Here's what I saw over the long Memorial Day holiday--Friday 22 May through Monday 25 May.
GRADE
A
THE APU TRILOGY : PANTHER PANCHALI (1955)---Indian film by director Satyajit Ray, this first film by him is clear, humanistic, very moving, startling in it's simplicity yet poetic and majestic as it deals with the child Apu who deals with life and death while living in poverty with his parents, sister, neighbors and "Auntie."
A-
THE APU TRILOGY : APARAJITO (1957)---Apu is older now, and headed for school, which he excels at. Life and death are still big themes, but now he is ready to leave his little village for college. Again, very astute, perceptive and emotional.
MISTRESS AMERICA--US comedy by director Noah Baumbach has cracker jack dialogue that is spouted out in terrifically witty manner by a gung-ho cast. A young college student meets her older new step-sister to be (their parents are getting married) and a great friendship is formed. Reminded me of Rosalind Russell or Katherine Hepburn comedies with every one talking real fast.
B+
ELEPHANT SONG--Canadian film of a stage play, opened up on film, and featuring a first rate cast including French Canadian director as actor Xavier Dolan as a psychotic young patient being interviewed by a new psychiatrist (Bruce Greenwood) and his nurse (Catherine Keener) about the disappearance of his regular psychiatrist. The film builds a perverse tension, with many flashback scenes acted out, building to a horrific climax. Well done.
THE PASSION OF AUGUSTINE--French Canadian drama about a Catholic girl's music convent and the struggles to stay open amid political and cultural changes in early 1960's. There is lovely singing and piano playing throughout, and the film capture the time and place very well.
B
THE APU TRILOGY : APUR SANSAR (1959)--The final segment of Ray's masterpiece, this film is very different from the first two. Apu is now an adult, trying to find his way as a writer. He falls unwittingly into a "noble" marriage, then must deal with life's difficulties of earning money and learning to be a father. This film deals with death, loss, male menopause, and the center section feels rudderless, much like his life. While there is little magical realism in this center section, there are still many moving moments to appreciate, and the film series does come to a satisfying full circle.
NEXT TO HER--Israel--Young woman in her mid twenties is caretaker to her younger, severely developmentally disabled sister, and their close relationship becomes (to me) desperately codependent. She eventually starts dating a co-worker who seems too perfect to be true--helpful, patient, understanding. There is a disturbing ending that is also heartbreaking. This film has stuck in my mind for several days.
I AM MICHAEL--US film starring James Franco as an out and proud gay man who starts a magazine geared to youth becoming secure and happy in their sexuality. A crisis of health leads him to start questioning his own life style, and he eventually becomes radicalized towards heterosexuality. The film, based on a true story, doesn't mention "born again" or any major event that causes this to occur. He eventually becomes a Christian preacher, seeming to want gay men to change to heterosexuality. It is a provocative story, and not always convincing, although Franco gives it his all.
THE CUT--Turkish, German director Fatih Akin (EDGE OF HEAVEN 2007, HEAD-ON 2004) tells historical story near the time of the Armenian genocide about a man who survives death, then spends many years and thousands of miles to find his lost twin girls. Sad but engrossing and well made.
PEOPLE PLACES THINGS--US romantic comedy about divorced man trying to find new love, stay involved in this twin daughter's lives, and finish his graphic novel. Actor Jermaine Clement is funny and charming, and his new love played by Regina Hall is quite endearing as well. Light weight stuff, but it goes down well.
C+
THE TOURNAMENT--Slick French fluff about young adults in an international chess tournament has eye candy moments (lots of sex and nudity) and has a few easy laughs, but many of the characters are too glib and the story line seems very unlikely. You will either find it easy to digest, or you might just hate it.
D+
THE GOLDEN ERA---Epic, long, three hour long Chinese historical film about writer Xio Hang who is involved with several men, revolutions, battles, other artists, etc., but too many characters and no emotional involvement make for dull viewing. Even her early death in her thirties is dragged out for nearly 30 minutes while people visit, and she is moved to THREE different hospitals.
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ReplyDeleteGood comments, Jeff, quite helpful in the difficult decisions for the final days of the fest. Just an FYI, the girl in Margarita With a Straw had cerebral palsy, not MS. Darn good acting job--had me fooled until the director's Q&A. Jittery camera movement used to bug me, too, but I seem to have gotten used to it. Thanks for posting.
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