At first glance, Petra, the main character is very cold hearted and gets
her way using others. Was it her past that has shaped her present?
Falling in love seems to put her stoic character vulnerable. Indeed, it
did. Petra wants everything according to her whims and fancies but others have
their own minds too. That reality hurts. A lot.
Human frailty. However strong you are, matters of the heart almost
always steers your plans not along the intended path.
What a coincidence or has it been written? Your life saved by a cat.
It seems out of this world. How could this even happen?
But, the film is based on a true story. The bond between the man and the
cat is such that there seems to be a mutual understanding, that they will face
whatever comes, together.
There were moments when the bond might be broken due to unforeseen
circumstances but they managed to be together again.
A real life feel good story which the film has managed to capture quite
well.
A trailblazer. An icon to many. He has his flaws but the love and
loyalty of his friends sees him through the lows whenever it occurs.
We might never know what indeed makes him the man he is, but this story
gives an overview of his rise in the fashion world. No doubts about it, his
ideas did change the industry.
He will remain an important figure in fashion history.
How do you cope with a loss? The love of your life. Someone who has been
with you for a long time. In comparison with close friends who only had the privilege
of a few years in bliss, you had almost a lifetime.
The moment has come to decide. Will you carry through your plans or will
circumstances change?
A quest to find the reasons why his grandfather was a missing piece in
the family’s photograph leads a man to a nation’s past.
Interviews, recollections of the past. Those who lived during those tumultuous
decades. These are heroes, martyrs to some but traitors and murderers to
others.
The other side of the story, the struggle for independence. Usually we
get the victor’s version. In this film, we hear and ponder the lives of those
who were pursued. They started young, idealistic, patriotic even.
Most of them are in their twilight years and their story must be told
and aired. The other side of the coin. Might not be pleasant, as atrocities
were committed in the name of the struggle. But definitely, food for thought.
It is quite hard to believe that there was such a person. But the story
is based on a real socialite who wanted to be on stage despite her lack of
talent. Her wealth helped overcome any obstacles that hindered her ambitions.
The dedication of her husband and her inner circle ensured that her
dreams came true. I doubt if anyone with lesser means would have been able to
carry off such a feat.
The
adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from
the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World
Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted
friend.
My
ratings
8.0/10
My
impressions:
Past
events affect everyone involved whether we are a willing party or
not. The efforts of the past lingers affecting the present. Do we
forge ahead and forget the past and concentrate on the present and
future? Those feelings that evolve through time do not disappear in
an instant. Gently shall we go a step at a time.
Impressive
ensemble acting backed by a well written script gave the story a
believable feel. The child actors are a delight to watch.
The
adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from
the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World
Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted
friend.
My
ratings8.0/10
My
impressions:
A
roller coaster, delicious smorgasbord of characters amidst an
approaching war. The old era will end soon and a new outlook is on
the horizon. That would not come to the fore until a few loose ends
are tied up. Layers of human foibles are highlighted. The ensemble
cast gave a rip roaring performance.
An
aging, out-of-work actress accepts one last job, though the
consequences of her decision affect her in ways she didn't consider..
My
ratings
7.0/10
My
impressions:
What
a wonderful idea. To be able to escape reality but how much do we
want to immerse ourselves in that world. Reality is not always
pleasant but despite its shortcomings, there is the assurance that
what we encounter is for all intents and purposes the real situation.
A hard choice when love comes into the equation. Or a simple
decision with no guarantees of its consequences.
The
'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ
and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs. A
regular customer triggers mixed feelings for many.
My
ratings7.0/10
My
impressions:
A
place where customers spend a few hours forgetting their everyday
lives. An escape from reality. As the proprietor says, it is a place
for relaxation not of healing. Past entanglements plays a role in the
present. Then we realise that those pent-up emotions have not
disappeared but continued smouldering. A blow up triggers those
feelings to the fore and we have to come to terms with the past.
An
8 year old boy must return his friend's notebook he took by mistake,
lest his friend be punished by expulsion from school.
My
ratings8.0/10
My
impressions:
Action
speak louder than words. The desire to help a friend in need knows no
bounds in this story. The journey, effort and hardship encountered
while trying to help is most admirable. The adults might never be
able to come close to this level of friendship. That strong will to
do what is required. The right thing to do despite the obstacles.
It
seemed ordinary at the beginning but the end was worth the wait.
A
suicidal, obsessively compulsive Japanese librarian is forced to lie
low in Thailand with a pot-smoking woman coping with the recent loss
of her sister.
My
ratings
7.5/10
My
impressions:
There's
a world of difference being alone and being lonely. A man and a woman
find a common thread, an understanding of each other. Each has his
own world. Not the normal working life but those who remain in the
margins. They are driven by another force. Often times seeking solace
in another who share the same journey.
Three
stories set in three times, 1911, 1966 and 2005. Two actors play the
two main characters in each story
My
ratings
7.0/10
My
impressions:
Three
stories. Three different periods. A boy and a girl. A man and a
woman. Love is the common thread. An unspoken longing for the other.
Each couple has to find the strength to bring the relationship to the
next level. They have to decide how to make it stronger and last.
A
deadly car crash sets off three parallel stories of women at crisis
points, faltering behind the doors of the same, plain Vienna
apartment block
My
ratings6.0/10
My
impressions:
Glimpses
of ordinary lives, loves and desires. An
apartment block that houses residents struggling with their inner
selves. A love that has lost its spark. A love that needs constant
assurance. A past love that keeps coming back to make its presence
felt. All connected in unexpected ways.
Following
the murder of a prominent leftist, an investigator tries to uncover
the truth while government officials attempt to cover up their roles
My
ratings
7.0/10
My
impressions:
The
struggle between the new and the established. The conscience of one
man pushed the envelope further. One by one, painstakingly trying to
piece together what happened before the incident. Everyone knows
there is a bigger power behind the scenes but the effort to pin them
down is the main theme of the story. Whether the guilty get their
just rewards, only history will tell.
A
snapshot of one of the events leading to a new ruling class.
After
being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released,
only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days.
My
ratings8.0/10
My
impressions:
The
old wound festers until the right time arrives when all will be
revealed. The wound might heal but scars remain as a reminder of what
happened in the past. Was it worth the time and effort to wait for
that day. Others are involved just because of that one incident in
the past. That past is entrenched in the soul and the mind works to
avenge itself.
The
lives of pleasure seekers and pleasure providers intertwine one night
in Singapore's red light district.
My
ratings6.0/10
My
impressions:
The
give and take in the pleasure dome. A microcosm of the society at
large. Each has their own reasons going to the area. Each wants that
moment of happiness, if possible to prolong it. How often will that
come true. And others affected by your decision, will they be the
same.
A
documentary made during the making of a feature film.
My
ratings7.0/10
My
impressions:
Thoughts
and opinions of the cast and crew of the film is the subject of the
documentary. Many topics and questions are asked. Some even shared
folk tales they remembered. All these against the backdrop of the
goings-on during filming of a feature on an activiist during the
1960s.
The
documentary and feature film coincidentally was filmed during the
same time as the campaign for the first directly elected president of
Indonesia. There was much hope of a better future for the nation. As
a few respondents mentioned, the journey to reach that goal might
take longer than expected given the entrenched system of the past. It
is still a work in progress.
