SIFF Screenings Friday Jun 2----Sunday Jun 4--------Best Bets----WOODPECKERS, SOUL ON A STRING, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, INVERSION

Here's what I watch for the weekend---


WOODPECKERS--Dominican Republic--Here's the break out film of SIFF--a tough prison film with a tender heart, observed with skillful direction (there's a fabulous minute plus long tracking shot  through nearly the whole prison, without cuts) and careful photography and editing--you can almost "read" the hand gesturing as male inmates talk to female inmates nearby.  There is a minimum of hand held camera movements---astonishing due to the fact that there are literaly dozens of characters in each scene. And best of all, in spite of the fact that the film deals with horrors and tragedies of prison life, there is a strong sense of life and romance that permeates the story.               GRADE-------------A

SOUL ON A STRING--China--At 140 minutes, this epic odyssey set in Tibet is filled with murder, revenge, mystic folklore,  and eye popping scenery of deserts, mountains, rivers and villages.  When a man with a dark past finds a mystic stone in the mouth of a deer he has just killed, he must return the stone to a mystic mountain many days away--in the meantime he encounters a determined young woman, a psychotic boy, and a man who is trying to kill him because he killed this man's father in his past.  Here's a skillful blending of the Western, road picture, romance, thriller and mysticism.
GRADE---------A-

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS--Great Britain--An alcoholic washed up poet and writer is sent to his god daughter's family home to investigate the possibility of miracles that have been reported. Written by the clever, wry Stephan Fry, the dialogue is full of cruel sarcasm, hilarious entendres and outrageous insults.  There's also a telling and tragic story here, steeped in bizarre sexuality,  and if you like such British entertainments, you will love this film.  Prepare to be offended.            GRADE----------B+

INVERSION--Iran--When the matriarch of the family collapses due to massive air pollution conditions in Tehran, the men in the family decide to send the unmarried single daughter to the north to live with the mother with clean air, with out consulting her, and forcing her to give up her business and her burgeoning relationship with a man.  Here's an insidious look at gender issues in an oppressive society.           GRADE---------B+

LANDLINE--USA--Set in New York City in 1995, this features comedian Jenny Slate as an older sister who is engaged to be married, but finds herself attracted to an old beau, while her younger sister is secretly involved in sex, drugs and clubbing.  They think their father is having an affair and hope to derail this without their mother becoming involved.  There are a number of fine laughs, mostly thanks to Slate's delivery and charm, and there's a very serious underplay going on, but the film doesn't transcend the set up.                GRADE------B-

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS--Great Britain--Based on some children's books, this is a well made film that seems far to complicated for younger children (different pirate groups and lingo, perilous conditions for kids, British spies, Russian spies, confusing and awkward locations, etc.) and becomes rather pedestrian for adult viewers.            GRADE-------------C+

BOUNDARIES aka PAYS--(French) Canada--A dull and boring film about local politics that has little of interest for general audiences, with mediocre actors and basic direction.  The four Canadians sitting next to me  turned to  each other when it ended and all agreed that this was the most boring film they'd seen in years.            GRADE----------D+

INFINITY BABY--USA--I was amused by director Bob Byington's quirky last film 7 CHINESE BROTHERS 2015, but this new black and white, deadpan quirkiness did not provide one laugh for me in the 45 minutes I watched, so I walked out.  The main conceit --trying to get adults to adopt babies who will be 3 months old for ever , is a big problem.  There is no where to go with this situation,and it is too bizarre to even be funny. You know you are in trouble when the director, during his introduction of the film, says he "made a good film, but only some of you may like it, and some of you will not like it."             GRADE--------D