The SBIFF was a treat this year with high quality films and plenty of variety to keep me wishing I could take the whole 2 weeks off work and attend as many movies as possible. I managed to grab 6 films without a dud in the bunch. Here's a quick recap:
(Latino Cinemedia sidebar-Mexico) "Tear This Heart Out" ("Arrancame La Vida"):
An absolutely wonderful film starring Daniel Gimenez Cacho, the exquisitely beautiful Ana Claudia Talancon and Jose Maria de Tavira in the story of a love triangle with fatal consequences. Powerful general Cacho marries Talancon when she's only 16, takes her to his sumptuous home and attempts to dictate every facet of her life. When she meets handsome young orchestra conductor and revolutionary Tavira all bets are off as she discovers the passion and romace which have always been missing from her marriage. A gorgeous looking movie with fabulous sets and costumes, a fascinating female character at its center, murder, romance, beauty -- who could ask for more?
(Russia) "The Ghost" ("Domovoy"):
Reminiscent of "Memento" as a mind bending thriller, this film mixes writer's block with the world of a professional hit man and comes up with a fun concoction that keeps the audience guessing until its final frame. Even the final frame is a zinger. Successful but currently blocked writer Anton (Konstantin Khabensky) is approached by a stranger (Vladimir Mashkov) at a book signing who asks "Have you ever killed a man?" From that point forward we, like the startled writer, are hooked and off on a wild, disturbing adventure in which research on how to write a really thrilling book goes terribly awry. It seems that Anton is willing to strike a Faustian bargain with this stranger (who turns out to be a hit man) in order to reinvigorate his creative juices, but at what price? Great stuff.
(Canada/Japan) "Dim Sum Funeral":
Despite an excellent cast, this English language film about a dysfunctional Japanese family has some serious flaws, though it's still entertaining enough to enjoy. As three sisters and a brother gather in Seattle following their mother's death, secrets are revealed, old wounds are exposed, complicated relationships explode. Issues of tradition, family ties and forgiveness are explored, though not in a particularly fresh way. A surprise ending, for both the movie's characters and its audience, didn't completely work for me. Bai Ling is a stand-out as the punky, flamboyant girlfriend of one of the sisters, along with Russell Wong as the bitter brother in the family.
(Canada/Inuit) "Before Tomorrow" ("Le Jour Avant Le Lendemain"):
This was my favorite film in the festival, a simple story with a devastating emotional impact. An Inuit grandmother (Madeline Ivalu) and her young grandson (Paul-Dylan Ivalu) courageously and quietly struggle to survive a harsh winter alone on the tundra after their entire tribe is wiped out by exposure to a disease brought to their isolated location by white men. Full of magical moments, wonderful music and images, the movie is simply heart breaking as the strong, touching love between its two characters is slowly revealed and the grandmother prepares her beloved grandson for the possibility of life on his own. If you can find this movie on DVD try to see it, but be prepared to be blown away.
(Czech Republic) "The Country Teacher":
Teacher Petr (Pavel Liska) moves from the city to a small country town, but his new life proves to be much more complicated than he'd bargained for. A hard working local woman (Zuzana Bydzovska) who runs her own dairy farm is attracted to the quiet teacher, while he is more interested in her rebellious teenage son (Ladislav Sedivy). This movie has a lovely setting and a good sense of life in the country, as well as a wise understanding for its muti-layered, flawed characters who manage to connect in unexpected ways. Two calf births are shown at pivotal times during the film -- a bit much, although very effectively used. A "happy" ending is tempered by the painful history leading up to it and therefore seems much more meaningful than the typical Hollywood happy ending. Excellent performances and a moving, valuable message about tolerating each others' differences.
(Netherlands) "Tiramisu":
This delightful film features the unlikely pairing of a sensible accountant with a flamboyant stage actress to create a surprising result when the lives of both are subtly changed for the better. When the accountant (Jacob Derwig) arrives to audit the expenses of the hard living, high spending actress (Anneke Blok), he discovers debts that could cause the foreclosure of Blok's houseboat yet becomes determined to prevent such a devastating event. Dutch writer/director Paula van der Oest has an excellent feel for the life of an actress, creating an interesting dynamic with the homespun accountant's exposure to the many colorful and raucous stage characters who populate the actress' world. As Derwig struggles to find ways of overcoming the hopeless situation and becomes increasingly fond of the housboat, Blok slowly realizes it may be time for her to move on. Good performances and some nice scenes of Amsterdam.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment