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.

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.

Make sure an innocent person is not hurt anywhere, anytime under any circumstances.

Mang Zhong (2005) directed by Zhang Lu

Chinese-Korean filmmaker Zhang Lu shares his artistic destiny with the likes of Japanese filmmakers Yoichi Sai (Blood and bones) and Lee Sang Il (Borderline) who are ethnically Korean but have been creatively active for all their lives in their country of residence Japan. As they have personally been victims of indifference, they have decided to mitigate their sufferings by showing their anger,frustration,hurt, disappointment and misery in their films. Their films are about the problems faced by those people who form part of two cultures. The inherent message of these films is how difficult it is to live like a second class citizen in a land whose customs, traditions and are not at all different from one's homeland. On the contrary, "Grain in ear" directed by Zhang Lu tackles the essential question of cultural identity. The film speaks of the cultural clash faced by Cui Shunji, an unmarried woman of Korean origin. She does everything in order to keep her young boy happy. It is important to note that like Chinese filmmaker Wang Chao (Orphan of Anyang), Zhang Lu too started his artistic career as a writer. It is for this very reason that he has deliberately chosen to give a bookish feel to this film. Watching this film, we feel as if we are reading a filmed book. This film is surely not for viewers used to Hollywood style slick, quick action type films where something keeps on happening every now and than. "Grain in ear" portrays how ordinary people are driven to madness when they are provoked beyond the normal limit of endurance. For this film, Zhang Lu received full support as well as cooperation from an equally great writer turned filmmaker, the acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang Dong (Oasis) who also worked for a brief while as South Korean minister of culture.

A good film of its time.

Barton Fink (1991) directed by Joel Coen

When it was released Barton Fink was different from the other films of the era.May be it was this aspect of something out of the common non Hollywood cinema which won the hearts of the Cannes Festival jury and a price was awarded.This film runs on many surfaces and the great thing is that none of them come under permanent focus.There is mystery, suspense,frustration and romance too.All of them are equally and evenly distributed.John Turturro is good as a confusing screenwriter working for a studio.The only plausible thought coming to a viewer's mind might be:why did he choose to stay in a not so decent hotel ? John Goodman is good too as a serial killer in the garb of a salesman. His performance reminded me of Dustin Hoffman's role as a traveling salesman.Steve Buscemi has kept a low profile as the bellboy.This is a good entertainment to be enjoyed with creative people.