I love when indie films explore genre. Good horror and science fiction films can be incredibly thought-provoking and thoughtful. The problem (for me) is big budget Hollywood films tend to take everything to extremes and we end up with jump scares, buckets of blood, and special effects. My #’s 16 & 15 films of 2022 have a different, far more subtle take on these genres.
You Won’t Be Alone
#16) You Won’t Be Alone, directed by Goran Stolevski – Framed by a story steeped in folk horror, about a woman who was deeply wronged and transformed in to a vengeful spirit, YOU WON’T BE ALONE manages to delve into the mysteries of what makes life the hardship and the glory that it is by showing it through the eyes of ‘the other.’ The plot is twisty and complicated, but involves that afore-mentioned vengeful spirit, who creates an heir of sorts using the body of a girl given to her in an unholy bargain., This heir, lacking the drive for vengeance steeped in her creator, sets out to experience just what makes humanity what it is. Through a series of varied experiences, depending on the form se has taken on, she experiences helplessness, fear, power, arrogance… and eventually belonging, yet there’s still the fact that her creator is a vengeful spirit, and isn’t going to just let her spawn in peace. This Australian/UK/Serbian co-production is an astounding blend of genres and storytelling, with some incredible visuals, and great performances. A little gruesome at times, but I’m a wimp, and I didn’t have trouble getting through it, and it’s definitely worth it.
The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet
#15) The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet, directed by Ana Katz – I really loved this film. I was quite taken by Daniel Katz’s performance, how he managed to be so passive, yet so compelling at the same time. I also found the twist of the global pandemic fascinating, and how it played into issues of class, which actually threaded through the entire film. There’s a deadpan, absurdity to the humor that reminded me of some of Almodóvar’s early work. In a scene where Sebastian’s boss is telling him he can no longer bring his dog to work, she says something to the effect of, that behavior ultimately leading to ‘an office full of hens and everyone pole-dancing.’ That kind of absurd remark is prevalent.
The first of only a handful of films from the U.S. makes its appearance in the Top 20, paired with an Australian film featuring a long-time favorite actress. Other countries represented in the Top 20 include Thailand, Uruguay, South Korea, France, Belgium, Canada, Taiwan, Bolivia, Argentina, Serbia, and Rwanda.
Nitram
#18) Nitram, directed by Justin Kurzel – NITRAM is one of those stories that tries to examine the events leading up to an horrific act and make sense of behavior that seems incomprehensible. Based on the events that took place in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre on Tasmania, the film follows the awkward, lonely Nitram living with his Mum and Dad with few friends and fewer social graces. He gets involved with an eccentric, older woman of means and breaks from his parents somewhat stifling home but is never able to mature, whether due to neglected mental illness, or environmental factors, which the film, fortunately hints at but doesn’t try to use as an explanation. The film is dark for sure, but compelling viewing, made especially powerful by performances from the magnificent Judy Davis as Nitram’s Mum, Caleb Landry Jones (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI; THE FLORIDA PROJECT; GET OUT), as Nitram, and Essie Davis (THE BABADOOK; THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING), as his eccentric friend, Helen.
The Man in the Woods
#17) The Man in the Woods, directed by Noah Buschel – While not quite as accomplished as THE VAST OF NIGHT, this nostalgia-focused thriller set in 1963 hits some similar marks, and surprised me at its cleverness and strong writing, after a slightly awkward start. The budget is clearly a lot less, and while the largely black & white cinematography is beautiful, the production design is a little sparse. In addition to the sharp, yet somewhat familiar screenplay, about a teenaged, prep-school girl who goes missing in the woods, the performances particularly by the bohemian Literature professor brought to sparkling life by Marin Ireland (star of last year’s Buried Treasure winner, LIGHT FROM LIGHT) and the Headmaster’s long-suffering, firecracker of a wife played by the accomplished Jane Alexander, really elevate this film to something worth notice. Additional kudos to William Jackson Harper (MIDSOMMAR; PATERSON) as the railroaded, black police officer, and Odessa Young (SHIRLEY) as the wisest of the missing girl’s friends showing off her investigative journalist skills as the head of the school newspaper. It’s heavily stylized, and surprisingly witty, but showing the darker side of the past often concealed by nostalgia.
I’m pretty pleased with my female to male director ratio in 2022’s Top 20. Eight of the 20 film to appear on the list were directed by women, with one more co-directed by a woman. That’s nearly 50%, and when you consider that only 24% of films released in 2022 were directed by women (according to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film.) My top 20 kicks off with two such films with female helmers. We also start off internatinally with #20 coming from the UK, and #19 coming all the way from New Zealand
The Eternal Daughter
#20) The Eternal Daughter, directed by Joanna Hogg – Completing (perhaps?) the unplanned trilogy begun with THE SOUVENIR and THE SOUVENIR PART II, Joanna Hogg’s take on the gothic ghost story, THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER, becomes my favorite of her films since ARCHIPELAGO (my #2 film of 2014). In a genius casting move, Tilda Swinton returns to play Rosalind Hart for the third time, this time also playing her daughter, Julia Hart, now at middle age in present day, and a stand-in for Hogg herself. Julia was played by Swinton’s real-life daughter Honor Swinton Byrne in the two THE SOUVENIR films. All three films are inspired by Hogg’s life, first as a young woman learning the craft of filmmaking, and then in middle-age struggling to understand her mother by writing a film about her. By setting it in a haunted house setting, complete with an inspired music department that leans heavily on the gothic horror genre. It’s an interesting concept t have the one actress play both parts, and Swinton pulls it off with amazing aplomb, her return to Rosalind Hart being the true winner here. Rosalind is the most interesting character in the first two films, and remains so in this film as well, although Swinton’s portrayal of Julia as an adult adds tremendous depth and interest in the character. And let us not forget Louis, Rosalind’s dog, portrayed by Swinton’s own hound. Certainly a performance worth noting.
The Justice of Bunny King
#19) The Justice of Bunny King, dircted by Gaysorn Thavat – Essie Davis is on a roll with portrayals of fierce but flawed mothers protecting their children. She made a big impression in THE BABADOOK (my #7 film of 2014), then followed that up with BABYTEETH. (She also turned in a fine performance in NITRAM, a film that will be appearing a bit higher up on this list). Now she tops THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING, which, with a name like that, conjures pictures of outlaws and rifles in the Australian outback. Instead, we have Bunny brandishing a squeegee, on the busy streets of a New Zealand city, trying scrounge up some change so she can find a place of her own to live and rescue her two children from foster care. Bunny is a complex character: quick-witted but with a hair-trigger temper. It becomes clear early on that her children are the driving force that keeps her going, but it’s also clear that there was an incident in her past that put her in this precarious position, one that challenges the meaning of fairness in a city that tends to forget people like her. Bunny refuses to let herself be forgotten though. While searching for a place to live, she’s sleeping on her sister’s couch, helping out with childcare, and washing her brother-in-law’s car. When she witnesses something that puts her teenaged niece (played exquisitely by Best Actress Chlotrudis nominee for LEAVE NO TRACE) Thomasin McKenzie, she can’t help but intervene, even though it dashes her latest hope for being reunited with her children.
We’re almost halfway through the year, and I’m finally getting to my Top 5 films of 2021. Yes, it took me more than a couple of months to deal with the errors I was getting from my web host that prevented me from doing so, but that’s finally done and I’m back for my irregular, sporadic posts.
Most notably, and personally, somewhat disappointing, is the fact that my Top 5 films of 2021 are all directed by men. While there are many films directed by women throughout my Top 50, including 4 in the Top 10 alone, it speaks to me of the disproportionate amount of films still directed by men. That said, none of the men who helmed films in the Top 10 are from the U.S. We’ve got Scotland, Japan, Malaysia, and Iran represented among these directors, all of whom bring a decidedly international view of life in their films. The tones of these films vary greatly, from the reflective calm of Tsai Ming-liang’s offering, to the hectic chaos from Sion Sono. The sense of alienation and dislocation suffusing my number one film is so reflective of the time and the world today, I’m not surprised that it resonated with me so strongly.
Red Post on Escher Street
#5 – Red Post on Escher Street, directed by Sion Sono (Japan) – I can’t quite remember why I selected this fim as one of our weekly film discussion films, especially since director Sion Sono was known more for his over-the-top sexual and violent content in his previous films, which I tend to shy away from. I must have read or heard something intriguing that prompted me to give this 148 minute movie a shot.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film that just grabbed me by the lapels and shook me, taking me completely by surprise, making me cry and laugh simultaneously with the ballsy abandon of the batshit crazy, but technical marvel of Sion Sono’s RED POST ON ESCHER STREET. A famous and well respected indie filmmaker is tapped by a major studio to make their next film, hoping he will bring some respectability and festival award to their mainstream work. Director Tadashi decides to use non-actors to fill out his massive cast that includes dozens, if not hundreds of extras. The announcement of auditions in the small town sends a variety of folks, from an amateur theatrical company, and a devoted Tadashi fan club, to a grieving widow and a young woman who may or may not have murdered her husband into a bit of a tizzy. Add to this crew the meddling studio executive, and the director’s ex-girlfriend and the story moves along down unexpected paths. The whole thing clocks in at nearly two and half hours, but I wish it went on even longer.
There is lots of humor in this film, but lots of drama as well. The underlying message of the film is a strong one, captured by the use of such a huge cast of the role of the extra in a film. The final 20 plus minutes are a feat of filmmaking that astounds, even though we’ve probably seen the like dozens of times. ESCHER STREET director Sono has a major festival fan base, and is known for his gruesome horror films, and borderline pornographic sexual examinations. I have yet to see any of his other films, and they don’t necessarily sound like they’re my cup of tea, but if RED POST ON ESCHER STREET is any indication, I just might have to try another.
A Hero
#4 – A Hero, directed by Asghar Farhadi (Iran/France) – Asghar Farhadi is the master of the ethical quandary. His complex stories put people in situations where they just can’t win, whether they are trying to do good, or acting in their own self-interest. And that’s the real beauty of his writing: there are really no villains… no bad guys. Everyone is just thoroughly human. On a weekend furlough from prison for defaulting on a debt, Rahim and his lady friend Farkhondeh try unsuccessfully to turn in some gold coins that she found for cash to pay off his debtor. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough to cover the debt, so Rahim decides to do the right thing and see if he can find the original owner of the coins.Tis decision sparks aa chain of events that turn him into a hero. Throughout the film, Rhaim exhibits the agonizing movie trait of consistency making the wrong decision, or letting others make the decision for him. Those around him, whether his son, his girlfriend, his debtor, the prison official, or a charity that help to raise money to cover his debt to get him released from prison, all have their own motives for their actions, the the complicated web of motivations only serve to put Rahim in a more and more challenging position.
“How Farhadi manages to spin this complex tale while (mostly) avoiding contrivances for the sake of the story is nothing short of masterful. Amir Jadidi embodies Rahim with an easy, soft-spoken charm, reeling you in to root for him even as you shake your head as he gets himself deeper and deeper into a bad situation. Stone-faced Mohsen Tanabandeh portrays the unforgiving debtor with strident conviction, but not without humanity, elevating him from the vengeful victim, to something much more three-dimensional. Sahar Goldoust brings a lot of motivation and nuance to the often thankless role of the girlfriend, helped by Farhadi’s integration of a mini storyline exploring Farkhonheh’s challenging family living situation, and the rigid societal conventions in modern day Iran.. In addition to the human exploration, Farhadi also explores the motivations and complexities of institutions like the prison and the charity. How he is able to integrate all of these many nuanced perspectives and motivations in under two hours is nothing short fo masterful. Sound design and cinematography are top notch as well, as you feel as if you are on the busy streets of Shiraz, amidst the shops and traffic. A HERO is his best work since his award-winning A SEPARATION, and that’s saying a lot since his output since then has all been terrific.
Days
#3 – Days, directed by Tsai Ming-liang (Taiwan/France) – I’m continuously amazed at how music I enjoy Tsai Ming-liang’s films, no matter how opaque or glacially-paced they are. After seeing his documentary, AFTERNOON, I’m beginning to think that the themes Tsai explores emerge from his leading man, Lee Kang-sheng’s life. DAYS is rather interesting because it was pieced together from footage that Tsai shot when Kang (the actor) traveled to Bangkok to seek relief from an affliction that sent shooting pains through his neck. He also shot scenes of a new discovery for filmic inspiration, a young non-actor Anopng Houngheuangsy, preparing his meal with precise care, washing the vegetables and fish that he then proceeds to cook. These two character do eventually come together, possibly meeting for the first time for a business transaction that turns into something else, or possibly men who see each other from time to time and have developed a rhythm to ease each other’s loneliness for a short time.
I recently went back to watch Tsai’s debut film, REBELS OF THE NEON GOD, and was surprised at the young, the then just over 20-year-old Kang appeared. It’s true, that while he still doesn’t look his 52 years, the actor carries a world-weariness in his face and body that was most-likely exacerbated by the debilitating pain he was suffering during the shoot. Also intriguing was the fact that Tsai use the actual hoe that he and Kang share in real life as the setting for Kang (the character’s) home in the country. The blending of random filmed scenes, and real life with a simple, yet beautiful story is nothing short of glorious. I know Tsai is slowing down his film output, and has claimed to be in retirement, but I do hope we get more visual storytelling from this intriguing master.
Drive My Car
#2 – Drive My Car, directed by RyûsukeHamaguchi (Japan) – Sometimes a film receives so much critical praise because it just that good. DRIVE MY CAR, which writer/director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi adapted from the short stories of Haruki Murakami with co-screenwriter Takamasa Oe is one such film. My experience watching the film was unusual to say the least, as two plus hours through the three-hour film the cinema lost power, and was unable to complete the film that night. I was able to return the following day to finish the film, but arrive about 30 minutes before the film had cut out the night before, and allowed me to really examine the subtleties and complexities of Hamaguchi’s filmmaking. I think it heightened the overall experience for me.
The story revolves around successful stage actor Yûsuke Kafuku who enjoys a fulfilling relationship with his wife Oto, who writes television series. The two are comfortable together, and enjoy a unique sex life in which Oto relates complex stories as she nears orgasm that evolve into scripts for her shows when Yûsuke retells them to her the next morning. Five years after a startling tragedy that reshapes Yûsuke’s life, (and prompts the opening credits, 45 minutes into the film) he is invited to a theater festival in Hiroshima to direct Uncle Vanya, the play that found much success years earlier when he played the title role. Yûsuke has chosen to stay in a hotel an hour away from the theater so as to listen to the script being read while driving in his beloved red Saab. He is bewildered and put out to discover that contractually the theater festival must utilize a driver to chauffeur the director back and forth. Twenty-three year old Misaki Watari is the scrappy, young woman who works as Yûsuke’s driver, and gradually the two form a trusting bond that is unknowingly spurred on by their respective grief, each having undergone a traumatic family experience. The rehearsal process begins, and Yûsuke ends up casting Kôji Takatsuki, former TV star who worked on one of Oto’s series, and was her lover. Kôji is unaware that Yûsuke is aware of this fact, and the two form a rather interesting bond that informs each of their personal directions.
There is so much that happens in this film, both story-wise and visually that it’s difficult to adequately review the film. but suffice it to say, the three hours go by easier than many films half its length. Cinematically, the scenes of Yûsuke and Misaki driving through Hiroshima and beyond are gorgeous, utilizing tunnels, bridges, intertwining highways and stunning landscapes to full affect. Hamaguchi even makes a massive garbage disposal plant a wonder to behold. I can’t really think of a category that I couldn’t nominate this film in, but I certainly won’t be neglecting the craft the films editing, use of music, sound design, and cinematography, as well as the acting. Misaki Watari is reminiscent of a young Bae Doo-na, and Hidetoshi Nishijima’s Yûsuke is stoic to the point of robotic, until that stifle emotion comes sputtering to the surface in a scene that is getting me choked up now just thinking about it.
Limbo
#1 – Limbo, directed by Ben Sharrock (UK) – I’m quite intrigued by young filmmaker Ben Sharrock. Ben’s sophomore feature film LIMBO, was awarded the Cannes Film Festival ‘Official Selection 2020’ label before having it’s World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a European Premiere at San Sebastian IFF where it won the TCM Youth Jury Award. It’s an adeptly written, beautifully shot film about immigrant refugees awaiting word on their asylum requests in the desolate coast of Scotland. His first feature, the zero budget PIKADERO, is about a young, broke couple living in Spain during the economic crisis, looking for a place to consummate their relationship because they both live at home with their parents. Sharrock graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a degree in Arabic and Politics before attending Screen Academy Scotland, where he graduated with an MA in Film Directing followed by an Master of Fine Arts in Advanced Film Practice. It’s an interesting pedigree that he uses with distinction in LIMBO.
Omar is an up-and-coming Syrian musician who has fled his homeland to escape the devastating war. While he awaits asylum in Scotland with other refugees, he carries his oud everywhere he goes, but doesn’t play it. He speaks with his mother, also a refugee of Syria with his father, but far away. They all await news of Omar’s brother, who remained home fighting in the Syrian army. There have been several films in recent month about immigrant refugees, often trying to find a place in their new homes in Europe, Canada, the U.S. The gorgeous, but unforgiving landscape and climate of coastal Scotland are lovely representations of the separated isolation these refugees feel, without a home… in limbo.
Amir El-Masry gives a low-key but powerful performance as Omar. He’s got some big filmwork on his resume, including THE NIGHT MANAGER, TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN, and STAR WARS: EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. He’s got some great support as well, most notably as his roommate, Farhad played sensitively by Vikash Bhai, as the somewhat sad sack, yet optimistic comic relief, but with layers that slowly emerge with great affect. And what a delightful surprise to see Sidse Babett Knudsen, the star of the Danish series, ‘Borgen’ in an absurdly hilarious role as one of the Scottish instructors helping the immigrants acclimate to their new potential home. It’s writer/director Ben Sharrock who really shines here though, with that great combination of strong story, interesting, complex characters, and a deft eye.
First off, apologies for the lengthy gap between my last post and this one. I had some technical problems with my domain host, and then with WordPress, but everything is all fixed!
Here we go, my Top 10 movies of 2021. Although, as I’ve said, any of the top 20 could have been in contention for these ten slots. It was a great year for movies. There’s not a domestic film in this batch, but films from Poland (two!), Mexico, Australia, and Brazil. As for directors — four women, and one man. Love to see that.
#10 – Never Gonna Snow Again, directed by Malgorzataa Szumowska and Michal Englert (Poland/Germany/Netherlands) – Szumowska’s magical film, in my eyes, is a post-modern superhero story that also addresses climate change, and the socioeconomic challenges faced by Poland (and indeed, most of the Western World). With imagery that alternates between stark realism and the gauzily fantastic, expertly handled by cinematographer, co-writer, and co-director Englert, and powerfully effective lead actor in Alec Utgoff (Stranger Things) NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN has a haunting resonance that skirts the edge of cheesy and comes down squarely on, if not poetic, then powerful.
Never Gonna Snow Again
Alec Utgoff is perfect as lead character,Zenia; his imposing physicality, and his open, innocence allows him to present himself as a mystic confidante, or a potential threat at any moment. The camera captures him longingly the way his massage clients do, and DP Englert does she great camerawork with both the people, and the settings. The only recognizable actor for me was one of Zenia’s clients: a bitter, drug-taking environmentalist played nearly unrecognizably by Agata Kulesza (IDA, COLD WAR) but all the actors do a fine job. Szumowska certainly has a unique eye, and with NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN, she has certainly proven to be a filmmaker to explore. ****1/2
#9 – Sweat, directed by Magnus Van Horn (Poland/Sweden) – Swedish writer/director Magnus Van Horn traveled to Poland to make his second feature film about the self-involved, soul-harrowing life of a celebrity Instagram influencer. Sylwia is a fitness guru, whose positive energy, warm persona, and energetic workouts we first see in the opening minutes of the film in a shiny, modern shopping mall. After the workout, her devotees flock to her and she rewards them with hugs, selfies, and effusive praise and encouragement. As she and her workout partner, Klaudiusz, head back to their changing room, the mask slips a touch, but only momentarily, and only with a flutter across her face. For the most part, Slywia buys whole-heartedly into her persona. As the film progresses, we see what Slywia’s life is truly like, living alone, feeling somewhat isolated other than her beloved little dog, constantly checking her Insta feed and posting videos that feature various product endorsements When, in a moment of humanity, Slywia posts an emotional video discussing her abject loneliness and desire for someone who cares for her, allowing actual, real tears to be shed, one of her sponsors gets a little concerned, and sends her a cautionary message through her agent. As Slywia wrestles with this dichotomy of a public persona and a personal life, she notices a man parked out she of her condo building watching her as she plays with her dog. She confronts him, banging on his car window and discovers him masturbating while he watches her. This discover, and a subsequent apology the man sends through IG, sharing his own abject loneliness stirs both disgust and a bit of pride knowing she has her own stalker. Things spiral downward, drawing Sylwia into a violent late night encounter that forces her to confront her life in realities terms.
Sweat
In what appears to be her first lead role, 31-year-old Magdalena Kolesnik turns i a nuanced, tour de force performance, capturing the seemingly industry-made celebrity, with a real vulnerability of a young woman struggling with her life. Moments of narcissism blend with true empathy in striking scenes including a chance encounter with a high school friend, and an awkward family birthday gathering for her mother, with whom she has a rather distant relationship. Van Horn does a terrific job balancing the two aspects of Slywia’s life in a way that rings true, and both compels and horrifies us. The final moments of the film beautifully capture the struggle Sylwia face, and shows the viewer the humanity sometimes buried deeply beneath the veneer of celebrity. It’s not an innovative story, but it’s a very well-told one. ****1/2
#8 – I Carry You With Me, directed by Heidi Ewing (Mexico/USA) – About two-thirds of the way through I CARRY YOU WITH ME, the gorgeously saturated, lush romantic drama shifts from Mexico to the U.S. and along with that shift comes a remarkable change in tone to a very documentary style form of storytelling, that was notable and a bit shocking, until I remembered that this film was directed by Heidi Ewing, Chlotrudis-nominated documentarian responsible for such films as JESUS CAMP and DETROPIA. Hold that thought for a bit, and we’ll come back to it. It’s the 80’s in the city of Puebla, when two young, impossibly beautiful men, meet at a bar and fall for each other. The problem is one is closeted, with an ex-wife and son, who would risk visitation rights should he come out. The other is more or less out, but has a disapproving father who made his life hell as a child. In addition to living a secret life that only his best friend Sandra knows about, Iván comes from a blue-collar family and is on his own, trying to find opportunity as a chef. But washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen sees him getting passed over and over again, as friends of the restaurant owner, or the head chef get promoted ahead of him. He dreams of going to America to see his dreams come true. Gerardo’s family owns a large ranch outside of the city, and he’s got enough money to get by. But he can’t stand in Iván’s, even though the only possibility for his journey to America is crossing the border with the help of coyotes, a dangerous expedition at best. Iván decides to make the journey, promising to return in a year, and Sandra goes with him. Despite horrific perils where they risk getting shot, arrested, or die from exposure and dehydration the pair make it to New York, but find that life isn’t so easy for a couple of illegal Mexican immigrants as they thought it would be. One year turns to many, and Iván sees no way to return. His son grows into a teen without him, and Gerardo tries to legally visit the States but is foiled at every attempt. Eventually he realizes that despite his better connections than Iván, his only recourse is to cross the border illegally as well.
I Carry You With Me
The bulk of the film takes place in Mexico, giving substance and heart to Iván and Gerardo’s story. It’s a beautiful romance, a harsh family drama, and a gritty look at what it’s like to be gay in Mexico. It’s also gorgeously shot, with intense close-ups, suffused in darkness, or water, or fog. Every character, even the coyotes, or Gerardo’s abusive father are just beautiful, as is the land and the city. It’s sweeping and intense, like a 1950’s melodrama. I read after seeing the film, that Iván and Gerardo are real people (changed names) who were friends of the directors. Ewing wanted to make a documentary about their success as illegal immigrants who eventually opened their own restaurant, and the perils of their journey to the American Dream, when she got the idea to tell their backstory as a narrative. It’s an audacious and incredibly successful way to tell this story, and each form suits these incredible men’s tales beautifully. I highly recommend this film, which is still playing at the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge, or if you miss it, watch for it when it’s released to stream. *****
#7 – The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion (Australia/UK/Canada/New Zealand/USA) – Very interesting takes on this film… always love a divisive movie. I really loved it. I was really surprised at how much this film surrounded me and drew me in. And while I agree that the main character, particularly, was tough to like, I found all the characters believable and I felt various ways about them at various time. I also felt that Rose’s character change was quite believable and I was the reason was quite evident… even to the point of Campion pointing another character’s obliviousness to the reasoning in a rather amusing way.
The Power of the Dog
“This was actually the first time I thought Cumberbatch gave a great performance (since Sherlock, at least) and I quite liked Kirsten Dunst quite a bit in a challenging role. I knew nothing about this film going in, except for the fact that it was a Western, as was quite surprised at where it ended up. I think Campion is a intriguing filmmaker, and even the films that aren’t as good are interesting to watch. For me, this was both good and interesting to watch, and I would even go so far as to give it *****.
#6 – The Fever, directed by Maya Da-Rin (Brazil/France/Germany) – I was quite taken with THE FEVER as well. It was vaguely reminiscent of Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s TROPICAL MALADY, characters living near the rainforest and becoming afflicted with a mysterious fever, but for very different reasons. I’ve really been enjoying this recent spate of films focusing on indigenous peoples and how they are being displaced, or moving to more industrialized cities for work, and the effect it has on some of them. There’s a bit of a generational aspect going on as well, as Justino’s adult children don’t seem to be as impacted by the displacement.
The Fever
The cinematography was quite stunning underscoring the contrast between the industrialized port where the mai character works, juxtaposed with the mysterious rain forest. Regis Myrupu gave quite a performance in the lead role of Justino, torn between two worlds, and I would also make note of Rosa Peixoto who plays Vanessa, Justino’s daughter. Maya Da-Rin ‘s direction really brought it all together, intertwining the themes in a way that was subtle, yet powerful. *****
