Saturday, June 30, 2012

Suddenly, Last Summer


USA 1959

Details imdb

Seen 29 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 82% liked it
















My ratings 8.0/10
I have a biased opinion on this film since I like the three main actors in the film, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift who play the main characters in the film. It is based on a Tennessee Williams play with the screenplay by Gore Vidal. The director is Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Those names on their own is a draw and having them together is indeed a bonus. Some might find the film unpalatable as the film depends a lot on the dialogue but the script is brilliant. The music score that rises to a crescendo or is just a whisper at certain points adds to the overall feel of the film.

My favourite quotes from the film:
A poet's life is his work, and his work is his life
Truth is at the bottom of a bottomless world


My impressions:

A tragedy will definitely have repercussions
Reverberating unbidden

Caught in the tragedy
Those close might not be able to see
Or want to accept
The flaws that belong to everyone

Some might consider it a flaw
Some willingly accept that side of a person
Some deny the existence of such

Denial might be best
A made up utopia
Until one day
The truth has to be accepted
Even if it is painful

Peppermint Candy (Bakha satang)


South Korea 1999

Details imdb

Seen 28 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 82% liked it


















My ratings 8.0/10
The life of a man told in reverse. Throughout the 20 years period that the film covers, we see how his character changes and is affected by the decisions he had made.

My favourite quote from the film:
The rain I'm looking is the same rain she's looking at


My impressions:

A man goes through many changes
Some are definitely of his own vocation
Some are forced unto him
Some are given and taken by him

Opportunities or circumstances
The difference might not be discernible

One act leads to another
Consequences known only in future
Who can predict or know
What will be then
We live for the day
We do not know the past
Will catch up with us one day

Then we decide
Which path to take next

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Other Conquest (La otra conquista)


Mexico 1998

Details imdb

Seen 27 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 54% liked it
















My ratings 6.0/10
The story revolves around the conversion to Christianity of the native population in Mexico. The conquerors, the Spaniards leave no stone unturned in their efforts to make Mexico the new Spain.

My favourite dialogue from the film:
Why have you come to take away what is ours?


My impressions:

The clash of civilisation
Centuries ago
The conquerors
The conquered
Between them
Blood flows easily

In one, the blood of sacrifice
In the other, the blood of salvation

One has noble aims
Supposedly
Besides the riches and glory

One is determined
To stay true
To oneself
The set of beliefs
Since ancient times

Who will triumph
Are there any winners?

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Nina's Tragedies (Ha-Asonot Shel Nina)


Israel 2004

Details imdb

Seen 26 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 75% liked it
















My ratings 7.0/10
A sweet drama on a nephew's obsessions with his aunt. He is in that awkward age group trying to come to terms with his raging hormones and pours all the feelings in a diary. The film relies on the diary to show the boy's emotions towards those close to him and how he copes with the situations.

My favourite dialogue from the film:
We were silent and happy.


My impressions:

Growing up not without love
But maybe a different kind of love
Not the conventional kind

Feelings grow towards
Those close to you
The lines blurry between
Reality and fantasy
Facts and fiction
Nightmares and dreams
Loves and losses

Those in your life
Have an impact
On what you perceive

Do the cries mean anything
Or do words carry more weight
Or just a convenience
A temporary measure
Until we get what we want

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Crossing Borders (Un franco, 14 pesetas)


Spain 2006

Details imdb

Seen 25 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 6.9/10


















My ratings 7.0/10
The life of a Spanish migrant worker in Switzerland in the 1960s. A gentle drama of his life in a foreign country, first just with his friend and the difficulties faced adapting to a new way of life. It seems too good to be true, all the good things in a foreign land compared to your own. Maybe time has made memories more opaque.


My impressions:

When a decision had to be made
There were doubts
Questions, dilemmas

Family and everything familiar left behind
Encountering a totally different environment
Language, culture and norms

Still they embarked
On the journey
They adapt as they must
To forge ahead
As the ultimate aim was to gain wealth
Savings, scrimping
In order to get back home

The grass might be greener on the other side
Meadows, rivers and trees
But in the end
Home is still home
Despite its flaws

Monday, June 25, 2012

Treeless Mountain (Hangul: 나무없는 산; RR: Namueopneun San)


South Korea 2008

Details imdb

Seen 24 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience  72% liked it


















My ratings 7.0/10
Two sisters cope with their new situation when the mother leaves them with others.


My impressions:

At such an age
When others are just playing
Enjoying the times
Being children
They have to face reality

Not exactly abandoned
But circumstances
Separates them from their loved ones

They are too young
Innocent
But still the longing
The hurt, that empty space
Lingers

Time will heal
While hope is still there
One day
The family will be
Reunited

Sunday, June 24, 2012

A Step Into Darkness (Büyük oyun)


Turkey 2009

Details imdb

Seen 23 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 4.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 60% liked it


















My ratings 6.0/10
A journey to find a brother brings the main character into contact with others who are pursuing their own causes.

My favourite dialogue from the film:
But sitting and crying does not change a thing. It's time to do something.


My impressions:

All seemed ideal
Peaceful, tranquil
Until one night
Everything changed
And a journey begins

Those tentative steps
To an unknown world
Without any definite answers
Without any definite direction
But just following
The instinct
The feelings
The longings

Missing those moments
From the past
Can it be relived
Can it ever be the same again

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Kill Them All (Matar a Todos)


Uruguay 2007

Details rottentomatoes

Seen 22 June 2012

Ratings from other sources
IMDB 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 63% liked it
















My ratings 7.0/10
A political thriller played against the backdrop of the newly emerging democracies in South America. The past does not seem willing to let go while the present tries to make its mark.

My favourite dialogue from the film:
The truth is always for the best. It hurts but it heals.


My impressions:

It began with a call
Disappearance

Intrigued
When another comes with further information

There is a gut feeling
That you are on the right track
Even if others are disbelieving
Even if they try to thwart the effort
In finding the truth

The truth does hurt
In this case it involves
Those close to you
And how would you resolve the dilemma

As the past collides with the present
Will there be closure

Friday, June 22, 2012

Bi, Don't Be Afraid (Bi, dung so!)


Vietnam 2010

Details imdb

Seen 21 June 2012

A boy and his family

Ratings
IMDB 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 25% liked it
There is not much dialogue and the director lets the scenes tell the story. A grandfather who comes back from abroad, the father who seems distant from the family, the aunt who is seeking love and the irrepressible boy in the title. There is an undercurrent of emotions but it never explodes in one big burst. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

Boys will be boys
Curious, asking questions
Naughty, stumbling
Into the adults world

While the adults
Try to cope with emotions
Repressed, hidden
Feelings which are not for public consumption

This is a family after all
Decorum and face value
Take precedence
Appearances matter
Even if the heart
Bleeds

The adults will find a solution
Eventually
Whether it is right or wrong
Time will tell

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Distance (La Distancia)


Spain 2006

Details imdb

Seen 20 June 2012

A pawn in a bigger game

Ratings
IMDB 5.8/10
The premise is simple and starts with a  boxer who is waiting to be released from prison in a week's time asked to murder another inmate. That is the start of his misadventure in a world not of his own. It is not a grip the seat kind of thriller but it has its moments. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

In prison due to past events
Innocent but at the mercy of the system

To be free is not without sacrifices
Even if it leads to dangerous paths
It has to be taken

As the other option
Would be a longer time
Behind bars

The girl was supposed to be
Just a one night stand
But the heart has a mind of its own
That increases the delicate balance

Danger is evident
Everywhere
A territory alien to outsiders
Intrigue and mayhem are in control

Others are just collateral damage
In the pursuit of riches and fame

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Abu, Son of Adam (Adaminte Makan Abu)


India 2011

Details wikipedia

Seen 19 June 2012

Sacrifices towards a goal

Ratings
IMDB 7.5/10
A couple feels that it is time for them to go for the pilgrimage. It all started well as they have some savings and bit by bit, the goal seemed achievable. Nevertheless, the reality is different. Interestingly, even though this is not a Bollywood production, there are still songs in some scenes but no dances though. I'll give this a 7.5/10




My impressions:

A chance conversation
Triggers the desire
The long kept dream, ambition
To go for that journey
That every Muslim must perform
If he is able

The if word
Can they afford it
Where will they get the funds

They do have some savings
But it is not sufficient
Other sources have to be found

Others want to help
But they will stick to the rules
It has to be their own savings
Before they embark on the journey

It might not be today
It can be in the future
There is always tomorrow

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Closely Watched Trains (Ostre sledované vlaky)

Czechoslovakia 1966

Details imdb

Seen 18 June 2012

Love amidst the war

Ratings
IMDB 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience  87% liked it
A simple tale at first glance. A young man having difficulties in having a relationship with his girl friend. The story telling feels Kafkaesque with the little subtleties thrown throughout the film. I'm sure I missed quite a few gems even with the help of the subtitles. I'll give this an 8.0/10




My impressions:

The young man is eager
His first job, and the chance
To learn and observe
From the experienced
Not just learning about the job
But about love and life itself

He has a girl friend
Who tries to initiate him
In the arts of love but
Maybe the pressure to perform
Seems too much such that
He did not succeed in his duty

Dejected
He tries to find a solution

He resumes his job
Determined to change
For the better
For his love, the girl and his nation

He has what it takes
To make his mark as a man

Sunday, June 17, 2012

If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (Eu cand vreau sa fluier, fluier)


Romania 2010

Details imdb

Seen 16 June 2012

An outburst waiting to happen

Ratings
IMDB 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 54% liked it
Two weeks before he is released, the young prisoner finds out that his mother is back in his life and wants to take the younger brother away. Then we see how he confronts the news and his actions. I like the sparse feel of the film and the script does give an insight of the emotional turmoil within ourselves if we are in the same situation. I'll give this an 8.0/10



My impressions:

Others might not feel the same way
But you have been through that life
And do not want another in the family
To go through the same experience

Out of desperation as
Time is running out
You do whatever you can
Whatever it takes
As the elder
Feeling, being responsible
In order that history does not repeat itself

That is your main intention
Not to harm others
But to save, prevent
The ones you hold dear from
Taking that particular road
When there is a choice
Of a better journey





Oasis

South Korea 2002

Details imdb

Seen 14 June 2012

Companionship, love blossoms

Ratings
IMDB 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience  84% liked it
A misfit and another on the fringe of society. An unlikely combination but they find solace in each other. The tentative beginning eventually becomes a strong bond between the two. Alas, society thinks otherwise. I'll give this an 8.0/10





My impressions:

It seems so unlikely
Both misfits and unwanted
Just tolerated
Both used for others benefits
They have so much in common
Others could not see

Others who regard themselves
As the normal ones
Should take a leaf from the two

Society does not see it that way
They are just another anomaly
A burden
If possible should be hidden
But the two are real
Not fiction

A damning evidence
Of our shallow
Perceptions

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

One song a day takes mischief away (Tko pjeva zlo ne misli)


Croatia 1970

Details imdb

Seen 12 June 2012

A week of love, attraction and songs

Ratings
IMDB 7.8/10
This is a very quaint film but I enjoyed it as I've never seen a Croatian film. The songs and lyrics had a nostalgic feel of innocent times. The acting is stilted but complements the overall mood of the film. A fun watch. I'll give this a 7.0/10





My impressions:

A compound of families
Ordinary folks and neighbours

Each day seem a routine
Until an outing
Brings a stranger

The man has eyes for the lady
Tries his best to be closer
Alas the lady is married
But he still tries
Persistent, not giving up

Each ensuing day
Sees the relationship
Going through cycles

In between, the songs
Mirror the situation
The impossible

It can never happen
The couple will be together
The man will have to find another

But will he

Monday, June 11, 2012

Baaria


Italy 2009

Details imdb

Seen 10 June 2012

The life and times of a communist party member in Sicily

Ratings
IMDB  6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 52% liked it
History unfolding before our eyes from the times before the Second World War until the modern era. This is the backdrop for the child who grew up trying to adjust to mainstream Italy and eventually making his mark on his own terms. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

It was a small village
Remote, untouched
Seemed so different
In contrast to the big picture
The boy is the face of that village
Trying his best to be assimilated
Melding into the whole

He might be part of the whole
But still retaining
The independent streak

Maybe that is the reason
He joined a different party
With a different outlook
The champions for the underdogs

He brings up his family
Through many trials and tribulations
They have their moments
Some beautiful memories
Some painful ones too



Sunday, June 10, 2012

The Dresser


UK 1983

Details imdb

Seen 8 June 2012

The dedication and love of one for the other

Ratings
IMDB 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience  81% liked it
The first ten minutes of the film gives an indication of the acting prowess of the main actors. The story revolves around the relationship between a veteran theatre actor and his entourage especially his personal assistant. Those who love Shakespeare's plays would find an enlightening inside into the production of King Lear. I'll give this an 8.0/10



My impressions:

Old, crotchety, impossible
But of course he is brilliant
When he is in the mood
Charming, witty

Others know it
He himself realises
The mind plays tricks
The body is not young anymore
The years have taken its toll

That friend, assistant
Helps, urges, scolds
Patching up, making it whole again
It takes all sorts of tricks
Persuasion, patience
To take that step

Something triggers in the mind
There is still some life left
The act must go on

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Angel at sea (Un ange à la mer)


Belgium 2009

Details imdb

Seen 6 June 2012

How do you keep a secret

Ratings
IMDB 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 46% liked it
A study of the relationship between a father and his son. The son's efforts to keep his promise to his father strains the family unit. The patience among the family members are tested and they struggle to make sense of what is happening. I'll give this an 7.0/10





My impressions:

All of a sudden
A secret is known
In a sense a legacy

A secret between the two
To be kept at all costs
A secret not for others
To be kept hidden
Unrevealed, undiscovered

Others do not know
Neither understand
What is happening

Only the two of them know the secret
But for how long
Does the secret remain
A secret

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

The Terrorizers (Kong bu fen zi)


Taiwan 1986

Details imdb

Seen 5 June 2012

The ripple turns into a storm

Ratings
IMDB 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 86% liked it
A writer who is having difficulties getting inspiration became a victim of someone's prank. She unknowingly opened the gates to irreversible actions taken by those close to her. I'll give this an 8.0/10






My impressions:

In the beginning all the characters
Seem distant from each other
Each separate, with different lives

Circumstances will always change
A phone call was the start
Or was it the catalyst
That moved the action along
From its static premise

Once in motion
No one is in control
Those who think they can
Might even be the weakest link

Events cannot be reversed
Time cannot be turned back
The clock keep ticking

Until the resolution

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The Song of Sparrows (Avaze gonjeshk-ha)


Iran 2008

Details imdb

Seen 4 June 2012

In times of adversity

Ratings
IMDB 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 83% liked it
Malaysian audience might like to know that there is a mention of Malaysian goods in one scene, at least that is what the subtitles displayed. The main character is in almost every scene with a running gamut of emotions. At the same time, the family and children play a crucial supporting role in depicting his struggles and triumphs. I'll give this a 7.0/10



My impressions:

The unexpected happened
What was routine turned haywire
And he has to find another job
Another source of income
To support the family

The unexpected happened again
He found the job
Not that he was looking for it
We could say, it came after him

He went his merry way
Accumulating riches
Sometimes forgetting there are rights and wrongs
Fortunately remembering
The mistakes and making amends

The unexpected seems always to be his fate and
This time he has to depend on the family
And they rise to the occasion

Not smooth sailing all the way
Tears are shed, smiles appear
The human spirit and will
Continues to face another day

Monday, June 04, 2012

Bad Day to Go Fishing (Mal día para pescar)


Uruguay 2009

Details imdb

Seen 2 June 2012

The impresario and his plan

Ratings
IMDB 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 67% liked it
A previous world champion tries to make his mark again with the help of his manager. His manager uses dubious means to garner interest in the small town that they visit. We'll see the interplay between the two and others, how circumstances change and values are upheld. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

He is not the champion anymore
Even though
The blurbs say otherwise
Despite the appearance
Those who know will realise
He is on the way down

There are some who know
That if there is a fair fight
The champion will be dethroned

The manager thinks differently
The big bucks are his calling
He will do anything possible
To perpetuate the myth
That the champion is still
The greatest

Conditions change
There is a different view
To continue, to run away, to accept defeat
Those questions
Have to be answered
Before another day begins

Sunday, June 03, 2012

Weighed but found wanting (Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang)


Philippines 1974

Details imdb

Seen 2 June 2012

The outsiders in a society

Ratings
IMDB 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 79% liked it
The title of the film which is taken from Daniel 5:27 is a very appropriate metaphor of the general attitudes of the townspeople depicted in the story. The filming style might seem jaded but the message is still relevant. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

A life lost
Unwanted
But you did not consent to that lost
And you wander through the years
Bewildered

Until you find a kindred spirit
Who understands how it feels
To be an outsider
Unappreciated
Misunderstood

The two try to lead their own lives
But norms dictate otherwise
They impose their morals
Their ethics, education and wealth
But does society realise

The outsiders
Might be the ones who are
The righteous

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (Joze to tora to sakana tachi)


Japan 2003

Details imdb

Seen 1 June 2012

Friendship, love, from a different world

Ratings
IMDB 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 93% liked it
Some might find the friendship and love that came along between these two from different worlds very unlikely. Those feelings did not surface overnight but went through the usual ups and downs of a relationship. The script is not melodramatic but says enough about how we feel when we meet someone different. I'll give this a 7.0/10



My impressions:

The unlikeliest encounter
Is
The start of a discovery
When
The feelings deepen
And
They try to make it last

But will it pass the test
Of a normal life
What is expected
Of ordinary folks
Not an outsider
Of whom we are not sure
How will it fare, this relationship
Of course we will not know

She is strong
He will always remember




Friday, June 01, 2012

Minggu Pagi di Victoria Park (Sunday Morning in Victoria Park)


Indonesia 2010


Seen 31 May 2012

A microcosm of migrant workers' lives

Ratings
IMDB 7.3/10
A migrant worker in search of her sister discovers other issues facing workers abroad. The film maker tries to touch on some main points faced by migrant workers abroad and keeps the option open in finding a solution. The plot is believable and the acting ensemble managed to convey the plight of the workers quite well. I'll give this a 7.0/10




My impressions:

The mission was an order of sorts
Reluctantly obeyed

No one was supposed to know
You did not want anyone to meddle
It was your own secret

As it is a small community
Eventually the secret is out
Everyone seems to know about the others

Why is that so
It does seem claustrophobic

But it has its advantages
Looking after each other
Giving a helping hand
Whenever you can
Reminding each other
Of pitfalls and temptations

The search continues
The help from others welcomed
The feelings still uncertain