“Il Futuro”
A group of criminals intend to rob a retired B-film Hollywood star, nicknamed Maciste (Rutger Hauer), living in Italy by putting one of their members, Bianca (Manuella Martelli), to pose as a prostitute. Things don’t go as plan when she develops feelings for the reclusive star, who is, by the way, blind. The plot device of the narrative is how the guarded and brooding Bianca gradually starts opening herself not because of her sexuality nor sex but more through conversations that reveals her inner thoughts and aspirations; her often state of undress I assumed not meant to titillate but more to show how became comfortable baring her body, mind, and soul. Unfortunately, this Alicia Scherson-directed drama feels rather flat but the glossy visuals and plot is captivating enough to keep you curious till the end.
A group of criminals intend to rob a retired B-film Hollywood star, nicknamed Maciste (Rutger Hauer), living in Italy by putting one of their members, Bianca (Manuella Martelli), to pose as a prostitute. Things don’t go as plan when she develops feelings for the reclusive star, who is, by the way, blind. The plot device of the narrative is how the guarded and brooding Bianca gradually starts opening herself not because of her sexuality nor sex but more through conversations that reveals her inner thoughts and aspirations; her often state of undress I assumed not meant to titillate but more to show how became comfortable baring her body, mind, and soul. Unfortunately, this Alicia Scherson-directed drama feels rather flat but the glossy visuals and plot is captivating enough to keep you curious till the end.
“Curling”
A rather odd story about a man who raised his daughter all by himself, including home-schooling her. Jean Francois (Emmanuel Bilodeau) occupies himself with his work in a bowling alley, then his friends start introducing him to this new sports called curling that consists of sliding stones on ice. The discovery of frozen corpses in snow-covered forests and mysterious blood in a motel room later, Jean Francois decides to takes a trip, inexplicably leaving his 12-year-old daughter all alone at home. The pic (directed by Denis Cote) is a bit slow with hints of mystery behind the ordinary façade, but dunno why it’s titled Curling though…
A rather odd story about a man who raised his daughter all by himself, including home-schooling her. Jean Francois (Emmanuel Bilodeau) occupies himself with his work in a bowling alley, then his friends start introducing him to this new sports called curling that consists of sliding stones on ice. The discovery of frozen corpses in snow-covered forests and mysterious blood in a motel room later, Jean Francois decides to takes a trip, inexplicably leaving his 12-year-old daughter all alone at home. The pic (directed by Denis Cote) is a bit slow with hints of mystery behind the ordinary façade, but dunno why it’s titled Curling though…
“I Stay With You”
If a caveman still living today and if by chance the first film they watched was I Stay With You, they might assume modern men/women are TOTALLY cray cray. Shot mostly in establishing shots showing (initially) people just chatting, getting to know each other, bantering, but without any real focus, then later the same style of shot displays a group of women doing sadistic things to a man they held hostage after meeting him at a bar. It’s a girls’ night out tale that takes a very nasty turn, which interestingly doesn’t involve the ladies being chased by masked madman. Yes, it is sort of novel to see the roles are reversed here: instead of men, this Artemio Narro-directed pic shows women acting as the torturer, although nothing happened to them ala Thelma & Louise or The Brave One (or perhaps it did in the past but there was never any explanation). One could assume these like-minded people (all the actresses gave a phenomenal and committed performances, btw), and I’ve read that it simply represents the violence culture in Mexico. But sometimes, mid-way through the film, I often ask myself, what’s the point? I just hope that showing violence to stop violence really does work, otherwise…
If a caveman still living today and if by chance the first film they watched was I Stay With You, they might assume modern men/women are TOTALLY cray cray. Shot mostly in establishing shots showing (initially) people just chatting, getting to know each other, bantering, but without any real focus, then later the same style of shot displays a group of women doing sadistic things to a man they held hostage after meeting him at a bar. It’s a girls’ night out tale that takes a very nasty turn, which interestingly doesn’t involve the ladies being chased by masked madman. Yes, it is sort of novel to see the roles are reversed here: instead of men, this Artemio Narro-directed pic shows women acting as the torturer, although nothing happened to them ala Thelma & Louise or The Brave One (or perhaps it did in the past but there was never any explanation). One could assume these like-minded people (all the actresses gave a phenomenal and committed performances, btw), and I’ve read that it simply represents the violence culture in Mexico. But sometimes, mid-way through the film, I often ask myself, what’s the point? I just hope that showing violence to stop violence really does work, otherwise…
“The Quiet Roar”
Set against the backdrop of majestic mountains, this Swedish film is a rumination of past life’s regrets as the dying, elderly central character, Marianne (Evabritt Strandberg), seeks therapy at a clinic that uses LSD in order to revisit one chapter of her life with her family. Thus began a series of flashbacks during a family holiday in the most incredibly expansive house situated near a cliff (perched aloof from the rest, just like the characters) where she wants to understand what really happened. It’s a somewhat intriguing journey, with the younger character (Joni Franceen) suddenly doing a monologue while the others listen, but overall, like the sweeping setting, it felt rather cold and distant.
Set against the backdrop of majestic mountains, this Swedish film is a rumination of past life’s regrets as the dying, elderly central character, Marianne (Evabritt Strandberg), seeks therapy at a clinic that uses LSD in order to revisit one chapter of her life with her family. Thus began a series of flashbacks during a family holiday in the most incredibly expansive house situated near a cliff (perched aloof from the rest, just like the characters) where she wants to understand what really happened. It’s a somewhat intriguing journey, with the younger character (Joni Franceen) suddenly doing a monologue while the others listen, but overall, like the sweeping setting, it felt rather cold and distant.
“Los Hongos”
A peek at the world of anonymous graffiti artists in Colombia, Ruiz Navia’s Los Hongos (or “The Mushrooms” for some reason) is both a social and political commentary told through the eyes—and drawing artistries—of two seemingly well behaved teenage boys. Calvin (Calvin Buenaventura Tascon) has a sweet relationship with his ailing grandmother (who lives in a simple yet beautiful plant-filled house), and Ras (Jovan Alexis Marquinez Angulo) is somewhat close to his opera-loving politician father even though already divorced from his mother. Both of them are teenagers from working class family, part outcast, but found purpose in graffiti drawing especially during the Arab Spring, which eventually got them in trouble with authorities. Half docudrama (with real graffiti artists appearing) and half artsy pic, Los Hongos is consistently compelling in its portrayal of the personal lives of the two protagonists as well as the social conditions in which they lived in.
A peek at the world of anonymous graffiti artists in Colombia, Ruiz Navia’s Los Hongos (or “The Mushrooms” for some reason) is both a social and political commentary told through the eyes—and drawing artistries—of two seemingly well behaved teenage boys. Calvin (Calvin Buenaventura Tascon) has a sweet relationship with his ailing grandmother (who lives in a simple yet beautiful plant-filled house), and Ras (Jovan Alexis Marquinez Angulo) is somewhat close to his opera-loving politician father even though already divorced from his mother. Both of them are teenagers from working class family, part outcast, but found purpose in graffiti drawing especially during the Arab Spring, which eventually got them in trouble with authorities. Half docudrama (with real graffiti artists appearing) and half artsy pic, Los Hongos is consistently compelling in its portrayal of the personal lives of the two protagonists as well as the social conditions in which they lived in.
“Deux Remi Deux”
A quirky French comedy about a nondescript guy—the titular Remi (Pascal Cervo)—leading a dull life, working at a boring job with colleagues who barely noticed him, and though he’s got a crush but he’s too timid to express it. Until one day, he meets his much more cocksure doppelganger who threatens to take over his life. There’s an amusing mistaken identity narrative throughout as the real Remi tries to convince or dissuade people from believing in mischievous fake Remi, but if you think it’ll end up in a predictable Hollywood closure, well, it doesn’t because this Pierre Leon film is too weird for that. Think Wes Anderson or Spike Jonze instead…
A quirky French comedy about a nondescript guy—the titular Remi (Pascal Cervo)—leading a dull life, working at a boring job with colleagues who barely noticed him, and though he’s got a crush but he’s too timid to express it. Until one day, he meets his much more cocksure doppelganger who threatens to take over his life. There’s an amusing mistaken identity narrative throughout as the real Remi tries to convince or dissuade people from believing in mischievous fake Remi, but if you think it’ll end up in a predictable Hollywood closure, well, it doesn’t because this Pierre Leon film is too weird for that. Think Wes Anderson or Spike Jonze instead…