Showing posts with label Spanish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spanish. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Best of Nov 15
Victoria by Sebastian Schipper - German - 2015
There are few movies out there, which have been completed in a single shot. Making of a cinema is always like creating harmony out of various creative departments, and to make this happen in a single shot requires great vision, planning and pinpoint execution and hence such movies are special. However, with all the past single take movies, one factor was always missing, a la thrill. Most of them were also shot in a single or in a couple of locations.
Victoria is a Spanish girl who has just moved into Berlin for work. After some fun in a night club she comes across a group of boys and develops some feelings for one of them. However, the boys are stuck up in a very dangerous situation and Victoria too gets trapped into it.
The dangerous situation is a bank robbery. And from the above brief itself you would see that this movie cant take place in a couple of locations, right? I think there are more than, at least, a dozen locations in this cinema. Though, the first half is all about getting a bit romantic the second half takes a sudden deviation into pure thrill. Now think about it, all this is shot in a single take. Frankly, it is unbelievable and absolutely brilliant.
I must say, Victoria is not brilliant just because it is a single shot movie. It is an excellent cinema. There are some believable characters too, who are all payed brilliantly. Special mention to Laia Costa who plays Victoria. To think that most scenes must have involved a lot of on the spot improvisations and all.., it is incredible. The second half is as thrilling as any good thriller. It would be a sin to not mention the heroics of the cinematographer, who had to shoot the whole movie in one take, 2 hours plus of a single shot, half of it during night and the rest during dawn. Brilliant.
I cant imagine, how could they conceive and execute this so well. My salutes to all behind this one. Thank You.
La Isla Minima (Minimal Island) Marshland by Alberto Rodriguez - Spanish - 2014
A double murder in a remote Spanish village is investigated by two detectives.
A well taken investigation cinema, with some stunning cinematography.
Diplomacy by Volker Schlondroff - French/German - 2014
Whenever Hollywood wants to talk about atrocities on humanity or human sufferings or historical wrongs, they always go to Europe and the World war. And its always the Jews who suffer. This is another example of how European cinema seem to create master pieces out of world war situations, without Hollywood cliches.
Germany occupied Paris. The allies are closing in on the city and they can capture Paris any moment. Hitler have ordered his General - now acting mayor of Paris - to raze out the city of lights. The Swedish consul is trying his best to prevent the General from doing so.
This cinema takes us into a historic moment, happening in a room, the General's office, and let us witness their whole discussion, which starts sometime very early in the morning and goes on for hours. We see the versions of both sides and why both are so intent on doing their job. 95% of this cinema happens in this room and yet, it feels like a thriller is no mean achievement. Absolutely brilliant performances by the two veteran actors Neils Arestrup and Andre Dussollier. With all my love for the city of Paris, I may be forgiven for looking at this movie as a thriller.
Love - read here
Les Combattants - Love at First fight by Thomas Cailley and Andy Goddard - French 2014
A young man has to fight a fierce young woman in a silly beach competition and falls for her. He is now ready to go to any lengths to impress her. This girl is quite a concrete block though.
Well, that brief would make a typical Hollywood Romantic Comedy and this cinema too is a kind of Romantic Comedy, but very Frenchish with lot of cinematic touches. So do not expect all the fun and grief and twists that you would expect in a normal Rom comedy. Excellent performances, especially by Adele Haenel.
Turist - Force Majeure by Ruben Ostlund - Swedish - 2014
A Swedish family is on a skiing holiday in the French Alps. They face an Avalanche and the mother and children are stunned to see their father running away without any worry for the family.
This is one of those, quite different from rest, intelligent and novel idea for a movie. There are no fatalities from the avalanche and things are back to normal. But how would a family react to a father after such a thing. A really good watch, except that the end was a bit predictable. Some of the frames, embedded in thick white snow, were so beautiful and artistic.
The movie really made me think about how I might react in a similar dangerous situation. Would I put a brave face or would I behave like a coward. Our mind is a strange thing. We never know.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Celda 211 - Cell 211
2009 by Daniel Monzon - Spanish movie
It is not often that I feel like placing myselves in the position of a character that I am watching. I could not help doing that watching Celda 211, and I dont have words to express what I felt. Sure, this is just a movie, but there might be somebody somewhere out there who must have gone through some situations like this, losing everything. What a life it would be.
A new prison officer is trapped within a Prison block when the inmates call out a strike which is actually a riot. To save himself, he can only pretend as a new inmate.
To be frank, the plot is intentionally driven to a direction to make it look more melodramatic, make it more of a terrific tragedy. But this is still a brilliant cinema. I must still say, even if there is this melodramatic air, some unanswered logical questions here and there, it is still wonderful as they dont try to make a heroic action thriller out of it.
The script, the situations, the direction, the actors, everything about it came out excellent. The tension that is created, which lasts almost until the final moments is incredible and deserves a special mention.
A brilliant movie indeed, must watch should I say.
I am just wondering when will Hollywood remake it though.
It is not often that I feel like placing myselves in the position of a character that I am watching. I could not help doing that watching Celda 211, and I dont have words to express what I felt. Sure, this is just a movie, but there might be somebody somewhere out there who must have gone through some situations like this, losing everything. What a life it would be.
A new prison officer is trapped within a Prison block when the inmates call out a strike which is actually a riot. To save himself, he can only pretend as a new inmate.
To be frank, the plot is intentionally driven to a direction to make it look more melodramatic, make it more of a terrific tragedy. But this is still a brilliant cinema. I must still say, even if there is this melodramatic air, some unanswered logical questions here and there, it is still wonderful as they dont try to make a heroic action thriller out of it.
The script, the situations, the direction, the actors, everything about it came out excellent. The tension that is created, which lasts almost until the final moments is incredible and deserves a special mention.
A brilliant movie indeed, must watch should I say.
I am just wondering when will Hollywood remake it though.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Belle Epoque
1992 by Fernando Trueba - Spanish movie
Belle Epoque actually refers to an era in French history. This era coincides with the pre Franco era in Spain as well. Still I am not really convinced about the title for this, simple but beautiful comedy on love.
Fernando runs out of his civil war duties and meets Manolo. He then really sets out on an exploration tour of the 4 beautiful daughters of Manolo.
I am not sure if the world exploration is right or insulting. But that is exactly what happens, nearly. Manolo has a tryst with each and every daughter of Manolo and finally marries one. Simply put, this is a really wonderful comedy on sex and love. At the same time, the background is full of Spanish civil war.
It is quite an easy watch of a young man being seduced by four beautiful ladies, all sisters. May I say that it is actually a classic. I enjoyed it immensely that I would not mind watching it once again right away. There are funny moments, but there are also many moments which any man will easily identify with. I bet any man would have fantasised at least one scene in this movie, sometime in his life.
The young man and all the four daughters were incredibly charming too. The youngest of the daughters is one Penelope Cruz, who really looked very very young.
A very charming and lovable movie indeed.
Belle Epoque actually refers to an era in French history. This era coincides with the pre Franco era in Spain as well. Still I am not really convinced about the title for this, simple but beautiful comedy on love.
Fernando runs out of his civil war duties and meets Manolo. He then really sets out on an exploration tour of the 4 beautiful daughters of Manolo.
I am not sure if the world exploration is right or insulting. But that is exactly what happens, nearly. Manolo has a tryst with each and every daughter of Manolo and finally marries one. Simply put, this is a really wonderful comedy on sex and love. At the same time, the background is full of Spanish civil war.
It is quite an easy watch of a young man being seduced by four beautiful ladies, all sisters. May I say that it is actually a classic. I enjoyed it immensely that I would not mind watching it once again right away. There are funny moments, but there are also many moments which any man will easily identify with. I bet any man would have fantasised at least one scene in this movie, sometime in his life.
The young man and all the four daughters were incredibly charming too. The youngest of the daughters is one Penelope Cruz, who really looked very very young.
A very charming and lovable movie indeed.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Hable con Ella - Talk to her
2002 by Pedro Almodovar- Spanish movie
Yet another drama from Pedro Almodovar. But he deserves a lot of praise to always pick up a theme which has something unique or wild and build a drama around it. I also like it how he finds time and space to criticize church one way or other in between.
An odd friendship between two men, made possible by the fact that they are both looking after a woman in coma.
The above plot itself actually would make a great classic with a brilliant director. Almodovar likes drama and he brings in a shocking twist in between, which is really wild and unimaginable, but that lets the story take a very different route towards the end. I would not say I really appreciated that twist, but as a drama it does help Almodovar to make out another human drama on life, love and sex.
The two men and their women, would definitely force us to like them, but that twist is quite shocking. For the way he build up those characters, it was more than shocking and unimaginable though. Still, we do not lose interest in the movie and we carry on with it. And the end is typical of Almodovar too.
At the end of it, I think only Almodovar could get away with this kind of movie. His viewers seems to know, you can expect wierd and wild things from him and he does not disappoint.
Yet another drama from Pedro Almodovar. But he deserves a lot of praise to always pick up a theme which has something unique or wild and build a drama around it. I also like it how he finds time and space to criticize church one way or other in between.
An odd friendship between two men, made possible by the fact that they are both looking after a woman in coma.
The above plot itself actually would make a great classic with a brilliant director. Almodovar likes drama and he brings in a shocking twist in between, which is really wild and unimaginable, but that lets the story take a very different route towards the end. I would not say I really appreciated that twist, but as a drama it does help Almodovar to make out another human drama on life, love and sex.
The two men and their women, would definitely force us to like them, but that twist is quite shocking. For the way he build up those characters, it was more than shocking and unimaginable though. Still, we do not lose interest in the movie and we carry on with it. And the end is typical of Almodovar too.
At the end of it, I think only Almodovar could get away with this kind of movie. His viewers seems to know, you can expect wierd and wild things from him and he does not disappoint.
Friday, 23 December 2011
La Teta i la Iluna - The tits and the moon
1994 by Bigas Luna - Spanish movie
I have this deep admiration for Catalunia, which is because of my love for FC Barcelona. So here is a movie which is from this region in Spain. And what a wonderful piece of entertainer it was.
A child, when he is deprived of mother's milk because of a newborn brother, wishes to have a woman for himself who can breast feed him. An older friend of his also is in love with the same woman.
This movie cannot be called a real children's movie or fantasy or surrealistic or anything like that. This is a realistic movie on pre adolescent fantasy, a kind of magical movie. It is brilliant how realistic moments are interspersed with absolutely surrealistic and fantasical thoughts.
It is incredible how women's breast is depicted in this movie. Breast is an obsession for our young hero, only because of his desire to drink tasty breast milk. And the way the story is told, with lots of images of breast but never going into any kind of eroticism is really nice. It is a simple and charming way of looking at pre adolescent thoughts on female body.
Simply put this movie is like an ode to female breasts. This may not be a classic, but it is a beautiful movie with lots of charm.
I have this deep admiration for Catalunia, which is because of my love for FC Barcelona. So here is a movie which is from this region in Spain. And what a wonderful piece of entertainer it was.
A child, when he is deprived of mother's milk because of a newborn brother, wishes to have a woman for himself who can breast feed him. An older friend of his also is in love with the same woman.
This movie cannot be called a real children's movie or fantasy or surrealistic or anything like that. This is a realistic movie on pre adolescent fantasy, a kind of magical movie. It is brilliant how realistic moments are interspersed with absolutely surrealistic and fantasical thoughts.
It is incredible how women's breast is depicted in this movie. Breast is an obsession for our young hero, only because of his desire to drink tasty breast milk. And the way the story is told, with lots of images of breast but never going into any kind of eroticism is really nice. It is a simple and charming way of looking at pre adolescent thoughts on female body.
Simply put this movie is like an ode to female breasts. This may not be a classic, but it is a beautiful movie with lots of charm.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Balada Triste de Trompeta - Sad Trumpet Ballad
2010 by Alex de la Iglesia - Spanish movie
This movie is more famous as the Last Circus. But it is one of those movie, after which one feels confused as to say if it was terrible, allright or excellent.
During Spanish civil war in 1937, a circus clown is forced into the war. Javier the son of the clown would like to be a clown, a sad clown as he never saw happiness in life. In 1973, towards the end of Franco's regime, he starts working with a circus company and falls in love with Natalia, who is brutally controlled by her husband, a happy clown, Sergio. Soon it turns out into a fight for Natalia, between the two clowns and Javier turns out brutal, just like Sergio.
This is quite a fantasical and wild movie. There are moments when it feels like a Fellini classic and moments when it is looking very amateurish. But we can bear all that and just wait for the story to unfold. But it is the final which was the worst let down for me. That final scenes can only be matched by the most stupid Holly/Bollywood action movies and is a terrible disappointment. I still dont have any clue, why the three had to run up towards the cross.
I also was quite disappointed by the performances, especially of the actress who played Natalia. I am not sure if her dramatic overplay was intentional by the director, just to accentuate the fantasical wild nature of the movie. Whatever..
There are certain aspects which was good about this movie, but mostly I was not happy.
This movie is more famous as the Last Circus. But it is one of those movie, after which one feels confused as to say if it was terrible, allright or excellent.
During Spanish civil war in 1937, a circus clown is forced into the war. Javier the son of the clown would like to be a clown, a sad clown as he never saw happiness in life. In 1973, towards the end of Franco's regime, he starts working with a circus company and falls in love with Natalia, who is brutally controlled by her husband, a happy clown, Sergio. Soon it turns out into a fight for Natalia, between the two clowns and Javier turns out brutal, just like Sergio.
This is quite a fantasical and wild movie. There are moments when it feels like a Fellini classic and moments when it is looking very amateurish. But we can bear all that and just wait for the story to unfold. But it is the final which was the worst let down for me. That final scenes can only be matched by the most stupid Holly/Bollywood action movies and is a terrible disappointment. I still dont have any clue, why the three had to run up towards the cross.
I also was quite disappointed by the performances, especially of the actress who played Natalia. I am not sure if her dramatic overplay was intentional by the director, just to accentuate the fantasical wild nature of the movie. Whatever..
There are certain aspects which was good about this movie, but mostly I was not happy.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
La Mala Education - Bad Education
2004 by Pedro Almodovar - Spanish movie
I didnt really read the synopsis, when I saw that this was an Almodovar film. May be I should have.
A child who was sexually abused in his religious school, comes back to the priest for revenge, quite a different kind of revenge.
First of all, Pedro Almodovar is more than brave to make a movie on this theme. And his style is quite there everywhere... But...
I did not enjoy watching this movie at all. I am not into homo sexuality or bisexuality, I am not against it though. But it is very difficult for me to watch through a movie were all the relations on screen always happens between two men. And there are expilcit scenes of men in love too. Not even a single major female character is there, would suffice my point.
For sure the movie is very sincere to its theme, just that it is a bit more melo dramatic or exaggerated than a normal Almodovar movie.
It is of course not a bad movie, but I could not enjoy it.
I didnt really read the synopsis, when I saw that this was an Almodovar film. May be I should have.
A child who was sexually abused in his religious school, comes back to the priest for revenge, quite a different kind of revenge.
First of all, Pedro Almodovar is more than brave to make a movie on this theme. And his style is quite there everywhere... But...
I did not enjoy watching this movie at all. I am not into homo sexuality or bisexuality, I am not against it though. But it is very difficult for me to watch through a movie were all the relations on screen always happens between two men. And there are expilcit scenes of men in love too. Not even a single major female character is there, would suffice my point.
For sure the movie is very sincere to its theme, just that it is a bit more melo dramatic or exaggerated than a normal Almodovar movie.
It is of course not a bad movie, but I could not enjoy it.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Lucia Y el sexo - Sex and Lucia
2001 by Julio Medem - Spanish movie
If I was watching this movie during my teenage days, I would have immediately interpreted this as a porn film and would have just fast forwarded the whole movie only to watch any skin show. If I was watching this movie sometime later, I would have stopped watching it after 30 minutes and then fast forwarded it only to watch any skin show. Lucky that this one came across me only now. What a movie. My CD friend at first, didn't present this one to me as he thought it was a porn film. Then another friend of his hired it, as a porn film, and gave it back with lots of abuse. That is when he told me that may be there is a movie that I will like.
Sure, the title can mis lead anyone. And the beginning first 30 minutes, I really thought, oh this looks like a pretentious movie, by some director who wants to look artistic. To be frank, I had to force myselves to continue watching and slowly, but not clearly the movie got into me. I said not clearly because, the movie has a very intelligent and brilliant script, and it requires some serious rational thinking to make out what exactly is happening. By the end, I almost knew what all it was, but I watched the last 70 or 80 minutes once again today. And I could not help giving an applause at the end of it.
This movie has a very complex looking plot. Well, the basic story line if given to a typical Hollywood/Bollywood writer, would have made a run of the mill romantic, triangular love story (no, actually there is two men and 4 women) with some family saga and suspense and what not. But Julio Medem has scripted out a master peice from a complex subject. The script is bloody bloody brilliant. I would say this is the height of script writing at its best, with the intention of expecting a kind of intelligent involvement from the viewer. A second viewing would be must for an ordinary man like me. But the best part about this is that, even an ordinary man will know by the end of his first watch that the movie deserves a second view to really appreciate it.
And please my readers (if there's any), this is not a porn film. There is heart felt romance, there is despair, lust, beautiful love making scenes, wild sex, incredible juxtaposition of nature and life, suspense and above all real cinematic brilliance. There is everything except action and porn in this film. The settings of the movie, so brilliantly and beautifully captured by a truly brilliant cameraman, make this quite an unique film. Add to it a very seductive back ground score with some truly beautiful acting, this movies gave me one of the best cinematic experiences in recent times
I can only term this movie as a master piece. The one factor that does not do justice to it, is may be its title.
If I was watching this movie during my teenage days, I would have immediately interpreted this as a porn film and would have just fast forwarded the whole movie only to watch any skin show. If I was watching this movie sometime later, I would have stopped watching it after 30 minutes and then fast forwarded it only to watch any skin show. Lucky that this one came across me only now. What a movie. My CD friend at first, didn't present this one to me as he thought it was a porn film. Then another friend of his hired it, as a porn film, and gave it back with lots of abuse. That is when he told me that may be there is a movie that I will like.
Sure, the title can mis lead anyone. And the beginning first 30 minutes, I really thought, oh this looks like a pretentious movie, by some director who wants to look artistic. To be frank, I had to force myselves to continue watching and slowly, but not clearly the movie got into me. I said not clearly because, the movie has a very intelligent and brilliant script, and it requires some serious rational thinking to make out what exactly is happening. By the end, I almost knew what all it was, but I watched the last 70 or 80 minutes once again today. And I could not help giving an applause at the end of it.
This movie has a very complex looking plot. Well, the basic story line if given to a typical Hollywood/Bollywood writer, would have made a run of the mill romantic, triangular love story (no, actually there is two men and 4 women) with some family saga and suspense and what not. But Julio Medem has scripted out a master peice from a complex subject. The script is bloody bloody brilliant. I would say this is the height of script writing at its best, with the intention of expecting a kind of intelligent involvement from the viewer. A second viewing would be must for an ordinary man like me. But the best part about this is that, even an ordinary man will know by the end of his first watch that the movie deserves a second view to really appreciate it.
And please my readers (if there's any), this is not a porn film. There is heart felt romance, there is despair, lust, beautiful love making scenes, wild sex, incredible juxtaposition of nature and life, suspense and above all real cinematic brilliance. There is everything except action and porn in this film. The settings of the movie, so brilliantly and beautifully captured by a truly brilliant cameraman, make this quite an unique film. Add to it a very seductive back ground score with some truly beautiful acting, this movies gave me one of the best cinematic experiences in recent times
I can only term this movie as a master piece. The one factor that does not do justice to it, is may be its title.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Tambien la Iluvia - Even the rain
2010 by Icair Bollian - Spanish movie
We have so so much of problems across India in which the sufferers are always people from the lowest strata of the society or the indigenous tribal communities and at times the religious minorities. Still 99.99% of our movies never look at the problems of these unfortunates. Our movies are always around those 20% middle class community, whose numbers are above most large European countries, or about those rich Indians who forms just a 1% of the population or those billionaires who form less than .01% of our population. It is very rare we have movies which are seriously based on some real issue that happens in India, like Parzania. At the same time, the political troubles and the attitude of the Censor board could be one reason why our film makers dont attempt such movies. Anyways, our movies never look at the problems of our unfortunate majority. Watching T la Iluvia, I was desperately wishing for similar movies from India. But I know, this will never happen. Our country is lead by the choices of a minority rich and middle class, whose voice only echoes every where.
A film crew, shooting the arrival and subsequent events with Columbus's discovery and how they treat the natives, arrives in Bolivia and starts shooting. They had specifically chosen this location for cheap native local actors and labours. A multinational company had got the rights to trap the local water, depriving the locals of water and also making it 300% more expensive for them. The local actors are at the same time engaged in a protest movement which slowly turns violent.
I simply wish, I was a writer. For the kind of thoughts and feelings this movie had on me is really too much that I am embarrassed about my lack of writing abilities and vocabulary in bringing it out in acceptable ways. Here is a film, which is about a making a film and it is nearly like we are looking at another film, even within. Brilliant and beautiful.
The movie on Columbus actually concentrates on two priests who accompanied Columbus, who felt really bad by the treatment meted out to the natives. The movie being shot itself is projecting the cruelty and greed of the colonialists. At the same time, the movie crew themselves are doing something similar in the modern times. They have chosen this location for cheap labour and they only care to some how finish the shoot, aware about the water problems in the regions. It is just the brilliance of the story and script that they pick up a local guy Daniel to act as Hatuey, the aboriginal who lead the revolt against the Spanish empire, the same guy who is the leader for the local people fighting against the Government and multi national. This is absolutely brilliant and the characters of both Daniel and Hatuey is so prominent in both the main movie and the movie within, which makes it extremely special.
The Bolivian actor who played as Daniel and Hatuey, was brilliant. I dont think I can forget him ever. The movie was beautifully shot and well performed by everybody, but this guy stands out with his powerful eyes. To know that he is an oboriginal from the region, acting for the first time in front of camera, is unbelievable.
The pain of the native South Americans, who suffered centuries back and the pain of the present natives, both will haunt us. The looks of some of those female characters and their faces will definitely follow us. Cinematography too was brilliant, offering excellent support to the script.
Almost all of the movie is brilliant and there are incredibly touching scenes through out. It is just a pity that towards the climax, it turned a little bit predictable or pop. Even here, the end meted out to the film crew looks brilliant. It is the end for Daniel, involving the movie producer Costa, which looked like giving a popular touch. I really wish there was some kind of difference to this part, making this movie an absolutely brilliant classic. Still, for me this is a classic. For, it brings into attention so many facts, which the modern 'fortunate' world would like to ignore. It will force one to think and realise that there is not much difference in historic colonialisation and modern imperialism, and that is brilliant.
Centuries back the rich empires looted the poor nations in the name of gold and spices and killed the natives and used them. Now the same is done for oil. The movie just uses water here, which definitely is going to be the reason for future occupations. The movie makes many references about the use of the third world by the west and one of them, which is actually brought out through the character who plays Columbus, a super star actor by character, when he comments that he would really like to meet the world bank or UN or those officials who fix the BPL rate of 1 or 2 usdollars a day, to request them to demonstrate how they will live with their families for a daily expense of 2 usdollars. That was brilliant. I wish our own government, politicians and the planning board members will demonstrate to the Indian people, how to live for just Rupees 25 per day. This is the new rate fixed, to be considered under the poverty line in India. Much much less than the UN rate though.
I loved this movie, inspite of its typical pop ending, and would not mind giving a 9.5 out of 10, if I was asked to rate it.
Just sad that we do not have similar movies in India, which take up serious issues of our own poor and the aboriginals.
We have so so much of problems across India in which the sufferers are always people from the lowest strata of the society or the indigenous tribal communities and at times the religious minorities. Still 99.99% of our movies never look at the problems of these unfortunates. Our movies are always around those 20% middle class community, whose numbers are above most large European countries, or about those rich Indians who forms just a 1% of the population or those billionaires who form less than .01% of our population. It is very rare we have movies which are seriously based on some real issue that happens in India, like Parzania. At the same time, the political troubles and the attitude of the Censor board could be one reason why our film makers dont attempt such movies. Anyways, our movies never look at the problems of our unfortunate majority. Watching T la Iluvia, I was desperately wishing for similar movies from India. But I know, this will never happen. Our country is lead by the choices of a minority rich and middle class, whose voice only echoes every where.
A film crew, shooting the arrival and subsequent events with Columbus's discovery and how they treat the natives, arrives in Bolivia and starts shooting. They had specifically chosen this location for cheap native local actors and labours. A multinational company had got the rights to trap the local water, depriving the locals of water and also making it 300% more expensive for them. The local actors are at the same time engaged in a protest movement which slowly turns violent.
I simply wish, I was a writer. For the kind of thoughts and feelings this movie had on me is really too much that I am embarrassed about my lack of writing abilities and vocabulary in bringing it out in acceptable ways. Here is a film, which is about a making a film and it is nearly like we are looking at another film, even within. Brilliant and beautiful.
The movie on Columbus actually concentrates on two priests who accompanied Columbus, who felt really bad by the treatment meted out to the natives. The movie being shot itself is projecting the cruelty and greed of the colonialists. At the same time, the movie crew themselves are doing something similar in the modern times. They have chosen this location for cheap labour and they only care to some how finish the shoot, aware about the water problems in the regions. It is just the brilliance of the story and script that they pick up a local guy Daniel to act as Hatuey, the aboriginal who lead the revolt against the Spanish empire, the same guy who is the leader for the local people fighting against the Government and multi national. This is absolutely brilliant and the characters of both Daniel and Hatuey is so prominent in both the main movie and the movie within, which makes it extremely special.
The Bolivian actor who played as Daniel and Hatuey, was brilliant. I dont think I can forget him ever. The movie was beautifully shot and well performed by everybody, but this guy stands out with his powerful eyes. To know that he is an oboriginal from the region, acting for the first time in front of camera, is unbelievable.
The pain of the native South Americans, who suffered centuries back and the pain of the present natives, both will haunt us. The looks of some of those female characters and their faces will definitely follow us. Cinematography too was brilliant, offering excellent support to the script.
Almost all of the movie is brilliant and there are incredibly touching scenes through out. It is just a pity that towards the climax, it turned a little bit predictable or pop. Even here, the end meted out to the film crew looks brilliant. It is the end for Daniel, involving the movie producer Costa, which looked like giving a popular touch. I really wish there was some kind of difference to this part, making this movie an absolutely brilliant classic. Still, for me this is a classic. For, it brings into attention so many facts, which the modern 'fortunate' world would like to ignore. It will force one to think and realise that there is not much difference in historic colonialisation and modern imperialism, and that is brilliant.
Centuries back the rich empires looted the poor nations in the name of gold and spices and killed the natives and used them. Now the same is done for oil. The movie just uses water here, which definitely is going to be the reason for future occupations. The movie makes many references about the use of the third world by the west and one of them, which is actually brought out through the character who plays Columbus, a super star actor by character, when he comments that he would really like to meet the world bank or UN or those officials who fix the BPL rate of 1 or 2 usdollars a day, to request them to demonstrate how they will live with their families for a daily expense of 2 usdollars. That was brilliant. I wish our own government, politicians and the planning board members will demonstrate to the Indian people, how to live for just Rupees 25 per day. This is the new rate fixed, to be considered under the poverty line in India. Much much less than the UN rate though.
I loved this movie, inspite of its typical pop ending, and would not mind giving a 9.5 out of 10, if I was asked to rate it.
Just sad that we do not have similar movies in India, which take up serious issues of our own poor and the aboriginals.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Biutiful
2010 by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - Spanish
The director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel.. - his new film - oh Yes.. and who is acting - Javier Bardem - oh, cant wait , will watch it right away. I am sure, just like me, any movie lover would jump out for this movie. This movie proved beyond any doubt one thing - Javier Bardem is amongst the best 10/5/3 contemporary actors of the world. He is outrageously brilliant.
Uxbal is a father, living with his two kids. His wife, Marambra, is a depressed woman, still not knowing what she wants, lives seperately. Uxbal lives using the underbelly of Barcelona, placing himself in risk of being caught any time, working with illegal migrants, corrupt policeman and so on. He also has this ability to talk with the dead, earning some money sometimes. And he also finds out that, out of cancer, he only has a few more months left. He needs to find a way out to ensure his children will be taken care of after his death.
Well, from that brief, especially the last sentence, it sounds similar to many movies, am sure, many would want to say repetitive. But dear friends, this is simply a brilliant movie and is quite different from all what we will expect. It does have its own problems, along with a bit too much of length, but all that is forgettable to enjoy this movie, which for me, is definitely an outstanding movie.
Here is a father, who only has problems around him, with his wife and kids, police, poor migrant people depending on him and to add to it, he is also asked to meet dead bodies, before the cremation, to see if the passing soul has some message for the dear ones. I mean, 99% of his time he is around a negative aura. Occassionally he gets some good time with his children. And when his own death is peeping at him, it turns out as a touching love story of a father, for his kids. He tries to see if at all his abnormal wife can be trusted and there is a scene when they all have dinner together, is one of the most touching and deeply joyous moment in this movie.
There were few things that actually takes some credit away from this movie, some of the sub plots, like that of the brother of Uxbal and the two homo sexual immigrants and all.
But still the script and the movie, I thought is brilliant. It gets a bit lagging towards the second half, is something that Mr. Inarritu would have wanted to avoid. A bit more pace would have helped him. However, this must be his most linear film to date. Except for the beginning shots, the movie follows a straight path. Still, how the three unconnected scenes, with which the movie begins, completes the whole movie towards the end is really brilliant. So was his portrayal of the shady regions of Barcelona, scenes which I thought were reminiscent of some scenes from the Tamil film Angaaditheru, in which he was ably assisted by his camera man. By the way, Cinematography of this movie is truly brilliant.
There might be people who might not agree with the whole movie, but nobody, yes nobody, will want to take away anything from Javier Bardem. What a different role as a man who is walking with trajedy always, living by any means to survive, but still being empathetic and helpful to the poor and unsupported, and loving his family like anything. And his has performed it like it is reality. I thought, this role could be a study material for acting students, for he acts not just through his expressions, but the whole body seems to convey facts about the character and the scenes. Even the air around him might be performing. This man can
I definitely want to watch this movie again. I am not a believer and dont like this 'talking with souls' kind of things, but still, this is quite touching though it is dark and sad to the hilt.
Biutiful is a wrong spelling by Uxbal, for beautiful, as he helps his child.
The director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel.. - his new film - oh Yes.. and who is acting - Javier Bardem - oh, cant wait , will watch it right away. I am sure, just like me, any movie lover would jump out for this movie. This movie proved beyond any doubt one thing - Javier Bardem is amongst the best 10/5/3 contemporary actors of the world. He is outrageously brilliant.
Uxbal is a father, living with his two kids. His wife, Marambra, is a depressed woman, still not knowing what she wants, lives seperately. Uxbal lives using the underbelly of Barcelona, placing himself in risk of being caught any time, working with illegal migrants, corrupt policeman and so on. He also has this ability to talk with the dead, earning some money sometimes. And he also finds out that, out of cancer, he only has a few more months left. He needs to find a way out to ensure his children will be taken care of after his death.
Well, from that brief, especially the last sentence, it sounds similar to many movies, am sure, many would want to say repetitive. But dear friends, this is simply a brilliant movie and is quite different from all what we will expect. It does have its own problems, along with a bit too much of length, but all that is forgettable to enjoy this movie, which for me, is definitely an outstanding movie.
Here is a father, who only has problems around him, with his wife and kids, police, poor migrant people depending on him and to add to it, he is also asked to meet dead bodies, before the cremation, to see if the passing soul has some message for the dear ones. I mean, 99% of his time he is around a negative aura. Occassionally he gets some good time with his children. And when his own death is peeping at him, it turns out as a touching love story of a father, for his kids. He tries to see if at all his abnormal wife can be trusted and there is a scene when they all have dinner together, is one of the most touching and deeply joyous moment in this movie.
There were few things that actually takes some credit away from this movie, some of the sub plots, like that of the brother of Uxbal and the two homo sexual immigrants and all.
But still the script and the movie, I thought is brilliant. It gets a bit lagging towards the second half, is something that Mr. Inarritu would have wanted to avoid. A bit more pace would have helped him. However, this must be his most linear film to date. Except for the beginning shots, the movie follows a straight path. Still, how the three unconnected scenes, with which the movie begins, completes the whole movie towards the end is really brilliant. So was his portrayal of the shady regions of Barcelona, scenes which I thought were reminiscent of some scenes from the Tamil film Angaaditheru, in which he was ably assisted by his camera man. By the way, Cinematography of this movie is truly brilliant.
There might be people who might not agree with the whole movie, but nobody, yes nobody, will want to take away anything from Javier Bardem. What a different role as a man who is walking with trajedy always, living by any means to survive, but still being empathetic and helpful to the poor and unsupported, and loving his family like anything. And his has performed it like it is reality. I thought, this role could be a study material for acting students, for he acts not just through his expressions, but the whole body seems to convey facts about the character and the scenes. Even the air around him might be performing. This man can
I definitely want to watch this movie again. I am not a believer and dont like this 'talking with souls' kind of things, but still, this is quite touching though it is dark and sad to the hilt.
Biutiful is a wrong spelling by Uxbal, for beautiful, as he helps his child.
Friday, 15 July 2011
Mar Adentro - The Sea Inside / Out at the Sea
2004 by Alejandro Amenabar - Spanish with Catalan in between
There are times when I have wondered, what would it be if at all one fine morning I find myselves with some disabilities, may be seriously disabled to not even move out of the bed or not even move the whole body other than being able to just see, talk and eat. I wondered how my world would react to me and how I would react to the world. Would I be looking at people coming in and crying or would I receive them with a smile or tears. Would I still want to watch movies or Messi dribbling the Football or wonder about the effects of day light in the room I am in or worry about not being able to have sex and all. I don't have any idea and often such thoughts have ended with a decision that if at all something like that occurs, its better to die than giving a terrific trouble to my loved ones around. It was quite easy for me to fall for this movie and I must say it is a heart touching movie.
The true story of Ramon Sampedro, a fisherman at the Galician cost of Spain, who met with a diving accident and got his whole body paralyzed, except for his head and neck. He spend 27 years on the bed, in his brothers home, being taken care of by his sister in law and his nephew. They loved him and did all what they could but Ramon didnt want a life without dignity and he sought to kill himself. But the Spanish courts and Church was against the idea of Euthanasia. A lady lawyer, herself suffering from illness, joins his fight.
Ramon is not against life actually, he just doesnt want a life without dignity, being not able to move out of his bed and not being able to even touch the attractive female who is sitting next to his bed. He keeps on smiling always and answers Julia, the lawyer, that he smiles as he doesn't want to cry. In fact he cries through his laughs. A really wonderful and touching character he is. There are three women around him. Gene, a local activist who brings in Julia the lawyer, Manuela, his sister in law, who is taking care of Ramon for all this 27 years just like her son and Rosa, a young mother of two boys who finds out that Roman is the only kind man she has ever met and finally agrees to help him die, just to prove her love to him, ie to do what will please him. She gets him cyanide actually. The way Ramon treats all this women, and how they treat him is really wonderful and actually forms a major part of the movie, keeping their struggle for his death wish aside. Julia, when she suffers another stroke, even agrees to help Ramon to die, before she will do the same to her. We also see Ramon's brother who is quite a rustic man, but seems to be the only person around who doesnt want to fulfill Ramon's wish. All these characters, except Julia, will touch us, as much as Ramon himself. Julia's is one character which wasn't really successful, for me. I do not know how to present it here, but I thought she doesn't really seems to invoke the kind of feeling, probably because the script failed to place more impetus on her.
A brilliant movie, which is handling such a serious theme, but still makes it look like it is going through the life of a nice man, a biopic, and the people around him. It never gets very emotional, except for a couple of scenes. And a couple of scenes, like the debate of Ramon with the Bishop, similarly paralyzed but against Euthanasia, are quite funny and thought provoking too. I wonder how the Spanish Church must have reacted to the whole criticism towards the Church's hypocrisy here. Ramon's points about the church burning to death almost every free thinkers in historic Europe, but not letting him die is clearly sharp and focused. It was even more apt how Manuela brilliantly treated the priest, calling him a big mouth.
I first watched Javier Bardem in Vicky Christine Barcelona. I was really impressed then. Slowly with other movies I was convinced that he is one of the best actors in the world. Well, with Mar Adentro, I can only say he must be treated among those actors in the highest level, if at all there is any such level. Truly brilliant performance, may it be his crying smiles, or his seductive chats. But the highlight was his fear, when he knows something has happened to Julia, next door. That scary face of Javier is etched in my eyes. So is the tear filled face of Manuela, brilliantly played by Mabel Rivera, during Ramon's good bye scene from his home to Rosa's. (This was one of the best scene's in this movie) For most parts of movie, she is just a care taker, but she gets as much prominence as Javier in some very important scenes. Everybody did a great job, may be except the actress who played Julia. At least in the beginning Julia looked like somebody who is walking out of Hollywood. May be I am wrong, I seem to find fault with both her character and the performance. The make up on Javier was brilliant too.
I must say this is a kind of master piece on Euthanasia. When watching Million Dollar Baby, we are grief struck by the end of the movie, and it is not the same with Mar Adentro. But the grief is actually subtly spread out through the whole movie, in a gripping way that we forget about the whole sentiments in a way. I must say its a brilliant piece of treating a very touching and serious theme. The cinematography is really brilliant too. The movie shows couple of times how Ramon's neck hits the sea bed during his dive and that shot was a master piece. The first time we see it we have a shock, but even later when it is repeated the effect is only more actually. And so was it during Ramon's dream flight scenes and how Ramon saw the outside world after 27 years, when he was taken to the court. The latter was simply too good.
My salutes to the whole team, for making such a gripping story of life and death. Life is a right, not an obligation
There are times when I have wondered, what would it be if at all one fine morning I find myselves with some disabilities, may be seriously disabled to not even move out of the bed or not even move the whole body other than being able to just see, talk and eat. I wondered how my world would react to me and how I would react to the world. Would I be looking at people coming in and crying or would I receive them with a smile or tears. Would I still want to watch movies or Messi dribbling the Football or wonder about the effects of day light in the room I am in or worry about not being able to have sex and all. I don't have any idea and often such thoughts have ended with a decision that if at all something like that occurs, its better to die than giving a terrific trouble to my loved ones around. It was quite easy for me to fall for this movie and I must say it is a heart touching movie.
The true story of Ramon Sampedro, a fisherman at the Galician cost of Spain, who met with a diving accident and got his whole body paralyzed, except for his head and neck. He spend 27 years on the bed, in his brothers home, being taken care of by his sister in law and his nephew. They loved him and did all what they could but Ramon didnt want a life without dignity and he sought to kill himself. But the Spanish courts and Church was against the idea of Euthanasia. A lady lawyer, herself suffering from illness, joins his fight.
Ramon is not against life actually, he just doesnt want a life without dignity, being not able to move out of his bed and not being able to even touch the attractive female who is sitting next to his bed. He keeps on smiling always and answers Julia, the lawyer, that he smiles as he doesn't want to cry. In fact he cries through his laughs. A really wonderful and touching character he is. There are three women around him. Gene, a local activist who brings in Julia the lawyer, Manuela, his sister in law, who is taking care of Ramon for all this 27 years just like her son and Rosa, a young mother of two boys who finds out that Roman is the only kind man she has ever met and finally agrees to help him die, just to prove her love to him, ie to do what will please him. She gets him cyanide actually. The way Ramon treats all this women, and how they treat him is really wonderful and actually forms a major part of the movie, keeping their struggle for his death wish aside. Julia, when she suffers another stroke, even agrees to help Ramon to die, before she will do the same to her. We also see Ramon's brother who is quite a rustic man, but seems to be the only person around who doesnt want to fulfill Ramon's wish. All these characters, except Julia, will touch us, as much as Ramon himself. Julia's is one character which wasn't really successful, for me. I do not know how to present it here, but I thought she doesn't really seems to invoke the kind of feeling, probably because the script failed to place more impetus on her.
A brilliant movie, which is handling such a serious theme, but still makes it look like it is going through the life of a nice man, a biopic, and the people around him. It never gets very emotional, except for a couple of scenes. And a couple of scenes, like the debate of Ramon with the Bishop, similarly paralyzed but against Euthanasia, are quite funny and thought provoking too. I wonder how the Spanish Church must have reacted to the whole criticism towards the Church's hypocrisy here. Ramon's points about the church burning to death almost every free thinkers in historic Europe, but not letting him die is clearly sharp and focused. It was even more apt how Manuela brilliantly treated the priest, calling him a big mouth.
I first watched Javier Bardem in Vicky Christine Barcelona. I was really impressed then. Slowly with other movies I was convinced that he is one of the best actors in the world. Well, with Mar Adentro, I can only say he must be treated among those actors in the highest level, if at all there is any such level. Truly brilliant performance, may it be his crying smiles, or his seductive chats. But the highlight was his fear, when he knows something has happened to Julia, next door. That scary face of Javier is etched in my eyes. So is the tear filled face of Manuela, brilliantly played by Mabel Rivera, during Ramon's good bye scene from his home to Rosa's. (This was one of the best scene's in this movie) For most parts of movie, she is just a care taker, but she gets as much prominence as Javier in some very important scenes. Everybody did a great job, may be except the actress who played Julia. At least in the beginning Julia looked like somebody who is walking out of Hollywood. May be I am wrong, I seem to find fault with both her character and the performance. The make up on Javier was brilliant too.
I must say this is a kind of master piece on Euthanasia. When watching Million Dollar Baby, we are grief struck by the end of the movie, and it is not the same with Mar Adentro. But the grief is actually subtly spread out through the whole movie, in a gripping way that we forget about the whole sentiments in a way. I must say its a brilliant piece of treating a very touching and serious theme. The cinematography is really brilliant too. The movie shows couple of times how Ramon's neck hits the sea bed during his dive and that shot was a master piece. The first time we see it we have a shock, but even later when it is repeated the effect is only more actually. And so was it during Ramon's dream flight scenes and how Ramon saw the outside world after 27 years, when he was taken to the court. The latter was simply too good.
My salutes to the whole team, for making such a gripping story of life and death. Life is a right, not an obligation
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Los Abrazos Rotos - Broken Embraces
2009 by Pedro Almodovar
Pedro Almodovar is considered among one of the best directors in the last two decades, by many. He makes incredible love stories with unusal kind of characters. In fact there are much better Spanish directors, but he some how seems to be the most popular one.
A blind, middle aged script director, who still manages sexual adventures, is assisted by his agent and her son. When a new director approaches him for a script, the story some how seems to be associated to his past. This director is connected to his best love of the life and also his loss of sight. He has to go back to his past and set things out straight.
This is not the very best of Almodovar, but I have to say this movie is like a drama filled with lots of thrill and surprises. In the beginning, Mateo is just a blind director, but slowly the movie jumps back and forth and what unfolds is not a triangular love story, but the story of two families in fact, or the story of four lovers. There is Lena, who works as the secretary to a billionaire business man Martel, but also works as a call girl to meet her parents medical needs and finally end up as a mistress to Martel himself. There is this obsessed and possessed love of the old man, Martel, to Lena. Mateo is the young director who actually falls in love with Lena during his directorial work. There is Judit, who is Mateo's agent, but did share a love life with Mateo many years back. Out of this Judit comes into real relevance only towards the latter half, although she is omnipresent, and holds some surprises. It is how Lena follows Martel, Mateo and Lena falling for each other with Martel strictly following them to make sure he doesnt lose Lena and the incidents there upon that makes the main story. To be frank, at least one of the surprises, for eg. about Deigo, Judit's son, doesnt make a big impact. But how everything is told makes this movie nearly like a thriller. It still drags a little bit towards the end. And it also really does not touch our innner heart. It stops some where before.
It is a wonderful film, nicely shot and edited. The colour combinations are typical of Almodovar, so is how the movie goes back and forth between the past and present.
Penelope Cruz, as Lena impress for sure. I was spoiled by her brilliant performance in Vicky Christina Barcelona, so always tends to compare, unintentional though. Jose Luis Gomes, as Martel is definitely the best performer. I especially liked his shot, trying to pretend like a dead man, after sex with his mistress, just to measure how much she cared for him, and his reaction to Lena's words how she detested sleeping with him.
Not the best of Almodovar, but it is still a good love story.
Pedro Almodovar is considered among one of the best directors in the last two decades, by many. He makes incredible love stories with unusal kind of characters. In fact there are much better Spanish directors, but he some how seems to be the most popular one.
A blind, middle aged script director, who still manages sexual adventures, is assisted by his agent and her son. When a new director approaches him for a script, the story some how seems to be associated to his past. This director is connected to his best love of the life and also his loss of sight. He has to go back to his past and set things out straight.
This is not the very best of Almodovar, but I have to say this movie is like a drama filled with lots of thrill and surprises. In the beginning, Mateo is just a blind director, but slowly the movie jumps back and forth and what unfolds is not a triangular love story, but the story of two families in fact, or the story of four lovers. There is Lena, who works as the secretary to a billionaire business man Martel, but also works as a call girl to meet her parents medical needs and finally end up as a mistress to Martel himself. There is this obsessed and possessed love of the old man, Martel, to Lena. Mateo is the young director who actually falls in love with Lena during his directorial work. There is Judit, who is Mateo's agent, but did share a love life with Mateo many years back. Out of this Judit comes into real relevance only towards the latter half, although she is omnipresent, and holds some surprises. It is how Lena follows Martel, Mateo and Lena falling for each other with Martel strictly following them to make sure he doesnt lose Lena and the incidents there upon that makes the main story. To be frank, at least one of the surprises, for eg. about Deigo, Judit's son, doesnt make a big impact. But how everything is told makes this movie nearly like a thriller. It still drags a little bit towards the end. And it also really does not touch our innner heart. It stops some where before.
It is a wonderful film, nicely shot and edited. The colour combinations are typical of Almodovar, so is how the movie goes back and forth between the past and present.
Penelope Cruz, as Lena impress for sure. I was spoiled by her brilliant performance in Vicky Christina Barcelona, so always tends to compare, unintentional though. Jose Luis Gomes, as Martel is definitely the best performer. I especially liked his shot, trying to pretend like a dead man, after sex with his mistress, just to measure how much she cared for him, and his reaction to Lena's words how she detested sleeping with him.
Not the best of Almodovar, but it is still a good love story.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Maria Ilena eres de gracia - Maria you are full of grace
2004 by Joshua Marston
17 year old Maria has to support her family with her work. However, she decide to quit her job, against her family wish, as she felt she didnt get any respect at her job. She also realise that she is pregnant. The teenager who is responsible, is ready to marry her, but Maria really doesn't have any love for him. She meets Franklin, who sets her up with drug traffickers, from Columbia to America, and is offered a great sum to work as a mule. She accepts this offer and meets Lucy who has already done it twice. When she is on her way, Maria realises that her friend, Blanca who is even younger than her, has also been lured by Franklin into this job. Pellets of heroine, are given to the mules who have to swallow it. Maria has about 66 of them in her stomache. She is promptly caught for check up, in the New York airport. She escapes the final X ray check, just because she was pregnant. Maria, Lucy and Blanca are collected by some guys who take them to a hotel room and wait for the girls to pass out all the pellets. Maria finds out at night, that Lucy is missing, and she prompts Blanca to escape from the hotel. They do not have any place to go and finally reach the flat of Lucy's sister. Maria is unable to confess the danger that has occured with Lucy. Soon she finds out that Lucy's body was found out, with her stomache cut open. When Lucy's sister finds this out, she evicts Maria and her friend out. Maria still manages to find the traffickers and hands over the pellets and collect her money. A part of which she uses to send Lucy's body back to Columbia. On their way back, at the check in counter Maria decides against going back to her country.
In spite of being slow paced, neo realistic kind, I would say Marai Ilena.. is a thrilling movie. From the moment Maria is lured by the drug traffickers, we feel tensed, may be more than Maria herself, and feels for her. That is the real success of this movie. Luckily for Maria, she is not hurt, and decides against going back to Columbia - as this would mean she will have to work as a mule again until she is caught or is killed like Lucy - but this does not happen without taking us through a lot of nervous moments. The scene where she swallows the pellets, the moments inside the flight including the one inside the toilet, the one with the customs officials in the airport and all are brilliantly shot that we can feel the tension so much to make ourselves feel nervous. Simple but brilliant, that is what I would say.
A very interesting aspect of the film, unlike other similar movies on drug trafficking, is that except when Maria is questioned in the airport, we do not come across any men in uniform at all. That was a great idea, and that makes this movie completely different too. The whole drama is built around the mental state of Maria. Brilliant.
It also made me think about some politics around the South and North, which I am afraid is not appropriate to discuss here.
17 year old Maria has to support her family with her work. However, she decide to quit her job, against her family wish, as she felt she didnt get any respect at her job. She also realise that she is pregnant. The teenager who is responsible, is ready to marry her, but Maria really doesn't have any love for him. She meets Franklin, who sets her up with drug traffickers, from Columbia to America, and is offered a great sum to work as a mule. She accepts this offer and meets Lucy who has already done it twice. When she is on her way, Maria realises that her friend, Blanca who is even younger than her, has also been lured by Franklin into this job. Pellets of heroine, are given to the mules who have to swallow it. Maria has about 66 of them in her stomache. She is promptly caught for check up, in the New York airport. She escapes the final X ray check, just because she was pregnant. Maria, Lucy and Blanca are collected by some guys who take them to a hotel room and wait for the girls to pass out all the pellets. Maria finds out at night, that Lucy is missing, and she prompts Blanca to escape from the hotel. They do not have any place to go and finally reach the flat of Lucy's sister. Maria is unable to confess the danger that has occured with Lucy. Soon she finds out that Lucy's body was found out, with her stomache cut open. When Lucy's sister finds this out, she evicts Maria and her friend out. Maria still manages to find the traffickers and hands over the pellets and collect her money. A part of which she uses to send Lucy's body back to Columbia. On their way back, at the check in counter Maria decides against going back to her country.
In spite of being slow paced, neo realistic kind, I would say Marai Ilena.. is a thrilling movie. From the moment Maria is lured by the drug traffickers, we feel tensed, may be more than Maria herself, and feels for her. That is the real success of this movie. Luckily for Maria, she is not hurt, and decides against going back to Columbia - as this would mean she will have to work as a mule again until she is caught or is killed like Lucy - but this does not happen without taking us through a lot of nervous moments. The scene where she swallows the pellets, the moments inside the flight including the one inside the toilet, the one with the customs officials in the airport and all are brilliantly shot that we can feel the tension so much to make ourselves feel nervous. Simple but brilliant, that is what I would say.
A very interesting aspect of the film, unlike other similar movies on drug trafficking, is that except when Maria is questioned in the airport, we do not come across any men in uniform at all. That was a great idea, and that makes this movie completely different too. The whole drama is built around the mental state of Maria. Brilliant.
It also made me think about some politics around the South and North, which I am afraid is not appropriate to discuss here.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
El Viaje de Carol - Journey of Carol
2002 by Imanol Uribe
Aurora had left Spain for America with her American boy friend Robert, when she was pregnant. She had done this against the wishes of her family who wanted her to marry Alfonso, who in turn marries Aurora's sister, Dolores. It is civil war in Spain, between the leftist Republicans and Franco who later becomes Spain's monarch. Robert is a fighter pilot, who is fighting for the Republicans against Franco.
In 1938 Aurora is back to Spain with her 12 year old daughter, Carol, who is introduced to her grand father and her aunt Dolores and Alfonso. Aurora meets her old time teacher and best friend, Maruja, to whom she confess that she is dying. Carol, initially has some problems with some village boys, but get friendly with them slowly and is really attracted to Tomiche. Tomiche had lost his father, who was killed by Franco's soldiers. Interestingly, except for Carol and her mother, rest of the family are all wishing for a take over of Madrid by Franco. Carol shares some nice time with Tomiche who is there with her for everything. Aurora dies soon. Carol doesnt want to live with Dolores and Alfonso, she is friendly with their daughter though, and convinces her Grand father to stay with her, in their family home. Carol also doesnt want her grand father to inform Robert about Aurora's death. She is afraid, it will be too much of a hard news for her father in the battle field. She even makes Maruja to write a letter to Robert, pretending to be Aurora.
Carol celebrates her birthday, where she also invites Tomiche and the boys who actually are from poorer classes to attend such a function. A fighter plane flies low in the village at this time and Carol is sure its her father, who does throw out a present for her. In the enclosed letter Robert also informs Carol about his knowledge of Aurora's death. Soon Franco is the monarch. Robert is now somebody who is wanted by Franco's regime. He does manage to visit Carol and there are soldiers after him. Tomiche tries to find an escape route for Robert, but is shot dead in the attempt. Carol returns back to her grand parents in America, knowing that her father is only a prisoner of war and can join her back very soon.
A simple and nice story told through the eyes of a 12 year old girl (its based on a novel). This is not a children's movie, nor is it a war movie. Basically it is about a clever little girl coming back to her mothers village and meeting a boy whom she likes. But war is there in the back ground, which is an influence on everything happening around and is instrumental. In that way, this movie should have been complex, but it is so nicely told that we want to forget about the war and just concentrate on the girl. We even feel nostalgic about our child hood. The pre adolescent love between Carol and Tomiche is so beautifully told that we are in for a real shock at the end. I simply did not understand why the boy had to be killed.
Clara Lago who plays Carol is more than brilliant that she carries the whole movie. Carol, who likes to be in a sailor suite kind of dress always, is clever, bold, independant, curious, kind and lovable. I could not believe her expressions in some scenes. She is so beautiful and charming and we feel relaxed watching her smiling. May it be her scenes with her mother or grand father or Tomiche, all capturing different emotions, she is brilliant and unbelievable. Her beautiful smile and her charm still keeps playing in my mind, long after the movie. I really would like to know where she is now. I hope she is an actor. She will be a great actress.
There are many beautiful shots, especially of the lush village out doors, that we always feel we are in a beautiful village. Some of the indoor shots, surprisingly, do not have the same levels.
While watching Carol and Tomiche together, I was wondering, had this move been shot in India, would India's Fanatic religions and the moral Police groups had allowed some of those scenes to be shot or shown? Similar pre adolescent love occurs among Indian children too, but to show it in movies, I am sure, that would have caused a furore here.
Aurora had left Spain for America with her American boy friend Robert, when she was pregnant. She had done this against the wishes of her family who wanted her to marry Alfonso, who in turn marries Aurora's sister, Dolores. It is civil war in Spain, between the leftist Republicans and Franco who later becomes Spain's monarch. Robert is a fighter pilot, who is fighting for the Republicans against Franco.
In 1938 Aurora is back to Spain with her 12 year old daughter, Carol, who is introduced to her grand father and her aunt Dolores and Alfonso. Aurora meets her old time teacher and best friend, Maruja, to whom she confess that she is dying. Carol, initially has some problems with some village boys, but get friendly with them slowly and is really attracted to Tomiche. Tomiche had lost his father, who was killed by Franco's soldiers. Interestingly, except for Carol and her mother, rest of the family are all wishing for a take over of Madrid by Franco. Carol shares some nice time with Tomiche who is there with her for everything. Aurora dies soon. Carol doesnt want to live with Dolores and Alfonso, she is friendly with their daughter though, and convinces her Grand father to stay with her, in their family home. Carol also doesnt want her grand father to inform Robert about Aurora's death. She is afraid, it will be too much of a hard news for her father in the battle field. She even makes Maruja to write a letter to Robert, pretending to be Aurora.
Carol celebrates her birthday, where she also invites Tomiche and the boys who actually are from poorer classes to attend such a function. A fighter plane flies low in the village at this time and Carol is sure its her father, who does throw out a present for her. In the enclosed letter Robert also informs Carol about his knowledge of Aurora's death. Soon Franco is the monarch. Robert is now somebody who is wanted by Franco's regime. He does manage to visit Carol and there are soldiers after him. Tomiche tries to find an escape route for Robert, but is shot dead in the attempt. Carol returns back to her grand parents in America, knowing that her father is only a prisoner of war and can join her back very soon.
A simple and nice story told through the eyes of a 12 year old girl (its based on a novel). This is not a children's movie, nor is it a war movie. Basically it is about a clever little girl coming back to her mothers village and meeting a boy whom she likes. But war is there in the back ground, which is an influence on everything happening around and is instrumental. In that way, this movie should have been complex, but it is so nicely told that we want to forget about the war and just concentrate on the girl. We even feel nostalgic about our child hood. The pre adolescent love between Carol and Tomiche is so beautifully told that we are in for a real shock at the end. I simply did not understand why the boy had to be killed.
Clara Lago who plays Carol is more than brilliant that she carries the whole movie. Carol, who likes to be in a sailor suite kind of dress always, is clever, bold, independant, curious, kind and lovable. I could not believe her expressions in some scenes. She is so beautiful and charming and we feel relaxed watching her smiling. May it be her scenes with her mother or grand father or Tomiche, all capturing different emotions, she is brilliant and unbelievable. Her beautiful smile and her charm still keeps playing in my mind, long after the movie. I really would like to know where she is now. I hope she is an actor. She will be a great actress.
There are many beautiful shots, especially of the lush village out doors, that we always feel we are in a beautiful village. Some of the indoor shots, surprisingly, do not have the same levels.
While watching Carol and Tomiche together, I was wondering, had this move been shot in India, would India's Fanatic religions and the moral Police groups had allowed some of those scenes to be shot or shown? Similar pre adolescent love occurs among Indian children too, but to show it in movies, I am sure, that would have caused a furore here.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Atame - Tie me up, tie me down
1990 by Pedro Almodovar
Ricky is a prominent inmate in a Psychiatry hospital. He have eloped many times and have been back always promptly. In one of his such escape attempts, he had an adventure with a porn actress Marina. Ricky is now released from the Hospital and his dream is to work and have a family and he can only think about Marina as his wife. Marina is trying to change her career by leaving Pornography for a real movie. Ricky has no other way, so kidnaps Marina to her own home hoping she will fall in love with her. Marina manages to escape, but goes back to Ricky.
Quite disappointed with this Almodovar movie. Antonio Banderas looks so young and his charm is the major plus for this movie. It looks more like a Spanish movie on popular hollywood lines. The background music is really terrible in many parts. There were some interesting moments, but overall disappointed.
Ricky is a prominent inmate in a Psychiatry hospital. He have eloped many times and have been back always promptly. In one of his such escape attempts, he had an adventure with a porn actress Marina. Ricky is now released from the Hospital and his dream is to work and have a family and he can only think about Marina as his wife. Marina is trying to change her career by leaving Pornography for a real movie. Ricky has no other way, so kidnaps Marina to her own home hoping she will fall in love with her. Marina manages to escape, but goes back to Ricky.
Quite disappointed with this Almodovar movie. Antonio Banderas looks so young and his charm is the major plus for this movie. It looks more like a Spanish movie on popular hollywood lines. The background music is really terrible in many parts. There were some interesting moments, but overall disappointed.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Juana La Loca - Juana the Mad
2001 by Vicente Aranda
When a true story or historical movie is very impressive I do try to find out more about it and Wikipedia says so about Juana the Mad
Joanna or Joan (6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555), nicknamed Joanna the Mad (Spanish: Juana la Loca), was the first Queen regnant of both the Crown of Castile(1504–55) and the Crown of Aragon (1516–55), a union which evolved into modern Spain.[1] Besides the kingdoms of Spain, she also ruled the kingdoms of Sardinia,Sicily, and Naples in Italy; a vast colonial empire in the Americas; and was Countess of Burgundy and the consort of the Burgundian Netherlands, thus initiating Spanish interests there. She was the last monarch of the House of Trastámara and her marriage to Philip the Handsome initiated the rule of the Habsburgs in Spain. Throughout most of her long reign she was under the regency of either her husband, father or son, and she was long confined to a nunnery under the pretense of mental illness.
Beautiful and young Juana is married off by her parents to prince Philip in what is clearly explained by her mother as a political marriage. Juana falls in love with Philip, madly. They have children and her love for Philip is only growing, so is her sexual passion for Philip. But on a bad day when the news of her mother's death arrives, she also finds out that Philip is unfaithful to her. She is shocked and behaves unlikely of a queen, more like an ordinary woman crying and screaming. From here spreads a talk that she is mad. Normally, Juana is the new Queen of her parents kingdom. Out of her passionate love for Philip, Juana is more interested in the other life of Philip than her kingdom. In fact she behaves less like a queen and more like an ordinary loving wife who cannot bear the fact that her husband is a cheat. At the same time there are men behind Philip who like to make use of this madness of Juana and declare her mad and unfit to be a queen, so that Philip will reign as the King of Castille, the monarch. There are some noble men who think Juana is not mad and they try to help her, in an attempt to stop Philip crowned as the sole monarch, but Juana is more interested in finding out who amongst her ladies is the mistress of her husband. She is declared a mad queen and has to live the rest of her life in a Castle in seclusion, with permission to visit the tomb of her beloved husband.
Let me say this is a unique love story. We read, hear and saw stories and many movies about royal love, but for the first time I can see a queen who is really in love. When did we see a queen worried about the King chasing women, I cant remember any. Queens always behaved as if Kings can have many women.
Juana is from royal blood and she knows very well how to behave, but out of love she doesn't care for royal pretentions and behaves ordinarily.
I am watching Pinar Lopez de Ayala, who plays Juana, for the first time and I am so impressed. She is beautiful and she can act, she acts very well in fact. There is a scene where the noble men are trying to talk to her about all the political drama around her, but she is desperately checking the hand writing of her ladies to find who amongst them have written to her husband. She was brilliant here, of course through out the movie she is, but this scene stood out for me.
This movie also have excellent photography, costumes and music.
We have seen so many royal movies, with all the drama around the battles to kingdom and what not. But Juana la loca, for me, is very special. I would place Juana la loca even above other royal movies - The Other Obelyn girl, Young Victoria etc, where the story is around the queen.
When a true story or historical movie is very impressive I do try to find out more about it and Wikipedia says so about Juana the Mad
Joanna or Joan (6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555), nicknamed Joanna the Mad (Spanish: Juana la Loca), was the first Queen regnant of both the Crown of Castile(1504–55) and the Crown of Aragon (1516–55), a union which evolved into modern Spain.[1] Besides the kingdoms of Spain, she also ruled the kingdoms of Sardinia,Sicily, and Naples in Italy; a vast colonial empire in the Americas; and was Countess of Burgundy and the consort of the Burgundian Netherlands, thus initiating Spanish interests there. She was the last monarch of the House of Trastámara and her marriage to Philip the Handsome initiated the rule of the Habsburgs in Spain. Throughout most of her long reign she was under the regency of either her husband, father or son, and she was long confined to a nunnery under the pretense of mental illness.
Beautiful and young Juana is married off by her parents to prince Philip in what is clearly explained by her mother as a political marriage. Juana falls in love with Philip, madly. They have children and her love for Philip is only growing, so is her sexual passion for Philip. But on a bad day when the news of her mother's death arrives, she also finds out that Philip is unfaithful to her. She is shocked and behaves unlikely of a queen, more like an ordinary woman crying and screaming. From here spreads a talk that she is mad. Normally, Juana is the new Queen of her parents kingdom. Out of her passionate love for Philip, Juana is more interested in the other life of Philip than her kingdom. In fact she behaves less like a queen and more like an ordinary loving wife who cannot bear the fact that her husband is a cheat. At the same time there are men behind Philip who like to make use of this madness of Juana and declare her mad and unfit to be a queen, so that Philip will reign as the King of Castille, the monarch. There are some noble men who think Juana is not mad and they try to help her, in an attempt to stop Philip crowned as the sole monarch, but Juana is more interested in finding out who amongst her ladies is the mistress of her husband. She is declared a mad queen and has to live the rest of her life in a Castle in seclusion, with permission to visit the tomb of her beloved husband.
Let me say this is a unique love story. We read, hear and saw stories and many movies about royal love, but for the first time I can see a queen who is really in love. When did we see a queen worried about the King chasing women, I cant remember any. Queens always behaved as if Kings can have many women.
Juana is from royal blood and she knows very well how to behave, but out of love she doesn't care for royal pretentions and behaves ordinarily.
I am watching Pinar Lopez de Ayala, who plays Juana, for the first time and I am so impressed. She is beautiful and she can act, she acts very well in fact. There is a scene where the noble men are trying to talk to her about all the political drama around her, but she is desperately checking the hand writing of her ladies to find who amongst them have written to her husband. She was brilliant here, of course through out the movie she is, but this scene stood out for me.
This movie also have excellent photography, costumes and music.
We have seen so many royal movies, with all the drama around the battles to kingdom and what not. But Juana la loca, for me, is very special. I would place Juana la loca even above other royal movies - The Other Obelyn girl, Young Victoria etc, where the story is around the queen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)