May 4th 2023
German Film Festival
My NeighbourAdolf
The Survival of Kindness
Masquerade
The Inspection
Cairo Conspiracy
Two Netflix streaming series I've really enjoyed . . .
Let's lead off one day early to get ready for the German Film Festival, opening tomorrow night. Plus five excellent new releases - from an unusual comedy set in South America, through to a romance thriller in the French Riviera, political intrigue in Cairo, then from army boot camp to the Australian desert.
Melbourne May 4-24
Palace cinemas
Another of my favorite festivals has landed in Melbourne, with a stellar line-up of recent films from Germany and German-speaking countries. There is a focus upon female directors, a sidebar of children's films, and a retrospective which includes the iconic Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire. Those I've previewed so far are all recommended, with Merkel a total stand out.
Merkel
Dir: Eva Weber:
Length: 95 mins
This documentary is a wonderful homage to a great politician who was the second-longest serving Chancellor of Germany, in office from 2005-2021. The film stresses the against-the-odds nature of her becoming one of the most powerful people in Europe; an East German, a woman, and a student of quantum chemistry. The doco traces her early life, right through to her retirement and includes interviews from her mother, friends, colleagues, critics, allies and more. We really get an up-close-and-personal sense of the woman - her lack of ego, her powerful intelligence, her cool headedness, and a slightly wicked sense of humour. Archival footage shows the physical transformation from gauche-looking to statesmanlike. Other clips fill in the historical background to her incumbency, notable those dealing with Chancellor Helmut Kohl through to the more contemporary figures of Trump and Putin. In a world where power-hungry irrational men are coming more to the fore, the story of Merkel's career is a timely reminder that things can be done better.
And Tomorrow We Will Be Dead
Dir: Frederick Steiner
Length: 115 mins
In 2011 young Swiss couple Daniela Widmer and David Och were on an exciting world adventure, travelling by campervan. On their way home, leaving Pakistan, they were captured by criminals and on-sold to the Taliban who held them hostage for 259 days. The film has been based upon diaries they wrote, and while their experience is shown to be gruelling, the pair apparently claim that it was even worse than the film depicts. Regardless, this is an edge-of-the seat thriller based upon a true case that captivated Switzerland for months. Their grim daily survival is counterbalanced with behind the scenes negotiating by Swiss politicians, along with the distress of the couple's respective parents. Shot in Rajastan, India, and southern Spain the film looks impressive and remains topical in a world where travel in certain areas is increasingly untenable, and terrorism remains a constant threat.
Sisi & I
Dir: Frauke Finsterwalder
Length: 123 min
Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Susanne Wolff), known as Sisi, is the subject of a second film in recent weeks. This latest interpretation takes a different slant to that of Corsage. The Empress here is seen through the eyes and friendship of her lady in waiting, Countess Irma von Sztaray (Sandra Huller). The transformation of Irma from frumpy to almost boho-chic under Sisi's demanding hand reflects the filmmaker's fun and feminist approach to her lead characters. The smaller male roles of Emperor Franz Joseph and cousin Viktor are deliciously executed but the two lead women steal the show, Wolff depicting Sisi as a woman who blows hot and cold, and Huller almost sympathetic as the man-hater seeming to fall in love with her capricious friend. A mix of tradition and modern feminist sensibility imbue the plot, all augmented by a driving modern soundtrack.
As always, this festival comes highly recommended
Dir: Leon Prudovsky
Length: 96 mins
 |
© Vendetta - a touching and funny story
of paranoia, suspicion and friendship
|
Polsky (David Hayman) is a grumpy and lonely Holocaust survivor living in a remote part of the Colombian countryside. It is 1960 and notorious Nazi Adolf Eichmann has just been captured so Polsky is alert and alarmed. When a reclusive German neighbour, Herzog (Udo Keir), moves in, Polsky is convinced the man is none other than Adolf Hitler, and sets about spying on him to get proof. But when the Israeli embassy won't accept the "proof", Polsky is forced to gather further evidence and so sets about developing a friendship with his nemesis, including the odd game of chess. With terrific performances by the two lead men, this is an enchanting and funny film about prejudice, loneliness, paranoia, and ultimately friendship. Some might find the backdrop of subject matter too unpleasant to be made fun of, but for me it works.3.5 - well recommended
The Survival of Kindness
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Length: 110 mins
 |
© Umbrella - Black Woman - symbolic of
all those persecuted? Interpret this film as
you see fit. |
According to director de Heer, the intersection of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter haunted him as he made this extraordinary film. The plot (if it can be called such) features Black Woman (played by Congolese actor Mwajemi Hussein), trapped in a cage and left to die in the middle of a desert. Using ingenuity, she escapes and begins walking. She steals boots from a corpse, meets white people obviously stricken by a deadly pox-like virus, and encounters gas-mask wearing whites running a large industrial complex employing enslaved people of color. This film is virtually impossible to describe - it must be experienced. There is no dialogue; the only spoken words are unintelligible gibberish. The post-apocalyptic feel of the entire story is at once horrific, but also mesmerising. It invites the audience to constantly ask themselves "What is this a metaphor for?" Perhaps many answers are acceptable: I found myself pondering persecution of indigenous people and refugees, white supremacy, cruelty of humans to fellow humans, pandemics and other similarly disturbing themes. Everthing has a horrific end-of-days feel just slightly softened by the idea that maybe kindness, as personified by Black Woman, could survive. Hussein's silent performance is a revelation, while de Heer's vision is something so unlike what is seen in more conventional films. Watching it requires patience and a surrender to the film, but your time will be richly rewarded. 4 - highly recommended
Dir: Nicolas Bedos
Length: 136 mins
 |
© Madman - intrigue and plot twists
galore in this French comedy/thriller |
Adrien (Pierre Niney) is an idle young man whose potential dancing career has been destroyed by an accident and who now lives off older women. His current squeeze is fading actress Martha (Isabelle Adjani). Then Pierre meets Margot (Marine Vacth), who is pursuing a similar lifestyle, living off older men. The two hatch a convoluted plan whereby Margot lures married man Simon (Francois Cluzet) into her clutches. Behind it all, Giulia (Laura Morante) is pulling strings to orchestrate her own revenge for past wrongs done to her. You need to concentrate very hard upon the opening plot points in this film; a shooting, then a court trial with umpteen witnesses, followed by flashbacks to reveal who was screwing over whom, and how. The twists and turns are a bit too overwhelming for me, but the exotic settings of the French Riviera are a strong drawcard and the acting is universally strong throughout. The final plot twist is somewhat of a winner. But ultimately I didn't care a lot about all these shady unlikeable characters, and much preferred Bedos' earlier film La Belle Epoque. However, if you like old Hollywood classics like Sunset Boulevard and To Catch a Thief you will probably love Masquerade. 3 - recommended
The Inspection
Dir: Elegance Bratton
Length: 95 mins
 |
© Roadshow - gay, black and training
to be a Marine. A challenging combo. |
Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) is a young black man, adrift in the world and rejected by his mother Inez (Gabrielle Union) who cannot accept that he is gay. In a bid to get his life and self-esteem together he decides to enlist as a recruit for the Marines. There he must endure the most gruelling training regime and ongoing prejudice from his fellow recruits. Pope was nominated for a Best Actor at the Golden Globes 2023. And what a moving and powerful performance it is, possibly the beating heart of this film. The opening scenes where French is on the street feel a bit forced and clunky. The army training experience is one we have seen on our screens many times before - screaming sadistic drill sergeants, rigorous punishments, relentless exercising through pain, rivalry, cameraderie and bullying among the men, with several recognisable personality stereotypes. But there are more nuanced deeply emotional layers, as director Bratton has based this story upon his own experience. Counterbalancing the toxic macho ethos embodied in the military, is the depiction of the bonds that develop, and, in several of the characters, an empathy we wouldn't expect: a fellow recruit singled out for being Muslim who stands up for French, and Rosales, an instructor who lets his own compassion shine through. Ellis's dogged determination to keep his sense of self and to push through his training makes him an admirable and engaging central character and elevates the film to something more than your average army flick.3.5 - well recommended
Dir: Tarik Saleh
Length: 126 mins
 |
© Rialto - enthralling insight into the
world of Islamic studies and corruption
in Egypt |
Adam (Tawfeek Barhom) is the son of a fisherman in an Egyptian village. He wins a scholarship to Al-Azhar, a prestigious Cairo Islamic college that is the epicentre of Sunni Muslim. Soon after Adam's arrival, the Grand Imam dies and the head imams will have to elect a new leader. And so begins the power struggle between religion and politics. The State Security Department uses Colonel Ibrahim (Fares Fares) to find an informer from within the college, and that choice is Adam. The informer's role is to report to the State Security on what is happening within the college to somehow ensure that the new Grand Imam will be on the same page idealogically as the government. Adam will be witness to murder plots, betrayal and corruption at the highest lelvels. If it sounds complex it is - just like any good spy or thriller novel, except this is based on the real machinations and power-broking that goes on in countries where religion and state jockey for power. Taking such a stance means the director cannot return to his country, and the movie had to be shot in Turkey. Settings of the mosque are visually magnificent, contrasted with a sort of prison feel to the minimalist surroundings of the students' lives and routines. For those who know nothing of Islamic religous studies it is a real eye-opener and those who suspect extreme corruption in the higher echelons of state and church will feel vindicated. Barhom and Fares play really well off each other and the script is tight, complex, intelligent and gripping. On a human level, there is something very moving about Adam's journey, the wisdom he gleans and the purity he maintains, while even the crusty old Colonel shows a tiny glimmer of redemption. Winner of the Best Screenplay at Cannes 2022, this is most rewarding viewing.4 - highly recommended
And another thing . . . two series I've loved
I don't make it a habit to talk about TV shows I've consumed but these two have been quite irresistible to me.
This is Netflix's first collaboration with Greece. Orestis (the eponomous Maestro) goes to the idyllic island of Paxos to direct a local music festival. There he gets to know the locals with their secrets, and a young woman, Klelia, steals his heart. Domestic violence and the shame of being gay on a small gossipy island feature large in the plot. This sun-drenched series is part soap opera and part thriller, and for a Hellenophile like me, a total joy.
Three Series x 10 episodes each - that's a lot of binge watching. I couldn't tear myself away from this engrossing thriller based upon a Stephen King novel. Although the opening scene is horrendously gruesome (a car ploughing into a crowd of people) don't let that deter you from following the magnetic story of burnt-out private detective Bill Hodges, brilliantly played by Brendan Gleeson. In tracking down the perpetrator, he gathers people to him who become like family and puts many of his own demons to bed. Every memorable main character is compellingly played and the fiendish plot twists and turns work perfectly, but never take away from the underlying human story.
Sharon, I love your writing style and you’ve enticed me to check out some of these productions.
ReplyDelete