SIFF REPORT June 4--June 10

GRADE-----A

CELL 211--Spain--Within minutes of this prison movie you are thrown into the action which follows a new guard on his first day when a prison riot finds him left behind with the riot instigators , and he must pretend to be a prisoner or face certain death. A spellbinding, action packed film with great performances and editing and direction. Could be the top film of SIFF.
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GRADE----A-

THE REVERSE--Poland--Warsaw is trying to rebuild it's bombed out city after the war, but the cold war and political suspicion is still in effect among it's citizens. A young woman is courted by several men at the instigation of her meddling mother and grandmother, but she shows a mind of her own when she falls for a handsome suitor who has his own agenda. A funny, creepy film told with wonderfully stylish direction and black humor.

ROOM IN ROME--Spain--The most controversial and divisive film so far at SIFF, this new movie from festival favorite Julio Medem (SEX AND LUCIA, VACAS, LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, et al) had people cheering and others loathing. Simply, two women meet one night in Rome and end up in bed, making love, talking, eating--all the while mostly naked--slowly revealing their inter most secrets, fears, loves. Subject matter aside, the film is stunningly beautiful to look at, the photography is excellent, the actors are believable and lovely, the music and editing are great, and director Medem keeps the interest level and intensity very high.
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GRADE----B+

COME UNDONE--Italy--A married man with children and a married woman with a devoted husband embark on a highly charged extra-marital affair, and the film shows how each family is affected. Message imparted: it takes a lot of time, money and energy to have an affair, and everyone suffers. Familiar stuff, but very well done.

BRAN NUE DAE--Australia--Pronounced "Brand New Day" this unique Aboriginal musical has been popular down under for over 20 years, and is so creative and musical and charming that it deserves to be a big hit.

FAMILY TREE--USA--Sharp and witty dialogue enliven this AMERICAN BEAUTY- light- story of a modern family who struggle to stay together despite pressures from society and mothers-in-laws. A strong cast (Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Keith Carradine, etc) and a clever screwball plot keep you laughing.
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GRADE-----B

GRAVITY--Germany--After witnessing a suicide, an uptight banker starts to explore his aggressive and outrageous criminal side, to amusing and horrifying results.

UPPERDOG--Norway--Interesting story involving the reunion of an Asian half brother and sister many years after they were adopted into separate middle class Norwegian families as very young children. One of the siblings is a not very nice man, which keeps the story edgy and funny.

CROSSING HENNESSY--Hong Kong--Two single adults set up by well meaning relatives, find their dislike for each other dissolving in this sometimes hectic but likable romantic comedy.

PARIS RETURN--Israel/France--Two retired older men who have lived together for many years in Paris--a gay couple, but sexuality is never discussed--consider moving from Paris to Israel, the homeland of the elder. A poignant character study, and the discussions of what to do with their personal works of art and possessions is heartfelt.
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GRADE-----B-

CARGO--Switzerland--A small crew on a four year voyage aboard a cargo ship to deep space realize they may not be alone in this creepy and tension filled (though sometimes familiar) science-fiction story.

BLOOD RELATIONS--Israel--Documentary of an upper class Jewish family in Israel who gets to know some Arab relatives and tries to help their situation for a while. Of course, what the Arab family really needs are jobs, which are not available in the occupied and heavily restricted areas they live in. The Jewish family seems obtuse to this idea. A maddening film which gets to the root, but fails to get to the root of Israeli-Palestinian relationships. (The characters all smoke SOOOOO much in this film that they will probably all die of lung cancer before any resolution is reached, anyway.)

AN ORDINARY EXECUTION--France--An aging Stalin and young female doctor with healing hands are thrown together in this fictionalized account of Stalin's last days. Well done, if grim.

8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION--USA--Eye-opening documentary shows how influential the Mormon's were in raising money to pass the proposition in California last year to take away rights from gay people to marry or have equal protections like married heterosexuals. For example, most Mormons were contacted in person or by phone and TOLD that according to their tax and tithe records, they needed to "donate" XXX amount of dollars towards this cause or they might not get the rewards in heaven......
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GRADE----C+

LOVE IN A PUFF--Hong Kong--Cheerful love story about two smokers who meet out side their work while on smoking breaks. I liked the characters and the music (sort of pop/jazz) --but there is a WHOLE LOT of SMOKING going on in this film, and not much else.

MICMACS--France--Visually and creatively enthralling, but dramatically uninvolving story of an innocent struck by a bullet who seeks revenge on the weapons manufacturers who made the bullets and the guns.
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GRADE---C

FATHER'S ACRE and THE DAMNED--They both have the set up, but nothing else to say, and both are deadly dull.
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GRADE----D

MISS NOBODY and I KISSED A VAMPIRE---Both are USA films that are quickly edited but that fails to hide the fact that they are trite, predictable and impossibly boring.