streets to live with other parentless children. Heart wrenching and thrillingly made.

WASTE LAND--(United Kingdom)--Thought provoking and moving documentary on artist who creates art/portraits of working class people by using objects from the subject's life--in this case garbage collectors of Brazil.
--------------------------

GRADE---A-

HIDEAWAY (AKA The Refuge)--(France)--Francois Ozon's new film about the unlikely friendship of a pregnant heroin addict and her dead boyfriend's gay brother.
--------------------------

GRADE---B+

ME TOO (YO TAMBIEN)--(Spain)--A smart man with Downs Syndrome falls for a "damaged" woman who has never been loved--it's a mature and thoughtful film.

THE TILLMAN STORY--(USA)--Solid and informative documentary on football star Pat Tillman who gave up a promising career in sports to join the Army, but then was killed due to friendly fire, which the US government tried to suppress.

SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS--(USA)--Moody and intimate low budget project filmed in Portland Oregon and the coast about low income workers struggling with loneliness.

STIGMATA--(Spain)--Like the definition of "stigmata," audiences will super-impose their feelings and opinions of the brutish man whose hands keep bleeding towards their reaction to this fascinating black and white wonder. Definitely a one-of-a-kind film.
----------------

GRADE ---B

CAIRO TIME--(CANADA)--A less majestic version of I AM LOVE, but the acting (by Patricia Clarkson) and the Cairo setting (with glorious photography and lovely music) all cast a spell.

JOAN RIVERS--A PIECE OF WORK--(USA)--Love her or hate her, this year in the life documentary (including her amazing work on last year's CELEBRITY APPRENTICE) is very funny and entertaining.

CHERRY--(USA)--Nearly refreshingly free of silly college-comedy slapstick, this earnest dramedy feels accurate and personal as it explores the freshman year of very smart, shy student who develops a crush on an older woman and her teenage daughter.

STOLEN--(Australia)--Documentary about a filmed family reunion in a Saharan refugee camp that turns into a highly charged expose of modern slavery and inherent racism in Northern Africa.

THE OWLS--(USA)--A nervy, experimental film about Older Wiser Lesbians, but are they really Wiser??????? The film tries to cover some new sexual identity issues in different ways, but the ending is an abrupt let-down.

DRIFTING--(Spain)--The "heroine"--a U.N. type worker who seems to be suffering from post traumatic syndrome when she returns home from war-torn Africa, makes a lot of bad choices (including much sex and nudity with a "client") as she "drifts" through her life.
--------------

GRADE----B-

MARWENCOL--(USA)--An alcoholic man who survives a serious beating photographs and displays World War 2 tableau's using GI Joe and Barbie dolls as his therapy to great artistic success, but is it art??? The current film EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (see previous blog) is a better and more entertaining exploration of this subject, but this does maintain interest.

ANGEL AT SEA--(Belgium)--Tiresome and frustrating due to suicidal depression subject matter (father imposes his secret desire to commit suicide to his 12 year old son, who tries to become his guardian angel)--this film is not likable, but I've found it to be haunting.

CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH--(China)--Depicting the Rape of Nanking by the Japanese in 1937, the film piles on scene after scene after scene of wartime violence and atrocities, and the total effect is numbness, no matter how well made or artfully directed. This is one grim film--(see also ANGEL AT SEA above.)
---------------------

GRADE---C+

CRAB TRAP--(Columbia)--Scenes of garbage on the beautiful remote beach dull the effect of a newcomer in a small village on the run from---what? Too many unanswered questions.

NIGHT CATCHES US--(USA)--Nice try, as low budget film tries to capture the anger and drama of ex Black Panthers in the late 1970's trying to live down the past.

THE OATH--(USA)-- Mostly dry, dull, double-talking heads about two brothers in law who may have been involved in varying degrees with the 9/11 attacks.
----------------------

GRADE -- C-

IMANI--(Uganda)--Three different stories never mesh and all end abruptly without resolution (or sense) in disappointingly ambitious Uganda film.

FROM BEGINNING TO END--(Brazil)--Two step brothers develop a sexual relationship in a simplistic and dreadfully melodramatic film that is drowned out by a trite and obnoxious film score. I give a C minus for the fact that the film (and sometimes nude actors) looked good. Note: I give all films an extra half a grade for quality nudity and sex! See DRIFTING above.