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.

Looks like a funeral procession.

Cidade de Deus (2002)

directed by Fernando Meireilles and Katia Lund

In Paris,France after having met Katia Lund in 2006,it was difficult for me to fathom that this soft spoken charming lady has made a very violent film depicting the rise of violence in Brazilian slums.She told the audience that it is quite normal for Brazilians to live with violence as they have adjusted themselves to it.This is a very serious statement which in some way reflects the honesty on the part of Brazilian filmmakers. They are showing what is happening in their society and by doing so there are being truthful.The violence of City of God is realistic and no makeup has been done to it.The three key elements of the film: melodrama,violence and music compliment each other well.This film also has a procession like quality to it.It is as if the audience is watching some sort of procession going on and willy-nilly,they also decide to be a part of the crowd.On watching this film,I had the impression of a fun activity happening before me. May be others will experience that too.

A psychological masterpiece from a great moral artist.

Blizna (1976) directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski

Scar is a brave film which takes its time to settle nicely in viewers' minds.It starts in a highly official manner and later develops into a family tragedy.In Scar the best thing to watch is the manner in which all the elements of human weaknesses are portrayed.Helpless characters not being able to come out of their shell is an accepted trait of Kieslowski's films and it is very much evident in The Scar too as its leading player Bednarz is trapped from all sides.He can neither free himself from family pressures coming from his wife and daughter nor from his job under a communist regime.It would be wrong to judge this film's characters based on their actions but it would nevertheless not be wrong to claim that they are victims of unfortunate circumstances as they are being trapped under a system in which change is slow to come and consensus is really reached.For all those interested in Polish cinema they are some very good glimpses of 2 of the most outstanding figures of Polish cinema : a young Agnieszka Holland as an actress and Jerzy Stuhr as a young communist party worker.

True love is platonic and demands sacrifice.

Brief Encounter (1945) directed by David Lean

I am a big admirer of Black and White films as they transport me to a different world.I am also attracted by British films (as they are different in content and style from American/Hollywood films) and seize every opportunity to follow the trends of British cinema.For me David Lean would remain the only true great master of cinema and this is one of his best black and white films.At first sight,Brief encounter,appears as a film about two married people in love.This is true to some extent but the film is definitely much more than that.The real issue is whether their love will be fulfilled.If we place the film in the time context,it would not have been possible for them to find love,peace and happiness with each other knowing that they are cheating their respective spouses.So the film has shown what was felt by the people of that time.Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson make a lovely pair.The film noir look of this film is a shining example of the brilliance of certain black & white films.A thing which can bother you is the constant chattering of a minor character.Save this minor glitch everything else is worth multiple viewing sessions.

Something must be done in order to do away with the eurocentrism.

Bienvenue en Suisse (2004) directed by Léa Fazer

"Bienvenue en Suisse" by Lea Fazer is a very eurocentric film. This is because it talks of countries like France, Belgium and Switzerland. This is not the only reason for appreciating this film. It can also be shown as part of your French class. Lea Fazer has made an honest attempt to do away with all the clichés that surround Switzerland. According to her even in a country like Switzerland there are people for whom their own interest are more important than anything. It must also be noted that this film is not a travel brochure for Swiss government. If someone wants to learn how a frenchman speak swiss french, watch out for Vincent Perez. There are good performances by Emmanuelle Devos and Podalydes too.

A quiet film based on a novel by Simenon

Betty (1992) directed by Claude Chabrol

Chabrol's true representations of women have made him a "cineaste des femmes".Betty signifies a change of pace for Chabrol as after years of thrillers,he has made a quiet film.Betty is a unique tale of a troubled bourgeois woman who felt that she could drown her sorrows in alcohol. Chabrol has accurately adapted Simenon novel as everything appears in a flashback.He has made it clear that he has not created neither a psychological portrait nor a moralistic drama.Betty is a collection of sharp obeservations on bourgeois life.She is a victim of circumstances as destiny did not favour her.Although,her marriage was based on love it didn't succeed as she was sceptical of it from the beginning.What she really wanted was companionship.Betty and Laure share a strange friendship built on mutual trust and respect.Betty's heartrending tale confirms that no woman will ever leave her family unless something tragic happens to her.

Responsibilities of an artist shown through Rivette's singular cinematographic vision.

La Belle Noiseuse (1991) directed by Jacques Rivette

Edouard Frenhofer-a renowned painter left his supreme creation "La Belle Noiseuse" unfinished for ten years.His wife Liz modeled for it.He receives Porbus-an art agent and a young ambitious painter Nicolas in his château in the south of France.Porbus convinces him to complete the painting with a fresh model Marianne.This leads to an emotional turmoil between Frenhofer,Liz and Marianne.Jacques Rivette has created films which are fascinating examples of human emotions.As an avant-garde filmmaker,he relies heavily on literary texts.The film is a loose adaptation of Honore de Balzac's short story "The Unknown Masterpiece".La Belle Noiseuse is an honest film about creativity and its implications on our daily lives.It is true that Rivette took 4 hours of screen time in order to get to the bottom of his protagonists' emotional turmoil yet the wait is worth it as it is too small a price to pay.La Belle Noiseuse demands active participation on audience's part as Rivette makes us examine all aspects of creative art.Frenhofer,through his art attempts to make us comprehend basic human weakness felt by an artist.He dropped the idea of La Belle Noiseuse as he was scared and had not set foot in his atelier for a long time.The four-hour La Belle noiseuse was also released in 1993 in a two-hour version,entitled Divertimento as France 3 felt that a shorter version would be easy for everyone to grasp.The 4 hour film will certainly prove to be a nerve wrecking cinematic encounter for laid-back viewers who are not used to Rivette's protracted style of film-making.

Music lovers and food lovers play an important role.

Babettes Gæstebud (1987) directed by Gabriel Axel

This is a very nice Danish film by Gabriel Axel. It will surely please not only music lovers but also the connoisseurs of fine food. The major events take place in Jutland where two sisters are learning music from a Frenchman. Apart from music one of them also experiences disappointment linked to first love. There is brief mention of religion too as the filmmaker has showed some pious church goers.For these people the life is very serene and they don't know that it is going to change after the arrival of a master cook.This role is played by a charming French actress: Stephane Audran. She prepares a very excellent meal for her master in which all the village are invited. It is a joy to watch simple village folk enjoying tasty gourmet coupled with marvelous wines and champagne. So all you music and food lovers gear up. This is a film you are likely to cherish for a long, long, long time.

Turkish children born in the month of April !!!

Aprilkinder (1998) directed by Yuksel Yavuz

Yuksel Yavuz's "Aprilkinder" is a part of new genre of German cinema made by young Turkish filmmakers based in Germany.He has been successful in depicting a conventional Turkish society yearning for freedom.He shows a society completely dominated by orthodox family customs where the eldest boy is supposed to marry a girl whom he has not at all seen.The family exercises tough control over children.Cem's sister Dilan represents a new breed of Turkish girls who crave for a life devoid of restrictions.Yavuz's film portrays how Turks remain in their own society.They prefer listening to their own music in Dance Halls.The older generation does not even converse in German. Aprilkinder satisfactorily illustrates rampant discrimination in German society which does not allow
Turkish nationals to get decent jobs.They are forced to do menial jobs.

Joao Cesar Monteiro : Master of absurdity tackling religion single handedly.

As Bodas de Deus (1999) directed by Joao Cesar Monteiro

Joao Cesar Monteiro is no more with us.But for me he is the greatest filmmaker of all times.This film proves his talent in making absolutist comical dramas of hidden motives.He is a great actor too and has appeared in his own films on various occasions.It appears that the basic issue of this film is to ascertain whether a human being can be god or not.Everybody knows that it is difficult to be a god.Since this narrative idea is laden with umpteen elements of zany absurdity,a lot of patience is required to watch carefully the events unfold. Joao Cesar Monteiro has tackled Christian religion too in this film.The result of this conflict is delightful.There is a good cinematographic representation of old versus new too.This makes us aware of the fact that old people are full of wisdom unlike their young counterparts. This film like its filmmaker has kept a very low profile.This is the reason why it is not for people asking more and more action, happening and events.

Argentinian cinéaste Eliseo Subiela and his father wept inconsolably after watching this humanist masterpiece.

Ballada o Soldate (1959) directed by Grigori Chukrai

In the 1950s, 2 very critically acclaimed Russian films were made. The first film was "The cranes are flying" by Mikhail Kolotozov. It is true that it was a good film but it was more of a love story. If there is a film which all human beings must watch, it is "Ballad of a soldier" made by the great Russian cinéaste Grigori Chukrai. I still have vivid memories of this film, although I saw it in 1986 on India's only public television network called "Doordarshan".What I like the most about this film is that it has tremendous emotional power to move anyone regardless of that person's ideologies or beliefs. It talks of war without begging for kindness, mercy or pity. Such is the greatness of this masterpiece. In my opinion," Ballad of a soldier" is not only the greatest Russian film ever made, it is one of the greatest world cinema gems too. For those who have not yet seen it, one word of advice. Throw away all your Hollywood flicks and watch this humanist masterpiece. PS :10 out of 10 is a understatement. "Ballad of a soldier" would easily fetch 100 out of 10.

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.

Beavis and Butthead are a true reflection of the evergreen American identity.

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)

directed by Mike Judge and Yvette Kaplan

In 1996, by making "Beavis and Butthead do America", Mike Judge has vastly increased the pleasure of innumerable admirers of animation film admirers. This is because when in the past Beavis and Butthead were visible on TV screens, one had to wait for weeks for them to make their appearance. Now as Beavis' and Butthead's exploits have been made into a successful film and that this film "Beavis and Butthead do America" is available on DVD, fans and admirers of Beavis and Butthead have a reason to smile. I am throughly convinced of the fact that "Beavis and Butthead do America" is a true animation classic. It is so different from other animation films of the same genre like Shrek, Lion King,Cars etc as all these films were made keeping young children in mind. No one and I mean it,no one, before Mike Judge dared to make a film so unique like "Beavis and Butthead do America". This film is so different from other animation films as it is the only honest depiction of what average American teenagers feel. Watch this film with your family in order to have a true laugh riot.

There are 2 paradises. One of those who "have" and the other one for those who "don't have".

Behesht ja-ye digari ast (2003)

directed by Abdol Rasoul Golbon

Apart from being in the competition section of the impressive Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, it was shown at Berlinale. On watching this film, I quickly realized that this Iranian film is an absolutely rare find. Firstly, it has not been widely distributed not even on film festival circuits. Secondly, it does not try to generate any sympathy for its protagonist. So judging these facts, "Paradise is somewhere else" is not what many viewers would call "A typically typical festival film". Abdol Rasoul Golbon has filmed the joyless life of an adolescent Iranian shepherd boy who learns through bitter experiences that the real paradise is where one is based. Paradise is where one can sense a longing for the familiarity. his is important for everyone to know as many leave the comfort of their home in order to foolishly seek material wealth outside. This film provides us all with an authentic life affirming lesson that the grass
is always greener on the other side. From a humanistic perspective, I am sure that this film can build bridges between those who are desperate to achieve material wealth even at the cost of their lives and for those too who would like to prevent such desperate souls.

A truthful portrayal of abhorrent nazi times.

Das Beil von Wandsbek, Das (1951) directed by Falk Harnack

Das Beil von Wandsbek is a truthful portrayal of abhorrent nazi times. Falk Harnack's primary goal was to reveal the fact that scores of abominable murders were committed by ordinary people like Teetjen acting on other people's orders.His film shows how owing to penury an ordinary citizen is forced to slaughter fellow human beings.Teetjen makes the biggest mistake of his life when he joins the Nazi party.His plight is further exacerbated when he is made a scapegoat by his ex comrade Footh.Nazi thugs hoodwink him till the very end by promising him financial support.It is a bitter truth that all sincere works of art are never free of controversies.Das Beil von Wandsbek was no exception to this rule.After its premiere it was withdrawn from German cinemas as the cultural authorities misinterpreted its artistic merit.They believed that it neglected the role of working classes and roused sympathy for the butcher.It was re-released in 1962 under a new revised version devoid of pivotal suicide scene.It was only in 1981 that the original print was made available for general public viewing.

Feelings of joy on the faces of African children : Filmed by Abbas Kiarostami

ABC Africa (2001) directed by Abbas Kiarostami

The best thing that can be said about "ABC Africa" is that its making is a victory for digital format of shooting films.When a film maker of Abbas Kiarostami's stature decides to shoot a documentary film on Africa using his tiny digital video camera in some way this gesture gives credibility to the belief that digital video is going to be adopted by many more leading filmmakers in the years to come. Kiarostami has been able to shoot some of the most incredible shots including one that was filmed in darkness. As far as this film is concerned the best lesson that can be learned is that of hope,joy and happiness. Who in this world can remain unaffected when he/she is having a glimpse of impoverished African children who are full of joy and radiance on their faces despite finding themselves encircled in a world of misery.There is also an element of sadness as according to the visuals shot by Kiarostami,Uganda like other African countries has lot of greenery, nature and natural resources.But as the large part of the entire African continent is ruled by military leaders and dictators,it is hard to even assume that common people can find some relief from hunger,famine,wars and tragedies.Kiarostami has filmed ABC Africa in a cinema vérité manner. This is the reason why the entire film appears as non partial.Lastly it must be stated that despite being harsh in tone,this film offers substantial amount of optimism in the form of adoption of an orphaned baby girl.The best thing to watch in this film : A song called Sanga Lo, Sanga Lo which appears too often.

Realist attempt by a woman filmmaker : Search for a lonely woman's identity.

S lyubovyu.Lilya (2003) directed by Larisa Sadilova

In the past it was through the ageless writings of famous Russian writers like Tolstoy,Gorky,Chekov,Pushkin,Dostoyevski etc that the entire world got an idea of what a Russian identity is and at the same time how difficult it is to understand the Russian identity.In the modern world,it is through feature films and documentaries that viewers are forming an idea of the same inscrutable Russian identity. This particular film "With love, Lily" is a brave cinematographic attempt by Larissa Sadilova at revealing some finer aspects of hard to decipher identity of a Russian soul.This film is unique for being one of those rare films which talk of a woman protagonist leading a difficult life in a provincial town.This setting has been useful in unraveling one of the most terrible enemies of human existence : loneliness.In this film there is emotional turmoil too as due to lack of choice there are hardly any suitable partners for
women. Although the heroine would very much like to escape from the maze of hard life, owing to family obligations she cannot even contemplate a move in this regard."With love, Lily" is a sad film but it has its own share of light comical
moments which help in sustaining viewers' interest. strongly recommended for:all those keen on watching quality films from Russia as well as interested in finding out hidden facets of a Russian person's identity.

Excellent debut film from the master of Taiwanese cinema

All the Corners of the World (1989)(TV)

directed by Tsai Ming Liang

It is believed that the early works of masters of art leave their imprint on their later works.This is also the case with this charming, melodramatic feature made by Tsai Ming Liang.In this film,one can easily find a lot of common features linked to theater.This is because Tsai Ming Liang also wrote a lot of plays before he started his career as a filmmaker.The film is hard to classify as it has love story, family story and other popular elements in it.It also talks of the lack of space theme which is common to most of Tsai's films. The funny thing about this film is that it is very less seen. I got the lucky chance to see it at FEMIS, the French film school in Paris where Tsai Ming Liang came to present his film "The Wayward Cloud".The film is so good and it is a pity that its DVD is not released.

Good theme but the muddled script does enormous harm to this film.

The Skulls (2000) directed by Rob Cohen

There are no so many films made about secret societies.So from that yardstick the filming of "The Skulls" could have been hailed as a watershed event.However this was not to be as this film suffers from too many narrative inaccuracies.It
appears that this film's team has not done its homework properly.The director and screen writer did not bother to concentrate on the single most important theme of the film : Secret Socities.No one can doubt that ample academic research was done before even the commencement of the actual filming.Instead of an overall development of this theme unsuspecting viewers were bombarded with an erratic array of out of topic themes like murder,blossoming of love,realization of personal guilt etc.The film appears as a distressed soul due to poor acting.Should any one wants to know what led a young boy to join a secret society ? Find out by watching The Skulls-a film that will not please you. In
any case, I am sure that it did not please me even for its first thirty minutes.

Power of Italian laughter challenge :This film is one of the fine examples of Italian comedies.

Signore & Signori (1965) directed by Pietro Germi.

According to the veteran Italian film director Ettore Scola,Italian people have the intrinsic knack of ridiculing themselves long before someone else can dare to point a figure at them.For them there is hardly any human sentiment which cannot be mocked.By doing so they have remained the champions of auto derision in this world.This is one fundamental quality which distinguishes them from the other nationalities of Europe.As far as a discussion on this film goes,its English title "The birds,The bees and The Italians" does perfect justice to the spirit of the film. The entire film is a laugh riot and the best thing about the screenplay is that although the depicted situations might appear common place but they never leave any room for any kind of guess work or speculation.So the end result is an intelligent film which entertains until the maximum possible extent of human enjoyment. Even the black and white photography is advantageous as it alludes to a time when there was too little advancement of technology.Recommended for those people who would like to have a nice laugh but would not dare to copy under any circumstances the actions portrayed in the film.

Great comedy film from Israel.

Ha Shoter Azulai- (1970) directed by Iprahim Keshon.

Light hearted comedies are a rarity for Israelian cinema as most of the films are either too dramatic or gloomy.This is a good example of what a comedy film can be.All the credit for this film's success should go to Shaike Opir who plays the role of a kind hearted but clumsy policeman.He has a wife whom he loves a lot but as he has not been able to get a promotion there is less of love from her wife's side for him.This character is a man of all occasions and he has solutions for all kinds of problems such as doing interpretation in French language for a group of visiting French policemen or catching a famous criminal.This cop learns about friendship when he meets a young prostitute.Both
of them come closer and learn a lot from each as they both have a lots to tell to each other. This film was directed by a great figure of Jewish culture Iprahim Keshon.This comedy is different from those by the likes of Marx brothers,Buster Keaton, Max Linder,Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy.

Sad, depressing realities of Kazakhstan.

Shiza (2004) directed by Guka Omarova.

There is something magical in the films from Central Asian republics that serious viewers cannot disassociate themselves from them.No one knows for sure whether it has got something to do with folklore or customs or the fact that they have freed themselves from Soviet union.Whatever might be the reason it is sure that some of the films from these reasons are made by enterprising filmmakers who have always made nice films despite having been burdened with lack of funds.Schizo is one such film made by Guka Omarova.In the past she has been assistant to the great Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov.She has made good use of the current day political situation in Kazakhstan to make an entertaining filmby using some rather common dramatic elements.Schizo functions as a double edged sword as not only it entertains but always leaves a serious message on viewers'minds.The film is a watchable treat thanks to the title character who proves in the end that the week and meek are not to be taken for granted.

Leos Carax : master of visual poetry.

Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (1991) directed by Leos Carax

Leos Carax is not a conventional cineaste.His films are a fascinating confirmation of his splendid strength of mind.Les Amants du Pont Neuf was declared mythical by the media even before it had been shot.The film is one of the most beautiful,tender,touching love stories to have emerged from the realm of French cinema.The film also shows the plight of homeless people in a positive light.It has tackled this burning issue in practically documentary fashion.Carax has created a love story in difficult,tough,unusual circumstances.Pont-Neuf denotes evasion for outsiders like Alex,Hans and Michele as it helps them to stay away from daily triteness.It is a dwelling which allows them to live their lives fully:Michele as a painter,Alex as a fire eater.

Hey dude you were supposed to write but look what have you done !!!!

The Shining (1980) directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Ladies and Gentlemen,please don't get fooled by "A Stanley Kubrick" film tag.This is a very bad film which unfortunately has been hailed as one of the deadliest horror films ever made.Horror films should create such a fear that during nights people should shiver their hearts out while thinking about a true horror film.In Shining,there is no real horror at all but what we find instead is just a naive,foolish attempt made to create chilling horror.Everyone knows as to how good the attempts are if they are different from reality.All that is good in the film is the view of the icy valley. The hotel where most of the actors were lodged appears good too.A word about the actors Jack Nicholson looks like a lost,lazy soul who is never really sure of what he is supposed to do.There is not much to be said of a bald,colored actor who for the most of times is busy pampering a kid actor.No need to blame the bad weather for the tragedy.It cannot be avoided as the film has been made and poor Kubrick is not alive to make any changes.

Watch it only for knowing how it was shot !!!!

The Sheltering Sky (1990) directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

Bernardo Bertolucci's cinematographic career is little bit similar to that of Wim Wenders.Both these European directors have made some of the most outstanding world cinema films in their own countries using their native languages:Italian and German.However there are some bad spots on their illustrious careers.They both failed miserably whenever they have decided to make films in English.If given an opportunity to disown a film is provided,without any hesitation most of Bernardo Bertolucci's admirers would surely like to abandon "The Sheltering Sky".This film suffers from too many western prejudices against powerless people of various African ethnic groups.As far as this film's plot is concerned,it is just too superfluous.Apart from Malkovich and Winger none of the players have given any proof of their acting talent.The only reason plausible reason for which any sensible film admirer must watch this film is the film's photography.The next best possible reason for watching this film might be the promotion of tourism in Africa.The sheltering sky can be used as a tourist video for those unfortunate souls who have never been to some of the best spots in Africa.

How an unwell housewife makes heroic attempts to ascertain her own real

Shayad Vaghti Deegar (1988) directed by Bahram Beyzaie.

This is a film for all those viewers who watch intellectually rich films after finding out more about directors as well as actors. If you are interested in watching a film which cannot be understood on first viewing, this is the film especially made for you. This is a film which you have been missing for a long time. At regular but brief intervals, "May be some other time" must be watched at least 4-5 times. I am saying so because of its artistic richness. The two important people related to this film :the veteran Iranian cinéaste Bahram Beyzai (killing rabids, Ballad of Tara) and the talented actress Susan Taslimi (Bashu, Death of Yazdgerd) occupy a paramount place in the history of Iranian cinema. Mind you-Bahram Bayzai's films are absolutely unique. They cannot be
compared to the works of other Iranian film makers such as Abbas Kiarostami,Mohsen Makhmalbaf or Dariush Mehrjui. "May be some other time"-a film title which should not be taken too literally. It does not connote anything which a lot of moviegoers should be susceptible to know. In this film there is an unwise display of suspicion by a befuddled documentary director, Mr. Modabber. The victim is his wife Kian who is experiencing tremendous mental anguish and psychological turmoil. Astute viewers will surely find similarities with the film "Marnie" directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Tippi Hedren. In "May be some other time", Bahram Beyzai addresses most fundamental, human issues like fidelity, identity, communication, belief, trust etc. Bahram Beyzai is one of the very few Iranian cineastes deft at theatrical arts. It is felt that his films have a feminist aura to them. "May be some other time" has numerous shades of documentary film too. It has been a long time that Bahram Bayzai has not made a new film. Only time will tell whether Bahram Bayzai would be able to direct a new film starring his regular actress Susan Taslimi who is now active in Sweden as a film cum theater director. It pains my heart and that is the reason why I would like to explicitly remark that is a great shame that almost all the films by Bahram Bayzai have not been distributed widely on DVD. What are the DVD labels like Artificial Eye, Criterion Collection, Kino, New Yorker Films or Facets doing ?

Saccharine treatment of immigrants ! ! !

Sof Ha'Olam Smola (2004) directed by Avi Nesher.

It is true that this film was a major hit in Israel and no wonder one can easily guess why ? One wild guess is that it did all it could to portray a hippie dippypicture of the immigrant question.The immigrants in question are from India and Morocco and the film is about their efforts to find a firm footing within Israelian society.The film fails to score as its depiction of immigrants is much too unreal,lacks credibility and to top it all a lot of irrelevant material is added which bears no link to the film's plot line.The Indian actors in this film have been dubbed as failures in India and watching them act in an Israelian film the people wondered as to how they landed such roles for themselves.The game of cricket in a film from Israel like this one was a pure gimmick as the film maker wanted to cash the popularity of this sport in Asian subcontinent.This is a film,one must watch only to ascertain what made it so famous.

Kitano's masterpiece number 1:it is the method which counts when cops deal with hoodlums !!!

Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (1989) directed by Takeshi Kitano.

Violent cop is an excellent film in the league of cops versus hoodlums genre.What is amazingly unique about it is that even though maverick master Kitano has always maintained close proximity to the sphere of Japanese Yakuza gangs,he has nevertheless been able to portray a concise,crisp,candid vision ofthe sordid milieu of the Japanese cops. While watching it,I was mesmerized by its mellifluous soundtrack which has some of the most haunting effects ever recreated for a film.As far as similarities with Dirty Harry are concerned one must look at that aspect from cultural point of view.In Kitano's film there is good deal of respect for family relations. I don't know whether the same holds true for Eastwood's film.It can be said that those liking this film will be impressed by one of its opening sequences which best exemplifies the notion that the method adopted is acceptable if the results achieved are satisfactory. All in all this film is a decent commentary about the sorry state of affairs of Japanese police system which is not at all different from those of other countries.

Midlife crisis : it is no crime to lust and have a cuckold tag.

American Beauty (1999) directed by Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes comes from the field of theater and it is a nice surprise that his film doesn't suffer at all from the ghosts of theatricality. American beauty is an intelligent film as it deals with many themes. All of them are rolled in a single,major theme of midlife crisis.It seems to me that midlife crisis is not the only reason behind the protagonist's weird behavior as it has got more to do with the two other people around him :his wife and his teenage daughter.Both of them harass him emotionally on different occasions.It is a good thing that this film has been appreciated by many people especially male viewers. By doing so they are getting ready to face the life when someone reaches 40 year of age.The film has a dream life quality and there are good traces of "stream of consciousness".It is sad that after this film Sam Mendes has not been able to make quality films.This is no wonder as sometimes most of the artists prove out to be a one hit wonder.However Sam Mendes will be remembered for American Beauty:a film that addresses some of the fundamental moral questions.

A film full of dirty words.

Spirtokouto (2003) directed by Yiannis Economidis.

The first impression which is going to be created in viewers' minds is that why is this film named "Matchbox" ? Yeah, it is true that all the film's actors are angry. Does that mean that the film should be titled "Matchbox" ? If the same logic is applied than its name should have been "red tomato ketchup". There is no clue to this in the film. Greek cinema is known because of masters like Theo Angelopoulos, Pantelis Voulgaris etc. For those who wish to explore more of Greek cinema, Yannis Economidis' film "Matchbox" would come as a great shock.It is with firm conviction that I state that I am yet to come across any world cinema film in which the actors do nothing but hurl the best of filthy abuses on each other. This does not constitute a drawback for the film as it has its own virtue. One cannot term this film "low budget" but as it was entirely shot in the two rooms of a house, it can be assumed that the producer has not spent mega bucks for it. This is an ordinary Greek film which viewers would not like to remember for the rest of their lives.

How a wedding ceremony is affected due to unforeseen circumstances.

Stars in Broad Daylight (1988) directed by Oussama Mohammad.

It is rather inopportune that not much is known of Syrian cinema by a large majority of film goers. For neophytes, "Stars in broad daylight" directed by Oussama Mohammad is one of the most influential films in the history of Syrian cinema. As it has long remained a forgotten little gem of world cinema, I reckon that this film can easily acquire a key place among the best films on world cinema. I was fortunate enough to have watched it on two occasions. I saw it for the first time during Osian Cinefan Asian Film Festival 2004 in New Delhi. My second viewing of this film took place in Paris, Centre Pompidou during Cinéma du reel 2006. Syrian filmmaker Ousama Mohammad studied film-making at Moscow's prestigious Soviet film school "VGIK". In 1988 this film was selected for the celebrated "Quinzaine des réalisateurs" section at Cannes International Film Festival.In this film there is a funny assortment of weird male characters. For example-a couple of soldiers who are on leave and have come to their village to attend a wedding ceremony. There is a football coach too who was in Germany for many years. He is passing his wisdom to young children who are exceedingly passionate about football. The women of the house are all very meek, timid and submissive. They happily follow all the orders given by the men. There is hardly any hint of the imminent revolt. All this happens at the time of a wedding as it is an important occasion for everybody. All the family members are present for the auspicious occasion. The best thing about this film is that it has many well crafted sequences of family life.

The sorrowful tale of a French tourist falling in love with a Kazakhstan belle.

Steppe Express (2005) directed by Amanzhol Aituarov and Satybaldy Narymbetov

On our habitable planet Earth there are various kinds of film viewers.There are certain who, in order to laugh incessantly about people,places and cultures unfamiliar to them, need veritable, periodic doses of discourteous "movies" like "Borat".Let me make a frank confession. I have not yet seen this film by Sacha Noam Baron Cohen. However, I do wish to state that it is only through films made by native filmmakers that a spectator can acquire the real feel of distant lands.

This is precisely the case of "Stepnoi Express (Steppe Express) directed by Kazakh duo Amanzhol Aiutarov and Satybaldy Narymbetov which provides us with a picture postcard vision of Kazakhstan. It is based on a short story by the legendary Russian writer Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Somewhere in Kazakhstan there is a small village whose inhabitants see a train pass through the steppe on a daily basis. For everyone there are lessons to be learnt about the funny thing called life as a French man comes to this god forsaken place. He meets a Kazakh father, starts liking his daughter. This is just the beginning of various
hilarious episodes featured in this film. A word about the amateur actors of this film. "François Labbé" was happily vacationing in Kazakhstan when he got the role due to a stroke of luck. "Aizhan Aitenova", non professional actress of this film had finished her technical studies when she was approached by Aiutarov. "Steppe Express" won the audience prize at Vesoul Asian Film Festival 2006 run by the indefatigable couple Jean Marc Thérouanne and Martine Thérouanne who make it a point to introduce hidden gems of Asian cinema. Make sure you see this film in order to enjoy your forthcoming trip to Kazakhstan.

Janina Lapinskaite : A new refreshing voice of Lithuanian cinema that deserves to be heard and seen !!!

Stiklo Salis (2004) directed by Janina Lapinskaite.

If there is a person who has stolen all the limelight related to Lithuanian cinema than it is surely Sarunas Bartas. He is very much respected in France and has friends like Claire Denis and Leos Carax. This particular film is a good introduction to Lithuanian cinema which is currently receiving ample funds from various European agencies. The artistic success of Janina Lapinskaite's film has proved beyond doubt that there is more to Lithuanian cinema than Sarunas Bartas.A close look at Stiklo Salis (A land of glass) proves that Janina Lapinskaite is very much a woman's director wherein her sympathy lies in promoting the role played by the lead actress.That is the reason why the principal female character has a very strong personality. This aspect can be appreciated by anyone regardless of whether the viewer is male or female. Jurga Kalvaityte has given a mesmerizing performance of mental agony. As far as two male characters : a husband and a gynecologist are concerned, they are shown as absolute idiots. Another strong point of this film is its location. It is a highly mysterious spot little bit similar to the place where Russian director
Andrei Zvyagintsev shot his allegorical masterpiece "The Return".

For every Gelsomina there is a Zampano. But it should not be like that !!!

La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini.

La Strada is a highly philosophical tale of religious symbolism,human conduct,remorse and repentance made by one of the greatest masters of world cinema Federico Fellini.For millions of followers of serious cinema genre,he is regarded as one of the greatest dreamers of the world cinema.By making this film, Fellini has made a masterpiece which has accommodated all of his favorite themes like circus,church, male-female relationships etc.La Strada is also outstanding as a visual social comment on the state of affairs of post war Italian society.It was a time of economic misery and people were forced to abandon their children in order to make them earn for the family.The theme of circus is of value to the film as it was the only thing which provided laughs to the people dejected by the trauma of Italy's defeat in World War II.The best tribute that canstrong people can pay to Fellini is by not harassing the weak ones.Richard Basehart looks divine as the fool. Anthony Quinn is devilish as Zampano.Guiletta Masina is sublime as Gelsomina. It was this role which won her worldwide acclaim. If one is looking for a film able to make people better "La Strada" is that very film.

This film by Godard is not at all a film of our times.

Sauve qui peut (la vie) (1980) directed by Jean Luc Godard

The English title of this film "Sauve qui peut la vie" made by Jean Luc Godard is "Everyman for himself".This is exactly what happens in this film which is only for people having unusual cinematographic tastes.All the three main characters are in their own world without bothering about what the other persons are doing.There are a lot of similarities between the film maker Jean Luc Godard and the film director's role played nicely by French singer,actor Jacques Dutronc. It appears as if Godard had deliberately chosen Dutronc for that role keeping in mind their own erratic behavioral patterns. Nathalie Baye is acceptable in her role as the hapless girl friend of this eccentric director.The most challenging and in some sense controversial part has been played by famous French actress Isabelle Huppert as an innocent prostitute who silently bears all the ill treatment meted to her by her clients.This is a good psychological film directed by Godard about the emotional stagnation of some characters who are unable to come out of their mental framework.

Make sure that an innocent person is never harassed anywhere, anytime !!!

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) directed by Frank Darabont.

Frank Darabont has created a good film about the misuse of criminal justice system and the obnoxious corruption in prisons.He has done this by showing an insider's view of a penitentiary from the perspective of its inmates.Although Tim Robbins has a good role in this film as Andy,he is surpassed by Red played by Morgan Freeman.He is at the summit of his acting prowess as everything is written on his face.There is no other actor in Hollywood or elsewhere who could have done this role of Red with absolute conviction as Morgan Freeman. Shawshank Redeption tells us in clear terms that in prisons it is the rule of everyman for himself but sometimes there are exceptions. Feelings of suffering, sadness,trust,joy,companionship occur which give the prisoners the hope to carry on.It is nice that there is not much focus on feminine characters as they did not have anything that could have justified their presence.

Revealing the intricacies of the so called "Making of"

Sex Is Comedy (2002) directed by Catherine Breillat.

According to Catherine Breillat many people believe that by watching "making of" they can understand the intricacies of the actual shooting process. She opines that this is not quite the case and the real process of filming a feature film is unfortunately very complex,hard to follow and difficult to understand. She goes on to add that rather than simplifying the creative process these programs end up confusing the viewers. Keeping this particular idea in mind, she has
filmed a unique,trend setting film which relies heavily on the whims and fancies of its principal characters. One can have a first hand experience of how difficult things are on a set when a film is being shot. Compared to other films
by Catherine Breillat,sex is comedy is devoid of controversial elements. As a film director in this film Anne Parillaud looks a bit similar to Catherine Breillat.Gregoire Colin is fine too as the moody actor. As a final comment, I
would like to remark that this film is very serene and an inattentive viewer might not know how quickly the film is getting over.

Tcheky Karyo- modern day demented soul. He should no more French films.

L'Amour braque (1985) directed by Andrzej Zulawski

Calling this film insane would be insulting the medium of cinema. No film can be deemed insane because the actual truth is that the real lunatics are all those human beings who are insane enough to call films insane. L'Amour braque is a hard to crack puzzle in the garb of an unintelligible film. It is a film which necessitates multiple viewing sessions in order to fathom its complexity. Of course, it is violent although there are various allusions to Dostoyevsky (people please remember Raskolnikov) All the credit for this film's hard to understand nature goes to an unusual down to earth Polish filmmaker based in Paris. Monsieur Andrzej Zulawski is a prolific filmmaker who often casts his girl friend Sophie Marceau in his films. She is a radiating beauty in this film too. There is more than meets the eye in the performance by Tcheky Karyo. L'Amour braque is a high commendable superior visual experience of honesty, richness and professionalism.

Nauseating violence in an average Portuguese crime film.

Sapatos Pretos (1998) directed by Joao Canijo.

For those who have had a taste of Portuguese cinema by watching films by Joao Cesar Monteiro, Pedro Costa, Teresa Villaverde and Manoel de Oliviera surprising things are in store. This is because this particular film is a work of one of the most promising forces of Portuguese cinema.It is also true that "Sapatos Pretos" is a different film because of its depiction of a woman's vulnerability.This is because its central character receives a lot of beatings from her male
lover. In some respects "Black Shoes" is a bizarre film because it is quite normal for viewers to get a glimpse of violence on screen but the trouble with this film is that when this terrible violence becomes nauseating viewers have no escape regardless of where they are watching the film, whether in a cinema hall or on their DVD player. This film will certainly interest those viewers who would like to catch up with unknown aspects of Portuguese cinema especially the
crime film genre. A word of advice-better watch Joao Canijo second film called "Noite Oscura".

Average Filipino film about the effects of globalization

Santa Santita (2004) directed by Laurice Guillen.

For those who have not heard much about Filipino cinema, it must be made clear that Laurice Guillen is a respected figure of Filipino film industry.She has played many memorable roles as its leading film actress.As a matter of fact her popularity and fame is not at all different from that of the other master woman director Marilou Diaz Abaya.As far as this film is concerned it is weak in many ways. For example-there is something fundamentally wrong with the narrative pattern which has overlapped many themes such as religion, greed and the need to be over ambitious.The good thing about this film is that it can make viewers aware of the tremendous pressure an average Filipino has to face when he or she is confronted with issues like religion and money.Juding all these facts, one can arrive at the conclusion that Santa Santita is an average film about globalization and how it has touched lives of certain individuals.

Some train journeys are not meant to be made in Romania !!!

Terminus paradis (1998) directed by Lucian Pintilie.

One meaning of "Terminus Paradis" is that all trains have to stop somewhere. This is true for human beings too as all of their journeys must inevitably end somewhere. This is precisely something which the maverick Romanian master Lucian Pintilie has shown in his film. At its core "Terminus Paradis" is an eccentric love story par excellence. When I say an eccentric love story, I mean that in this poignant story the end is not something which the lovers had always
anticipated.The leading actress Dorina Chiriac has a charming doll like face. This has surely helped her to give dazzling touches to her very naive looking character. A lot can be said about Costel Cascaval's acting talents too. He has
given a solid, convincing performance.Enjoy this film by drinking a lot of beer.

Ordinary film tries to act smart but fails miserably !!!

Le Temps qui reste, (2005) directed by François Ozon.

Watching films is an expensive activity at least in a city like Paris. So I was a bit lucky when I saw this film after buying a reduced price ticket at MK2 Bibliothèque by getting a student discount price.However I was utterly disappointed. First of all it suffers from a very bad casting error. Jeanne Moreau looks like a lost old woman who is not doing any justice to her grand mother's role. The same thing can be said about the lead actor.He cannot live peacefully neither with his family members nor with his male lovers. One more
trouble with "Le Temps qui reste" is that the central theme of "a person having few hours to live" has become so outdated that most of the filmmakers are just putting any cock and bull story thereby hoodwinking the innocent viewers.
Valerie Bruni Tedeschi looks fine but her voice seems a bit deformed. Avoid this film at all costs because you must watch a good film for your time which rests with you. A good film on this theme is "Le Feu Follet"(Will o'the Wisp) by late
French master Louis Malle.

These watermelons are indeed very juicy.

Tian bian yi duo yun (2005) directed by Tsai Ming Liang.

To my mind "The Wayward Cloud" directed by Tsai Ming Liang is one of the most accessible films of the Taiwanese author.This is because the film's style is light as there is an overabundance of many mellifluous songs which fit well with
all the sometimes comic sometimes tragic situations in which they have been filmed.It is sure that while watching "The Wayward Cloud" viewers will definitely note that the director has continually sought the audience's participation at various stages of this film.He has done this by making a film which does not fit any conventional description.It is for the viewers to decide what this film really is as it is not at all an explicit film about pornography nor a film about sexual feelings.In reality,"The Wayward Cloud" is a film about the renewal process of old memories which were shared by two of the film's principal protagonists.The question of human sexuality just acts as a catalyst in this film.This fact is further justified in the last scene of the film which is a shot of supreme cinematographic judgment.

Made by Tsai Ming Liang for International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Tianqiao bu jianle (2002) directed by Tsai Ming Liang.

Most of the film makers are deeply in love with the cities where they reside,where they satisfy their creative instincts.To pay their homage to their respective cities they sometimes make short films about them. This film is also
an attempt by Tsai Ming Liang to understand his city better. He has chosen to film a river which passes through the ever growing,bustling metropolis of Taipei.The focus is on the dryness of the river due to the ill effects of heat.In the background there is a dog.Tsai decided to make this film after he got an invitation from Simon Field who is the former director of International Film Festival of Rotterdam.I saw this film at FEMIS, Paris which is a famous film school.This film has not been released on DVD and lucky ones can watch it along with a complete retrospective of Tsai Ming Liang's works.

Slow paced film from the most celebrated author of Indonesian cinema.

Telegram (2001) directed by Slamet Rahardjo Djarot.

Since a very long,long time it has been a very popular belief that Indonesia is only famous for its tourist destinations. Few people know that it has a national film industry worth its salt. It was with these thoughts that I decided to watch
a film from Indonesia in order to discover unknown facets of its cinema. I was not at all disappointed with this film from the most famous author of Indonesia cinema Slamet Rahardjo Djarot. Most of the film is set in a Jakarta city office
where a young Indonesian man is waiting. He has a lot of responsibilities and somehow one gets the impression that he is not interested in fulfilling his duties. The pace of the film is dreadfully slow which might irk certain class of
viewers. So only patient viewers will be rewarded.For "Telegram",Rahardjo wrote the script with the writer of the book Putu Wijaya. One admirable quality of this film is that even though the funds have come from France, Rahardho has not succumbed to the pressures of putting elements that might have a bearing on the likes of western audiences.

Bad,boring and senseless film from Tavernier.

L'Appât (1995) directed by Bertrand Tavernier Bertrand Tavernier is a great but underrated master of French cinema. Most of his films are in the vein of family drama in which he has expressed his not so soft views about French society.He has adapted some successful books for cinema too.As far as L'Appat(The Bait) is concerned,it is based on some of his interactions with the French youth who expressed their views.According to them they would like to be rich as quick as possible just like in America.This is exactly what is shown in his film.However in L'Appat the magic of social realism fails to work at all.The acting is dull and the story is weak.All the actors have given very lackluster performances. Everything looks staged whether it is the senseless violence or dramatic sequences. Watching this film I always wonder what went wrong and I am yet to arrive at a satisfactory answer.It is a curious thing that this poor film won the Golden bear award at Berlin Film Festival.

Diego Peretti, Buenos Aires and Gabriela David: Three excellent reasons to watch this excellent film !!!

Taxi, un encuentro (2001) directed by Gabriela David.

Taxi,an encounter is one of those unlucky films (an admirable film is never much too popular with crowds) which never get a chance to be seen by thousands of viewers. This anomaly should not be considered as a drawback as this particular
film has enough material to sustain viewers' attention. The prime reason lies in Gabriela David's taut direction. As there is ample suspense in this film viewers are always bound to stay glued to their seats. For those who have not been to Buenos Aires there are spectacular scenes of Argentinian capital's nocturnal views. All this is shown through bravura performance by Diego Peretti. This dazzling performance can easily fetch him the title of "Argentinian Al Pacino".
He plays the role of a Samaritan thief. His life experiences a complete upheaval once he comes in contact with an injured girl. Who says that two lonely people cannot experience pure love ? This film is a proof of the fact that such a love
exists.

A Bulgarian metaphysical film.

Tarkalyashti Se Kamani (1995) directed by Ivan Cherkelov.

For all those who have seen the best Bulgarian Film "The Glory of the Khan" by Ludmil Staikov, this film will appear as a pleasant surprise. On the one hand the former was an epic melodrama the latter is very much a "metaphysical film". This is because it is sad that there are very few European films which have a family as their focal point.This film was made with the help of funds provided by French producers. It is a film in which the characters are searching for the
meaning of life. They explore all the possibilities of knowing as to what makes our lives worthwhile. How would you one react if some one lovable suddenly decides to go away.The best part of this film is its haunting score. It is very
much in tune with the prevailing mood of the film.Give it a try if you would like to watch a Bulgarian film. PS : Like many east Europeans film, this film too depicts the effect America has on ordinary denizens of Eastern Europe.

A beautiful tale full of paradoxes.

Szindbád (1971) directed by Huszarik Zoltan.

A beautiful tale full of paradoxes.Imagine a film full of love affairs and not even a single sex scene in it !Well,such is the beauty of this great Hungarian film nicely shot by the legendary Hungarian cameraman Sandor Sara.One must just
keep a thing in mind before starting to watch this film.It is not for all tastes.Those who have ample patience in dealing with philosophical tales should only proceed to watch this masterpiece.Zoltan Latinovits is marvelous as the ageing Sindbad who aptly shows us that life is best enjoyed only when it is in constant movement.Watch out for a scene involving Sindbad eating numerous mouth watering delicacies.
Sindbad is based on numerous short stories by Gyula Krudy. This film is considered to be a major classic of Hungarian Cinema.

Grimy look in a plot less film about the rapacious desire for oil.

Syriana (2005) directed by Stephen Gaghan

It is a nice thing that Syriana directed by Stephen Gaghan (who wrote Soderberg's film Traffic)is a plot less film about the dealings made in the world of oil trade as it avoids the pitfalls of a documentary film. A documentary film about the Macchiavellian tactics employed in global oil business would surely necessitate enormous hard work and since it is a tough thing to do so,it is hardly surprising that not many film makers have decided to work on it.Syriana is the only work of art made in recent times which comes closer to a somewhat meaningful and accurate first hand view of oil trade
industry.Syriana is a very relevant statement on the pitiful state of our contemporary world in which policy makers, diplomats decide the fate of our world through their weird corrupt policies which are intended to further their own personal interests.Syriana appears to be fair as no one involved in the greed for oil is spared.To do so the director has taken us on a whirlwind tour of various places where oil dealings take place.Despite its major star cast this
film never loses its equilibrium and stays well within its focus.It is definitely one of those films which the policy makers would like to eschew due to its subtle yet explosive content.

Some films like this one must be watched if one has nothing better to do !!!

Sulanga Enu Pinisa (2005) directed by Vimukti Jayasundara.

Sri Lankan cinema is largely known by the works of its grand old man Lester James Peries. This new film by Vimukti Jayasundara was made with the availability of foreign funds. This is the reason why there are many non sri lankan themes. There are certain films which are praised by critics for reasons unknown to the general public. This is precisely the case with this film. It has elements which one rarely sees in a Sri Lankan film. The depiction of war is so imaginary, completely different from the actual reality in contemporary Sri Lanka. This is something which has angered many natives of Sri Lanka. They accused the filmmaker of supporting the enemies of the nation. I had the misfortune of meeting this film's creator at a film festival. He had problems
expressing his ideas. This can be the reason why he chose to have few sounds in his film. Watch it if you have nothing better to do in life.

Guillaume Depardieu in one of the best roles of his career.

Les Apprentis (1995) directed by Pierre Salvadori

Les Apprentis is a moving saga of two impoverished friends.Antoine and Fred are unfortunate in all stages of their existence.Their financial lives are completely ruined.They are not at all lucky with their emotional existence as their girl friends have left them.What is interesting for the discerning viewer to watch is their peculiar camaraderie that allows them to go ahead in their lives despite numerous ups and downs.Pierre Salvadori has effectively created a tender tale of emotional calamities.He has elicited excellent acting performances from his entire cast.Guillaume Depardieu is splendid as gawky photographer Fred.Les Apprentis takes a bizarre twist towards the end when neurotic Antoine tries to hide his emotions from Fred.It is impossible to find a parallel to this film in an array of cynical tradition of French Cinema.It easily brings to mind Claude Lelouch's Robert et Robert.The impressive soundtrack is capable of enlivening gloomy spirits.The strength of the film lies in the fact that it gives viewers ample time to make their own judgments.

Money makes everyone happy : at least that is what a vast majority thinks.

Tráfico (1998) directed by Joao Botelho.

This is a very funny,quiet,little film directed by Joao Botelho.His works has made him as one of the most talented Portuguese film directors of our times.These days Joao Botelho is making very hard to follow philosophical films.This Portuguese film called Traffic has nothing to do neither with Soderburg's film of the same name nor it is at all related to Jacques Tati's classic.What is presented in this film is absolutely unique. There are great scenes of church,vacations, corruption, high society etc.Each character is shown honestly without any embellishment.This is the reason why this film appears as a tragic film despite having certain scenes which provide comical relief.

All fire, all flame but the film is not all that lame.

Tout feu,tout flamme (1982) directed by Jean Paul Rappeneau.

Yves Montand was a French film star of the black and white era. Isabelle Adjani has been the French film star of the colored era.This is for the first time that they have starred together. The result is a shocker.Both of them shine wonderfully well in a film about gambling house.The views around Lac Leman in Switzerland are nice.The unique thing about this film is that although it is an entertainer it has not neglected the message related to family values.This is a very unique role for Yves Montand as he has always played lover boy roles for the most part of his career.In this film he plays a father who is mostly away from home for some secret work. It is revealed through various twists and turns
of the plot that he wants to make a casino.This is a good film for people wishing to watch a film with their family. Admirers of author cinema will be a little disappointed as Rappeneau touch is not same as that of other authors.

Pleasant movie about harsh life under communism.

Tian yu (1998) directed by Joan Chen.

Tian Yu directed by veteran Chinese actress Joan Chen is a bold film which is completely different both in style as well as content from those of other Chinese films made by fifth and sixth generation film makers.Soon after its filming its anti Chinese communist party stance had angered the Chinese cultural authorities to such an extent that it is still banned in China.Much of the film's strength lies in its choice of far off landscapes which add surreal beauty to the film.The film is sad as a young girl is sent away from her home to initiate a communist party sponsored reeducation process but she becomes a victim of sexual slavery.This is a real story which underscores not only the plight of the film's protagonist but also of countless ordinary girls whose
happiness was snatched by the official brutality of the omnipotent communist party ideology.Top notch scenes of the film include sequences in which the young protagonist is forced to live in a far off settlement with a Tibetan eunuch.This unexpected event gives rise to emotional bonding between two people cut off from human civilization.

This bad film summarily rejects the principal of sexual abstinence.

Travellers and Magicians (2003) directed by Khyntse Norbu.

There is no point discussing bad films but to save other innocent viewers from the agony of senseless torture it is better if some enterprising reviews are written.This is a righteous attempt in that direction.Travellers and Magicians
is a very bad film for many reasons. In Buddhism it is taught that lust for sexual relationships is a very bad sin but in Travellers and Magicians there are steamy scenes of lust.So the filmmaker is not practicing what he has been
preaching to his followers.Khyntse Norbu worked with Bertolucci on his film "The Last Emperorer".It is only on that basis and nothing else that he is seeking fame.What a selfish act of pretentiousness.The worst thing about this film is that it is unable to stand on its own save for the crutches of exoticism.If we remove these scenes from this film than it would be nothing more than a visual
story book.This film can only be liked by people who are fed up of their own lives, own circumstances and own religion.

Best example of a perfect film : Black and White films are quite simply magical.

La Traversée de Paris directed by Claude Autant Lara.

Claude Autant Lara was an important film maker of what is known as "old style French cinema".After "Douce",this is one of his most famous film. This film is a good portrayal of all the qualities good or bad with which a French person would
like to associate.No aspect of human behavior is left untouched. There is greed,seduction,fear, optimism etc.Much of the film's brilliance is due to its simple style.There is not much of dramatization and what viewers see is a
display of pure acting.The two major roles are played by Jean Gabin and Bourvil.As the film is set in Paris, viewers get an unbiased visual depiction of one of the most beautiful cities.If there are people who might not like it,it
must be Nouvelle vague people.As they were experimenting with their own cinema, they decided to ignore what they called "cinema of quality".The best thing which has been portrayed in this film is that after the end of the war people live
happily. This is an indication of optimism in this film.

For those film lovers who think that Ozu is slow or Chantal Akerman makes boring

Un homme qui dort (1974) directed by Bernard Queysanne.


Can anyone imagine a film with a young student,his room and some pigeons ? This is a film which is going to take your breath away. Of course, it cannot be termed as boring. "Un homme qui dort" is surely not for people who guzzle
endless quantities of coke, munch umpteen packets of popcorn while watching what they prefer to call "movies". For me personally it was an rewarding visual experience as there are various breath taking images in this film. The black and
white photography dates back to 1974 when this film was made. It is true that during those times color films were made. But this film was filmed in black and white in order to heighten the atmosphere related to monotony,dullness. Yeah,for those who have studied French language and literature: This film is based on a book written by Georges Perec. He even collaborated on this film's scenario. A good news for all those who hunt for rare, hard to find videos. This film is
available in France with English subtitles.

Slow moving film about loser in an industrial town.

Anyangde guer (2001) directed by Wang Chao

In the past film maker Wang Chao has worked as an assistant to famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.This is why "Orphan of Anyang" has some traces of Yimou's early films.For his debut film Wang Chao has filmed the novel which he wrote.It was easy for him to film this story as he was a part of it in the past and personally knew some of the people whose life he portrayed on screen.From a technical point of view the film is slow and contains many static shots.However this should not bother viewers as the film is very touching and audience will surely sympathize will the main protagonist who has lost his job.Orphan of Anyang presents a new face of China where there is misery,unemployment, gangsters and prostitutes.At Cannes Film Festival 2001 this film was chosen for Directors'fortnight section. It also won the audience prize for the best film at 7th International Film Festival of Kerala 2002.

An obedient dog is a man's best friend.

Umberto D. (1952) directed by Vittorio de Seca.


Vittorio De Sica once remarked that why should film makers go in search of extraordinary events when in the course of their daily lives they are confronted with ordinary events of extraordinary beauty.This statement sums best the very
essence of this Neorealist classic. Umberto D directed by the master Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica is a sad albeit ordinary tale of the loss of human values in Italian society after the end of second world war.Everything about the
leading character Umberto D is told in an ordinary indeed prosaic manner.It is rather bizarre but mention must also be made of the poor light in which women characters have been shown.This is due to the fact that in Umberto D,both the
grumpy landlady and unmarried pregnant girl representing loss of moral values are women characters directly associated with the old man.The great thing about Umberto D is its canine protagonist named Flike who serves his master so well
that he even prepares to die for his master's sake.In Umberto D, by showing a faithful dog who remains loyal to his old master,Vittorio De Sica has rightly depicted that animals are more truthful than some human beings.

Truly unbelievable work from the great master of German cinema.

Angst essen Seele auf (1974)

directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Fassbinder's "Fear eats the soul" talks of the some of the most important elements of human existence:love, respect, companionship and of course indifference too.It is a highly poignant tale of two highly uncommon people coming from culturally diverse backgrounds who fall in love with each other.It is at a later stage that this love culminates in their marriage but not without immense pressure, displeasure,anger and disbelief.This theme is so out of the ordinary that it is really a matter of disbelief that this film was made in West Germany in 1974 at a time when the German nation was inundated with numerous guest workers from Turkey.Fassbinder has also highlighted the plight of Arab people in this film who feel culturally alienated in West Germany due to their ignorance of German customs and traditions.Brigitte Mira,a veteran actress who has been part of Fassbinder family plays the role of Emmi.El Hadi Ben Salem,Fassbinder's lover and partner plays the role of Ali.Ali fear eats the soul is not a melodrama but a plea for cultural diversity which is ever so important in our radically changing world.

Favela experience in Belo Horizonte : This film is better than "Talk Radio".

Uma Onda No Ar (2002) directed by Helvecio Ratton

Lately considering the fact that Brazilian cinema has been too much associated with violent films,it is nice to learn that this film is a nice surprise.Even though it is based on the lives of some Favela youths,it is not at all violent.It is a true indication of the fact that people can change their lives for good if they adopt pacifist means.The role of police in troubling ordinary citizens is nicely depicted.It is hard to believe that the police forces meant to protect people are playing a game of cat and mice.Although,Uma onda no ar boasts of a serious message,it would be a understatement to say that it is not a light comic film.There are some very good radio moments which keep the viewers entertained.Something in the air is a nice film to be watched in order to have a grasp of Brazilian favela's disturbing realities.

How a talented painter is forced to lose his eyes.

Tüske a köröm alatt (1988) directed by Sara Sandor


First of all, a word about the film's Hungarian title "Tüske a köröm alatt". In English, it can be translated as "A Thorn Under the Fingernail".Now, I wish to mention that there are two very important valid reasons to watch this film.It
features wonderful performances by "Cserhalmi Gyorgy" who is Hungary's leading actor as well as a marvellous film star in his own right.This film is also a successful result of the tight direction by one of the leading Hungarian cinematographers Sara Sandor.He has used all his technical prowess to provide breathtaking shots of Hungarian "puszta" and breathtaking shots of galloping horses.Cserhalmi is the so called thorn of the film. He is considered a troublemaker as he fights the corruption of the communist party.The film has plenty of nice philosophical dialogues which heighten its purpose. These are not the only reasons for a viewer to watch this films. The viewer must watch this film as it has entertainment too in form of romance, suspense and drama. If you like this film, I am sure you are going to like other films starring Cserhalmi Gyorgy. Best place to watch his films-Hungarian cultural centre.

Not your typical modern day Argentinian film.

Un año sin amor (2005) directed by Anahi Berneri

Those who have been following developments related to Argentinian cinema in the recent past would be quick to remark that "A year without love" is a charming yet subtle film completely different from other Argentinian films winning laurels at various film festivals. Although the film talks of homosexuality,it is not at all shocking or controversial as there are shots of Buenos Aires gay underworld and it is shown in a serene fashion.In "A year without love",what we find in the film is an intimate portrait of a young man who is quite an artist.He is a poet and teaches French language to make a living.For her first film Anahi Berneri has chosen a bold topic and she succeeds in getting her message made clear.The virtue of this film is that it is not a melodrama and thereby eschews a casual treatment which is generally given to films filled with controversial themes.It is true that "A year without love" is rather slow moving but it must be watched till end to know more about the emotional passage of its protagonist over a period of one year.

Sympathy for the aggressor/wrong doer.

Trois huit (2001) directed by Philippe Le Guay


Some of the dedicated viewers have remarked that French films set in North France tend to be full of misery, hopelessness, sorrow etc. On a close observation it might appear to be true. For example-ça commence aujourd'hui by Bertrand Tavernier.But overall this might turn out to be a debatable
topic.However, in Philippe Le Guay's "Trois Huit" aka "Night Shift" there are certain acute observations on human behavior. First of all it can be noted that all along the victim of the film has been encouraging his aggressor. This is shown by his proximity with the aggressor. In a way as he had a liking for his aggressor, he was bearing all ill treatment with the hope that by dint of some miracle his aggressor would leave him alone. Another reason which supports this supposition is the fact that why was the victim enduring all the misery heaped on him ? Why did he not report it to the concerned authorities ? The weak point of the film is the uneven emotional bonding of the victim with his wife and his young kid. In normal circumstance people talk to their family members for solution to a problem. However the victim did not bother to take that step. Watch this film for the brutal performance of Marc Barbe as the bully.

A minor Proletarian classic.

Antoine et Antoinette (1947) directed by Jacques Becker

Jacques Becker was a successful chronicler of the post World War II generation who made remarkable films which dealt ironically with the problems of its protagonists.His creation,Antoine et Antoinette has remained a minor Proletarian classic.It has rightly been hailed by some critics as a light romantic comedy.The film boasts of a typically French psychological analysis.Becker has cast a fascinating look at the working class life by attempting social description in nuances.Antoine et Antoinette succeeded by incorporating all the essential themes with which a typical working class family could easily indentify itself.

Rockers and Rappers. You are all human beings too !!!

Wassup Rockers (2005) directed by Larry Clark.

Larry Clark is an intelligent film maker. There is no doubt about it. With "What's up rockers", he has given a human face to his film making career. Before this particular film most of his films were based on his personal experiences on dangerous psychology of young kids phenomenon. One thing which his fans and their parents will like is that compared to "Kenpark" there is much less controversial matter or rather nothing objectionable at all. This film does not preach but in an unofficial manner it has been successful in delivering its message of trust, peace, respect and brotherhood. A good aspect is that all the events of this film are in accordance with its pace whether they might be comical, sad ,hilarious or bizarre. One may also be tempted to rename it as "a day long road movie about Latino kids". This is only partially true as all communities made their presence felt. If exploration of young teenage minds is your favorite field of study, this is the film which you need at the earliest.

"The Return" heralded the resurgence of Russian cinema.

Vozvrashcheniye (2003) directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev

After the breakup of Soviet Union its cinema was in absolute doldrums. There was no recovery in sight and once in a while viewers craving for serious Russian cinema quenched their thirst through watching a couple of films like Sergei Bodrov's Prisoners of the mountains, Burnt by the Sun directed by Nikita Mikhalkov. The worldwide success of The Return is the most apt testimony to the fact that innovative film-making will always be welcomed no matter how difficult the market might be. Everything about this film is bathed in an aura of mysticism. Both the director and the cameraman have made real good use of expansive Russian landscape which heightens the film's suspense. This film is a veritable intellectual puzzle for the viewer as it leaves numerous unanswered questions. This is a positive trend as viewers have always been pampered into watching minor details by inexperienced filmmakers. This is a once in a lifetime experience which much be watched with at the end of one's breath attitude.

A light hearted film made under tough times.

Le Voyage d'Amélie (1974) directed by Daniel Duval.

These days it is very difficult to catch a glipmse of light hearted comedy films like this one. The reason is simple. There is hardly any public attached to Cinephilia. The best places to watch such a film are cinematheques and film festivals. "Le voyage d'Amélie"(Amélie's journey)was restored under the leadership of Mr.Eric Leroy of CNC, Bois d'Arcy. A new restored print of this film was shown on Monday, 23/01/2006 at Vincennes, Paris. It was the opening film of the Rencontres Internationales du Cinéma de Vincennes 2006.I was fortunate enough to watch this film in the estimable company of Messieurs Abbas Kiarostami (who was awarded Henri Langlois prize) and Daniel Duval at a community hall located in Vincennes, Paris. There are some nice things to watch in "Amerlie's journey". They include how young people are happy if they are able to live peacefully with old people. This film is also a road movie albeit a different one as it depicts how people under trouble are able to overcome their miseries when they get in touch with decent people. It is sad no DVD label has come forward to make this little gem available for the ever growing DVD market. In the years to come this film will be remembered as a good directorial début of the famous French actor Daniel Duval.

Life is beautiful as to make it smart as everything depends on your attitude.

La Vita è bella (1997) directed by Roberto Benigni.

"Life is beautiful", is a film about that brief period of Nazi rule in Italy due to which many ordinary Jewish people had to endure enormous hardships. Although it is a film about Nazism, it is quite different from other films of the Nazi film genre like Schindler's list. It is more of a film about comic romance, laughter, optimism and how to keep one's sanity intact when one finds oneself in a difficult close to death kind of situation. This film ran into trouble as many leading filmmakers protested against what they called "making mockery of a serious issue like holocaust". According to Godard it is hard to believe that life could have been beautiful for anyone in a concentration camp. Life is beautiful is divided into 3 parts: carefree life, period of hardships and a harmless game with a kid. Roberto Benigni and his wife Nicoletta Braschi excel in all these parts. It is the star kid Giorgio Cantarini who shines in the last part. In a way,it can be said that the film succeeds because of his innocent behavior with which he carries himself through his entire stay with his father.

Lovers of Danish dogma films : watch out ! A different film.

Villa Paranoia (2004) directed by Erik Clausen

For those astute spectators who thought that Danish cinema was all about Dogma type over the top, hype films than you are for a shock. There is not an ounce of doubt that Danish dogma films were good. The only bad thing about them is that people were getting used to the idea that Danish cinema belongs exclusively to Lars Von Trier. But as is wont with intelligent viewers, fastidious film lovers are always desirous of exploring new facets of cinemas unknown to them. It is with this idea that one must watch this film. Villa Paranoia is directed by Erik Clausen who is a much respected veteran of Danish cinema.He has made a simple film which entertains its viewers nicely. At a close look, it has moments of romantic alliance between its leading players. At the same time it tackles serious issues too. It talks of issues like old people, unemployment, love and affection. Directing oneself in one's own film is a serious challenge. However, Erik Clausen proved his critics wrong by giving fine performances as an actor. A DVD of this film is available from K-films.

Love on the run is also a famous French song by Alain Souchon.

L'Amour en fuite (1979) directed by François Truffaut

Antoine Doinel ends his marital existence by divorcing his wife Christine.By chance,he meets all the significant people who helped him to shape his destiny.These encounters guide him to revive a number of bygone events.He is able to find happiness again by falling in love with Sabine.Although dubbed maudlin by certain inconsiderate critics,L'Amour en fuite remains a light romantic work filled with hilarity and empathy. This last film in the Antoine Doinel series is a fantastic trip down memory lane for Truffaut and Antoine Doinel fans.Truffaut's alter ego Antoine Doinel is a veritable emotional wreck as he needs all kinds of women for support.Antoine's past is inextricably linked to his present.All these women have positively been a part of Truffaut's life too.They know each other well and plot Antoine's downfall.Truffaut has made competent use of flashbacks to evoke memories of the past. Scenes of the past make one feel like watching two different films at the same time.Everyone feels that Antoine did not try his best to save his marriage.Viewers' sympathies will always be with Antoine as despite his faults,he is a charming guy.Truffaut has ably shown how important it is to love and be loved.

Laughter during the times of war !!!

La Vie de château (1966) directed by Jean Paul Rappeneau.

Jean Paul Rappeneau is considered as an outsider in the world of French cinema because of his scant cinematographic output. This does not mean that he has not produced works of quality.He has made many interesting films including some literary adaptations and has also worked with some of the big names in French cinema as Montand,Adjani,Noiret and Deneuve. This film called "La vie de Château" is a perfect example of laughter during the times of war. Both the lead players Catherine Deneuve and Philippe Noret look much too young. The film shows a typical quality of French people: Paris is always better than provincial towns. This is because Paris as everything which people want: discos, cinemas, theaters, night clubs and of course restaurants. The depiction of war is also very humorous as a soldier instead of fighting falls in love with a beautiful woman. This is a charming film depicting the natural beauty of French countryside. The only regret is that it was filmed in black and white.

Such a difficult life !!!!

Vergiss Amerika (2000) directed by Vanessa Joop.

A small East German town. Teenagers Benno,David and Anna dream of a big life a la Americaine. They are oblivious of the dreadful events happening in the course of their lives. "Vergiss Amerika" succinctly exemplifies the primordial truth that no one is born a loser. Inescapable circumstances compel a person to feel despondent. Vanessa Joop's film reveals a recognizable facet of German Youth Culture where the kids are nice, smart, wholly captivated by the idea of making it big in their lives. Benno,Anna and David toiled steadfastly towards achieving that goal. Vergiss Amerika speaks a lot about the contemporary German life as it has handled ubiquitous topics like teenage aspirations, life in a small town and unemployment. It deftly reveals the inadequate economic progress made in East Germany. The economic situation is so bad that everyone is setting off to Berlin in order to achieve material success. Vergiss Amerika failed miserably at the German Box Office as it could not engross a nation of cinema lovers totally enchanted by American Cinema. This did not deter Vanessa Joop at all as her next film Engel & Joe was a big success at various International Film Festivals.

What kind of a reaction is this film talking about ?,

Vakonesh Panjom (2003) directed by Tahmineh Milani.

There is hardly any film making nation more prolific than Iran where more or less a dozen women cinéastes are active. They are : Rakhshan Bani Etemad, Puran Derakhshandeh, Tahmineh Milani, Marva Nabili, Manijeh Hekmat, Niki Karimi, Mania Akbari, Mona Zandi, Samira Makhmalbaf, Marziyeh Meshkini etc. "The Fifth Reaction" by Tahmineh Milani offers a feminine perspective on Iranian women's problems from a controversial feminist filmmaker. The major difference between this film and those made by other women filmmakers is that while pacifist women filmmakers like Rakhshan Bani Etemad, Puran Derakhshandeh have always made it a point to depict the sad plight of Iranian women coming from economically weaker sections, Tahmineh Milani has preferred to portray the lives of affluent Iranian women. This ideology further lends credibility to the belief that it is not only poor people whose lives should be shown in films as even rich people's lives provide excellent stories for films. Thanks to such a positive stand taken by Tahmineh Milani, this trend is further explored in new films by Niki Karimi and Mania Akbari.Niki Karimi, who fortunately happens to the most recognizable face of Iranian cinema, plays the role of a young widow who is continually troubled by her father-in-law as after his son's demise,he would like to take custody of his grandchildren. This move is fiercely opposed by this young educated widow as all her modern, progressive educated friends lend her a helping hand in order to thwart any move to snatch the young ones from her.The sad thing is that these other women are also troubled by the men in their lives.On watching this film one can discern that the women shown are educated,come from affluent families. I am quite certain that all the viewers will be continually asking the question : Why are they subjugated to such a nasty subhuman treatment ? This is an issue which should have been addressed by the director but unfortunately there is no hint of it in the film. Like many other films of similar kind, "The fifth element" has its share of melodramatic elements too. I reckon this must have
been planned keeping the box office aspirations in mind. Lastly, the title of the film will remain a mystery. What is the fifth reaction and even if such a reaction exists, it is a reaction to what ? May be for this reason this film provides ample food for thought.

A meaningful DEFA production

Unser täglich Brot (1949) directed by Slatan Dudov

Unser taglich brot can be defined as the most meaningful DEFA production which successfully portrayed new socio-economic order and the ever changing Post war reality.It is set in post World War II Berlin in an era which heralded a time of hectic activity. Dudov analyses the questions and problems affecting the people at that time.He obviously wanted to familiarize members of the bourgeoisie with the concept of socialism.The Weber residence appeared more like a refugee camp as certain people didn't have a place to stay. Berlin was the hub of commotion as everybody had to work.This goal was all too evident in the schematic interpretation of the script.Unser taglich brot appears credible as it agreeably mirrored working class aspirations.It can be labelled as the first true socialist film made by DEFA studios.

I would definitely show this film to all my family members.

Yadon Ilaheyya (2002) directed by Elia Suleiman.


Divine Intervention is a clever example of how human intelligence on behalf of a filmmaker is crucial for making a film which is enjoyable, successful, popular, crowd puller and of course followed by hard to please critics. Normally it is seen that very few film directors work hard on the overall development of their scripts. It is this issue which has been deftly handled by Elie Suleiman. He has given ample breathing space to all his characters regardless of their order of appearance. That is why there is no reference to neither major nor minor characters. There is no doubt that in terms of content, narrative style and visual presentation it is a different film. What makes it unique is that in some manner the director has resorted to cheap gimmicks. For example-when the film starts there is hardly any glimpse of Israel-Palestine conflict but as it progresses this conflict comes in the foreground. This is something which can be easily detected. The best thing that can be said about Divine Intervention is that it can be watched by all and sundry. This is not at all a mean achievement for a film from Palestine.

Marvellous film underscoring the importance of family values

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) directed by Lasse Hallstrom.

Everything about this film is sacred as it has been made with absolute dedication.It is one of those rare Hollywood films which bring good thoughts to mind.The great thing to watch in this film is a highly uncommon small American town where nothing much happens.All that remains of this town are its quirky people including Gilbert,Arnie,two sisters and their fat mother.This is not a coming of age story but a meaningful story of a young boy who sacrifices his personal happiness for the greater well being of his family.He desperately wants to find a permanent solution to two of his greatest worries:his nerdy young brother and his excessively obese mother.Johnny Depp is absolutely hard to believe in such a deglamorised role.Leonardo de Caprio is great too as the nerdy brother. Juliette Lewis is good too as Gilbert's friend.This film has been directed by a talented Swedish director named Lasse Hallstrom who among other
films has made a documentary about Abba.

Parisian metro : chaos follows even if it closes for a day.

Zazie dans le metro directed by Louis Malle.

Films featuring metro are a sub genre in itself.In French cinema,2 of the most eccentric metro films are :subway and Zazie dans le métro.On the one hand "Subway" is more of an "in the metro" film,on the other hand "Zazie dans le métro" can be defined as something of "outside the metro" film.Nothing much happens in the metro itself.This is because in the film Parisian metro is just a metaphor in order to allow a young girl to explore the intricacies of the adults' behavior.The young girl whose role is nicely played by Catherine Demongeot is a veritable trouble maker.Although she is in Paris to enjoy her stay, she is more interested in pestering her uncle.Great French actor (now dead),Philippe Noiret plays the role of the hapless uncle who is absolutely at a loss as to how to reply to his niece's absurd questions.This film by Louis Malle is quite unusual as there is no other film which can match its spirit of freewheeling fun.For fact finders, the film is based on a novel by Raymond
Queneau who was close to surrealist writers of his times.