Sugar and Spice

Japan 2006

Picture and details cdjapan

Seen 31 Dec 2006

A coming of age love story. A high school graduate falls for a college girl. Unfortunately the timing is not quite right as she has just broken off with her boyfriend. But they do develop a relationship boosted no doubt by the encouragement of a feisty grandmother. The boy's grandmother plays a central role as she had endured a lost love during her teenage years too. The story manages to go through on an even keel until the explosive end when the boy realises that he has lost his love. The crescendo of violins does emphasise the feelings of a first love not going according to plan. The most impressive moments are when the grandmother espouses her gems of wisdom. She is one gifted actor.

Big Bang Love

Japan 2006

Picture and details london film festival

Seen 28 Dec 2006

Stylish. The drumbeats from one of the early scenes gave me goosebumps and was hooked till the end. Two prisoners, Jun and Shiro, meet and develop a friendship. This is not the usual friendship per se as inuendos abound among the prisoners that they are more than “friends”. This is compounded by the fact that Jun worked in a gay bar and killed a customer, whereas Shiro comes from a life of hard knocks. Someone gets murdered and Jun confesses that he is the murderer. The story unravels the mind of the murderer and the two main characters. How they came to the present state, their ambitions and despairs. Heart warming. The two main actors did a splendid job and the director's sure hand manages to guide the story through its layers of symbolisms without going astray.

Cinta

Malaysia 2006

Picture cintawallpaper
Details cintathemovie

Seen 5th December 2006

A mixed bag of goodies. The main minus point is the poor audio quality which occurs intermittently when the actors speak in English. The big plus factor is the art direction, tight editing and as other reviewers have mentioned, a Kuala Lumpur seen from many new different angles. The couple played by Rahim Razali and Fatimah Abu Bakar gets my vote as the most natural couple helped no doubt by the almost flawless acting. The script for these two characters seem to be the most appropriate among the five couples highlighted in the film. Cliches abound. Nothing wrong with that as the director managed to bring out that extra pathos whenever it is needed. There are no actual highs or lows. Each mini story is treated adequately and they are linked seamlessly with each other. That is the strength of this particular effort. A story that flows with the expected Malay melodrama thrown in for good measure in some parts.
"Love means letting go of the one you love"???

Ciplak

Malaysia 2006

Picture gscmovies
Details ciplakmovie

Seen 3rd December 2006

Entertaining. The film focus is on Jo, a Malaysian student studying in England who dabbles in selling pirated dvds to supplement his income and as a means to finance his studies. We get to see the whole set-up of the pirated film industry in Malaysia, the catalyst behind the phenomenon and how Jo unfortunately gets involved with the seedier side of the industry. The film is made tongue in cheek but with the glaring truth of how prevalent this infamous industry permeates the Malaysian pysche. It is a wonder that the film manages to pass through the Malaysian cencorship board as the story does depict the utterly hopeless situation in the fight against piracy. A bad reflection of the intended results of the campaign against piracy. There are so many flaws in the way the moral guardians of society tries to solve the problem. As it is, piracy would never be eliminated totally as the root problem will always be there. The disproportionately high price of the original intellectual property compared to the average wage earner's take home pay translates to a continuous demand for pirated goods. An issue that might never be addressed till kingdom come.

A temetetlen halott

Hungary 2004

Picture and details szemle film

Seen 11 November 2006

The Unburied Man. The film deals with Imre Nagy, the prime minister of Hungary in 1956. That year saw him leading a different path from that prescribed by the communist leadership in Russia. Consequently he was detained and we see how he languished in prison until his execution. The film tries to reconstruct the events of that era as well as depict the consequences of that momentous day. A good historical lesson.

El Perro Del Hortelano

Spain 1996

Picture and details imdb

Seen 9 November 2006

The title translates to "The dog in the manger". One who prevents others from enjoying what one has no use for oneself. In this film, the dog refers to the lady of the house who falls for her employee. The film takes a tragic and comedic look at love’s many facets. In this case, the class difference between two lovers, the employee and his master. The dialogue is almost too good to be true as many of the feelings expressed by the characters do reflect life’s real life situations. It is a whirlwind of goings on between the two main characters and the supporting cast. Good script and acting. Keeps you glued to your seat in anticipation of the next scene.

Raindogs

Malaysia 2006

Picture and details twitchfilm

Seen 4 November 2006

Full marks for art direction. Certain frames were just meant to be. A teenage boy coming of age story - fatherless, the passing away of his only elder brother, a mother seeing another man, he himself falling in love. Most of the actors are first timers so some scenes do feel a bit stiff. Fortunately, the actors need not say a lot as the whole atmospheric feel is conveyed by the superb camera work. The main theme song by Odetta - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - permeates the film's overall outlook and is hauntingly relevant to the whole storyline. The lyrics:

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long way from home
A long way from home
True believer
A long way from home
A long way from home

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Way up in that heavenly land
Way up in that heavenly land

Candy

Australia 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 27th October 2006

Candy, the name of the title character seems appropriate as her dalliance with drugs which is recreational "candy" at the beginning brings her through different phases of dependence. She is an artist and her boyfriend, Dan, is the poet. The drugs which started as just normal candy in their life vocabulary, something to enhance their take on life eventually turns them into junkies. They knew they had to stop the downward spiral especially when Candy realises she is pregnant. But their efforts at going cold turkey failed and they go down the drugs path again. It is a painful watch and Candy struggles throughout to have some semblance of normalcy. A struggle till the end. We may never know whether history will repeat itself or will it be a happy ending.

Queens

Spain 2006

Picture and details movies.yahoo

Seen 26 October 2006

Spain's first gay wedding. And the mothers involved with their sons' marriage. So many tumultuous events happened before the official wedding date. Not just the sons, but their mothers lives goes topsy-turvy too. A fun watch. Who are the real queens?

Soap

Denmark 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 26 October 2006

Soap, the cleansing agent or the drama? Charlotte, who just broke up with her long time lover moves to a new apartment. Her neighbour downstairs is Veronica, a transvestite who is waiting for government approval for a sex change operation. Their less than warm first meeting develops into a sort of cordial friendship when Veronica tried to commit suicide. Events take another turn when Charlotte is saved from her ex-lover's beatings. Frustrations, doubts, self-worth, denials all come into play between the two of them. The film ends with Charlotte whispering her secret to Veronica. A secret we can only guess.

AE Fond Kiss

UK 2003

Picture and details imdb

Seen 25 October 2006

Love across racial and religious barriers. This is an age old dilemma and is more pertinent now with the multi-racial, mutli-cultural and multi-religious make-up of many countries in the world. The questions of acceptance by family as well as kith and kin hovers large whenever cupid shoots his arrow at a woman and man from two different sides of the equation. This film shows how the lovers cope with the objections from family and friends. There are flare-ups between the two of them whenever the pressure of reality gets too near. They try their best to make things work but only time will tell whether others are equally at ease with their partnership.

The Devil Wears Prada

USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 1 October 2006

The devil as your boss. The new worker learning the ropes of the trade, in this instant the fashion magazine industry. Being bullied by the boss and your superior while trying to juggle a semblance of a relationship. The audience is taken through all these snippets. Plus the ultimate question whether of career versus integrity. The story moves along at quite a giddy pace during the sequences which showcases the hurly-burly world of fashion. Meryl Streep as the boss is superb and just the tone of her voice conveys so much. Her movements and speech is economical. No hysterics but the brevity and spontaneity cuts through without any hesitation. A fun watch.

Heavenly Kings

Hong Kong 2005

Picture and details lovehkfilm

Seen 30 September 2006

Heavenly Kings on first glance gives an impression of a simple story on a Hong Kong boy band. Underlying the rags to riches story is the behind the scenes manipulations of the big wigs in the music industry. It is a business after all with sales being the bottomline for any decision. There was a scene where the image consultant blurts out that talent and looks comes second to the image ant packaging of the final product. All done in the name of the mighty dollar. Forget your independence or integrity unless you are willing to face the uphill battle with the establishment - the music industry juggernaut. This particular story also highlights how a strong friendship helps to smoothen the many obstacles faced by the members with the industry as well as among themselves. The story is a revelation on how the music industry operates but maybe it has been mentioned elsewhere. Most probably the ongoings are similar in the music industry of other countries too.

Brides

Greece 2004

Picture and details abc

Seen 16 September 2006

A love that is not meant to be. Norman Harris, an out of job photographer meets Niki, a Greek mail order bride on the ship going to New York. She is among 700 mail order brides from Greece and other parts of impoverished Europe during the 1920s sailing the Atlantic on their journey to meet their intended husbands. Niki, the main character in the film, is herself a substitute bride, replacing her younger sister who came back to Greece. Niki is a very proud woman, committed to her task, upholding the family name despite her feelings towards Norman. We also get a glimpse of the shenanigans of those in power over the lives of these women. There are also some who turn a blind eye to the tragic fate endured by some of the mail order brides. They live by the philosophy that a few sacrificial lambs is a necessary evil in order for the flock to survive. The most memorable scene to me is when Norman tries to lace up Niki's shoes. The focus on the shoe laces undone, Norman's hesitant hands, the shoes withdrawn under Niki's skirt, the shoes coming out again. Ahhh, love.

Did I also mention the soundtrack, a haunting solo violin in some parts, accompanied by piano in other scenes. There is also the oud played by one of the brides and most often accompanied by an ethereal voice lamenting love lost and those left behind. Tagline: It's not a punishment to remember someone you love. The punishment is to forget him.

Dreamer

USA 2005

Picture imdb
Details dreamer

Seen 3 September 2006

Feel good movie. The film focuses on three generations coming to terms with each other. Cale Crane (Dakota Fanning) is the daughter of Ben Crane (Kurt Russell), a horse race trainer. Ben Crane himself had made some career mistakes in the past and has an uneasy relationship with his own father Pop Crane (Kris Kristofferson). Their lives change when they nurse an injured race horse back to championship condition. The job of looking after the horse brings all of them closer together. There were some flare-ups between the three of them before the final race, but the race itself sees all three giving full support to each other.

Clean

France/USA/UK 2004

Picture and details imdb

Seen 2 September 2006

Maggie Cheung plays an ex-addict who tries to straighten her life so that she'll be able to be a real mother again to her young son. The whole film depends a lot on this one character and Maggie Cheung carries the role well. That was a biased statement as I've been besotted by this actress since I saw her in 'Centre Stage' and 'In the mood for love'. The whole persona of the struggling woman who tries and stumbles often in her quest to get her son is done without excesses. A very understated approach is effective in this context as the director does not aim to show the real nitty gritty of the drug addicts life. But what we have is more the emotional undercurrents that is reflected in most scenes especially when the mother confronts the son. The supporting cast does a commendable job making the whole film a joy to watch.

Me and you and everyone we know

USA 2005

Picture imdb
Details meandyoumovie

Seen 1 September 2006

Quirky in a nice way. Of course it is entertaining since the plot does revolve around love. My Achilles heel. Christine is an aspiring artist and a cab driver who falls for Richard, a recently separated salesman. Richard himself has his hands full trying to juggle his new found situation as a single father to two young boys and the new love interest. Add to this plot, an arts gallery owner who does not seem to appreciate Christine's talents at first, Richard's neighbour who gets his kicks from two teenage girls as well as Richard's own boys who are cyberspace veterans. The title of the story refers to the a picture done by the elder of the two young boys. Symbols of their position in life and the world at large. Ordinary people. Ordinary life. But extraordinary since it is their life and their chosen path. A path that may well be the same for others too.

United 93

USA 2006

Picture and details united93movie

Seen 1 September 2006

The only flight that did not reach its target during the 9/11 incident. This film will most probably perpetuate the perception that Islam promotes violence where the end justifies the means. It is a sad commentary on Islam whereas the true teachings have never mentioned sacrificing innocent lives in the name of religion. The film also shows how the human survival instinct surfaces time and again in the face of adversity. Unfortunately in this case, the outcome was not a triumph. The film maker must be commended for bringing forth a sensitive subject which is still fresh in most people memories.

The wind that shakes the barley

Britain 2006

Picture and details britishfilms

Seen 31 August 2006.

The English are cruel. That is the first impression I get from the first scenes. I guess that will apply to all masters looked at from the point of view of the servants. The film focuses on Damian who gets involved during the early years of the Irish Republican Army. He was reluctant at first since he had ambitions to further his career as a doctor in London. But the death of his friend started the ball rolling and he becomes an ardent supporter of the cause. He even shot a young man whom he knew as a child but was condemned as a traitor to the revolution. Damian's fate at the end was a reflection of his conviction in his beliefs to the ideals of the movement. This film should be seen by all especially those in power over others irrespective of whether it was justified or not in the beginning. The conquered will always have that ill-feeling towards their masters. That grudge will be hardened and revenge will be the only keyword recognised when the masters show no humanity in dealing with the issues. Man want to be free. A basic need to carve their own destiny.

Avellaneda's Moon

Argentina 2004

Picture and details seattlefilm festival

Seen 20th August 2006

The opening sequence of people dancing the tango itself is a good premonition of where the heart of the film is. Added to that the birth of a boy amidst the gaiety of at Avellaneda's Moon. A social club for the neighbourhood. The boy is Ramon.
He grows up almost umbilically attached to the club despite the ups and downs of the times. The town itself is facing one of its bleakest economic moments and the club is a prime target for redevelopment. Besides Ramon, there is also a lady who is facing a divorce, the basketball coach cum arts craftsman who falls for the new dance teacher at the school as well as the bad guy who works for the city council. Ramon himself has problems with his wife after 20 years of marriage.
We see the personal and social mix reach a climax of sorts when the club members had to vote for the club's future. Ramon gave one of his most heart felt plea to save the club but had to concede defeat when economic considerations win the day. But all is not lost as just when he has decided to move from the town, he stumbled onto his long lost club membership card. His faith is renewed and there is hope yet for another Avelaneda's Moon.

Cars

USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 24 June 2006

No man is an island. The most brilliant did not have that status bestowed on them simply through their own efforts. Others had a part in making an entity reach the top of its field. This story encapsulates the principle brilliantly. The animation action sequences moves the audience to root for the hero of story. The love story and the feel good vibes from the friends who rallied to support the hero in his times of need emphasized the point that everyone needs someone sometime in their lives. This is a fun watch with multiple massages on very level of the human need for love, kindness and understanding from others in our journey through life.

Men's heart - Le coeur des hommes

Country France 2003

Picture and details imdb
Seen 3 June 2006

Engrossing in some parts. A film on four men in their 50's. Alex sleeps around but swears profusely to his wife that he is ever faithful to her and the family. Manuel finds a new love after the death of his father. Antoine has a twenty something girlfriend who has given him a new take on life. Jeff has just found out that his wife has cheated on him.
The four are the best of friends. Usually they will not interfere with the others' private lives save for a few tangential jokes. Sometimes one of them crosses the line and there is a shift in the status quo. They try to help each other but in the end the individual himself has to decide the best course of action.

Saint Ange

Country France 2004

Picture and details imdb

Seen 3 June 2006

Satisfying horror mystery film. Saint Ange, an orphanage has to be closed after one of the students was found dead. Anna comes into the picture and tries to find the real reasons behind the happenings at the school. There are bumps in the night galore.
The actress who plays Anna is mesmeric in the way she shows the curious streak inherent in everyone. She doggedly pursues every clue to enlighten her about the mysterious place. She did succeed in her own fashion but at what a price.
The film version I saw has been dubbed in English. Some sentences seem awkward and stilted. I much prefer if the film retained the French and let me just read the subtitles.

The beat that my heart skipped - De battre mon coeur s'est arrete

Country France 2005

Picture and details imdb

Seen 3 June 2006

Thought provoking. The beat refers to the latent musical talent of Thomas. He works for the real estate thugs, terrorising squatters or those who are late in paying their rent. He is also involved in schemes to make profit from unsuspecting property owners. Thomas also helps to cover up for his friend who has extra marital affairs and flings. But this gives rise to an affair between Thomas and his friend's wife.
A chance encounter with his mother's concert manager rekindles his love for music. He practices daily with a pianist from Beijing. The story from this point onwards shows the interplay of his daily work, the piano practice for an upcoming audition, the love affair and also his relationship with his father.
Towards the end we see how he handles the different aspects of his life and the choices that had to be made. Dilemmas. Questions. I'm not sure the solution on screen is the right one for everyone.

The Great Challenge - Les Fils du Vent

Country: France 2004

Picture and details unifrance

Seen 3 June 2006

Engrossing. Martial arts genre but seems to highlight rhythmic or artistic gymnasts strutting their stuff all over town - Bangkok. Six guys with the noble aim of opening a gymnasium for the less fortunate children get caught in between a royale battle between the triad and the yakuza. Add to that mix a brother/sister team who are outcasts because they are mixed parentage.
The fight sequences seems so fluid that it looks like a well rehearsed ballet but some of them were a bit too long. The philosophical and love angle is given just a cursory glance. Very little blood spilt so those who want their daily dose of gore and mayhem would be disappointed.

X-Men: The Last Stand

Country USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 27 May 2006

Entertaining. This third instalment in the series sees Jean resurrected. Her role is bigger in the whole plot and we see quite a few mutants dead along the way. The special effects and tight script carries the film at a face pace. The slower paced moments occur when the story focuses on Charles and Momento’s ideas of the mutants’ role among ordinary humans. There was an even keel touch to the whole production with some scenes reaching a heightened momentum of sorts. As I said earlier, it is an entertaining watch but do not expect tug at your heartstrings story lines.

The Last Communist

Country Malaysia 2006

Picture and details lelakikomunis

Seen 20 May 2006

Glorifying communism not. The last communist, ('Lelaki komunis terakhir' in Malay), an apt title as the film highlights the remnants of the communist party members who are in their twilight years. The film is basically a road movie. The film traces the places with connections to Chin Peng, the Malayan Communist Party leader. His birth place, school, places where he had his first taste of the communist ideology as well as towns that played an important role when he was planning his strategies.
The film does not glorify communism per se, but is more of a tale of what has happened since those days of struggle against the British and independent Malaya.
The film may have an added dimension to it if the director had managed to get some footage of the Malay communists. But as the director had explained, the current unrest in southern Thailand has made that option unfeasible.
The narrative is superimposed on the screen throughout the duration of the film. This technique might turn off some people from watching as the wordings can be distracting.
Chin Peng does not appear at all in the film and none of his comrades mentioned his name. This might have been done on purpose by the director. Chin Peng's story is told through the narrative which most probably is taken from his autobiography.
That in itself may have prompted the film being banned in Malaysia even though the book itself is available to the public.
A documentary, roadie or semi musical. All of them and most of all, a look at ordinary Malaysians.

L'Enfant

Country Belgium/France 2005

Picture and details imdb

Seen 20 May 2006

The translation says The Child, more likely the infant as his first screen presence was when we see him with his mother just a few days after birth. Mother is Sonia while father is Bruno. Bruno is a petty thief just eking out a subsistence life. He tries to find ways to support the son and his girlfriend. A suggestion that giving away the baby for adoption starts his downward spiral. Sonia could not accept the fact that the baby has been sold and is hospitalised. Bruno gets back the baby and Sonia could not forgive him yet for his mistake. Bruno is also beaten up by the men who made the adoption deal as they lost their profit in the botched up plan. Bruno steals again but surrenders himself as his young accomplice is taken in by the police.
The last scene shows Bruno qnd Sonia crying and hugging each other in the prison meeting room. The events shown seem comical in part but in reality might be a true reflection of what is happening with a lot of young couples facing the same dilemma, raising a child without a steady income. This is a slow moving film, with each scene taking its time to tell the story. Bruno's dead pan expression seems to add phatos to the whole story. Happy moments can only be seen when Bruno and Sonia were together for a day ride.
Those who are used to fast paced action are advised to avoid seeing this film unless they are willing to make a paradigm shift.

Poseidon

Country USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 13 May 2006

This movie tells the story of a disaster at sea. The film itself is nearly a disaster if not for the special effects. There is nothing spectacular about the story line. There is a father and daughter relationship, jilted lovers, non-committal singles. I guess the audience can expect a morbid kind of happy ending with disaster movies, albeit with many victims sacrificed along the way. I could not see any difference with this version of a disaster. I was impressed by the instinct for survival of the main group. Most probably in real life there will be a few who will emerge winners despite any adversity thrown into their path. Enjoy the trauma, claustrophobia and adrenalin rush but do not expect a cerebral celebration.

Gubra

Malaysia 2006

Picture and details gubra

Seen 7 May 2006

One of the first few scenes which showed the Pak Bilal touching a three legged dog sets the tone for the film. As one cinema goer commented, she was hooked from that scene onwards. There were equally strong opposing view points from another quarter.

Each scene and dialogue can be construed as provocative to those who want to see it that way.

The director might have chosen to tell the story this way in order to show an alternative take of the Malaysian life. Of course not everyone will agree to her point of view, She manages to at least show a gentler side to Islam rather than the usual fire and brimstone version that is officially approved by the authorities. A wider interpretation of the religious tenets and how people react to each other helps to make the film a refreshing change from the usual Malaysian cinematic fare.

As usual, the crème de la crème of an ensemble helped a lot to move the story on an even pace. It will definitely provoke some quarters but in a way that is a good start. People will start talking and questioning the accepted facts that have been dished out to the masses. Hopefully any negative feedback would not dampen the director's future works or any director for that matter who wants to potray a different side to the Malaysian story.

Heaven's bookstore

Country Japan 2005

Picture and details sensasian

Seen 7 May 2006

A sister reading to her brother. A fireworks display. Those two scnes made me misty eyed. That sums up the whole film. A feel good film with poignant moments.

A frustrated pianist is sent to heaven temporarily to meet his destiny. He meets up with a lady pianist whom he admired when he was younger and together they try to finish a composition.

While on earth the lady pianist's niece met up with the aunt's boyfriend. He has to face his demons before he found the courage to continue his work as a fireworks expert. The director shows both parties struggling with their past to enable them to move forward. The inner conflict, guilt and despondency shows on their faces. It is only towards the end that they manage to resolve their quarrels with their loved ones and leave behind the excess emotional baggage.

Good ensemble cast and tight editing make this film a must see for die hard romantics.

Typhoon

Country Korea 2005

Picture and details Typhoon

Seen 30 April 2006

I’m in two minds about this film. There is a story line, the acting is commendable and the action sequences does its job adequately. But there is still a nagging feeling that an ingredient is missing. Most probably it has to do with the script and the way subtitles work. Nuances of a language inadvertently get lost in the translation process. But another reviewer’s Korean wife found the film lacking in the pull factor too. See this film at your own risk.

Ice Age 2

Country USA 2006

Picture ice age two the meltdown
Details imdb

Seen 15 April 2006

Missed the first movie so had no idea of the main characters. Enjoyable in small doses. The film had its moments, the song and dance sequence, tributes to 30s Hollywood musicals. There were no spectacular ups and downs where the audience can really root for the hero or villain. We laughed and cried at the right moments but no deep lasting impressions.

The Tiger And The Snow

Country: Italy 2005

Picture tiger_and_the_snow
Details imdb

Seen 6 April 2006

Brilliant. The first scene had Tom Waits. That in itself is worth the ticket price. It is a love story told by Roberto Benigni, the same director who helmed 'A Beautiful Life'. In his hands, a simple love story runs the gamut of emotions, the comical, the sad, the poignant moments. He also uses the current Iraq war as the background and gives his own take on the American presence in that country.

V for Vendetta

Country USA 2005

Picture and details vforvendetta

Seen 18 March 2006

Disturbing and provocative. Those are the two words that go through my mind while watching the film. The subject matter is very current. Terrorism. In this case, V, the villain/hero emulates Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the parliament building a few hundred years ago. A recurrent theme that goes through the main character's mind is his belief that ideas will never die. The man with the ideals is just an instrument, a means towards an end. How the end is achieved is justified because the man believes it is a worthy cause, notwithstanding the many grey areas that abound whenever good versus evil in the ongoing power struggle to gain control of all humanity. An added sweetener to V's character is his love for books and the many varied interests. A true renaissance man. Whatever his faults, the ideals seem pure and true compared to the evil ones who are the rulers of the day. There will be many questions after watching this film but I'm not sure whether there will be as much action to rectify the wrongs that we see everyday. That will take someone like V to start the ball rolling.

Millions

Country Britain 2004

Picture and details imdb

Seen 15 March 2006

This is a low key feel good film. The main character, a boy named Damian has a lively imagination. The story starts with the family which includes the father and an elder brother moving to another part of town after the death of the mother. Damian is still trying to come to terms with the death and tends to spend a lot of time on his own. He sees and talks to apparitions of saints. They are his friends and guiding light in his actions. The decisions he has to take and the adventures that ensues started with his new found bag of money. The photography and acting helped a lot to lift the film a notch higher from the usual saccharine sweet family story. A British 'Home Alone' with a wicked twist.

Water

Country: India 2005

Picture imdb
Details imdb

Seen 27 February 2006
Indian widows before independence. In this case the story revolves around the eight year old child widow, Chuyia. The moment her husband died, she was given away to an ashram specifically for widows. Her world changes and she has to adapt to her new status as an undesirable in Indian society. Fortunately she meets a kind hearted Brahmin widow, Shakuntala and the jewel of the ashram, a very pretty young widow, Kalyani. Kalyani is taken away to benefactors at night by the town pimp as a means of support for the ashram. This trade is sanctioned by the head widow, Didi. Things came to a head when Kalyani meets Ibrahim, a young law student. The situation at that time and events that followed ended the story on a melancholy note. There is still a long way for the widows of India to gain their rightful place as an equal member of society.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

Country: Korea 2005

Picture imdb
Details imdb

Seen 27 February 2006
A very appropriate title since almost everyone that lady, Lee Geum-ja has met tries to help her in her plan for revenge. She was in jail for thirteen years accused of a crime that was not her own doing. She was threatened by the real perpetrator that her daughter will be killed if she did not confess to the crimes. Her plan for revenge was elaborate to say the least but she managed to get her man in the end. Despite her success she still feels remorse about what happened to her daughter all those years ago. The daughter herself has accepted what happened in the past. Both mother and daughter will start a new life fresh and pure as the snow flakes that fall at the end of the film. Some scenes seem more like cultural symbols and might be better understood if we know more about the Korean psyche.

Crash

Country: USA 2005

Picture yahoo movies
Details crashfilm

Seen 27 February 2006
The menacing feeling starts from the beginning of the film with the soundtrack adding to the burgeoning undercurrents. A film about our perceptions of others different from us, either through colour, race, religion or any other artificial barrier put up by humans since time immemorial. Interestingly, each character has a different side to him which surfaces when the need arises. This is especially highlighted with the scenes involving Thandi Newton and Matt Dillon. The director does not try to give a solution but just depicts everyday scenes heightened by the tensions simmering within each person.

Sunflower

Country: China 2005

Picture Toronto IFF
Details Toronto IFF

Seen 25 February 2006
Another father-son story. This time from China. Father is the typical Asian disciplinarian whereas the son grudgingly follows the father's wishes. The father's involvement in his son's life goes to the extent of taking a role in the son's love relationship. The father-son love hate relationship continues until the son reaches adulthood and has his own life. There was a scene when in the heat of an argument, the son mentioned that the father succeeded in his role as a family provider but failed miserably as a 'father'. The son only realises how much love the father has for him at the end of the story when he discovered a tape recording. The father never acknowledges openly his son's success or talent until the very end. Even then. it was just a handshake with minimal words of congratulations. Both father and son had the same stubborn streak but in the end, they did realise that despite all the differences throughout the years, there exists a strong bond between them.

You bet your life

Country: Austria/Switzerland 2005

Picture from FF Rotterdam
Details FF Rotterdam

Seen 25 February 2006
This film gives us an interesting premise of taking chances with life by using a dice. A hard core gambler runs out of luck trying to pay off his debts. A chance encounter and a televison programme about using a dice to dictate each individual's decision started the gambler's new journey in life. He devised a system using the dice to win a few big winners. He used the dice system again as the basis for all his future decisions. This led to a roller coaster journey of discovery with a new girl friend. The end showed five other versions of the story's ending based on the other numbers on the dice. Perplexing. Mind boggling.

The Village Album

Country: Japan 2005

Picture from 8th Shanghai IFF
Details 8th Shanghai IFF

Seen 25 February 2006
A Japanese father-son bonding against the backdrop of a small village soon to be replaced by a dam. Misty eyed after the first ten minutes. Then had to control the tears until the end. Misunderstanding between father and son. An estranged daughter who left the family fold. A father who is proud of his village even though he was going to make it big in the big city. The son realises bit by bit all that the father holds dear. Revelations by the family friend jolts the son to acknowledge that the father is such a special person, maybe even extraordinary to have survived in the village for a lifetime. The story goes at a steady pace until a half expected ending. But the director manages to pull all the right emotional strings. Very statisfrying watch.

Monday Morning Glory

Country: Malaysia 2005

Picture from San Francisco FS
Details variety

Seen 24 February 2006
Malaysian take on the suicide bombers in the South East Asian region. The film tries to delve into the reasons behind the bombings. The director shows a typical public confession session staged for the media while the police are shown as succesful professionals in combating this new global threat. There seems to be a deliberate decision to make the film in a detached style.
I had the feeling that the actors purposely say out their lines in a deadpan manner. There were no facial expressions per se. They seem to be just the mouthpiece of each segment of society that was represented in the film - the terrorist/extremist, police/government, public/media. Maybe it is a reflection of what is happening, we are just parroting what the leaders say. Sacrificial lambs to a higher cause - the mighty or those who assumed they have the might..

Long winter without fire

Country: Switzerland 2004

Picture from europeanfilms
Details imdb

Seen 24 February 2006
How do parents cope with the untimely death of a child? A daughter killed in a fire accident left scars which takes a toll on both parents. The wife seeks psychiatric help while the husband tries his best to have a normal life. The presence of a female co-worker who happens to be a refugee from the war in Kosovo brings forth suppressed feelings of regret and helplessness. There doesn't seem to be an immediate solution to solve the lingering guilt felt by the parents. Maybe time will be of some help.

Gilaneh

Country: Iran 2005

Picture from yahoo movies
Details yahoo movies

Seen 24 February 2006
This is a mother extraordinaire. The story spans the years from the last years of the Iran-Iraq war until the years of the first Iraq war. The first part shows how she accompanies her pregnant daughter back to Teheran to find her son-in-law. The second part shows how she cares for her disabled son. Her strength and fortitude despite the odds seems superhuman. I'm sure there are many mothers who are in the same predicament. Their children will always be a priority. Gilaneh's sacrifices are further heightened by the times - the war which always affect the common folks the most.

Manslaughter

Country: Denmark 2005

Picture from dfi
Details dfi

Seen 24 February 2006
A social studies professor's seemingly ideal life gets complicated when his girlfriend gets involved in a policeman's murder. His affair with the girlfriend is now public news and comes as a shock to his wife and son. The policeman's widow becomes a fixture in his life too through his involvement with the girlfriend. Friendship, loyalty, love and guilt surfaces in a heady mixture. The professor's remorse seems to find no solution as he struggles to carry on with his life in his newly found and self made predicament.

Cut Sleeve Boys

Country: Hong Kong/UK 2006

Picture from fortissimofilms
Details fortissimofilms

Seen 23 February 2006
This is a fun take on the lives of two British Chinese gay men. Their relationships with other men and family seem so similar with any heterosexual life. The major difference would be the variations in the relationships as gaynes has its own specific codes. Do you accept someone who is softer than you as a lover? Someone who secretly wants to be a crossdresser? Young lover who becomes popular with others? Questions and dilemmas. But in the end they'll survive and make fun of the downs while making the most of the ups.

The Giant Buddhas

Country: Switzerland 2005

Picture from giant-buddhas
Details giant-buddhas

Seen 23 February 2006
A documentary on the giant Buddhas in the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan. This was the famous statues destroyed by the Talibans when they ruled Afghanistan. The director showed the relevance of the statues to the local people, the archeologists, the media and an Afghan lady who lives abroad. There was also a Chinese connection since there was a journal by a monk who made a journey to the Bamiyan valley in the seventh century detailing the spectacle with mention of a grander statue nearby. All that is lost to us now. The Afghan lady laments that the statues were a part of her country's legacy but now there is a gap in their history. The people have lost a part of themselves. The past defined them as a people and country but the evidence is lost forever.

Dear Dakanda

Country: Thailand 2005

Picture from siamzone
Details ethaicd

Seen 23 February 2006
A Thai movie about a college boy who just wanted to take stock of his previous love life but found another. The hero in this case tends to be tight lipped about his feelings for his best girl friend. He was not sure about his feelings in the beginning but as time went on, the friendship evolved into love for the girl. But he was reluctant to tell the truth and he had found the courage only at the last moment when it was just a bit too late. He took a vacation to take a break from the hurt.
Here we find the hero still trying to come to terms with his feelings for the first girl even though another friendship has developed with a new girl. He writes a postcard every day to his first girl friend detailing his daily routine at the vacation spot. Through those postcards we see how his feelings evolved and wavered between the two girls. At the end, I think he made the right choice, choosing the right soul mate as his life partner.

Who the hell's Bonnie and Clyde

Country: Hungary 2004

Picture from cinequest
Details cinequest

Seen 23 February 2006
The title relates to the girl in the story who read a wanted poster saying that she and her boyfriend are their country's version of Bonnie and Clyde. The country is Hungary and the story is based on actual events. The robbers did not plan their lives to be such a memorable event but their first meeting lead to their infamous reputation. The director uses scenes of the present in which both have been imprisoned in between showing their journey escaping from the law and enjoying the loot. The two who have been thrown into their predicament without any prior proper plans try their best to make the best of what they have. Their loyalty and love for each other were tested umpteen times throughout their travels together. Love conquers again? Perhaps.

Mean Creek

Country: USA 2004

Picture from imdb
Details meancreekmovie

Seen 19 February 2006
The title itself gives an inkling of the plot. There is a mean streak in everyone. Alas, in this case, other feelings come alive even though the mean person in the story deserves what he gets. As usual our everyday lives is not what it seems on first glance. Everyone involved in the tragedy had to cope with the events that ensued. Mixed up feelings and questions on what is the next step. The camera lingers on each main character's facial expression. The thoughts that go through their mind is reflected in their eyes and the twitch in the facial muscles. Tight script and overall satisfactory ensemble act.