August 19, 2010
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This is a quirky tale of stalking and romance that to me really didn’t come off the screen that well. It’s called Wild Grass and the film may become my choice for the dullest foreign film of the year. Droll acting, lackluster direction and a limp camera turn what could have been a good script into French onion soup without the cheese.
This film is long, challenging, relentless and brutal, but The Girl Who Played With Fire comes up a winner in spite of these probable shortcomings. Based on a book trilogy by Stieg Larsson, this sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo provides a new case for its central characters and fleshes out new dangers with which they have to deal. It’s a mystery thriller with a twisted ending.
At its core I Am Love is a complex and tragic melodrama, often breathtakingly beautiful. Set at the turn of the millennium in Milan, Italy, the film follows the fall of the Recchis, a wealthy industrial family, by the forces of passion and unconditional love that assail their world from every side.
This funny little gem from Italy features the wonderful acting and directing by Gianni Di Gregorio. The fast paced storyline of Mid August Lunch plays out two humorous days Italian style with delightful characters acted by a superb support cast. Whether you are into foreign comedy or just want to sit back and escape to another culture, this film makes a scrumptious ‘meal.’
The mesmerizing crime film A Prophet gets rolling quickly and then settles in to some interesting character development and storytelling to it’s twisted ending. The acting, directing, cinematography are superb making it a must see for film buffs, prison drama lovers and filmmaking students. A Prophet was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
It has been said that good things come in small packages and this little film is no exception. The movie Desierto Sur does a brilliant job of bringing a story of sorrow, determination and discovery to the screen that’s touching and convincing. It’s the kind of film that you will remember long after the movie theater credits roll.
It’s a bit drawn out, wicked and artsy, but I just couldn’t be sympathetic enough to like Lorna’s Silence. The film would be great for an audience that likes a riveting tale of a challenging life, except this one just doesn’t make the grade.
The movie Afghan Star, a documentary that depicts a return of pop culture to Afghanistan, takes a courageous peak into the lives of a people and culture that has been constantly changing. I liked the film very much because it reaches into the hearts of the Iranians who seem to be looking for freedom from oppression and the right to happiness through self-expression.