July 1st
Haute Couture
Ali and Ava
Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You (streaming on Apple +)
Crip Camp (streaming on Netflix)
I've been on a binge watching streaming films, with more to come over the next weeks. Plus of course, new releases are still coming into our cinemas. (I'm itching to go and see Elvis again!)
Haute Couture
Dir: Sylvie Oyahon
Length: 100 mins
 |
© Vendetta - passing the baton on
to the next generation |
Esther (Nathalie Baye) is nearing the end of her career as head seamstress at a Dior high end fashion workshop (atelier) in Paris. One day her bag is stolen in the subway. When the thief Jade (Lyna Khoudri) returns it, instead of calling the police, Esther offers Jade a job as an intern at the fashion house. From there, both their lives will change. In many ways the arc of the film's narrative is fairly predictable, but, there is something very sweet and engaging about the characters. Esther, with her seeming harshness, sees Jade as a surrogate daughter (she is estranged from her own child). Jade, coming from a grungy lower-class life, sees hope for change in the opportunity offered her. The directer researched the daily life in a Paris atelier, and the film is a glorious showcase for the craft of designing and creating exquisite gowns. But more lovely than that is the idea of handing one's carefully honed craft on to the next generation. It makes for heart-warming viewing.3.5 - well recommended
Ali and Ava
Dir: Clio Barnard
Length: 95 mins
 |
| © Transmission - a fresh and warm love story |
Ava (Claire Rushbrook) is a middle-aged widowed mother, working as a teachers' assistant. She gives her all to her job and to her own kids. Ali (Adeel Akhtar) is a British born Pakistani going through a marriage break-up. When they meet via Sophie, the child of Ali's tenants, and whom Ava teaches, an instant rapport is apparent, with a lot of humour shared between them. But their lives each have deeply embedded issues and hurts. This is the genre of British film-making that reminds me of Ken Loach's work; gritty, ultra-realistic, moving, and sometimes quite hard to comprehend when the characters speak in their regional accents! But it is a film full of warmth and heart, with fabulous chemistry generated between the two leads. While the film focuses upon the romance, there are suitably subtle undertones of class and race issues, but they never overwhelm the basic story. The musical score is a treat, and much about the film and the characters' reactions is fresh and unexpected, making for powerful viewing.4 - highly recommended
Crip Camp
Dir: James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham
Length: 109 mins
Streaming on Netflix
 |
© Netflix - inspiring people overcoming
prejudice and disability |
A nominee for best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Oscars, this is the story of a revolution, in which disabled people fought for their rights. Director Lebrecht was born with spina bifida and wasn't expected to live. When he attended Camp Jened in the 1970s his eyes were opened to a whole cohort of disabled people, who were seen by those who ran the camp as people in their own right. Many of them went on to fight hard and long for the passing of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which guaranteed accessibility and non-discrimination for all. While the subject matter may sound grim, it is actually totally inspirational, with plenty of humour among all the lobbying and determination. The film can't help but encourage viewers to hold a mirror up to their own prejudices and ideas around disability. This doco makes for rivetting and important viewing.4 - highly recommended
Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You
Dir: Thom Zimny
Length: 90 mins
Streaming on Apple+
 |
© Apple+- The Boss pours his heart out
in an intimate musical doco |
It's easy to say, if you're a Bruce Springsteen fan, don't miss this revealing documentary. But even if you're not, there is much to be gleaned from spending time with one of the world's most influential modern musicians and poets. The film, shot in evocative black and white, takes us into the studio where Bruce is recording with his old band of 40-plus years, the E Street Band. He talks about what each song means to him, and what playing with these musos for so much of his life means. Each song seems to address aspects of Bruce's life, and given he's over 70 now, there is a feeling of underlying reflection upon time passing and mortality. Close-ups of the individual musicians highlight the depth of talent gathered there. The film is an absolute music lovers' delight bringing out the humanity, not just the high-profile fame of "the Boss".3.5 - well recommended
No comments:
Post a Comment