Showing posts with label German. Show all posts
Showing posts with label German. 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.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Yasamin Kiyisinda - The edge of heaven
2007 by Fatih Akin
I would have never looked for this movie if not for Soul Kitchen. It looks very simple, how one movie leads to another, very interesting and special I would say. Some times the director of a movie leads me to his other movies and some times its the actors. I am glad, I can keep finding new movies without any break.
Ali, an old Turkish immigrant living in Germany meets a whore, Yeter, and ask her to live with him, for a pay. His son Nejat, a University professor, even before he can air his opinion about the situation, has to take Ali to hospital, because of a heart attack. He softens up to Yeter, when he comes to know that she has a girl in Turkey for whom she lives for. Ali accidently kills Yeter and Nejat wants to find and help Yeter's daughter in Turkey. This takes him to Turkey. At the same time, Yeter's daughter Ayten is part of a Turkish resistance group and has to flee Turkey, to Germany. She meets Lotte, a university student, and soon they have a great relationship.
It is really impossible to explain all the feelings we go through while watching this movie. Of course, not with my writing inabilities. What a great movie, which is more like two or three stories running at the same time.
A brilliant script in fact, in which all these main characters who are in search for the other, Nejat for Ayten, Ayten for Yeter, and even the later searches by Lotte and her mother , all cris cross at some point, but without any knowledge of the others, except us the viewer.
Simply put, this is a truly brilliant movie which tells us so many stories of so many interesting and different characters, all in a single story. Everybody, Ali, Nejat, Yeter, Ayten, Lotte and her mother, all remain etched in front of our eyes, long after the movie is over.
The script is brilliant, but the director is superbly brilliant. I understand why many people consider Fatih Akin as one of the most promising director in Europe. Brilliant cinematography too, yet another example of shooting without telling the presence of the camera.
The movie has dialogues in both Turkish and German, as the story happens in both nations. I thought its mostly Turkish. Whatever, language doesnt matter for cinema, is quite a sentence, watching this movie.
I would have never looked for this movie if not for Soul Kitchen. It looks very simple, how one movie leads to another, very interesting and special I would say. Some times the director of a movie leads me to his other movies and some times its the actors. I am glad, I can keep finding new movies without any break.
Ali, an old Turkish immigrant living in Germany meets a whore, Yeter, and ask her to live with him, for a pay. His son Nejat, a University professor, even before he can air his opinion about the situation, has to take Ali to hospital, because of a heart attack. He softens up to Yeter, when he comes to know that she has a girl in Turkey for whom she lives for. Ali accidently kills Yeter and Nejat wants to find and help Yeter's daughter in Turkey. This takes him to Turkey. At the same time, Yeter's daughter Ayten is part of a Turkish resistance group and has to flee Turkey, to Germany. She meets Lotte, a university student, and soon they have a great relationship.
It is really impossible to explain all the feelings we go through while watching this movie. Of course, not with my writing inabilities. What a great movie, which is more like two or three stories running at the same time.
A brilliant script in fact, in which all these main characters who are in search for the other, Nejat for Ayten, Ayten for Yeter, and even the later searches by Lotte and her mother , all cris cross at some point, but without any knowledge of the others, except us the viewer.
Simply put, this is a truly brilliant movie which tells us so many stories of so many interesting and different characters, all in a single story. Everybody, Ali, Nejat, Yeter, Ayten, Lotte and her mother, all remain etched in front of our eyes, long after the movie is over.
The script is brilliant, but the director is superbly brilliant. I understand why many people consider Fatih Akin as one of the most promising director in Europe. Brilliant cinematography too, yet another example of shooting without telling the presence of the camera.
The movie has dialogues in both Turkish and German, as the story happens in both nations. I thought its mostly Turkish. Whatever, language doesnt matter for cinema, is quite a sentence, watching this movie.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Soul Kitchen
2009 by Fatih Akin - German movie
I came across this movie hoping it to be a food movie. It wasn't. But it did not disappoint even otherwise.
A guy who runs a shabby restaurant, hires a talented cook under some extra ordinary circumstances and finds some business. He is also having difficulties dealing with his girl friend who is working in China.
Zino, the Greek origin guy, definitely manages a lot of sympathy from the viewers, how all things go against him, even losing his girl friend and even his restaurant. But there is a bit of laughter behind, which mean the movie is quite entertaining at the same time, in unusual way though. And it ends up nearly like a romantic comedy, with some intelligence.
A good watch from an interesting young director. Performance from the whole cast is exceptional.
I came across this movie hoping it to be a food movie. It wasn't. But it did not disappoint even otherwise.
A guy who runs a shabby restaurant, hires a talented cook under some extra ordinary circumstances and finds some business. He is also having difficulties dealing with his girl friend who is working in China.
Zino, the Greek origin guy, definitely manages a lot of sympathy from the viewers, how all things go against him, even losing his girl friend and even his restaurant. But there is a bit of laughter behind, which mean the movie is quite entertaining at the same time, in unusual way though. And it ends up nearly like a romantic comedy, with some intelligence.
A good watch from an interesting young director. Performance from the whole cast is exceptional.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Der Untergang - Downfall
2004 by Oliver Hirschbiegel
Russian army is only about 12 Kilometers away from Berlin and almost everybody around Hitler is sure that Berlin will be captured. All his loyal men are wondering what to do next, to leave Berlin to save themselves or to fight until death or to convince Hitler to leave Berlin or even just suicide as the last resort. Hitler in the mean time realises that most of his generals were cowards and havent listened to him and have acted against his orders which has paved way to losing the battle. He is full of confidence one moment and is depressed the next. More and more news arrives about the cowardice of his generals and also about some valiant generals and soldiers. Inspite of all the pressure by some of his generals, Hitler is adament he will not leave Berlin, for he does not want people to curse him finally. At the same time he also says that evacuation of Berlin is not possible and people deserves what they are facing now. Eva his girl friend seems to be enjoying these moments and is adament she will not escape, so are some secretaries of his, who finds all these happenings so unreal. Hitler marries Eva and announces that they will commit suicide and orders his body guard to make sure that the enemy do not even find their bodies. His loyal servants burns their bodies afterwards. Once defeat is confirmed many of his loyal generals too commit suicide. Traudl Junge, his young secretary manages to pass through the Russian army and escapes Berlin. The movie is an account of her experiences.
This is a brilliant movie. It is so well taken that inspite of being the story of the most hated monarch, it still has many moments that will touch you. The Cinematography is more than brilliant, it can serve as a lesson on how to capture the mood of a theme, without ever making the viewer think about the camera, inspite of having a lot of action around.
Bruno Ganz lives as Hitler. What a performance. He looks fearful and even attracts our pity in some scenes. The scene where he listens to the song by his ministers children, followed by his discussion with Eva and secretaries how to commit a painless suicide, and his last good bye to his close assists were simply excellent.
Alexandra Maria Lara, my favourite German actress has also done well as Traudl.
Finally may I say, this is purely a directors movie. Excellent movie, a master piece.
Russian army is only about 12 Kilometers away from Berlin and almost everybody around Hitler is sure that Berlin will be captured. All his loyal men are wondering what to do next, to leave Berlin to save themselves or to fight until death or to convince Hitler to leave Berlin or even just suicide as the last resort. Hitler in the mean time realises that most of his generals were cowards and havent listened to him and have acted against his orders which has paved way to losing the battle. He is full of confidence one moment and is depressed the next. More and more news arrives about the cowardice of his generals and also about some valiant generals and soldiers. Inspite of all the pressure by some of his generals, Hitler is adament he will not leave Berlin, for he does not want people to curse him finally. At the same time he also says that evacuation of Berlin is not possible and people deserves what they are facing now. Eva his girl friend seems to be enjoying these moments and is adament she will not escape, so are some secretaries of his, who finds all these happenings so unreal. Hitler marries Eva and announces that they will commit suicide and orders his body guard to make sure that the enemy do not even find their bodies. His loyal servants burns their bodies afterwards. Once defeat is confirmed many of his loyal generals too commit suicide. Traudl Junge, his young secretary manages to pass through the Russian army and escapes Berlin. The movie is an account of her experiences.
This is a brilliant movie. It is so well taken that inspite of being the story of the most hated monarch, it still has many moments that will touch you. The Cinematography is more than brilliant, it can serve as a lesson on how to capture the mood of a theme, without ever making the viewer think about the camera, inspite of having a lot of action around.
Bruno Ganz lives as Hitler. What a performance. He looks fearful and even attracts our pity in some scenes. The scene where he listens to the song by his ministers children, followed by his discussion with Eva and secretaries how to commit a painless suicide, and his last good bye to his close assists were simply excellent.
Alexandra Maria Lara, my favourite German actress has also done well as Traudl.
Finally may I say, this is purely a directors movie. Excellent movie, a master piece.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Bandits
1997 by Katja von Garnier
Four women make a music band in the prison. They get an opportunity to perform in a public gathering, but they use this chance to escape and are on the run. They manage to keep the police at bay, but at the same time they also manage to make money by publishing their songs. The Bandits are quite popular now, but still eloping and they have problems too, within them.
This movie is different from run of the mill escape movies as all the four wanted culprits are women. And how many times have we felt bad watching popular actors, though good at acting, playing musical instruments so badly, in movies. Here all these four women are themselves musicians and they have written the music too for the film.
An interesting film, with good performances from all actors.
Four women make a music band in the prison. They get an opportunity to perform in a public gathering, but they use this chance to escape and are on the run. They manage to keep the police at bay, but at the same time they also manage to make money by publishing their songs. The Bandits are quite popular now, but still eloping and they have problems too, within them.
This movie is different from run of the mill escape movies as all the four wanted culprits are women. And how many times have we felt bad watching popular actors, though good at acting, playing musical instruments so badly, in movies. Here all these four women are themselves musicians and they have written the music too for the film.
An interesting film, with good performances from all actors.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Der Tunnel - The Tunnel
2001 by Roland Suso Richter
Based on a true story of the escape of 29 people from East to West Germany, immediately after the Berlin Wall came in, this is a good watch. It is so well directed and nicely photographed.
Based on a true story of the escape of 29 people from East to West Germany, immediately after the Berlin Wall came in, this is a good watch. It is so well directed and nicely photographed.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Das Leben Der Anderren - The Lives of Others
German - 2006 - directed by Florain Henckel von Donnersmarck - this is a very good movie.
In the early 1980s, Georg Dreyman (a successful dramatist) and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland (a popular actress), were huge intellectual stars in (former) East Germany, although they secretly don't always toe the party line. One day, the Minister of Culture becomes interested in Christa, so the secret service agent Wiesler is instructed to observe and sound out the couple, but their life fascinates him more and more.
For More - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/
In the early 1980s, Georg Dreyman (a successful dramatist) and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland (a popular actress), were huge intellectual stars in (former) East Germany, although they secretly don't always toe the party line. One day, the Minister of Culture becomes interested in Christa, so the secret service agent Wiesler is instructed to observe and sound out the couple, but their life fascinates him more and more.
For More - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/
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