More Screenings from SIFF 2012

Here are more films from the upcoming SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012 that I can, for the most part, recommend.

A long haul trucker from Argentina is annoyed when a woman he is asked to drive over 900 miles to Buenos Aires shows up with a babe-in-arms in the lovely LAS ACACIAS.  As expected, his gruff demeanor starts to melt as the baby starts to steal the film.  The film works very well as a prolonged character study of two lonely people, and there is a lot of tension as they start to "connect."  This is a priceless little film.     GRADE------A-

This film called TEY from Senegal is what I would call a typical FILM FESTIVAL movie--you might never have a chance to see it any other place, and it most certainly appeals to film-goers who like  exotic, ambiguous fables that transcend subject matter with lyrical, moving moments of cinematic poetry.  Satche, the main character, is a middle aged man who spends his last day alive on earth visiting friends and family, yet we never know  why he is going to die.   Somehow it doesn't matter, in the moving, poetic  TEY.           GRADE-------A-

Filmed in the Southwest but well produced in Washington state with local director Megan Griffiths, the suspense film EDEN is based on a true story of a teen who is kidnapped and forced into prostitution.  The film (at times gratefully) pulls its punches when dealing with sexual slavery--the details are skimmed over, but still manages to suck the viewer into this tawdry world in an engrossing and well filmed manner.  The actors are quite effective, especially the surprisingly insidious Beau Bridges.    GRADE-------B+

I normally LOVE French Canadian films, so in spite of some awkward plotting and motivations, the lavishly photographed and well acted production WETLANDS impresses.  A struggling farm family must deal with mourning, debt, sex and loneliness as they try to keep the farm afloat.   GRADE-------B

Several films below were certainly worth seeing, but they have some issues that make me hesitant to give them a grade higher than the cut off point of B-.

Three young, beautiful and occasionally naked people fall in love in the Brazilian/Spanish film THE SEX OF THE ANGELS, which wants to take the bisexual theme seriously (two men and one woman), but keeps glossing over some more important issues, and there are at least two scenes that come off as totally unbelievable.  Still this is easy to watch eye-candy.    GRADE-------B-

This epic documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE about the political efforts of  ACT UP and TAG--two organizations in the 1980's that provided publicity and support in the efforts to make AIDS an important issue for the complacent US government (and general population), is a mixed bag.  Alternately moving and chaotic, inhumane and joyous, preachy and critical, dry and emotional, intelligent and yet reactive, dull yet at times enthralling, this film is all over the map.  I learned a lot, but I wish it had been better edited, with the focus kept more on the personalities, which are moving, and less on the politics.       GRADE--------B-

The once beautiful, now polluted lake village in Kashmir is the setting of this pretty but languid film VALLEY OF SAINTS about an aimless young man who wants to leave his village but becomes fascinated with a female researcher who is trying to find ways to rescue the lake (and village) from suffocating in pollution.  The environmental issues seem important, but they distract in a clinical way from the  relationship themes the man is experiencing.    GRADE--------B-

The intriguing premise and visuals of THE MEXICAN SUITCASE are sabotaged by some dull, confusing narration.  After 75 years, a suitcase holding 4,500 negatives from world famous photographers Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David Seymour, taken during the Spanish Civil War, are discovered in a closet and now on display in museums and in books.  Unfortunately, the film makers assume that the viewer knows all about the Spanish Civil War, and all about the photographers, which mad me feel lost and unfulfilled while watching this documentary.     GRADE-------B-

Pleasant but minor comedy drama SLEEPWALK WITH ME, which plays like a lessor Woody Allen film,  this is "based on a true story" of THIS AMERICAN LIFE (radio show) contributor Mike Birbiglia, who finds that commitment to his long time girlfriend is maybe something he can't continue, especially when the "marriage" subject comes up.  Birbiglia stars along with Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn and others.       GRADE-------B-

An 11 year old boy living with his grandmother, is taken out for a (long) day by his ex-con uncle, who one quickly realises has not yet been rehabilitated.  The uncle wants to "make a man" out of this child.  There are some very intense, disturbing scenes in LUV as the uncle takes him on his "business" deals, which include real estate transactions, drug dealing, teaching him to drive, and murder.  A number of plot points stretch credibility, but the cast which includes Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Lonette McKee and Common is effective.      GRADE-------C+