Change Your Image
Steve L
Reviews
Persona: Sulli (2023)
profound elegance
It can feel at times a bit ghoulish and other times very sad to watch such an intimate portrait of a recent suicide victim, but this multi-talented woman has important things to tell us, and she expresses herself with profound elegance.
There are 2 episodes of Persona here. They consist of the first of what would have been five short art movies, followed by a feature-length documentary based on interviews with Choi Jin Ri, who has left us a great legacy here.
The short is a kind of surreal fantasy, full of grotesque humour. The documentary is one of the most moving pieces I've watched in a long time.
Bing-ui (2019)
Great, uncompromisingly brutal, romance horror
Perhaps its physical and emotional brutality is partly what has lead to it being so brutally under-rated.
I watched this a few years ago. It had a great impact and I remember it as one of the best shows I have ever seen. I would refute every point made against it in the many negative reviews, and support every point made in praise of it. It has both the grittiest horror and one of the most moving romances I have seen.
The story reaches its logical conclusion. The later episodes get incredibly brutal both physically and emotionally, because that's where the story takes us. Any other course would be a pathetic compromise, and the writers deserve credit for following the central premise to its bitter end.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Big hearted, affectionate picture of brothers visiting India - great!
Beautiful, crazy brothers with too many cigarettes, painful memories, and limitless financial resources go on life changing epic in incredibly lovely, vast, Technicolor India, India, and more India, but never, ever enough of India. Plot with as many twists and turns as the rail lines they follow. Beautiful painted trains, buses, cities, villages. Heartachingly loving people wherever they go. Rita, sweet lime, don't come into me. Temples, cobra, peacock feathers, most poignant funeral pyre. Must see, best, West, East, Anderson! So glad I made the effort to see this one. A film you want to stay with for a long, long time. Go see, big screen, no regrets!
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Recommended viewing for fans of popular TV! - (Maybe spoilers.)
I respect all those who think this is a great movie, and maybe it is. However, to me it seemed like an unrelenting nightmare that just got more and more disturbing. Moreover, it was obvious that it was just going to get more and more horrific from about one-third of the way through. With that foreknowledge, and not having known what kind of a film I was coming into, I kind of didn't want to stay, but did so only out of politeness.
Having said all that, I would highly recommend this film to anyone who watches popular TV or likes the idea of taking slimming pills! If you are at all into stuff like that, go see this film!
Oh yes, I suppose I did quite like the jumping fridge!
The Shape of Things (2003)
SPOILER - Don't read this, just see the movie! But not on a date!
It's a fine movie. It was a stage play. It's very theatrical. Nothing wrong with that. It's thought provoking, disturbing and controversial. Not light entertainment, and not for a date. Definitely go and see it!
***SPOILER***
Adam's passionate indiscretion is taken by Evelyn as proof of his inner corruption. However, her methodology is flawed, because the subject of every experiment will be affected by the presence of the observer. However good her "acting", he will have been unconsciously made confused and lonely by her cool manipulation. If she had been genuine, perhaps he would have been faithful? Just a theory!
Solomon and Gaenor (1999)
It's a fantastic film; powerful, beautiful and poignant.
The first time I saw it was in my home county of Dorset, in the gaslit, old world atmosphere of the Rex Cinema at Wareham (a must for all visitors to Dorset!)
The movie was so completely absorbing that I slowly became aware of my surroundings when it finished, looking around and wondering where in the world I could be! Of course, I naturally thought I was in Wales, and it took a few minutes of mental effort to think of ...Dorset, and the Rex ...and Wareham - oh yes, I remember those places ... that's where I come from, isn't it.
The shame is that it has never had general release in its home country, and is not available in PAL 2 DVD.
It's a fantastic film; beautiful and poignant. The acting is great, especially Gaenor, who has the perhaps the most powerful role.
100 Days (2001)
everyone should see this film
It deals with the time of the genocide in 1994. The film is strong. Of course the whole story is not told, but it seems a good start in trying to relate the events. I feel that I need to learn more, and I'd like to read comments from more knowledgeable people. I wonder if they would agree with my one line summary?
The film makes clear the crucial role of the UN. How can one stupid superpower be allowed to cause such a blunder?
Alefbay-e afghan (2002)
A real education. Don't miss it!
This was shown as part of the National Film Festival here in Denmark and it was one of the best. It is not clear to me whether all the scenes are "real" or whether any of it is following a written plot. While I'd be interested to know, I don't think my view would be changed with regard to its validity.
The subject is the attempts to initiate some education for Afghan refugee children in eastern Iran. It gives an idea of what life is like for these people. There are many awkward moments, as you would expect for children encountering some sort of schooling for the first time in their lives. Some of the boys have already had religious schooling in the mosque, but most of the Afghan boys are too poor to join in, so have had to stand away and learn what they can from a distance.
The later part of the film concentrates more on the girls class, and is very intense and moving. I hope all these children may learn enough to help their societies to overcome the war and corruption which has deprived them of such basic rights.
There were many new Arab films in the Danish festival, all those I saw were an education for me. Do try to see these films to get a better idea of the lives of real people and to learn how their culture works.
Nurse Betty (2000)
A real favourite (contains spoilers)
I just love this film, and regret that a few people find the level of violence in two scenes unexpected. In the UK it is an 18, and that kind of category should prepare people to expect a "dark" comedy, however it is promoted.
One little irony is that Betty is so lovable that the more susceptible viewer might be tempted to make just the same mistake as she does - fall in love with a fictional character. Still, she's a lot more worthy of this than the schmucky doctor!
I think Morgan's character, Charlie, is very interesting. He starts off as a man who believes that he has professional integrity. It is his obsession with Betty which destroys this, and him. The first fatal consequence of this obsession is in the scene at the bar in Nevada. The only way the plot can hold together is for Charlie and Wesley to kill the Bartender lady. If they don't, she will surely blow the gaff and bring the cops into it? She is very sweet and definitely doesn't have it coming to her. Earlier on, Charlie, who prides himself on being a professional, has said he never killed anyone who didn't have it coming to them. Thus, his "Betty" obsession has surely made him break his professional code?
It fits the logic of natural justice that he should perish. In this way, the plot follows the "the baddies get it in the end" Hollywood way. Just a theory!
Fucking Åmål (1998)
Kevin & Perry, why bother?! Go see Agnes and Elin instead!
Teenagers are saying it's true to their lives, and for this mid thirties bloke, it was really nostalgic. Seeing it a few days ago, I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Only one chance to view it here, or I'd definitely have gone another couple of times. Read the other comments for an idea of how wonderfully Agnes and Elin are played. If you don't fall in love with them, then you definitely need your shell cracking!
It's such a shame that the British have a problem with subtitles and foreign films. This one beat Titanic last summer in Scandinavia. This summer, here, the teens are all going to Kevin and Perry to see the piss taken out of their lives, and they're missing this teenage romantic gem. What a loss!
Whatever your age, your sexuality or your culture, go and see this film! It is both charming and down to earth. You may be cheering and clapping by the end, like some were here, or just leaving with an irrepressible smile and a very lasting impression.