A brief report about 13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008 (Trivandrum,12-19 December,2008)

Films from Latin America win major prizes at 13th International Film Festival of Kerala (Trivandrum,India 12-
19 December,2008)


Two Outstanding films from Mexico and Venezuela bagged top honors at 13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008 awards ceremony.

Mexican film “Parque Via” directed by Enrique Rivero was declared best film. His film is a sad tale of loneliness experienced by a caretaker of a large mansion in Mexico City. Enrique Rivero had already won prizes at Locarno and Nantes for this film. Venezuelan filmmaker Mariana Rondon was chosen as best director for her film “Postcards from Leningrad”. This surreal film talks about young children engaged in guerilla warfare with their parents in a humorous tone.

13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008 got off to a flying start on 12th December 2008 when it screened a humanist tale “Laila’s Birthday” directed by acclaimed Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi. This poetic film talks about a simple taxi driver who overcomes all chaotic obstacles in a single day to be able to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. According to Rashid Masharawi his film is a description of confusion that currently reigns in the life of Palestinians.

The highlight of this year’s festival was its eclectic mix of retrospectives, tributes and homages. The committed, young audience at the festival got a chance to see remarkable films by world cinema masters Alain Resnais, Amos Gitai, Fatih Akin, Fernando Birri, Idrissa Ouedraogo, late Jules Dassin, Karen Shaknazarov, Samira Makhmalbaf and late Youssef Chahine. The famous Russian director and CEO of MOSFILM studio Mr.Karen Shaknazarov was present at the festival where five of his film were shown under “Comtemporary Masters” section.

International Film Festival of Kerala is considered as one of India’s most renowned film festivals. It is believed that it is one of the very few festivals in Asia which is independently managed by film professionals. Its rising popularity is due to its cinema literate audience. For its 13th edition around 8500 registered delegates saw more than 250 films from 26 categories. The competition section at this festival is restricted to films from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Bina Paul Venugopalan, a leading name in Kerala state’s cinematographic landscape is the main architect behind the success of this festival.She has contributed to her festival’s popularity by selecting hard to find films.

A unique event at the festival was the launch of a new section called “Looking back : 50 years ago”. This category was conceptualized by Mr. P.K. Nair, ex director National film Archive of Pune, India. According to Mr.P.K.Nair, this section was created for the benefit of young film students and film enthusiasts in order to give them a chance to analyze golden classics of the past. This section showcased films made in year 1958 by Andrzej Wajda (Ashes and Diamonds), Bert Haanstra (Glass), Ingmar Bergman (The Magician), Jack Clayton (Room at the top), Jacques Tati (Mon Oncle), Luis Bunuel (Nazarin) and Satyajit Ray (The Music Room)

Awards presented at 13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008 (Trivandrum 12-19 December,2008)

International Jury :

Idrissa Ouedraogo (Chairperson,Burkina Faso)

Lucia Murat (Brazil)

Sitora Alieva (Russia)

Jabbar Patel (India)

Samira Makhmalbaf (Iran)


Jury Award (Golden Crow Pheasant) for Best Film : Enrique Rivero (Parque Via,Mexico)

Jury Award (Silver Crow Pheasant) for Best Director : Mariana Rondon (Postcards from Leningrad,Venezuela)

Jury Award (Silver Crow Pheasant) for Best Début Director : Husein Karabey (My Marlon and Brando,Turkey)

Audience awards for the Best Film : Uberto Pasolini (Machan,Italy)

Special Jury Prize for the debutant Director :Nandita Das (Firaaq,India)

Special Prize of the Jury : Amor Hakkar (The Yellow House,Algeria)

FIPRESCI Jury :

Chris Fujiwara (Chairperson,USA)

Barbara Lorey (France)

Manoj Barpujari (India)

FIPRESCI Award : Mariana Rondon (Postcards from Leningrad, Venezuela)

FIPRESCI award for the best Malayalam language film :Anjali Menon (Manjadikkuru,India)

NETPAC Jury :

Max Tessier (Chairperson,France)

Freddie Wong (Hong Kong)

Sudhir Mishra (India)

NETPAC award for Best Asia Film : Husein Karabey (My Marlon and Brando,Turkey)

A newly instituted award in memory of Hassankutty for the best Indian debut director was presented to Kerala filmmaker Anjali Menon for her début film "Manjadikkuru".

Amazing film about grief,loss and sadness.

Walking on Water (2002) directed by Tony Ayres

Australian film "Walking on Water" is one of the most original films about homosexual characters.The best thing about it is that unlike other gay films it does not glorify homosexuality and gay people.It shows gay people as perfectly normal ordinary mortals whose joys and sorrows are same as that of straight people.This film's director Tony Aires started his career in 1999 with a documentary called "Sadness". His feature film debut "Walking on Water" is about tough choices one has to make in life.It is said that life assumes a different meaning altogether when people are confronted with death.This is something which happens in this film as a gay character dies after waging a valiant war against his illness.This film revolves around a group of friends who cope with an inevitable grief arising out of their friend's death.Their presence highlights the fact that a slow death is more brutal than Euthanasia.As a tale of human emotions and their implications on ordinary people,Walking on Water shows that friends are always around when one is abandoned by family.This is one of the best rewarding reasons for watching this film.

Breaking news is an Anglo Saxon concept of presenting news.

Daai si gin (2004) directed by Johnnie To

Those who have seen action films made in Hong Kong will surely say that real life and life on a reel are the two basic fundamental notions of this film.This is because we often hear that whatever that happens in real life does not happen in films.We are also used to hear that whatever that happens in films does not happen in real lives. Whatever one says,a thing that remains clear is that "Breaking News" is a film which will challenge our notions of real life and life on reel as it presents both these concepts with amazing honesty.This film boasts of wonderful action scenes which help in mocking both media and police forces.Hong Kong director Johnnie To shows that the influence of media is enormous in our daily lives.This is the reason why distasteful material is being shown on television to poor audiences in order to increase daily ratings of TV shows.One must appreciate this film keeping in mind that "Breaking News" is a purely an Anglosaxon/ Angloamerican concept of looking at media which does not have any equivalent in many cultures such as European culture,Asian culture and African culture.

Alain Resnais makes his family of actors to sing great French songs ! ! ! !

On connaît la chanson (1997) directed by Alain Resnais

In many ways "On connait la chanson" is precursor to a new method of film-making undertaken by veteran French director Alain Resnais.This is the second film by Resnais (I want to go home) which has palpable American influence on French culture.This is a film which features many versatile actors of French cinema who are part of his family of actors.Those who have seen "Coeurs" will have no trouble recognizing these stars.Jean Pierre Bacri and Agnès Jaoui act as a couple who worked with Resnais on this film's screenplay.The philosophy of this tender,light hearted film is simple.If life is a song then a song must be sung.What we see and hear are many great songs of French music which were originally sung by famous French singers such as Alain Souchon,Edith Piaf,Jane Birkin etc.It can be surmised that in order to create suspense at the beginning of the film,Resnais even transported us back in past when he showed that Nazis had invaded Paris to destroy French capital.It is a great feeling that nothing like this happened.

Cyrano de Bergerac : a great introduction to the richness of French culture.

Cyrano de Bergerac directed by Jean Paul Rappeneau

Cyrano de Bergerac is one of the most perfect films made in French language.It is a film which must be shown to all connoisseurs of French culture as it makes for the most perfect introduction to French civilization.The greatness of Cyrano is universal as he teaches us some of the most essential human values such as friendship,love, sadness and trust.It is a film for which everybody has worked hard under the leadership of French auteur Jean Paul Rappeneau.There is an air of authenticity in the portrayal of France circa late 1900s.This has been achieved by creating magnificent sets,marvelous costumes and a cast of many junior artists.Jean Paul Rappeneau allows us to be transported to a time when innumerable duels were fought over women, pure love was omnipotent and poets and artists were venerated.When we watch this film,we come to realize that Gerard Depardieu is exceptionally great as troubled Cyrano who has hidden many deep secrets in his heart.It is due to the greatness of his personality that we choose to own his sadness in order to lessen his pain.There are no so many films which can have such an effect on movie goers. This is the best virtue of this historical drama.

Hollywood's dumb fascination for misleading title ! ! !

Pretty Woman (1990) directed by Garry Marshall

Films about hookers and their patrons are a common feature of all national cinemas.According to a rough estimate films about hookers have always been a good box office proposition.This might be because of people's belief that they are objects of reverence.This is the reason why Hollywood is not at all an exception as far as films about women of easy virtue are concerned.The only thing which differs American/Hollywood films from those of other countries is their narrative structure.Hollywood cinema relies more on the external appearance of hookers whereas world cinema focuses more on internal quest of hookers for achieving a state of security,safety,prosperity and happiness.Pretty Woman fails to deliver because it is not at all serious cinema.It can neither be termed as a prototype of fun cinema as it lacks credibility which is evident in Leaving Las Vegas.As Hollywood film industry has its own peculiar way of portraying hookers viewers have little or no choice of rejecting such flicks.There are plenty of gaping holes in Pretty Woman.It is being labeled as a fairy tale of a hooker with golden heart.This is absurd as viewers are not in a position to figure out whether it is due to severe distress or a young girl's desire to lead a lavish life.Pretty Woman is a dismal failure as in real life people deal harshly with hookers making their lives miserable.Pretty Woman is a historic blunder too as it degrades women.

Ben Sombogaart : A Dutch filmmaker who makes clean films for children.

Het Zakmes (1992) directed by Ben Sombogaart

Dutch film "Het Zakmes" is better known as "The Penknife".It is a brilliant family drama with light comedy.There are scenes in this film where both these genres overlap but all possible confusion is prevented due to mutual symbiosis of different protagonists.This is the perfect film for somebody who wants to have a good laugh with family.This film provides excellent commentary on the state of family and friendship as its director Ben Sombogaart created an ingenuous tale involving irresponsible adults and innocent kids.Adults are shown to misuse their status by not caring for young children.This is the reason why Het Zakmes shows that adults live in their own shell impeding on their children's creativity.The touchy issue of race relations in Holland has also been treated in this film.A beautiful lesson that can be learned is that most of the children have good memories and separation from their friend is unbearable,unpardonable act for them.This is precisely a core element of this dutch film.

How can Mr.David Cronenberg write a history of violence ! ! !

A History of Violence (2005) directed by David Cronenburg

"A history of violence" is one of those rare films which lack usual David Cronenberg bite.If you have seen this film and Eastern Promises you will be able to recognize that both of them are similar in style.It is true that this film is violent but its violence is that of a different nature.It is a violence which unleashes itself under tremendous pressure.This violence is a quiet violence unlike gory blood bath of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Wild bunch.Ed Harris has done one of the most vicious roles of his life for this film.Canadian auteur Cronenberg handles social issues well as he proves that there is no respect for an ordinary man's privacy.It is due to this anomaly that one get an idea of American violence.It was nice to watch how people crave for fame but fail to deliver as most of the people act as if they were silly bystanders remaining motionless all the times when violent acts are committed.This is a good film for a family as it shows how a simple family man's life is made hell due to excessive violence.

A great film directed by Pavel Lungin after the fall of Soviet Union.

Taksi-Blyuz (1990) directed by Pawel Lungin

A post Perestroika film like "Taksi-Blyuz" must be viewed in the context of Russia after 1990s.It is a landmark film in the history of Russian cinema.It speaks about an independent Russian state which might be a little difficult for some non Russian people to understand.It must be mentioned that it is not all an American Taxi Driver.The core issues of this film are masculinity,music and patriotism but still our hero grapples with numerous emotional conflicts.In today's modern day Russia,I am sure that so much has changed ever since it was made in 1990.The taxi is old in this film and decline of Russia is becoming a sore sight for natives as well as foreigners.There are many black markets where everything can be purchased.One such street vendor sells old stuff such as a saxophone,some old clothes. This is a short story of oppressed and oppressor.This film is not for you if you are expecting to watch a modern day Russia.Taxi Bluez is not a film about poverty but about all factors known for making people come to terms with poverty.Pavel Lungin has made his film with a tinge of sadness.It is a nice thing that women have a minor presence as most of them lack strong will power.Taxi Blues is a true perestroika film to be admired for its inherent Russianness.

This is a film which can easily make François Truffaut weep inconsolably !

Machuca (2004) directed by Andres Wood

"Machuca" is an excellent film for all ages made by Chilian filmmaker Andres Wood.The best thing which can be said about "Machuca" is that it is one the those rare films which are a superb visual statement on human condition. It is true that young children will surely have a lot to learn from this film but adults can also learn a thing or two if they make up their minds to reduce conflicts in the world.Some of the major issues discussed in this film are about friendship,sexual awakening,class differences,trouble at home,trouble with church and trouble with military.In this film it is nice to see how two young boys tackle above mentioned themes with courage,determination and dignity.A moral lesson to be learn from "Machuca" is that weak souls are strong in dealing with all kinds of emotional adversities.Although films featuring young protagonists are a common trend in the annals of world cinema nevertheless Muachuca remains a totally different film as it is about self discovery,knowing one's limitations and keeping one's head straight even in the times of adversities.This is a must see film for all admirers of serious cinema,meaningful films and Latin American history.

Is this film really about the search for "The Holy Grail" ?

The Fisher King (1991) directed by Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam is not an ordinary filmmaker.His films offer viewers more in terms of psychedelic fun,visual delight,thought provoking ideas and sheer technical brilliance.Terry Gilliam appears to be the modern day distant cousin of maverick,iconoclast filmmakers like Terence Mallick and Alex Cox.All of them are believed to make less films with quality elements."The Fisher King" is one such film which offers an out of the box glimpse into the world of homeless people.It is a world of solidarity,companionship and mutual trust.The Fisher King also discusses the outcome of male-female relationships before the arrival of Internet to inform us as to why some of the relationships would not work ? The film is set in a time when video cassettes were a massive rage.Terry Gilliam has even attacked the media for their alleged misuse of power and authority.In this film Robin William shows us one of the most original ways of correcting one's wrong doing.On the technical front there are unusual camera angles which provides visual pleasure of high adrenaline rush-skyscrapers and areas where homeless people live.This film might soon achieve the cult film status because of its material.The message of this film is extremely simple:Anyone can become a homeless person any where,any time under any circumstances.This is because a tragedy can strike anyone anytime any place.So be nice and kind to your dear ones in order to love them forever.

A film like that of Miklos Jancso and Ettore Scola ! ! ! ! !

Allonsanfan (1973) directed by Paolo Taviani,Vittorio Taviani

Allonsanfan is one of those rare foreign language films about which dedicated viewers know a lot without having gotten a chance to see it. It is rather unfortunate that this classic film directed by Taviani brothers has neither been shown repeatedly on TV screens around the world nor its DVD is as easily available as that of "Braveheart".If we look closely at the productivity of Italian cinema,we will come to know that there is only an Italian film ("La nuit de Varennes" directed by Ettore Scola) which similar to it in terms of style and content.Allonsanfan is quite similar to a Hungarian auteur Miklos Jancso's film but with no nudity,no brutality and no humiliation.At the core of this film is a detailed description of the tough life of a determined revolutionary.Sometimes he is trusted by his followers, sometimes he is not.Family ties are of great importance for him as any other aristocrat.The only unusual aspect of his behavior is that he does not know how to maintain them.Betrayal is a repetitive element of this film as there are plenty of disloyal souls linked to our strongman.This is the reason why he fails to remain neither a true revolutionary nor a true aristocrat.The portrayal of incest is rather out of place for this film.It loses its credibility because of prevalence of dramatic situations.It is true that "Allonsanfan" is visually exquisite but it is somewhat difficult to follow the film's flow as not much of historical context is provided to the viewer.One can say that events happen of their own accord.It is only after reaching the halfway mark that viewers comprehend that Allonsanfan is one of the this film's important protagonists.A positive thing about it is its star cast with remarkable performances by Marcello Mastroianni.A must see for all the admirers of auteur cinema especially of Vittorio and Paulo Taviani.

A nice film to watch for admiring Jean Rochefort,Williem Dafoe,Emma de Caunes, Rowan "Mr.Bean" Atkinson and self made V.I.P pass.

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) directed by Steve Bendelack

Mr.Bean's Holiday is a unique family film which has all the necessary ingredients used in the making a successful comedy film.Apart from its numerous inoffensive commentaries of serious nature on tangible universal sentiments like love,trust,respect etc,there is plenty of scope in this film for freewheeling entertainment.The highlight of this film is that it entertains all viewers regardless of their knowledge or ignorance about Rowan Atkinson's comical genius.It might be said that watching this film might induce a feeling in some viewers' minds that Mr.Bean mocks France and French culture.This has been shown by depicting how Cannes International Film Festival derides itself by ignoring its own film fraternity in order to show over-the-top reverence for American filmmakers on French soil.This film's director Steve Bendelack offers us plenty to see including marvelous views of French countryside and TGV,French high speed train.If one has already been to France,these views would be a great source of nostalgia.If a viewer of this film has not been to France,it is hoped that it would serve as a precursor to an imminent voyage to France.An important lesson to be learned from this film involves today's globalized world where a language is not at all important as the entire world is slowly transforming itself into a huge efficient supermarket where people can go and purchase their stuff without uttering a single world of any human language.This is precisely something which enables many people including Mr.Bean to say gracias in Paris.The flip side of this case is that these people are having nice time at the expense of natives as they are being fully understood by them.Mr.Bean's Holiday is a hilarious melting pot of assorted characters from different countries such as America,Britain,Russia and France.Rowan Atkinson's performance assures us that there are neither surprises nor there is any pretence, any foul play.He does everything smoothly to ensure that everything comes out with ease like a rabbit taken out skillfully from a maverick wizard's black hat.The icing on this film's cake is the realization that only Mr.Bean is one of those lucky people who are able to enter the premises of Cannes International Film Festival by making use of a hand made V.I.P.pass.

The intricacies of Japanese society shown by Mr.Hiroyuki Tanaka

Monday (2000) directed by Sabu

Actors making films is a new trend in Japanese cinema.It is a known fact that many of them are no so successful.The only exception in the history of Japanese cinema is Takeshi Kitano who is good as an actor as well as a film maker.Monday is directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka who is one of the most important actors of Japanese cinema.In this film he has given viewers unfettered access into the minds of various sections of Japanese society.What we see in the film is the way people like a family,a salary man,some yakuzas and some of the police behave in the course of their normal lives.The idea of the film is not to criticize a section to praise a different one.In this film,Sabu wants to show us his protagonists with their real intentions,moods and motives for leading lives which they feel are suitable for them.Monday is also a plea for peace as Japanese people have suffered enormous losses in the past especially during the World War 2.This is the reason why violence has been shunned in this film.PS:kindly watch with close attention the performance of Terajima Susumu who also stars in Sabu's wonderful film "The Blessing Bell".

This war zone is about the decline of moral values in a British family ! ! ! !

The War Zone (1999) directed by Tim Roth

According to Tim Roth a taboo as well as disturbing subject of incest has rarely been judiciously tackled by Hollywood.This is because most of Hollywood films have too much of preaching involved.So he has deliberately chosen to avoid this trap while he was making his debut film.He was also bothered about the fact that there are not so many challenging roles for children.This is the reason why young actors like Lara Belmont and Freddie Cunliffe have given bravura performances under his direction about which it can be said that they are far superior then the likes of Tilda Swinton and Ray Winstone.According to Alexander Stuart who wrote the book based on his novel,there is no solution to such an evil problem of incest as family members are forced to bear the consequences arising out of shame and guilt.In "The War Zone" much of anger is depicted through angry eyes of its talented actor Freddie Cunliffe.His portrayal of tormented boy Tom is so convincing that he will surely appear as the only innocent soul of this sordid tale who did not commit any sin.

What makes a film bizarre : Is it our fascination for violence or grossness of life ?

C'est arrivé près de chez vous (1992) directed by Rémy Belvaux/André Bonzel/Benoit Poelvoorde

It is very rare in the history of Belgian cinema that such an abrasive film was made by three broke youngsters who cast their own family members in their film.To begin let us have a word about this film's titles.Let us assume that when one considers an apt title like "Man bites dog" it should be made clear that it is a very rare happening.It can mean that men are doing things which were formerly done by the animals.There are too many of such grotesque happenings in this film.If we choose "It happened near your place" to be a far more superior title then we are to be blamed for not having paid any attention to all the grossness which was happening around us over a long time.What the film is all about is difficult to decide as it is an assault against women,children,old people and homosexuals.Its strangeness comes from the fact that although it has adopted a tough stance against depiction of morbid violence there is additional visual violence in the form of a television crew shooting violent scenes.This film has got many supporters one of which is famous American actor Steve Buscemi.

The title says it all : A nice film about cinema and love ! ! ! !

Malchiki v nebe (2002) directed by Zulfikar Musakov

This film by Zulfikar Musakov is a very pleasant crowd pleaser.First of all it is a film which is entirely soaked in cinema.It has been made by a man who wanted to offer his tribute to the great masters of cinema. This has been done through the portrayal of a young boy who wishes to be a great filmmaker like some of the film makers he admires like Takeshi Kitano,Lars Von Trier etc.There is also a crowd pleasing romantic angle of four boys trying to woo a single beautiful girl who as a new comer has come to join these boys in their class.As usual in such kind of situations it is the most unfortunate one who wins the girl but the film has a quite different ending.Comedy aspect has also been nicely depicted by showing a hilarious confrontation of old and young generation.Uzebek cinema is largely known for films made by its grand director Ali Khamraev.This is a promising film from one of Uzbek cinema's talented directors.Its success helped Zulfikar Musakov to get financial backing from Japan's NHK for making his next film called "I want".

A great tale of ancient Turkish traditions ! ! ! !

Hazal (1979) directed by Ali Ozgenturk

Hazal is a sad tale of a young village beauty who is married to a 12 year old young boy after the death of her husband.This unholy alliance is not at all acceptable to this village lass who has her own life ahead of her with her inherent desires.Things take a turn for the worse when Hazal falls in love with a young stranger with disastrous results. The film depicts in equal proportions the tragic fate of all the players involved.There is a bitter portrait of an old woman who is Hazal's mother in law.Although she is a woman,she does not make any efforts to understand young Hazal's sentiments.The young kid's mawkish yet innocuous portrayal will bring many a laugh on viewers' faces. There is also a minor hint of his sexual maturity as he boasts of his young wife's beauty to other children of his age.The stranger's character is the strangest of all as he is depicted more of a shadow man unwilling to engage in talks with Hazal to understand her feelings. It is not only Turkan Soray's beauty but also Ali Ozgenturk's direction which will make serious viewers appreciate Turkish film Hazal.It is one of the few Turkish films in which ancient traditions are challenged.

A slick portrayal of an ice cold angel who likes to kill people for money ! ! ! !

Le Samouraï (1967) directed by Jean Pierre Melville

One can say a thousand things about this film but for most people it would remain a very succinct portrayal of a deadly killer who is known for his ice cold behavior.To get this effect Meville deftly handled Alain Delon for this difficult task of a criminal who is very much aware of all his assigned tasks.Our film's contract killer Jeff Costello is also very cautious about his image and nothing can stop him not even a deadly cat and mouse chase carried out in Parisian metro stations.It is true that "Le Samourai" is a gangster film of french sensibilities but what makes it different from American films of the same genre is that our hero likes to say only perfect things instead of making half baked tall claims as done by most of the actors in American films about crime and criminals.Apart from Alain Delon's taut acting, Samurai boasts of fine performances by François Périer as a determined cop hell bent on arresting Jeff Costello.As a glamorous doll Nathalie Delon looks credible but not so elegant as Kathy Rosier who can be termed as the film's heart and soul.

It is rare for a modern day Japanese film to achieve such popularity ! ! ! !

Batoru rowaiaru (2000) directed by Fukasaku Kinji

In the year 2000, a couple of years after the demise of Kurosawa Akira there were not many active filmmakers in Japan.Of course,Oshima Nagisa and Imamura Shohei were around but unfortunately they were not at all active.So it was in such bad conditions for Japanese cinema it was a miracle of sorts when this film Battle Royale directed by Fukasaku Kenji came to be acknowledged as a modern day masterpiece.The coverage this film got in western media was phenomenal.It is not so often that CNN and BBC report about a particular Japanese film.The fact that they carried out special reports about "Battle Royale" is a testimony to this film's overall popularity.The unique thing about this film is that although in the past many films have been made about violence and youngsters none have been so deadly as this one.What we see in this film is not only brutal violence but also a state of affairs of young people in developed nations.Battle Royale is one of a kind film which will assuredly keep you on the edge of your seats.Its dramatic end is too cool.

A failed artist or a sad tale of human relationships ! ! ! !

Daijiga umule pajinnal (1996) directed by Hong Sang Soo

Watching Hong Sang Soo's first film "Daijiga umule pajinnal" is going to be an extremely uneasy visual experience for all casual as well as average viewers.This is because one will surely find it hard to understand whether the film is a portrait of a failed artist or an absurdist tale of highly unusual,bizarre human relationships.I managed to see this film at the campus of Ecole Normale Supérieure Lettres et Sciences Humaines at Lyon in company of a friend from South Korea.She made the viewing interesting for me with her comic remarks as being a Korean person,she is definitely more familiar with intricacies of Korean cultural life.This key association with Korean psyche is needed to understand what this film stands for.A word about our film's failed artist.He is rather controversial,bit moody and picks up fights too often with his colleagues.This is something which might be true of many talented artists all over the world.A different view of this film might concern Hong Sang Soo's observation that his film is a complex tale of human relationships as all the characters of his films are in troubled relationships without ascertaining what made them enter into them.

An absolutely amazing laugh riot ! ! ! !

Te'alat Blaumilch (1969) directed by Iprahim Keshon

Apart from "Lemon Popsicle" series of films from Israel,there are not so many directors in the history of Israelian cinema who have made successful comedy films.If there is a man who has made enjoyable comedy films it is Iprahim Kishon.As he was primarily a great writer,he was able to infuse his writing talents in his films.It can be said about Iprahim Kishon's film "Te'alat Blaumilch" that its visual as well aesthetic style was completely different from the films made by other comic geniuses like Max Linder,Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Apart from its highly original idea of a lunatic digging a canal in the middle of a street,this film was famous for its set design which consisted of a replica of a fictitious canal right in the middle of Tel Aviv city.A thing which might irk some feminist viewers is that this is a bit sexist in nature as there are numerous ribald jokes consisting of futile attempts made by office boss to seduce his beautiful secretary. Iprahim Kishon made three great comic films and this film is one of those laugh riots which is surely going to drive you crazy with endless bouts of laughter.

It is about about human moods which are never the same ! ! ! !

Kangwon-do ui him (1998) directed by Hong Sang Soo

Let us begin by saying that this film's English title "The Power of Kangwon Province" is an absolute misnomer.It is because in Hong Sang Soo's film,there are no actual shots of wars,troubles and conflicts.So the idea of establishing power of a province is neither suitable nor valid in the context of this film.If we were to judge this film by its Korean language title,"Kangwon-do ui him" is going to appear as a cryptic statement about emotional turmoils of its young protagonists whose minds are not at rest.Hong Sang Soo has also directed a highly prolific visual document about erratic choices made by people in their lives.The people in question are a couple of young girls who are constantly in the process of displaying their moods,whims and fancies. If making a film out of nothingness can be claimed as a film maker's meritorious virtue then Hong Sang Soo has to be saluted as a courageous film maker whose films speak volumes about ubiquitous nothingness of human relationships,sentiments and lives.Whether one likes it or not,this is the only fair conclusion that be deduced from this particular film.

At Iwanami Hall, an art house cinema hall in Tokyo this film by René Feret was seen by 35,000 Japanese viewers ! ! ! !

Rue du retrait (2001) directed by René Féret

Rue du retrait is a film which is quite unique to René Féret for various reasons.Firstly,it is a film which he shot in his own area,near his own house.Rue de retrait is the name of the street in 20th arrondissement in Paris where Mr.Féret stays.So in a way the location afforded a lot of familiarity in terms of location to the cinéaste. Secondly,the making of this film will always remain a miracle of sorts for René Féret as no big production house was willing to finance such a brave,absolutely uncommon film in France.So this film was finally made due to René Féret's personal intervention and highly individual efforts. Its visual style was applauded by a great French filmmaker named Bertrand Tavernier who has long been one of René Féret's admirers.For this film René Féret decided to use DV mode as it offered him a lot of creative freedom to adapt a difficult and touchy topic involving sad life of an old lady who was excluded from society.Rue de retrait is a must for all those viewers who wish to enter old people's lives and their eccentric world.

A highly original film about laws and mechanisms of a madhouse ! ! ! !

L'Histoire de Paul (1974) directed by René Féret

French film maker René Féret made his début with this film in 1974.It was his first critical success and applause for it came from famous French philosopher Michel Foucault who compared this film to British master Ken Loach's film "Family Life".This comparison is absolutely valid as like Ken Loach who has been an ardent supporter depicting the cause of English life in his films,René Féret has also championed the cause of Northern France in films.For those who are bothered about story and plot there is not much of hope.The real story of this film,if there is any story,is to be judged by the fact that film's helpless protagonist Paul has been condemned to a madhouse after a failed suicide attempt.Paul's plight is the central focus of the film as in psychiatric ward,he is compelled neither to have any history nor any story.What we see in this film is a sad tale which takes place in a psychiatric hospital whose inmates,doctors live according to their own set of rules.As a scathing attack on the absurdity of system in French mental institutions,L'histoire de Paul won Jean Vigo award in 1975.

Big leap for René Féret : natural depiction of French countryside ! ! ! !

La Communion Solennelle (1977) directed by René Féret

Three year after the critical success of his first film "L'histoire de Paul",René Féret took a big leap with his second film "La communion solennelle" made in 1977.It was a vast panorama for him as he moved from the cloistered confines of a mental house to open air fun and frolic of French countryside.It was also his first encounter with a multitude of talented actors,most of whom were discovered due to this film.If La communion solemnelle is to be remembered,it is for featuring a fortuitous display of a whole gamut of human emotions.It can be claimed that watching the film's protagonists making merry,enjoy and fight with each other,we also feel as if we too have become an integral part of their sentiments.If there is a parallel which can be drawn to compare this film,it will surely concern equating it with French classic film "Rules of the Game" directed by Jean Renoir.This is because like Renoir's classic,this film too has its own inimitable share of eccentricities of its characters.If you are aware of greatness of French culture,you must watch this film as it has traces of Zola,Maupassant and Claude Renoir.

René Féret should have made this film 19 years ago in 1974.

La Place d'un autre (1993) directed by René Féret

In some ways "La place d'un autre" can be called as L'histoire de Paul part 2.As far as René Féret's cinematographic oeuvre is concerned,this film should theoretically have come before L'histoire de Paul as in that film nothing was mentioned as to why a young man named Paul made up his mind to take his own life.All the questions which were left unanswered in L'histoire de Paul are discussed in La place d'un autre. This idea was always hovering on René Féret's mind but due to artistic commitments of different nature he was unable to finish this film as and when he wanted to do so.In this film we are shown how a young boy replaces his lost brother for the sake of his parents.There is also a poignant tale involving a talented soul who overcomes all instances of personal sorrow to emerge victorious.It is true that this film is autobiographical in nature,nevertheless René Féret has avoided all traps which might allude any kind of familiarity to actual events.There is also a concern for authenticity as the film was shot in the same mental institution where René Féret was interned after his personal tragedy.Recommendation : a film to be watched if you have ever lost a dear one in your family.

One day in the life of a French family ! ! ! !

Les Frères Gravet (1996) directed by René Féret

This is undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking films directed by René Féret.Its presence of stars and actors is so brilliant that one can have a jolly good time watching a host of French cinema's versatile actors that too in a single film.It was truly a veritable family affair for René Féret to direct people like Jacques Bonnaffé, Jean François Stévenin,Julien Féret who are a part of his indispensable family of actors.What is important to watch in this film is a story which starts as a family chronicle but with the passage of time transforms itself into an existentialist drama.Family is an important unit of René Féret's films and the highlight of this film is how brothers of a family come together to know each other better.It is not only brothers who come to know each other better but also their wives and children who learn to appreciate the value of their united,close knit family.It has been felt by certain French critics that this film is more close to Cassavates than Pascal Thomas.This is for those viewers to decide who are familiar with the films of both these authors.

All criminals follow a strict code of honor ! ! ! !

Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) directed by Jules Dassin

Du rififi chez les hommes is a brilliant film which studies criminal minds and allows viewers to have a better understanding of criminals who are fundamentally not different from ordinary folks like us.What director Jules Dassin shows is that criminal do have families and they care a lot for them.That is why they adhere to a strict code of honor. For them a family is not only made up of wives,mistresses and children but also include casual acquaintances and close friends.Contrary to what many might find it hard to believe,Jules Dassin has not tried to glorify crime in his film as rififi makes it clear that crime never pays.It shows that all kinds of bad activities result in some kind of human loss.Apart from its philosophical stance Rifif is worth watching for its technical finesse.While watching one of the film's most brilliant sequences about breaking of a safe,one would find it hard to believe meticulous precision with which criminal minds execute their plans.This is a scene which nobody has dared to copy in Hollywood.

Action filmmakers have a lot to learn ! ! ! !

Le Salaire de la peur (1953)

directed by Henri Georges Clouzot

Wages of fear is a big lesson for action filmmakers who use a lot of technology but are largely unable to recreate an element of human sentiment in their action films.In all seriousness they can learn a lot from a great man who was more popular with his Gallic Hitchcock acronym :Henri Georges Clozot.In 1953,when he made this film,he did not even have one tenth of the kind of technology which is employed by today's technology savvy filmmakers.Wages of fear is a great film with existentialist undertones whose first half is a bitter depiction of nothingness for its four protagonists who languish in hot South America. It is in second half of the film that we witness a flurry of meaningful action.It is quite odd but due to heavy masculine presence Clouzot decided not to have much room for female characters except for a sensual role played by his wife Vera Clouzot.It is a true fact that before this film human misery,desperation and hopelessness were never shown in such vivid details as shown in this film.The sadness depicted in Wages of fear can still be felt in our contemporary world.

What is the best method to judge this film's popularity ?

Gandhi (1982) directed by Richard Attenborough

There is no doubt that this motion picture about Gandhi will always remain a monumental achievement for two Englishmen namely its director Sir Richard Attenborough who despite utter lack of assistance and cooperation from successive Indian governments,doggedly pursued an obsessive idea of making a film about one of the most famous Indians ever known to mankind and unknown actor Ben Kingsley who plays his part with such great perfection that people who personally knew Mohandas Gandhi claimed that they have seen a reincarnation of Gandhi in him.These facts are the only positive aspects of this film as its importance has never been properly assessed in India,a land where Gandhi was born.Each Indian viewer is familiar with the fact that this film is shown every year on 2nd October on India's national television network as a holy ritual to make people aware of this great man's importance.This proves that this film's popularity means different things to different viewers.For a non Indian it is a great visual document about Gandhi whereas for Indian people,it remains by and large a work which they are forced to watch out of compulsion for their country.It is also interesting to note that since some years Gandhi has become a fashion statement for Indian people.This is the reason why at least three films have been made in recent past by Hindi filmmakers about him.This was not happening around 1982 when this film was released globally.Would some serious viewer take a note of this anomaly ?

An honest film about a family made for all those who respect family life

Baptême (1989) directed by René Féret

In the recent history of French cinema,it has sadly been noted that the concept of films for families has vanished.If there is one film maker who has relentlessly pursued this theme in his films,it is René Féret whose films are a good portrayal of family life.Baptême is a family film which is not made these days.It is about the love of an entire life : love of a husband for his wife,love of a wife for her husband and love of the children for their parents.The dual concepts of happiness and sorrow have been nicely depicted in the form of family life and death.There is a concern for authenticity in Baptême as René Féret has portrayed an area which he know best:North of France.As a matter of fact,apart from Bertrand Tavernier and Bruno Dumont,there are not many filmmakers in France who have been honest and truthful in their depiction of harsh realities of northern France.René Féret is one of the very few French filmmakers who have vividly portrayed North of France.This must be kept in mind when a spectator goes to see this film.

Philippe Vuillemin: Not only an artist but also a good actor

Le Mystère Alexina (1985) directed by René Féret

If ever serious viewers would like to remember one of René Féret's most personal films "Mystère Alexina",it would definitely be for the acting prowess of French comic strip artist Philippe Vuillemin.He is absolutely incredible as the lead character who is confused about his/her sexuality.Philippe Vuillemin is so good that he outsmarts easily acting abilities of other actors especially that of Valerie Stroh.For this film René Féret has taken us to medieval times.Those were the times when French society,like most of the other societies was prudish in nature.In a way,this film is a serious take on sexuality in ancient times which was fiercely guarded.One of the most important questions raised by this film concerns ignorance about sexuality.It must be ascertained whether human sexuality can be dissimulated.Science comes to rescue when religious authorities are challenged to stake a claim about lead character's sexuality.For a film which might appear as a sensual love story to many viewers it is quite an achievement to minimize its risks of achieving an easy to please end.This is precisely the virtue of this film directed by one of French cinema's most under rated authors.

René Féret's tribute to German expressionism and Berlin Alexnaderplatz ! ! ! !

Fernand (1980) directed by René Féret

One close look at French cinéaste René Féret's career would reveal that on a couple of occasions he has made quite unexpected artistic moves. Fernand is one such example of a film which comes as a complete surprise not only for him but also for entire French cinema.This film was made by René Féret after healthy successes of his first two safe films : L'histoire de Paul and La Communion Solemnelle.Fernand is a kind of film which one can describe as a total shock.It is a film about Parisian society's outcasts and it was largely inspired by German expressionism especially by German classic Berlin Alexanderplatz.It is a film in which destroyed innocence is shown in the form of an uncommon love story between a young criminal who is more of a dreamer and a talented dancing girl cum hooker.As Fernand it is a kind of modern day fable some of its scenes have a magic like quality to them.This film is also like a tale of puppets as the destiny of its players is controlled by one another.Fernand is a great film which was sadly ignored by French public upon its initial release.It is a nice film to watch for those film enthusiasts who would like to know René Féret's cinema in a better manner.

Is it a tender love story or more of an autobiographical theater ?

Promenades d'été (1992) directed by René Féret

While watching "Promenades d'été", I am sure viewers would have a tough time ascertaining whether the film is more of a tender love story or a truthful depiction of an autobiographical theater.Whatever might be the case,French author René Féret has made a good film in which an entire troupe of theater actors is shown as one big family.The film is a tender love story as it depicts the evolution of a youngster in the subtle process of love with a lady who is senior to him.Promenades d'été is also largely autobiographical in nature as the depicted incidents are a part of film maker René Féret's memories of youth.There is a good display of clash of emotions as love,jealousy,happiness, joy,sorrow and triumph flow freely helping our film's young protagonist to advance near his goals : personal happiness and professional success. Valérie Stroh is a joy to watch as the lady of our young man's affections.The theatrical performance of our film's young protagonist is an excellent sight.This is a film which must be seen by all enthusiasts of quality theater and good films.

The dignity of man is sensibility of passions.

Au coeur du mensonge (1999) directed by Claude Chabrol

For Claude Chabrol,a cinéaste who has made over 50 films,this film must be like one of his loving children.However,his admirers might view it in a different light as it might appear as a minor work for them but many serious viewers would nevertheless feel that there are some nice things to observe in this film.Au coeur du mensonge is a film about people who are grappling with truths and lies in their lives.This film is more of a character study even though it is true that there are two crimes depicted in the film.These vile acts are merely a pretext for small town people to talk of pretentiousness and infidelity.Au coeur du mensonge is also a story about two artists;one of them is a fake and other one is not so sure of his inherent abilities.There is also a woman in their midst who is torn between these two men.The message of this film is simple:To understand a lie,one has to go to its heart.When we watch Sandrine Bonnaire and Jacques Gamblin, we realize that the truth is not so complicated as it is always visible on surface level.

An old man's quest for love in an alien land.

Az Út (1997) directed by Moldovanyi Ferenc

Az Ut directed by Hungarian documentary film maker Moldovanyi Ferenc is a faithful depiction of Chinese community in Budapest.According to rough estimates there are 35,000 people of Chinese origin in Hungarian capital.Az Ut also works as a travelogue of sorts as the film maker has taken us on a tour of two beautiful cities:Budapest and Beijing.The real issue of importance dealt in this film concerns the description of love according to the principles of Chinese philosophy.This is done by our 56 years old protagonist who is looking for a lady to share his life.This situation gives rise to many questions such as : Is there any need for love for an old man ? How can any young woman ever fall in love with such a man who is much senior to her ? Moldovanyi Ferenc has made a brave attempt to answer such difficult questions through his protagonist who is an intellectual from China feeling out of place in Budapest.There is also an angle of old versus young in this film as there is a sub plot which involves this man's son who is an aimless unemployed vagrant.To conclude,it can be said that this is the film for you, if you wish to know more about the sad topic of disappointment in love

Circles of life :quite easy to watch in a film but absolutely difficult to follow in the real life.

Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (2003) directed by Kim Ki Duk

I am a self confessed admirer of Kim Ki Duk.The mere mention of his name can provoke heated discussions.He is not so much liked by his own countrymen due to his choice of topics for this films.He is more liked outside South Korea where his admirers have easy access to his films both in terms of their availability and comprehension.The great thing about this film is that even though Kim Ki Duk is a part of Christian faith(he was born as a Christian),he has been successful in creating a meticulous spiritual tale of Buddhist world.This proves the amount of energy he spends in researching things about the subject matter of his films.I have seen Spring,Summer on many occasions and each viewing reinforces my belief in spirituality.It is good to see spiritual actions portrayed in a film on big screen but it is not only difficult but also impossible to follow them in real lives.The truth is that most of the people feel happy for a while and afterwards go about their daily chores.So if you wish to gain a brief spiritual experience watch this film.Nobody is going to question you about your spiritual existence after having seen this film.

A good film from Norway.

Elling (2001) directed by Petter Naess

If you have never seen a Norwegian Film,this is the film you should definitely watch.It is a bittersweet tale of 2 Oslo men who learn to appreciate life better through a series of hilarious episodes.One of them is a mama's boy and the other
chap is a sort of sex maniac.What is fun to watch is the fact that two lonely people join hands to comprehend things which make human life worthwhile.

Laughter at the rate of 100 laughs per minute.

The Big Lebowski (1998) directed by Joel Coen

Coen brothers are famous for their inventiveness as they never repeat the themes of their films.The same thing can be said about their erratic choice of actors.In "The Big Lebowski",we see some of the best talented actors of Hollywood doing highly unconventional roles.The beauty with a brain Julianne Moore plays a hard to believe adult movie star,Jeff Bridges is nice as a bum.John Goodman and Steve Buscemi are good too as a bunch of good for nothings.Regarding "The Big Lebowski" the best comment should concentrate on the film's raison d'être.It is about creating funny episodes out of nothing.Sometimes it is a nice feeling when while watching a film people decide not to bother about plot,camera etc and start enjoying the poetry of nothingness.It is this senseless yet charming session of mirth that has been created by Coen brothers.A different yet unusually similar film comes to my mind "A Fish called Wanda".Those who have seen both the films will not hesitate in declaring that both of them provide a century of laughs.

Popular film from one of the most talented veterans of South Korean cinema.

Bongja (2000) directed by Park Chul Soo

As a perennial crowd puller, South Korean cinema is absolutely mind boggling.This is true because no two Korean film are similar. This implies that Korean filmmakers still continue to have countless wonderful albeit ordinary day to day stories up their sleeves which they transform into charming films at regular intervals. Bongja, directed by an experienced Korean helmer Park Chul Soo is one such film. In this film as the credits roll and images make their appearance viewers can easily perceive that it is a film made on HDVD format later blown on a 35 mm print. This is just a small technical observation. The real icing on the cake comes in form of an off the wall performance by the title character of this film. She is an ordinary young woman leading a difficult life as she is troubled by the absence of a soul mate. Her life takes unexpected turns when she comes across a funny duo : an idiotic policeman and a rakish girl. PS: should you like this film, start collecting all of Park Chul Soo's DVDs.

Hard to digest : John Travolta as a villain beating Slater to pulp !!!

Broken Arrow (1996) directed by John Woo

My admiration for John Woo grew leaps and bounds with this particular film.To my mind,Broken Arrow has set a trend of taking lead players as villains.No one could have imagined even in wildest dreams that a professional airline Pilot that is John Travolta would be playing the part of a recalcitrant baddie hell bent on achieving universal destruction.He is the only one who steals the show gradually and it is towards the end of the film that his wickedness is at the summit of its annihilating powers.The success of this film is also due to
tightly controlled actions scenes.After Broken Arrow,there were hardly any good action films whose intensity matched those of this elegant action thriller.There is no doubt that Travolta steals the show.Sad but true other actors appear as
dimwits whether it is Christian Slater or Samantha Mathis.It would be nice if a sequel of this film is made by John Woo.If Die hard can be a big grosser than Broken Arrow is equally capable of replicating its previous success.

A true entertainer well worth its salt.

Die Drei von der Tankstelle (1930) directed by Wilhelm Thiele

This is not a kind of film which your neighborhood Goethe Institut would like to screen for you.The reason is that in the past it was not at all considered an auteur film and as it was more of a song and dance film which according to cultural authorities would not appeal to serious film viewers.However with the passage of time the official status of this film has changed a lot and fortunately it is currently considered as one of the 100 most influential films
of the rich history of German cinema.The film is a very nice comic tale of three men in love with a rich girl.This may sound trite but in 1930 when it was made there was hardly any current of such type of films.That is the reason why this film is really unique in the annals of German cinema.A great film to cheer you up when you feel complete lost and return home with a woebegone look on your face.

In 1987, Jan Schutte created what Michael Winterbottom is directing these days.

Drachenfutter (1987) directed by Jan Schutte

These days it has become fashionable to make films which in some legitimate,politically correct manner sensationalize the questions related to human dignity,human freedom and human rights. A notable example is that of Miachael Winterbottom. He has made controversial films like A might heart and The road to Guantanamo.These films can be made and will be made as the prevalent times are the times of uncertainty,confusion, chaos and disorder. Now the question is : whom should one consider a better humanist filmmaker ? One who is making films keeping in mind the current trends of world politics or someone who created a little masterpiece without bothering to even battle an eyelid for world events. To my mind it is the latter who will emerge as a clear winner.Ladies and Gentleman the winner in this case is Jan Schutte. In 1987 he created a very subtle unassuming film about illegal immigrants and their hardships in Germany.What is unique about this film is its quasi documentary feel. Watching "Dragon chow" one gets the notion that real life events are happening in front of our eyes in real time. This feeling is sustained by the use of black and white photography which works wonders. Strongly recommended for those DVD collectors who are perpetually hunting rare, hard to find films.

Harsh realities from Peru.

Días de Santiago (2004) directed by Josue Mendez

Recommended by a journalist from a communist country during a film festival I had some initial hesitation regarding watching this film. However after having seen this highly artistic film,I am ready to say that it is one of the most
original films made in recent times.I find it difficult to swallow the comparison made with US film "Taxi Driver". By making such a weird comparison people are belittling this film.My favorite moments from this film are the confrontation scenes. They bear testimony to the fact that a person besieged with problems has to fight ferociously to overcome all troubles. Some of the sequences had a dream like air to them.To a layman the title of the film "Days of Santiago" suggests how he passes his days.But to a serious film goer it
denotes the entire past,present and future life of Santiago. Peruvian actor Pietro Sibylle is a great attraction of this film. The troublesome feelings of anger,hopelessness, frustration, anxiety and despair are much too visible on his
woebegone face.A truly valid reason to watch this film.

An impressive Iranian film about youngsters passionate about music.

Deux fereshté (2003) directed by Mamad Haghighat.

This is the début feature by Mamad Haghighat. He is a respected Iranian film critic and historian, author of "Histoire du Cinéma Iranien", ("A History of Iranian Cinema"), published by the Centre George Pompidou in 1999. Mr. Haghighat has contributed enormously towards the promotion of Iranian cinema in France.For his first film, he has chosen "Music" as its theme. For many it is a thorny issue as it is believed that it is forbidden in Islam to play music. "Two Angels" is about the lives of two youngsters who are passionate about music. One of the characters is a poor boy from country side. He is interested in playing a musical instrument called "Ney" which is similar to a flute. Although his deeply religious father is against the idea of music, he gets support from his sympathetic mother. This boys shares his passion for music with a rich girl too.It is she who helps him enroll for music lessons with fatal consequences
......... For "Two Angels", Mamad Haghighat who is based in Paris since 1978, had complete artistic freedom. This is the reason why this film is aesthetically quite different from other Iranian films for children produced by KANUN (Iranian
Institute for the Development of Children and young Adults)

Lacking powers of narration : a less than ordinary Malaysian film.

Buai laju-laju (2004) directed by U Wei Bin Haji Sari.

God only knows how some people have dared to compare this film to the evergreen Hollywood classic Postman always rings twice. At least an attempt should have been made to ascertain whether Malaysia has any surviving film industry that merits any consideration however small it might be.Of course both these films have some common narrative similarities but may be those who made such a puerile comment did not bother to watch it with due attention. Swing my swing is a pathetic,outlandish,amateurish attempt at making a film with low cost production values.Although the funds for this film came from Australia ,it is a mystery as to how they were not properly used. All the three leading players have lost looks pasted on their faces.This film starts with a threateningly slow pace and its effect is felt throughout the film. Even the scenes depicting tragedy are devoid of any seriousness and that is the reason why they appear comical. For a filmmaker it is not a crime to make a bad film but watching a bad film is a sin for a viewer. So please do not turn yourself into a sinner by watching this abysmal film.

Chaplin knew how to act.

Monsieur Verdoux (1947) directed by Charlie Chaplin

This film was a big eye opener for me.I had always held the belief that Charlie Chaplin was just a highly acclaimed clown indeed buffoon who did nothing but just jump around in order to make people laugh.I think that Monsieur Verdoux is the only serious film which Chaplin ever made in his life.Although the film's topic is touching as it is tragic there is still scope for comedy as the title character Verdoux fools people as he is aware of their vulnerability.The film is based on sociological reasons as many men died during the two world wars and there was an acute shortage of men in Europe.This is where a trickster named Verdoux comes in picture as he had no other decent job but to fool innocent women by making them believe that they loved him and finally kill them.The film is based on a real life character called Landru.A similar film was also made by Claude Chabrol called Landru which starred Charles Denner.Both the versions are OK as they highlight the same notion of human weakness,greed and crime.

Hard to believe tale of a trapped woman.

Mitten ins Herz (1983) directed by Doris Dorrie

Anna Blume is a supermarket cashier.Her life takes an abrupt turn when she meets Armin Thal -a dentist.He makes her a strange offer of moving into his comfortable house.She accepts as she hopes of finding happiness in his company. Her happiness is short-lived as Thal's gruffness forces her to kill him.Doris Dorrie's astonishing debut "Mitten ins Herz" will always be remembered as a point of reference in judging the intensity of male-female relationships.Loneliness is the film's underlying theme. Anna Blume was always positive that she would captivate Armin Thal. The only common element in Anna Blume and Armin Thal's liaison is the fact that they employ different methods in order to deal with their loneliness.Doris Dorrie never anticipated that loneliness would become the focus of almost all her films.An indifferent spectator might find it hard to fathom how an advanced German woman like Anna Blume accepts Armin Thal's bizarre proposal.Anna Blume was not bothered about money as it can be surmised that she accepted his offer hoping that it would help her get rid of her loneliness.It must have been easy for Doris Dorrie to make Mitten ins Herz as as the film has traces of autobiographical elements in it.The narrative is rather quaint as it is hard to believe that such an event would ever occur in a highly industrialized nation like Germany.One should still watch Mitten ins Herz regardless of its melodramatic stance.

Humble sports film from Czech republic : It might set a new trend.

Mistri (2004) directed by Marek Najbrt

East European cinema is yet to produce its Rambo and Loneliness of the long distance runner type of heroes. This is because films about sporting heroes have not been made in large numbers. If my memory serves me right, I reckon this film "Champions" directed by Marek Najbrat is one of the few films produced in the region which talk of sports.The unique thing about Mestri is that it is a nice clean family entertainer.The game of ice hockey is not at all the film's main theme. It is rather an excuse to explore the unknown depths of human minds thereby unraveling complex permutations and combinations related to human relationships.There are even good scenes of how life in a small provincial town look. There is a feeling of one for all and all for one.Strongly recommended for all the admirer of films about Sports.

Landmark first film made in East Germany after World War II by the celebrated DEFA film studios.

Die Mörder sind unter uns (1946) directed by Wolfgang Staudte

"Die Morder sind unter uns" is a film about guilt,helplessness and incapacity.Its story is told through two main protagonists: Dr.Mertens (Ernst Wilhelm Borchert) and Suzanne Wallner (Hildegard Knef).Mertens is a doctor by profession yet he is an angry man as he hates the fact the war has killed countless innocent people. He is horrified to personally experience that in all wars pawns are always sacrificed to save the king. It is equally hard for the photographer Suzanne Wallner to forget her past. She gets tremendous shock as upon her arrival she finds that her city has turned into a pitiful heap of rubble. Both of them are lonely souls.In this film there is a villain too. He appears in the form of an evil Nazi man Bruckner.Die Morder sind unter uns was the first film made by DEFA (Deutsche Film Aktiengesellschaft). It might appear rather unusual but this film has film noir kind of looks. Expectations were very high with this film. Staudte was triumphant to have created a ground-breaking film. In the original version of the script Bruckner is shot by Mertens.This end was changed on the wishes of the Soviet Cultural officer Dymshitz as he reckoned that a notion of self justice should not be propagated.Staudte was fortunate enough to have Soviet side willing to produce the film as it was rejected by English and American military authorities.Die Morder sind unter uns occupies a unique place in world cinema history as it established the antifascist genre in DEFA film.

An easy to understand film from renowned French Cinéaste Alain Resnais

L'Amour à mort (1984) directed by Alain Resnais

Master cinéaste Alain Resnais likes to work with those actors who are a part of his family.In this film too we see Resnais' family members like Pierre Arditi, Sabine Azema, André Dussolier and Fanny Ardant dealing with serious themes like death,religion,suicide,love and their overall implications on our daily lives.The formal nature of relationship shared by these people is evident as even friends, they address each other using a formal you.In 1984,while making L'amour à mort,Resnais dealt with time,memory and space to unravel the mysteries of a fundamental question of human existence :Is love stronger than death ? It was 16 years ago in 1968 that Resnais made a somewhat similar film Je t'aime Je t'aime which was also about love and memories.Message of this film is loud and clear :true and deep love can even put science to shame as dead lovers regain their lost lives leaving doctors to care for their reputation.L'amour à mort is like a game which is not at all didactic.It is a film in which the musical score is in perfect tandem with its images.This is one of the reasons why this film can easily be grasped.

This is probably the best film about Jesus Christ ! ! !

Il Vangelo secondo Matteo (1964) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini

As Pasolini was raised according to principles of Christian faith,he some felt it necessary to offer his artistic contribution to his faith by making an honest film about Jesus Christ.The making of "Gospel according to Saint Matthew" was a huge moral task for Pasolini as he was always disregarded by the people of his times because of his sexual and political lifestyle.The fact that his version is far superior than those of Martin Scorcese and Mel Gibson makes us to believe that Cinéaste Pasolini had tactfully settled artistic scores with all of his detractors.The sad thing is that there is not much written about this film. Much of this film's brilliance comes in the form of Tonino Delli Colli's camera catching just expressions on the faces of innocent,non professional players.Although miracles have been shown but they do not resemble cheap special effects.This is something which separates this Pasolini film from cheap gimmicks initiated by Lars Von Trier in his dogma films.A sense of family is also achieved by Pasolini when he cast his mother as Mary.

Three talented actors wasted in a single film. Haneke has shot a flop film.

La Pianiste (2001) directed by Michael Haneke

Not having seen even a single film of Michael Haneke's Austrian trilogy,I decided to watch this film in order to understand his style. My expectations were not met as I was heavily disappointed with this film as primarily all the three French actors were not properly used. To begin with Isabelle Huppert is a big miscast as the cold,lonely music teacher.This role could have been nicely done by Hanna Schygulla. Why ? As a German actress she would have surely had better affinity with Michael Haneke who is an Austrian author.Even the role given to the veteran actress of the past Annie Girardot looks unconvincing as she never fits in such kind of troubled mother mold.The biggest error is related to Benoit Magimel's character. This is because he is more at home in demonstrating his acting talents related to psychological aspects of French films. As I have not read the books by Elfriede Jelinek,I don't think that it would be fair on my part to comment on the book's cinematographic adaptation. All in all, I have no hesitation in saying that I have failed to grasp the very the essence of this film. May be I should soon organize a second viewing session in order to find out hidden meanings of this film.For the moment this film remains an awful experience for me.

So this film was made as it had got to be made ! ! !

The Pianist (2002) directed by Roman Polanski

It is a rather strange Jewish tradition that willingly or unwillingly all Jewish film makers direct films about the holocaust experience. This may be an easy way to get close to Jewish heritage,legacy and repay the debt owned to the community but what is more important to know is that a Jewish person making a film about holocaust would guarantee immediate success.So whether it is Spielberg or Polanski, Jewish filmmakers have made films about the terrible Jewish experience during holocaust days.In the case of both these directors they have made their respective holocaust films after having found money and popularity with other films.So more than a matter of creative task,it was more of a communal obligation for them to make an holocaust film. It is only in this context that one must consider The Pianist.This film is just plain OK nothing great or spectacular as everything can be foretold beforehand such as atrocities,suffering and ultimately liberation.The choice of Adrien Brody as the pianist is a good one as he carries the film single handedly on his shoulders.There is no other good reason which can justify the goodness of this film.

Mail order bride of the older times.

The Piano (1993) directed by Jane Campion

In "The Piano",Jane Campion has directed some of the best actors working in Hollywood.Imagine a film about music with versatile actors like Harvey Keitel,Holly Hunter,Sam Neil and Anna Paquin.The Piano is a nice musical which speaks through a woman's heart.There is a strong element of evidence that this film succeeds as it has a thin layer of mystery wrapped around its basic plot.The character of mute woman Ada played by Holly Hunter takes her time to make friends with Maori people around her.The strong mother daughter bond also helps the film to move ahead as Ada's daughter Flora,a role nicely played by Anna Paquin,is always there to help her mother.Jane Campion has also portrayed the stern nature of men as both men in Ada's life inflict cruelty on her.The Piano shares certain layers of similarity with "The Scarlet Letter" directed by Wim Wenders.In both the films there is a common element of weak women being punished in olden times.It is a good relief that thankfully in our contemporary world we are not living in such outdated times.

A saga of actors moving from taxis,hotels to a ship.

La Pirate (1984) directed by Jacques Doillon

Those who enjoy serious cinema (this is the way I describe the films I like to watch) and have some knowledge of filmmakers, are aware of the fact that Jacques Doillon is recognised as a tender, kind hearted filmmaker who specialises in poignant stories about children. This film proves that he has tried his hand at making off beat films too. "La Pirate" is one of those rare, off beat films which can only be made in France." The Pirate" is a film not about pirates as the title suggests but about people trouble by love. The sad thing is that one of these people is a married woman whose husband is giving her hell.Jane Birkin is nice as the victim whose situation is rather peculiar as she loves her husband too (played by her real life brother Andrew Birkin). Philippe Leotard is an enjoyable part of the film. He plays the detective hired by the uxorious husband. Many viewers who watched this film at Créteil Women film festival 2006 were quick to add that the Dutch star Marutschka Detmers was the real "point of attraction" of this film. This view was also shared by the leading lady Jane Birkin who said that she was enamoured by her beauty.If you have lived in Paris, you would be able to recognize some of the places where "La Pirate" was shot. For ex-I had no trouble recognizing the road near "La Chapelle" station. In 2007 it is still the same as it was in this 1984 production.

An objective appraisal of African muslim community.

Police (1985) directed by Maurice Pialat

Police is an objective appraisal of African muslim community wherein Pialat takes us on a fantastic tour of Parisian drug dealing activities.He has vibrantly portrayed Arab world from an evenhanded French perspective by depicting individuals caught in a vortex of social context.All its characters are so vulnerable that even the slightest fantasy pays a heavy price.Pialat has acquired laudable brilliance from his leading players.Depardieu is exceptionally brilliant in his role as Inspector Mangin.Sophie Marceau is equally impressive in her role as compulsive liar Noria.She has incarnated her role with noteworthy aplomb.Police is a solemn chronicle about the interminable combat involving corrupt people on the one hand and an honest police officer like Mangin on the other hand.Police differs from other films of thriller genre by laying a good deal of emphasis on its protagonists' frame of mind.

Average film about the superstar of smut made by a veteran European film director.

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) directed by Milos Forman

Milos Forman has always had a good career both in his native land and outside it.When he was in the former Czechoslovakia he made films which terrified the communist regime.He has always had a good career in USA and even enjoyed greater creative freedom. This is evident through his choice of films which he has made.Who in the world can ever imagine that a Czech film director would go on to direct a film about one of America's most notorious person.People versus Larry Flint is a highly subjective film as to some it might appear that it glorifies Larry Flynt.In reality, this is not so as it is devoid of any objectionable material.What we see are good performances by all actors especially by Woody Harrelson.He is the veritable life and soul of our main protagonist.Courtney Love is OK as his muse as her performance is just above average.Wathcing this film one would easily make out that all the uproar by the church about its poster was just a silly hogwash.

Well oiled Turkish wrestlers : great bodies, great fun, good picnic.

Pehlivan (1964) directed by Maurice Pialat

Instead of an over the top,overblown film review,I would like to just write a couple of my observations.I saw this short feature at FEMIS (famous French film school).I later spoke to master cameraman Willy Kurant who not only shot this film but also "Sous le soleil du Satan" directed by Maurice Pialat.According to him Pialat paid great deal of attention to the way he liked his films to be shot.Pehlivan means "Wrestler".This is a short film about a wrestling competition.We see a lot of people in the crowd both men and women alike appreciating, applauding and cheering wrestlers who have come from all parts of Turkey.A lot of honor is at stake as no body wants to lose.For this reason there is a fierce competition. The wrestling matches are held with loud drums playing in the background.A couple of belly dancers also join when there is a break after a wrestling bout.All in all, Pehlivan is a good piece of ethnographic cinema made by a great visionary of French cinema who is no more with us.

After the success of this film Haym Topol was offered the role which made Clint Eastwood a worldwide phenomenon.

Sallah Shabati (1964) directed by Iprahim Keshon

As part of an annual film festival of films from Israel, I saw this classic film at the legendary Cinema des Cineastes located near Place de clichy metro station in Paris. This will be remembered as a landmark film in the history of Israelian Cinema. This was filmed in 1964 by Ephraim Kishon at a time when there was hardly any visible trace of film-making in Israel.Kishon,the great humorist filmmaker of Israel proved that good films can be made even when one has limited funds and equipments at one's disposal.The highlight of this film is the light hearted manner in which it shows various hilarious solutions to housing problems of Jewish people after the independence of Israel. To my mind,it is one of those rare films in which two of the greatest living stars of Israelian cinema : Haym Topol and Gila Almagor have acted. They play an impoverished couple with a lots of children. It is fun to watch all the ruses adopted by them in order to be able to get hold of their own house.After the screening, chatting with bemused audiences Haym Topol recounted how owing to a prior commitment he declined Sergio Leone's offer to star in "A fistful of dollars". So if there is anything which has made Clint Eastwood what he is now, it is this refusal in question by Haym Topol.

Without a doubt : Events shown in this film must have taken place.

Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma (1975) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini

Everybody knows that Pasolini was a great artist whose choices of topics stirred the entire Italian society.The world knows him better as a film maker.Like some of the most successful filmmakers working in cinema today like Gus Van Sant,Todd Haynes,Francois Ozon etc,he too was a homosexual.It is believed that at the end of his career he felt angry about his homosexuality and that is the reason why he showed it as something of a bad,evil thing. One close look at the film will show that it is about the misuse of power.Pasolini wanted to depict that when crooks and rogues acquire power,they invariably end up misusing it thereby endangering the entire human society.There are traces of autobiographical elements too as he must have seen many of such atrocities heaped on common people.It is true that this film is a controversial one but that should not be an excuse to disregard it.This is a film that must be seen by all and sundry in order to know how a wicked human mind functions.

So far away from reality

Sabah (2005) directed by Ruba Nada

I saw this film at films de femmes International women's film festival at Créteil,a suburb of Paris in France in 2006 where it was the opening film. It pleased most of the viewers especially the French audiences were most impressed.For them it offered a nice opportunity to watch all the melodrama, songs and dances. However there are some serious, glaring defects in this film. First of all the portrayal of the lead character Sabah is so distant,aloof, cold and hardly convincing. Somehow one gets a feeling that she is not able to connect to others around her. This is also true of the actor who played her brother.In real life this chap is Canadian and he was asked to play the role of a Jordanian guy !! This is a gross casting error. How unusual. In "Sabah" the fun elements might please casual viewers but more serious viewers might feel that it is a kind of ruse adopted by the filmmaker in order to hide the scenario's drawbacks. If you have seen films by the master of modern English language Canadian cinema Atom Egoyan, you might be tempted to watch this film. The reason : he is the executive producer of this film.

Tragic tale of ordinary German people set during Hitler's times.

Rotation (1949) directed by Wolfgang Staudte

Wolfgang Staudte fervently condemned the disinterested bourgeois who is not at all committed and hesitantly validates his standpoint. Rotation shows the dangers such an unbiased civilian is to compelled to confront.The film concentrates much on the past as key events are shown in a flashback.It showed how high unemployment in Germany resulted in Hitler's rise to power.Staudte has astutely shown a distressed Germany in which young Germans were trained by Nazis and everyone was taught to obey Hitler.Behnke recalls effectively all the difficult times he had to endure.He is happy to have a kid but can hardly imagine that his own child would betray him.Behnke was yearning for a serene Germany where his family would flourish.His generosity of spirit is revealed as he accepts his son without any feeling of hatred.After the war,Behnke family witnesses a sign of reconciliation as the father pardons his guilt-ridden son.

Absolute gem :A tale of deception set in the ancient times.

Le Retour de Martin Guerre (1982) directed by Daniel Vigne

Daniel Vigne described his film as a modern story that took place in 16th century.Le Retour de Martin Guerre is a wonderful historic romance that pertinently comments on an individual's role in society.The film is a beautiful illustration of 16th century pastoral life. Pancette had the nerve to assume Martin's identity as Bertrande constantly assisted him in deceit.His greed was responsible for his ruin as he claimed wealth which never belonged to him.A vast majority of viewers will not be in a position to form an opinion about Bertrande as she did not wish to spend her life with an impotent village resident.The entire storyline hinges heavily on Gerard Depardieu's captivating performance.His imposing aura makes us readily accept him as the real Martin Guerre even though,in reality,he is Martin's lookalike Pancette.Le Retour de Martin Guerre will fascinate not only the admirers of suspense genre but also those spectators who are attracted to drama.Daniel Vigne has effectively crafted a thought-provoking oeuvre which competently wrestles with major issues like identity and deception.

Violence for violence's sake might set a bad precedent.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) directed by Quentin Tarantino

Everybody knows that criminals are big losers but still there is a strong tradition in American cinema especially in Hollywood of making films which glorify criminals.Everybody knows that Godfather,a film about a mafia family is hailed as a classic film.People know well as to what kind of things mafia do and how harmful they are to human society in general.Reservoir Dogs is one such dumb film which through its antics champions the cause of crooks without morals.Tarantino is believed to be a humorist however his humor is undoubtedly bland and mainly consists of filthy abuses.A word about the violence in the film: by showing macabre scenes of senseless violence Tarantino has shown that in the name of creative freedom and in order to gain easy publicity all rules can be broken and more the violence the more controversial the film is going to be.Good that this film has not been emulated by other film makers. It is a good development that till now no studio has come forward with the idea of making a sequel of this film.God save America who has Quentino.

There is not even an ounce of doubt that this film is a global classic.

La Règle du jeu (1939) directed by Jean Renoir

It is believed that great works of art are not so easily understood by laymen.This is exactly what had happened to one of Jean Renoir's most discussed masterpieces "Rules of the game" when it came out in 1939.It was severely criticized and was even branded as an anti French film. This film has ever since become one of the most influential French films of all times.From a sociological point of view "Rules of the game" is a highly useful film with a purpose as it exposes succinctly the prevalent hypocrisy in a society filled with both the aristocratic as well as the servant class.From the point of view of an artist this film is a classic too as it has found its inspiration from the works of three great writers of French literature : Alfred de Musset,Molière and Beaumarchais.The reason why "Rules of the game" has succeeded is simple.It is a film in which people can find their true reflections as Renoir had held a mirror in front of viewers asking them to have a look at their own true self.He cannot be termed wrong if some of the faces are crooked according to the Rules of the Game.

Amazing film within a film about the misuse of power.

Reconstituirea (1968) directed by Lucian Pintilié

It is a matter of highly disreputable concern that this sublime film directed by Lucian Pintilie is not so well unknown globally.When a great film like this remains unknown for whatever reasons what hurts the most is the fact that an opportunity has been denied to viewers to watch,understand and appreciate a rewarding film which proffers a multiplicity of interpretations.Reconstituirea is without an ounce of doubt one of the boldest East European films which challenge the repressive hegemony of a communist state albeit in a very circumspect manner.Although punishment or to be precise reeducation of two young boys remains the film's central theme there is also some benign overlapping of many life affirming themes and situations such as first love,friendship,sacrifice,pain,suffering,indifference etc.
Lucian Pintilie came into international prominence as Reconstituirea was applauded at Cannes Film festival in 1968 but as it was critical of communist party establishment,Pintilie was banned from traveling to France. This was the high price audacious film makers like him from East European countries had to pay in the past.

Japanese dogs obey their masters' orders more if they are in English.

Quill (2004) directed by Yoichi Sai

Before watching this film, I was feeling quite excited as I just had a certain idea of what Sai Yoichi might be as a filmmaker. He started his illustrious career as an assistant for Nagisa Oshima on the highly controversial art film "Empire of the senses". It was the same film for which the famous gangster turned filmmaker Koji Wakamatsu provided funds. In the recent past, I had seen only one film directed by him "Blood and Bones". For me,although it was a very violent film I had ever seen in my life, it enabled me to keenly watch and observe Kitano Takeshi's acting talents. So it was with such pleasant expectations and unknown surprises that I began watching this film with my family. At the end of the film, I was feeling elated as I had discovered an hitherto unknown facet of Japanese culture. To begin with, "Quill" made me catch glimpses of family life in Japan as it was shot in a small town away for the bustling metropolis Tokyo. Watching this film made me realize how much value people from Asian countries especially Koreans, Chinese and Japanese attach to English language and culture. It is true that one should try not to be sentimental about dogs, what pleased me the most was the emotional bond which Yochi Sai depicted by making a blind person aware of his dog's worthiness. There are moments of sadness in the film but all in all they served their purpose well. This is a point which all serious viewers would take away with them when they watch this simple, frank and honest film.

Perfect depiction of Korean realities.

Samaria (2004) directed by Kim Ki Duk

To say that Kim Ki Duk is a great director would be a major artistic blunder as well as an understatement which might put a veil on his talent.The best tribute that can be paid to the new master of South Korean cinema Kim Ki Duk is to say that he is one of the most informed directors working in the realm of contemporary world cinema.Just to give a few examples:whether it is mention of the paintings by Egon Schiele or the description about an ancient Indian prostitute called Vasumitra who lived during the time of Buddha.These are some of the details (may be minor to some people)whose inclusion happens under the proper care of Kim Ki Duk."Samaria" is about the scourge of teenage prostitution which is inflicting umpteen emotional wounds in the lives of Korean families. As this is a taboo topic the reaction of Korean audience has not been very favorable.Most of the positive reactions have come from western audiences who have a mature thinking as far as their handling is concerned.Although there is good acting by the two leading ladies,it is the role played by the cop father of one of them who grabs all the attention.Samaria is not a moral story but a tale of human responsibility. Its message is loud and clear : do not do to others what you do not wish to happen for yourself.

No promise, no land. Just a quick succession of cruel scenes.

Promised Land (2004) directed by Amos Gitai

This film is a major disappointment by Amos Gitai.One should even call it a blot on his career.Promised land is neither a feature film nor a documentary nor anything which can lie in between.It features two popular stars Anne Parillaud and Hanna Schygulla but even their presence is not helpful enough to sustain viewers' interest.The film is about the plight of some Russian girls which are sold in Israel but its presentation is really bad. It does not make any sense as in order to heighten the importance of the topic Amos Gitai has decided to shoot the most part of the film in darkness. However darkness cannot hide the film's defects.The film maker has surely not done his homework well due to which viewers are forced to watch a crude succession of abominably cruel scenes in which women are traded like cattle.Most of the actors too suffer in this film as their roles have not been defined properly.Recommendation:better watch this film and be bitter about it rather than being sullen without having seen it.

Strictly for all the psychos based all over the world.

Psycho (1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock

After having heard all the noise surrounding this film,I decided to watch this film as I had to give a presentation of a Stephen Rebello's book based on this film for my teacher Monsieur François Thomas at Cinema studies section of the University of Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle. I was utterly disappointed as this film was not so chilling as I had expected it to be.Psycho is more of a character study of some oddball persons.In the beginning Hitchcock takes us on a guilt trip of a woman who is in love with a married man.Funny thing is that both of them know that they cannot find any happiness in their so called secret love.Later on we are taken for a ride as this bizarre woman steals a lot of money and without any rhyme nor reason decided to leave her hometown.Now everybody knows what happens after that.Psycho is a film about matter of taste. It might have appealed to the people of the sixties with their fascination for things black and white.But Psycho does not make any sense in the colored era of 2008.