Not being a very proficient blog poster, I’ve decided to try something that will get me to at the very least, post more often. For the last 25 years or so, I’ve been enjoying a lot of independent, documentary, and international film. I’ve attended a lot of Film Festivals… heck, I started my own independent film society! So many of the films I’ve loved have been seen by so few people. This morning in the shower, something made me thing of a film I saw back in 2002, that has stuck with me pretty well, although I probably haven’t thought of it in years. It’s probably also a film not many people saw. Then I started thinking about other films that a lot of people probably heard of, much less saw. I decided I would try to post a film a day that probably hasn’t been seen by a lot of people. Hope you get a chance to see some of these films and enjoy them!
Caveat: Some of my friends and fellow Chlotrudis members may think that the films I choose have actually been seen by a lot of people. The films I’m selecting are films that most of my non-Chlotrudis friends have probably never seen. If you’re in Chlotrudis, you’ll probably have a higher percentage of viewing rate.
Kandahar (2001)
directed by Mohsen Makhmabaf
Kandahar is the tale of one woman’s journey. Superficially, Nafas is returning to her native Afghanistan from Canada, to save her sister. On the last full moon of the century, Nafas’ sister, who lost her legs in a mine accident, will commit suicide. Now Nafas must race against time to arrive in Kandahar in time to prevent the tragedy. Along the way, she must record in her tape recorder, the hope that her sister has lost.
Nafas is our guide as a woman arriving in Iran. We watch as she must cover herself completely with the traditional burka, and find her way to Kanadahar without any of the rights or status befitting a western woman. We witness with her, the horrors of a war-torn country, and the irony of women, completely hidden from view, putting on lipstick and other makeup.
Kandahar is powerful, with some unforgettable images. None of the actors are professionals, which shows a bit, but this is still a film not to miss.
Five friends from high school living in a poor city in South Korea try to maintain their friendship a year after graduation even as they all seek diverging paths away from their current lives. Take Care of My Cat provides a terrific look at contemporary South Korea, with frequent cell phone and text message use. integrated wonderfully into the film. Performances are strong, and the script is punctuated with humor and emotional moments. The lack of stereotype so prevalent prevalent in this type of film is a testament to the actresses, and the sure directorial hand that elevates this film above the norm.