Nagabonar Jadi 2

Indonesia 2007

Details kapanlagi

Seen 1 January 2007

On the surface it looks like a comedy, but there are layers of events interspersed that makes the audience sit up and take notice. Political shenanigans, disappointments and misuse are highlights besides the obligatory love interest.

There is also the relationship between a father and son. This is especially appealing to me. The silent moments when the father remembers a past event or the way he looks at his son, gives the audience an opportunity to reflect on their own way of handling relationships.

The actor who plays the main character is superb and it helps that he this is his own film. He is ably supported by the others giving us a realistic picture of the generational gap and its complications.

Eternal Summer

Taiwan 2006
Poster imdb

Details lovehkfilm

Seen 31 December 2007

A menage a trois? Maybe. But this film highlights the struggle in coming to terms with your feelings. That feeling of love and friendship. Where does one start and the other ends. Do we sacrifice one for the other?

The three main characters managed to portray the inner conflict between two opposing emotions. The longing, sacrifice, guilt and in the end coming to terms with reality make this a wonderful little film to be savoured by all.

An eternal summer indeed.

Koper

Indonesia 2006

Details richardoh

Seen 1 December 2007

Surreal. A bag found by an ordinary man who lives a mundane existence as a clerk in a government department becomes the focal point of the film. The perception of others about him changes with the appearance of the bag. Everyone presumes that the bag is the same bag mentioned in a news item about a bank robbery. Even his wife feels that their life will change for the better if only he uses what is inside the bag. He is adamant that the bag should be returned to its rightful owner but his efforts were unsuccessful.

Avarice seems to be an all encompassing presence in his surroundings. He only found a kindred spirit in a lady bar owner but his efforts to live by his moral and ethical standards bring the situation at home to a crisis point when his wife falls ill and needs a lot of money to pay for an operation.

His actions seem incoherent but in the end there is a sort of an answer for the audience.

In America

USA 2002

Details imdb

Seen 21 October 2007

On first glance, the story might seem like a simple tale of an ordinary Irish family seeking their fortune in America. Underneath that normal exterior lurks emotional demons from the past.

The family is not just seeking a better life in America but simultaneously trying to come to terms with what happened in the past. The encounters with their neighbours in a seedier side of New York brings new perspective on the family's struggles. One particular neighbour especially, a man from Africa became close to the family and events that occur later became the catalyst to unburden the hold from the past on all the family members.

Satisfactory watch even though you do have that feeling it would have a happy ending. Well, it did not end in a fairy tale style of happy endings, more with a dampener in between.

Blue Gate Crossing

Taiwan 2002

Details lovehkfilm

Seen 20 October 2007

It is confirmed. I am a corny, mushy, sentimental and lump in the throat person, This film confirms that suspicion.

From the first strains of the piano tinkling in the background, I was hooked and sunk deeper as the story went along its merry way.

This is a simple story of finding love when you are a teenager, on the verge of adulthood. Friendship between two girls, and a boy who is the object of admiration of one of them. The gawkiness and shyness of confessing that emotion to the intended party takes the bulk of the first few scenes.

This progressed into uncharted territory when the middle man herself finds the boy attractive. She has doubts about her feelings since she feels she is attracted to her own gender and it would be a betrayal of sorts to her close friend.

The actors were spot on in their portrayal of teenage insecurities. The phase everyone goes through and maybe still goes through in our advancing age.

Bee Season

USA 2005

Details imdb

Seen 16 October 2007

A seemingly happy family discovers each of them has secrets. The ball starts rolling when Eliza wins the district spelling competition. This spurs the father to help her go on to the next level of the championships. This helpful act brigs forth the father's own ambitions to the chagrin of his wife and son.

The film progresses by showing each family members' secret desires and hopes. But there are no major flare-ups as we get a low key style of story telling. Instead, the power of words and images is used a lot and emphasised.

What time is it there?

Taiwan 2001

Details imdb

Seen 15 October 2007

A father's death is the beginning of events related to time and place. The son, Hsiao Kong is a street peddler dealing in watches. A customer, Shiang-chyi, a girl who is going abroad the next day is vehement that she wants the watch that Hsiao Kong wears. At first he is reluctant to sell the watch but relents after much persuasion.

Hsiao Kong and his mother still feels the presence of the departed and no amount of prayer and offerings seems to calm the spirit. Both of them are affected and Shiang-chyi herself seems to have similar experiences.

The link is the watch, but on deeper reflection the three main characters have their own demons to face. The departed father, husband is just the catalyst.

Waiting for the clouds

Turkey 2004

Details arteeast

Seen 15 October 2007

This story of a minority middle aged woman with guilt feelings over past incidents might not strike a sympathetic chord with audiences. It is told in recollections of the woman. As it is, the actress who plays the woman holds the key to the whole drama of sacrifices, tragedies as well as love lost and found.

She as a victim survived for 50 years in a place far away from her original home. The death of her sister, triggered events that eventually reconnect her with the past.

I guess her waiting for the clouds to clear was not in vain.

Quinceanera

USA 2006

Poster and details imdb

Seen 15 October 2007

The title refers to the coming of age celebrations for a girl on reaching fifteen years old. The story centres on Magdalena who is 14 but finds that she is pregnant, not through full sexual intercourse but more a result of an accident, an immaculate conception. That and plus the fact that her father is the parish priest made her find refuge at her great grand uncle's place, Tomas. This is also the safe place for her troubled cousin, Carlos who acts though but is a decent man at heart.

After a few more complications down the road, we see the scene stealer, a funeral and a eulogy that brings back the families together. A piece of the eulogy brought some sense back to the warring parties. The dead man was a man of love, accepts all without any prejudgements. A saint according to the speaker whose spirit will live on among those who knew him and generations to come.

Bitter sweet.

The Fog of War

USA 2004

Details sonyclassics

Seen 13 October 2007

A documentary on former US defence secretay, Robert S. McNamara. He had a major role in many decisions since the Second World War until the Vietnam War.

He is a fascinating subject as he was in the corridors of power for so long. He also had experience in the business world, once with the Ford Motor Company and the World Bank after he left government service.

The interviews try to show the reasons behind decisions taken during crucial moments in the history of the USA when dealing with its adversaries. There were still a few questions left unanswered completely, eg, those conrning the Vietnam War. He felt that further comments might open up a pandora's box.

One telling moment was when he acknowledged that he does not answer questions posed to him but rather those that he think should be asked.

A politician, not really. A dedicated cabinet member who believes wholeheartedly in the work he is doing, that seems more to the point.

As he says, war is such that the justification is complex and hence the fogginess of the issue. Right or wrong, ethics, morality, humanity, all these are not the prime concern in times of war.

There will always be losers and usually they are not the decision makers.

Little Miss Sunshine

USA 2006

Poster and details imdb

Seen 13 October 2007

The blurb says – a family on the verge of a breakdown. Quite true but this family shows that they are still a family after all the trials and tribulations. A road movie in a way with the main focus on the dreams of the daughter to be Little Miss Sunshine and how the rest of the family are linked to that pursuit.

This story proves my theory that a touch can play a big role in any situation. I guess human beings are emotional beings at the core. We need that physical assurance that we are on the right path. No amount of self motivation or lectures can replace that simple touch or hug to affirm that we are supported by those close and near.

Lump in the throat feeling in certain scenes.

Turtles can fly

Iraq 2005

Poster and details amazon

Seen 12 October 2007

Unforgettable as Newsweek magazine says. This film centres on the Kurds at the border of Turkey and Iraq during the last days Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq. The story revolves on the children at a village and refugee camp who get paid looking for scrap metal especially land mines planted around the area. A refugee girl with an older armless brother and a baby brother caught the attention of the leader of the children's gang. As the story unfolds, we learn how the girl and her brothers came to the camp. The flashback itself seems like a tiny fraction of the atrocities endured by the Kurds.

This is not a story with a happy ending however much I would love to believe that fate might give a better hand to the children. I do feel guilty since I am blessed ten fold compared to the children in the story. Why do children have to bear the brunt of adults' monstrosity?

Shanghai Panic

China 2001

Poster and details amazon

Seen 10 October 2007

The panic starts when Bei thinks he has AIDS. His friends rally around to bolster his self confidence so that he has enough courage to take the test to confirm whether he is HIV positive or not. Bei and his friends can be considered a staple in the clubs of Shanghai who spend their time talking and dissecting the past, present and future besides the good times at night. We see relationships going through ebbs and flow,. while the strength of friendships also goes through myriad tests. This film is a very intimate view of a small group of friends who try to find some semblance of life in the dreary world they have to live in.

Claustrophobic at times.

Butterfly man

Thailand 2002

Seen 8 October 2007

Poster and details butterflyman

A bit disappointing. The film has all the ingredients to make a great movie – reasonable plot, direction and actors, but the x-factor is missing. This is a tale of love gone astray. One night's debauchery, and the whole world goes topsy-turvy. But I just can't root or feel two hundred percent for the the characters, either through their love stage or struggles against the enemy. What a pity, it could have been great.

Men and Woman

China 1999

Poster and details cduniverse

Seen 4 October 2007

The film begins showing a scene of a man broadcasting his own private radio show – The Toilet Times. That in itself, is a good start for me. Toilet humour, maybe.

But the next scene shows a young man arriving in the big city looking for a job. A kind hearted shopkeeper takes him and even lets him stay at her place she shares with her husband. This lady is the rare big hearted woman who tries to help the young man make something out of his life. She even tries to introduce him to a girl in the hope that friendship and romance will blossom.

Unfortunately that scheme did not work according to plan. Instead, there are even some doubts that the young man is even interested in girls. This leads to complications in the relationship between the young man and his benefactor. He moved out of the house and seeks shelter at another friend's place.

The later scenes show how the toilet humor is inter-related to the main story and there is a nice twist to the relationship combinations. The final scene itself seems to be a summary of human relationships as well as a sly commentary on the state of the nation.

Satisfying look at normal lives with an added twist. Do not expect explicit bedroom scenes.

A river made to drown in

USA 1997

Poster and details imdb

Seen 22 March 2007

A dying man's last days with two persons he had loved. He was the typical flamboyant rich gay man who had many sexual partners. His feelings for these particular two men brought him back to Los Angeles. We se how he tries to make them realise that life is more than what it seems. A particular dialogue might sum up what he was trying to convey - “If you're terrified of loving someone besides yourself then you're not going anywhere”.
The film did not resort to histrionics but maintained an even keel. I was attracted to the film because it had Richard Chamberlain in the main role with a capable supporting cast which includes Ute Lemper and Talia Shire.

Sin Destino

Mexico 2002

Poster and details amazon

Seen 13 March 2007

Disturbing. A street boy's life in the cut throat man eat man urban landscape. We see Francisco selling his body to men to eke out a living of sorts. He also uses drugs to lessen the impact and forget what he has done. The drugs are supplied by his best friend, David who also initiates Francisco to a sexual encounter with a woman. Unfortunately, Francisco's past keeps haunting him. A past that kick started his life as a hustler since he first met a photographer, Sebastian who specialises in young boys' photographs. A hesitant first encounter with a girl that he likes pushes him back to Sebastian. Unfortunately, the downward spiral for Francisco continues from this point onwards.

The actor who played Francisco managed to convey the tormented soul of a street boy who is forced to do unspeakable acts in order to survive. The supporting cast lends a hand in giving the film its overall atmosphere of gloom and doom. There is a flicker of hope somewhere but not for Francisco in this lifetime.

Heart

Indonesia 2006

Poster and details sinema-indonesia

Seen 11 March 2007

Cliché ridden love story but it works. Two girls and one guy. Rachel and Farel have been good friends since they were kids and one day Farel falls for this girl named Luna. Then and only then did Rachel realise that her feelings for Farel goes deeper than being close good friends. That is the start of her sacrifices in order to see Farel happy with his love. At the end, Rachel confesses to Farel that she has lost her love, her ideal guy to another girl. Farel does not realise that Rachel is referring to he himself. There is another twist at the end which ties up the loose ends. Some of the dialogue can be over the top but taken overall, this method does pull the right heart strings. The film concentrates on the three main characters so the audience is focused on the story line. Good editing helped a lot in putting this tale of romance and sacrifice above the run of the mill output.

Silom Soi 2

Thailand 2006

Poster and details silom-soi2

Seen 10 March 2007

Gentle love story focused on two men, Kaeng and Tum. The film goes through their ups and downs thematically according to the letters of the alphabet. Interesting method. Feels like a documentary. The director does not delve too deeply into the whys and wherefores of love but more of mere touches on the surface. Some scenes deserve a special mention. For example, the scenes where Tum takes care of the sickly Kaeng and how Kaeng tries so hard to avoid physical love making with Tum.

The Queen

United Kingdom 2006

Poster and details imdb

Seen 2 March 2007

The film revolves on how the Queen of England, Elizabeth II copes with the death of her former daughter-in-law. Most probably a lot of the scenes and dialogue are conjectures but seems believable if reports that have been published on the English royal family are true. The main thrust of the story is how human the Queen is. Of course, she has her flaws but anyone else in her situation might have buckled under the pressure of being in the public gaze throughout their lives. She has always been under this spotlight, brought up to deal with the situation in the best way possible and the pressure became more acute since she became the queen in her twenties. Helen Mirren who pot rayed the queen did a remarkable job balancing the public and private persona of a woman who has been thrust into public life at such an early age. Revealing inside information on the machinations in the palace as well as the government of the day adds to a memorable tour de force.