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LA PREMIERE
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08/11/2013 new movies short reviews by Natasha and Alex 
THE RAILWAY MAN NEW
RATE: 9/10

Preview: kind courtesy of MB Publicity

Let's start with smallish failures
1. the beginning of the movie is a bit fake and made up or at least it seems simulated. It is too unnatural and looks a bit cheap (story-line- wise). Nicole saves the bad moments – she is magnificent in acting.
2. the main character, who is played by Nicole does not know anything about the man she marries – it is more than impossible as there are some very particular moments in intimate life that can not be missed when two people meet each other… so it is one more failure as it also sounds a bit counterfeit.  

Pluses:
3. the idea that the director tries to deliver is very strong. war leaves marks on people: not only physical (of course) but mostly they are physiological. people who went through such experience they can not stop thinking about the past and they destroy their present by such thoughts. revenge after many years passed does not make sense. people change and the enemies might turn into friends...
4. there are shames that you can not open up even with your closest people like your partner or your lover. how can you live with them then?    
5. take a look at the railways: they look magnificent but who built them?  They were all built by slaves; be they war slaves or any other people that were exploited
6. how easy people can get manipulated when they do not have access to the right source of information. knowledge is definitely power by any means. 
7. heroism of one individuum. the act of one person might change history and might save so many lives... 
8. "so may people died... not died - murdered..."
9. the moment of forgiveness is very powerfully acted and is very sensitive
10. never expect the standard movie ending... the story is very unpredictable.   


PHILOMENA NEW
RATE: 8/10
media preview - kind courtesy of HOPSCOTCH
website

this movie might be eyes wide opening for those of you who have heard just a little about catholic church crimes. it will not surprise those of you who know a lot about the subject. it is shocking for all though...

a couple of thoughts as usual:
1. there is no happiness outside of us. it is a personal choice by all means. no one, nothing can make you more or less happy, more or less angry or more or less balanced. happiness... it is not within the hands of any institution be it church, your work place or for in this case: the people around you. happiness and peace - it is an inner being-ness and nothing else like meditation that can not be taken away or added to your life.
2. how about this one? are you confessing your sins to the church? may be the church should do the same: it should confess their sins to the people who followed it blindly? church is simply an institution, a tool of manipulation. this institution does not have the face, the voice, the hands. people who work in it - they do. it is easy to say: church is responsible for this and that. they are not. church is not a living being: it might be a paper, a low or a declaration written by a living human, but church is nothing. people who work there, they are the ones committing crimes and doing charity, not the church. people come and they go, they change one another. one is better, the other one is worse. but church does not have feelings like any corporation does not - it is simply not there.
3. i was overwhelmed by the strong actors' performance:
Judi Dench, Steve Coogan. this true story simply shined in their aura.
4. very english-like humor, i would even say: english-UK-humor, we had a good laugh, especially in the episodes when something is not said out loud, but the eyes act.
5. my thumbs up for this movie to be put on your priorit yto watch list.   

THE GREAT BEAUTY NEW
media preview: kind courtesy of Ned&Co 
website
RATE: 10/10

it is a complicated task to review this movie that is more like reviewing someone's life. we did not watch, no you can not call something you live and enjoy "watch". you forget everything around you so mesmerized the great beauty is. you call it fellini's project - never accomplished by the master or his is what he would do if he could... no, the brush is less refined but not less striking, i would even call it neo-fellinism in its significance and splendour.

there is Rome for you in its tremendous beauty and there is the man living in it who is bigger than this city. the city is vibrant so is this man, a 65-years old journalist and writer, more alive than some 20 year-olds. his whole life is a grand party, huge stage and a place for performance: be it circus with vanishing giraffes; dance floor where people drink like there is no tomorrow and move like trains with only one difference - they move into no-where; theater with brides and grooms, death and love, sanity and lust; and...well... dinners with cardinals and most boring people on earth. 

it blinds you, it takes you away from your reality into something that deep down you feel also belongs to you. it is uncatchable, untouchable and invisible: the vibes of the love gone forever, the beauty of what you have now together with the memories and the creations of tomorrow... 

his life is high and low so are his thoughts. but there one one significant event that changes something inside of him forever... there are moments in life when you understand that something in the past will never be coming back. 

the movie is so spectacular and so multi-leveled i would watch it twice if not three times as we did in the past with "Amarcord" and "8½".  Two hours and forty minutes is obviously not enough to satisfy our hunger for beauty and let's be honest to comprehend all the details... 

the movie is not just powerful but mesmerizing, extravagant with the gentle touch of melancholy and so elliptical that need many of us (not one person to watch).        

TRACKS NEW
website

RATE: 10/10

we are all lonely on our journeys, that "do not have the beginning nor they have the end, they just change forms"

Mia Wasikowska (i call her Australian Gwyneth Paltrow - this is how incredibly good she is) is a brilliant actress and having her in this movie makes it double valuable where one of the other assets is the subject itself - the journey crossing Australian desert from Alice Springs (Aiers Rock)  to the Western Coast of Indian Ocean - 1700 miles of almost 200 days. this is a journey of a life time i keep on only dreaming about...

Mia
plays, no she is out there actually making it happen - the crossing - this is how realistic the film is. she makes it under the starry southern cross skies, sustaining the sand storms and the loss of her best and speechless friend. such journeys are worth going on without any company... where common language only spoils the beauty of nature silence. or even this: different language is sometimes even better than the same you speak with your partner as the feelings and the "talk" is beyond any words and beyond any language...

no female, no male company - just one solitude of yourself. but they can not leave her alone... males especially: be they camels or just human species... and she does not want any company - she is tired of people. just shut all the doors if she can and stay mute as that radio that does not work when it is so needed.. 

and at the end... it will be a self discovery point as you can only find who you are reflecting in the others... missing them is the best part... even the most annoying ones... such a movie that i could only hold my breath and tears... dont know about Alex as he was very tired to share what he thinks of it.

just one more thing to remember: on your journey to never look back on what you have done or you have not done - it was all perfect to shape you in your own creation of who you are now...  

note: this movie is not scheduled for release yet
     

ROMEO AND JULIET NEW
RATE: 5/10

when you put your hands on filming classics your chances to succeed are pretty low. why? you either need to be a master like Alexander Sokurov (Faust) or your need to find a beautiful and unique interpretation of the well known story Tom Stoppard (Anna Karenina, 2012).  when you are neither so is your adaptation : no master piece , no fabulous interpretation but just one plain and boring story line that may be rather appealing to young and stupid teenage  girls which I will also find very challenging as girls these days are very selective and very smart in their choices. I will have to say to sure - boy will not like it as they will see its fakes and falling moments.

There is something that I found very well done though: surroundings, very natural including old time buildings and
dresses. These were done with immaculate precision and no failures: not even one piece of fake decorations: natural stone, sand, leather, cotton and wool.

The actors are extremely attractive especially the young Romeo who looks like a guy from a glamor magazine cover featuring jackets worn on the naked bodies with that hot and spicy Asian flavour but not really much appealing to some of the girls nor to my personal tastes: in men: he is too girly and it is hard to imagine him fighting, fencing and riding a horse with a heavy sword and killing very strong and well trained: and rather more male looking and more attractive Tibald (and Paris).

It's such a shame as building a bad quality house on a valuable land as by doing this you not only diminish the project but also you devalue the land as something once spolied is very hard to restore...


What was also very noticeable as a bit artificial and fake and we could possible bear all of the above mentioned mistakes but the feelings and emotions on the screen were very much made up and unnatural especially tears by the main characters... and that was the end of it. If it was not for me Alex would leave half way through the movie but I appreciate his patience as sometimes  to know something excellent you need to know the poor... Very sorry for our time wasted but more for the money wasted by the whole team working on this movie and for THEIR time and great efforts - all in vain... and sorry to write such a harsh review...  Woody Allen, where are you????

WAKOLDA- JIFF 2013 NEW
website

RATE: N/A

It is one of those movies that is very hard to rate as it is too sensitive not only to rate but to watch. It is grey and the color stays the same without even one bright hue of rainbow for the entire movie... Scary? not really, just unpleasant atmosphere... something that you can not touch - but only sense... Naked and almost live dolls are even more scary-unrealistic than people who make dolls' hearts beat and who make their hair human... The movie is filmed in Argentina, a really beautiful country with vast lands, sky reflecting lakes and snowy mountains but there is not even one sunny day shown in the movie: the days are all rainy, snowy and if not this then they are gloomy and unpleasant... The nature only reflects what you see, complimenting the storyline... I believe the director achieved what he desired to achieve... I can only compare
(in its power of delivering the message) this movie in describing crime and what surrounds it with "the silence of the lambs" because dolls are like lambs - silent... 

THE GILDED CAGE NEW
website
media preview - kind courtesy of Ned&Co
RATE: 8.5/10

it's a French dish with Portuguese spices
; very light, funny and entertaining, excellent music (fado) selection in the right places at the right moments, beautiful Paris and Portuguese wine-country side sceneries pictured as az amazing background to happy families and aside from very common and small life "problem moments": the issues with teenagers, some national issues, personal - all are resolved easily with light humor and gentle touch...very realistic life showing not only of immigrants but in general.all the characters are painted in rich details - not even one missing which is amazing hac=ving so many of them in the plot.    imho very enjoyable time spending.

NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON NEW
website

media preview - kind courtesy of Pinnacle Films and Ned&Co
RATE: 10/10

I will be very banal to tell you that you only realise the value of something when you loosing it or when you do not have it at all. Take Freedom as an example. You can only understand what freedom is when you loose it. The people in the countries that have lack of freedom sometimes do not even comprehend what they are missing as they do not know what it is or if they can have more of it. Only in comparison they can grasp that freedom can be different, that there are regimes and dictatorships that deprive them from something... they do not know yet till they get a breath of fresh air and realisation comes and then... you never have enough of it. as Freedom is boundary-less, it is never enough of it for one. they were our thoughts on the back from That were our thoughts with Alex on the way back from the media screening at The Backlot Studios Southbank. BTW, if you have not visited this location - please take your time to snoop around and investigate. There is a very unique cafe (again - our photos suck sorry) - we took a couple of photos. The cafe's walls hear lots of discussions about movies that are not there yet - just ready to be born... Check it out please - just one breathtaking location! My weak point - are their soft as they can be leather armchairs inside the cinema hall - you can deep inside of the chairs and disappear sinking in your feelings - very good for movie watching indeed - homelike..

Let's go further with the review... Yes, the movie is about freedom. It is complex. It is also about love. If you feel that your life might be way too interesting and too intense with someone - so not make that step forward to get the tighter bonds. You might not be able to handle it as the other person might offer you so much you will not be ale to accept anything or you might not be ready for it yet... Are you???? Sometimes it is a path decision. then you might choose an easy and silent but terribly boring life to the extreme of playing chess with yourself or even trying to find food leftovers in the old garbage bin..
What you choose might change not only your own life but the life of your loved ones.

There is another thought... Life is full of accidents that lead you to the exact point where you are now: be it a random book you find in a random place, or it can be more exciting situation (that you create - no one else!) - a girl standing on the bridge and looking down the waters... You choice might change her choices... or that might be a cyclist that runs you over and you have to change your completely broken glasses to a new, youger and sexier looking ones... Small accidents shape our lives like puzzles then you realise that you are standnig in the middle of this puzzle and unless you make that final move the puzzle will be not complete, not colored in the right way so to speak... The choice is always in your hands...

There are more thoughts... I am not sure if i can bore you enough so you might be falling asleep already. One more! Do the children responsible for their parents/grandparents wrong (or let's e precise: cruel choices). Do they need to feel guilty or should they accept their loved ones as they are? Darkness and light blend together... But then they, the children should simply learn to make different / better working choices... It's up to you to decide. there is no judging from my side - I believe the only person you can be responsible for is Yourself and no one else.

It is amazing how a person with certain profession can become so very sensitive to see people's character through his/her eyes - you have to love your profession so much to be able to do that.


To be honest there was one part that I regret I missed as they read the extracts from Amadeu's book which are full of very original and complex thoughts that I had troubles understanding only because they need to be re-read twice to get a good meaning of them... There is one of them: "the grass looks better when the writer decsribes it with words rather than in real life... etc"

Almost detective story but told in a softer gentler way...


There is another one: doctor's choices - should he help the "butcher" (a secret police worker who torches his friends) or should he save his life?.. By not assisting the patient he will be breaking the vows of Hippocrates and by assisting "the bastard" he will become a traitor for his friends and loose his practice. One for many? Or many for one/? 


There are more thoughts as the movie is beautifully made and it is very deep and complicated... but I think you should go and watch for yourself...
Just will add the last note: the actors especially
Jeremy Irons is playing it all the best way - excellent , real master of acting he is! I am not forgetting Jack Huston here with his powerful personality and charisma - a hero impossible not to fall in love with and to surprise the viewers...

Last note sorry: this movie might be hard to understand by lots of common people... and i would not mention here it might be for very selected , cinematography appreciative audience only...

ONE CHANCE - BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT SELECTION - NEW
screening invite - courtesy of Palace Cinemas, MBPulicity and British Film Festival Team
RATE: 8/10

website
1. the movie is about your road and how you can recognize it... if it has a heart, if you feel it is yours as an indication - this is your true way  you might turn back or turn to another road you are and you might not fulfilling your life's purpose. there are people you can meet on your way challenge you in your true wish to be on your main road. you master your way through.   

2. there is a second side of this story as well – there might be easy ways - everything is going very well on such roads from the very beginning but there are no results or they are small and not sweet because it is the easy way – everything is received easily.  The easier the path the smaller the result (in your own eyes of course but there are no other eyes) the people on the easy road usually are like comets - they come and they go... they burn fast. they did not earn it hard way... it does not matter that this way is worse or better than any other way. It is just the way and nothing else. sometimes your road lies through the hardships of life (they might be right or they might be wrong – it does not matter) - they create you, they make you higher in your own eyes, in your own perception, they make you more confident that the road you choosing is right and they shape you in the right way into the person you are now. you become better or worse? does not matter as it the eyes of the soul there is no right or wrong – you just become who you are here and now.

3. it is important that someone is supporting you on your true path - it is even more important that this person is your close and loved one (wife/husband) - she/he needs to understand your own way despite your parents’ and your friends’ opinion. It makes the road not easy but smooth.

4. the movie is to lift your mood as the movie humor is very light and engaging.

5. there are a couple of very deep sayings: example – “actor/performer should be confident and “not to be a thief and steal the heart of the audience in order to succeed”

6. a bit on the negative part: the actors perform not strongly but acceptably good.
7. the story is a bit plane IMHO - there are characters that are way too obvious: pure evil people do not exist and creating them the way they were shown does not lead the director/script writer to the winning position. some characters look like plastic dolls and they do not develop during the movie. some character look not natural and may be a bit fake to the extend of being naïve as a whole. .

8. that’s it from Alex and me.


CLOSED SEASON (Endeder Schonzeit) - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
RATE: 10/10

some thoughts Alex came up with (and this is what i really did not expect from him as I the movie no more than 6 out of 10)
1. the most incredible director's work we have seen since we watched Alexander Sokurov's cinematography genius art pieces. The script considering the amount of words pronounced is very limited. Most of the action is happening in silence and it is the most powerful part as the actors play and act with gestures, body language and mimics so vividly and so truthfully it seems unbelievable sometimes. As we know the truth does not come in the amount of words you say ut in what is not said out loud.  
2. the actors' work is stunning. i still can not imagine how much you can say with your hands, with your eyes a=or with your head down... very powerful performance.  
3. the atmosphere of the 40s and 70s is reflected so incredibly well you do not have any doubt the story is pure truth no matter how ugly it might seem from the first glance - as there is so much light in it, and so much kindness in darkness and so much dark sides of most genuine love...
4. when you watch the movie play attention at the actor's hair as they say more than words...
5. it is a drama but not a dark drama as
the suffering is only touched with the light glimpses of it and the ending is very positive and you still hope that everything including the mistakes done in the past will be changed..."the weather is much cooler in winter in Israel"- this is for sure...


PUTZEL - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
RATE: 7/10

The movie is a bit shallow for my taste but very entertaining, light and easy to watch if you are in the mood not to think at all, but for relaxing and having a good time. The actors are terrific and some moments are extremely funny. It would probably suit teenagers' taste (especially young men up to 30 years old) but IMHO American humor is a bit.... mmmm... vulgar... the ideas a more than trivial, and the whole movie feels like one- dimensional picture . too predictable and a bit fake... 

ADORATION NEW
media preview - kind courtesy of Hopscotch
Rate; 9/10

Australian tender sun... the colors are blue and sandy... the ocean is engaging... the people are like Gods - strong and stunning... what is going on then? the characters are so well defined and pictured - you meet them in your everyday life... two young men who are friends for life and two middle age but still graceful women (their mothers) who also have been friends for many years... the women are very attractive but this is not on the surface, the beauty lies deep inside their behavior, their eyes, their world vision and something that can not be pronounced... what brings them all together? no, there is no lust as you would expect,. it is even stronger than marriage ties. it is that inner longing that can not be explained in words where age does not matter, where nothing matters... may be it is love of two women whose attraction to each other can not be expressed any other way but through their sons as the morals of the society dictates love can be acceptable only between man and women? who knows?.. there is an attraction on such level that if you try to explain it in words it looses its essence and flavour... the flavour of Australian sand and ocean... so you just go with the wave... but only if the waves are mild but can they turn into a life breaking storm?.. provocative and scandalous? may be... but from the first glance indeed... look for yourself...     

FILL THE VOID - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
RATE: 10/10

it is tender and delicate like youth itself. but what is her motivation? what drives her, this young 18 year old little (or not so little anymore?) girl. her feelings are pure, her intentions are innocent - do you remember yourself at this age? but what about her choices? and how she is perceived by the others? is she lying to herself? how can she express what she feels without the others being hurt? how can she learn? it is complicated, it is more complicated than you think... what drives her when she says "yes" to  the man of her choice? is it guilt for her sister who passed away so unexpectedly or is it love? is it her sorry feelings towards another girl who is much older but can not find the right man for herself or is it still love? is it the family protection and her responsibility for her close ones that she chooses or is it love? or it might be her curiosity only or is it LOVE?  a wish to make everyone happy and pleased or love? how can she find out? and what triggers her to open up at last? it is a road of self discovery, so beautiful and so dramatic... loved the movie for everything: smooth and natural actors performance, fine humor, directors work and camera! all well done for 10 out 10 with no doubts!     
...and one more thing: songs played on harmonica are so beautiful - they are just out of this world...

THE SONGS THEY SANG NEW
website


This movie will be attractive to the people of Jewish origin whose relatives and parents went through hardships of WWII and German occupation, including suppressing Jewish talents and people of Jewish background and their enormous suffering, horror and genocide during these years. Music and songs that was sometimes the only weapon people could use against their enemies. The people who survived such times are not ordinary human beings - they are heroes that were often forgotten soon after... I am hesitating to rate this documentary due to its subject high sensitivity.    
website
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ONE LIFE BBC EARTH NEW
website
RATE: 10/10

amazing camera work of the moments your eye would never capture without its lenses... two words: beautiful movie to the extend of triple "wows", unexpected animal behavior, rare animals, and far from simple life of survival - the life is so complex you will not believe your eyes... 5mln spices but they are so all different their tools and methods of growing young ones, finding food in the most clever ways, seeking shelter for safety,
their adaptation to nature's hardships is even greater than ours, their ways of selecting the right partner are vast and sometimes funny etc etc are all so unique - the variety shocks you..they are so different from us and so alike... they remind us of ourselves and we see them in us... but the harmony unites them all, it unites all of us as we all share one planet, one air, one life...

Narrated by Daniel Craig, this 2011 movie used cutting edge cinematic techniques to bring unprecedented and astonishingly beautiful sequences of animal behaviour to a global audience.

One Life trailerAbout One LifeGrowing up. Finding food. Seeking shelter. Finding a soul mate. Raising children. These universal themes touch the hearts of audiences everywhere.

Parents will do anything to give their kids the best start in life. Witness the epic journey of a tiny poison arrow frog, scaling impossibly high trees to feed her tadpoles in the canopy.

As the young grow, they confront the life long search for food. One Life, narrated by Daniel Craig, shows how capuchin monkeys spend up to eight years teaching their young the complex process of preparing a palm nut meal.

For those creatures who successfully negotiated all the obstacles to adulthood, it’s time to face the ultimate test: to find a partner and to pass on their genes to the next generation. In what is one of the most spectacular and romantic courtship dances in the world, grebes step out across the surface of a lake in perfect unison.

We see so much of ourselves in these different animals, and them in us – intelligence, strength, determination, courage, even love. The stories combine to reveal how every living thing on our planet shares the same desire – not just to live, but to foster new life. Relevant, engaging and above all, amazing - this is One Life.


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ROCK THE CASBAH - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
it's a slaughter house where river of blood runs from endlessly. Jews and Arabs. the stupidity of this war doe snot know any boundaries. new soldiers come and they learn how to suffer and they learn what pain is. the human being-ness can not take it - you need to be made out of iron or stone not to see anything around you. it is good if you understand the purpose of what you are doing but in most cases there is no purpose. the purpose is in happiness and there is no one soul that feels it there: may be it is a girl who hangs out the washing across the road but she is afraid to be raped when she goes out with her girlfriends; may be there are people dancing in circles hugging each other, but they shoot their brothers the next day.. may be there are women who cook yummy food for their husbands but they are teaching their small ones how to hate... may be there are young guys dreaming of their girlfriends and their holidays in Mediterranean but they will jail your innocent children tonight. who is happy there in this unfertile land that everybody wants a piece of? i can not rate this movie - it stirs your soul and your mind - you can not think straight after it... as you do not believe that this is actually true and it is true...      

Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
RATE: 9/10

“I am trying to think if there was anyone on Broadway who wasn’t Jewish except Cole Porter.” and this is an absolute truth - if you wrote Broadway music it had to have some Jewish tunes in order to be successful.

this amazing documentary "relives Broadway’s greatest moments in all of its heart-warming and wonderfully kitsch glory, celebrating the creative legacy of a community that dreamed of a better life". the movie director, Michael Kantor travels with us through all world’s famous and adored tunes and songs, featuring brilliant George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Mel Brooks together with the most talented performances of Nathan Lane, Fanny Brice, Barbara Streisand and many more to name here. the movie is magnetic and it is full of life and happiness. Most of you will enjoy watching this dymanic and very entertaining documentary as we did... 


AFTERMATH - JIFF 2013 NEW
website
RATE: 9/10

sometimes you just have a gut feeling what is right and what is wrong and it is not your mind decision - it is your soul call. You can not explain it in words and you can not answer the question "why?" but you know what you do alines with your true self. when you start fighting for truth make sure you know who you are and that you are at least a saint as if you are not the crowd will crucify you. but they did it with Jesus Christ too.... does it mean that fighting for truth is one worthless activity? it is not i suppose, no matter who you are and how clean your own soul is truth is always there and it is always time and place to change - here and now. all of us have their mission in life. you know you are on the right path as it is the only true road you can travel - it is the road of your heart. this is a very powerful movie of self discovery of two brothers on the search on their past and their parents past and the decisions they make have a value of not one but many lives. Hope you will enjoy the movie...
There is a detailed review in Russian language I was sent today by my Russian friends:

“Aftermath”

                               Что следует иметь в виду, просматривая фильм

Такое случается редко, когда я говорю сыну и близким: брось все, и посмотри этот фильм. Поляки сняли невероятный фильм, название которого все будут переводить, кто во что горазд. «Последствия» - напрашивается первым, но я перевожу «Стерня». Имею право: авторы оставили мне много намеков на то, что это может быть так. Я помню, как это больно – идти по стерне. Это гвозди, сделанные из соломы – плотной и прочной, у основания стебля. Они неизбежно остаются после любой жатвы – серпом ли жал, махал косой или прошелся по полю комбайном. Грубая золотая щетина покрывает лицо земли, если смотреть издали, а если ступать босиком – идешь по гвоздям. До крови. И если душа у тебя от чего-то уходит в пятки, то стерня – через пятку – втыкается прямо в душу. Но чтобы получить стерню, следует что-то посеять, а потом сжать урожай. В этом месте название отсылает к вечному - «Что посеешь – то и пожнешь». С одной разницей: сеяли отцы, а пойдут по стерне их дети.

Сюжет прост до неприличия. Целиком почерпнут из жизни, но упрощен.
В жизни было так: 10 июля 1941 года половина жителей польского городка Едвабне, что в 85 милях от Варшавы уничтожила вторую половину. Убийцы, во главе с мэром, были католиками. Их жертвы – одна тысяча шестьсот душ – евреями. Поляки убивали их несколько часов в короткой июльской ночи. Руками.
Вооружившись чем попало – ножами, топорами, молотками. У кого были ружья - стреляли. Те, кто уцелел в мясорубке, спрятались в амбаре неподалеку, но ненадолго: амбар подожгли и недобитые евреи сгорели заживо.
После победы погибшим поставили памятник – как павшим от рук нацистов. И пол-века жители Едвабне ходили мимо памятной таблички, прекрасно зная правду, но никто и словом не обмолвился.
Страшный секрет Едвабне предал огласке в книге «Соседи» мой добрый знакомый поляк - историк Принстона - Ян Гросс. Книга вышла в начале нового века и вызвала шквал протестов. Не было поляка-патриота, кто не плюнул в автора. Но нашлись и другие поляки, - те, кто задумался над историей Едбавне. В 2004 известный режиссер Владислав Пасиковский принес независимому продюсеру, некогда бывшему режиссером, Дариушу Яблонскому сценарий...
Описывать, как никто не давал деньги на «антипольский» фильм не буду, но семь лет спустя деньги все же собрали фильм сняли. И теперь Польша бурлит – после выхода фильма осенью 2012-го года в ряде городов фильм запрещен к показу, как анти-польская пропаганда, и нет кинотеатра, который бы согласился дать хоть один просмотр. Режиссеру поступают угрозы, а исполнителя главной роли – Матея Штура - поляка, сыгравшего поляка, - атакуют антисемиты в прессе, а по телефону и в интернете обещают убить. Говорят, что он занесен в черный список национальной киноакадемии – чтоб не снимал его больше никто.
Такое вот кино.

Премьера в Америке – 1 ноября в Нью-Йорке, а чуть погодя – в Лос-Анжелесе. Бросьте все – идите и смотрите. Это не про Польшу, не про поляков, и не про Едвабне, хотя в кадре Польша. Это про убийство людей людьми. Соседей – соседями.
«Я знаю такие деревни, я знаю таких людей», - во множественном числе ответил Дариуш Яблонский на обвинения в поклепе на поляков.

В фильме все много проще. Массовое убийство уведено за кадр, а в кадре всего два человека, два брата. Один прилетел из Америки повидать другого, живущего в отцовском доме на хуторе. Подтянутый чисто выбритый мужчина лет сорока с небольшим с легкой кожаной сумкой прибывает в некий город в Польше. Его никто не встречает. Он садится в такси и только таксисту скажет, что 20 лет, как уехал, живет в Чикаго. Уточнит, что уехал в первую стычку властей с «Солидарностью». Так устанавливается время: уехал в 1981-ом, приехал – в 2001-ом.
Машина в сумерках тормозит у тропинки в поле – дальше пешком до дому. Меж сжатых полей, покрытых той самой колючей щеткой стерни. Хрустнет ветка в жидком кустарнике, разделяющем луг на «твое-мое» и Франтишек – так зовут мужчину – поставит сумку на свою стерню и бесстрашно ринется по своей земле в кусты: - Эй, кто там?
Нет никого. Только сумка исчезла. Значит, был кто-то... Кто?
Он войдет в старый дом налегке – даже без сумки. Встретит его хмурый младший брат Юзеф, грязный после рабочего дня в поле. И только погаснет свет, как со звоном разлетится оконное стекло от брошенного с улицы камня...
Такое начало.

Из скудных реплик выяснится, что младший старшему многого не прощает, хоть и помнит его не очень хорошо. Был брат – и не стало, сбежал, оставил семью и даже на похороны отца и матери не приехал. Жалкие оправдания эмигранта, что паспорта не было, для Юзека пустое.
- Ты им это расскажи.
- Они уже не живые.
- Для тебя, - отрежет брат с укором.
Так авторы обозначат, что для младшего ушедшие – живы. Это важная точка противостояния.
Дальше – больше: из незначительных реплик откроется, что от Юзека ушла жена, уехала с ребенком в Америку и там рассказала старшему, что младший сошел с ума и она не может дить с ним в аду, который он устроил. И медленно приоткрывается ад.
Франтишек пойдет по центру села, а ему со всех сторон станут нашептывать, чтоб забрал брата с собой в Америку.
Его узнают, а он – никого. Все помнят отца, укоряют, что хоронить не приехал... И объясняют, что младший – мерзавец: сломал единственную хорошую дорогу в селе. Зачем – не понятно. Подтянутый строгий старший решительно идет в банк – просить ссуду на то, чтоб починить полуразрушенный дом, а ему скажут, что дом вовсе не его... Что отец его незаконно землей завладел. И старший почувствует, что все тут сошли с ума.

А младший поведет его в чисто поле – на отцову землю и покажет свое богатство: стоят на стерне рядами надгробные плиты евреев... Со старинными надписями, с магендовидами... Именно этими камнями была выстлана в селе единственная хорошая дорога. Нынче ее решено асфальтировать. И не останется следа от людей, что когда-то лежали под этими камнями...
И это только пол-дела, так как из ничейной дороги Юзек камни просто выворотил и увез, а много камней разбросано по частным подворьям. И он их выкупает у односельчан...
Франтишек подсчитывает убыток: 700 тысяч злотых за триста надгробий.
- Да это ж жиды! – взрывается старший.
- Люди, - поправляет его младший.
И говорит, что знает, что деревня считает, что он свихнулся. Но это пустяк. Обидно, что жена была на их стороне.
- Особенно когда я начал камни эти покупать... Что ж – лучше красть? – недоуменно спрашивает Юзек. И перечисляет, где еще остались камни, которые нужно перетащить сюда - на свою землю...
Он склоняется к камню, любовно погладив его, и читает на хибру надпись.
- Откуда? – дивится старший.
- Выучил, - пожимает младший плечом. – Узнать хотел, что написано...
И объясняет, что он не безумец, а просто...
- Немцы сожгли синагогу и уничтожили кладбище. Это я не могу поправить – я даже не родился тогда еще. Выстелили дорогу надгробьями, и я об этом не знал. Но когда сказали, что дорогу покроют асфальтом, я понял, что этого не должно быть.
- Но почему? У нас с жидками ничего общего! – взрывается старший.
- Не знаю, - честно отвечает Юзек. – Я плохо себя чувствую, когда думаю о том, что это неправильно и я ничего не делаю. А если кто возьмет надгробье наших родителей и положит у своего порога, чтоб вытирали ноги? ..
- Но эти люди нам никто! Они не наши! И вообще умерли сто лет назад, а твоя семья жива, и почему она должна страдать от того, что ты заботишься о мертвых жидах?! – кричит Франтишек.
- Я знаю, что это неправильно, но я должен делать это. Я не могу иначе...
Невероятная сцена.

Прекрасный молодой актер Матей Штур играет сомнамбулу – героя, который ведом неведомой силой. И старший – Ирениуш Чоп – отшатнется. От протеста, непонимания, отчаяния, невозможности что-либо изменить. Единственный правильный выбор для него теперь – встать на сторону брата и помочь ему дособирать оставшиеся камни...
- Почему из всех людей ты выбрал заботиться о мертвецах? – только и спросит он.
- Не знаю. У них не осталось живых, кто бы заботился об их могилах...

Братья пойдут за очередным камнем. Село выйдет против них. И спасет их старый ксендз, который встанет между братьями и разгневанными селянами. Отдаст камень, что подле костела, а потом замертво упадет в своей светелке. Успев сказать старшему, что он полагает, что Юзек исполняет Божью волю.
- Я думаю сказать об этом на службе... – будут его последние слова.

Старший роется в архиве, чтобы найти документы на усадьбу отца, а находит имена настоящих владельцев – и все они совпадают с именами на надгробьях.
- Значит, они взяли себе землю убитых евреев, - потрясен Франтишек.
- А что вы хотели? Немцы не могли забрать землю с собой, - парирует архивист.

А в доме тем часом все перевернуто, изрисовано магендовидами, исписано вечным словом «жид» по стенам.
- И собаку убили, - добавляет растерзанный младший.
- Застрелили? – неизвестно зачем, уточняет Франтишек.
- Тут тебе не Америка, - язвит Юзек. – ОТРУБИЛИ голову.

Процесс накопления деталей и подробностей противостояния достигает апогея. Мир фильма окончательно обретает полюса добра и зла. Братья становятся страдальцами, остальные – чудовища, не пощадившие невинную добрую псину. Тут-то и выплывает неожиданный вопрос, куда делись сами евреи?
Ветер и шепоты приносят ответ, что тут они и остались... И старики знают, где. Роняют слова, намеки. И, наконец, советуют братьям поискать... у себя в старом доме.
Страшный момент.

Братья идут в старый отцовский дом где-то на отшибе, куда выбирались в детстве, как на дачу. Берут лопаты и начинают копать... В черную грозовую ночь в плотной стене библейского дождя они стоят по пояс в яме, похожей на могилу и натыкаются на черепа...
Великая сцена. Младший бьется в истерике и блюет, а старший упорно продолжает копать и истово выкрикивать слова молитвы...

На утро братья выбирают самого злобного и отвратного Деда Малиновского, два сына которого с лицами убийц противостоят им в каждой стычке, и идут к нему – требовать объяснений.
- Я не убивал, - говорит Дед. – Закопай их обратно. Им все равно, где лежать.
- Но их детям... – возражает Юзек.
- Нет у них детей – они вместе с ними лежат.
- Это ты их поджег!
- Я? Сто двадцать человек убил я один? Нет! – кричит старик. – Правды хочешь? Это ваш отец зажег свой дом с двух сторон.
- Врешь! – орет Юзек, как раненый зверь. – Сдохни! – и бросается на старика.
- Ну, убей. И кто тогда убийца – я или ты?! – не дрогнув, орет старик в ответ. – Твой отец их убил. А Хаське голову раскроил на дороге. Она до войны ему нравилась, но к себе не подпускала. Он схватил ее за волосы и бил головой об землю, а она кричала «мама, мама»... Эту правду ты хотел узнать, выблядок?..

Дышать в этом месте нечем.

Братья приходят в свой разоренный дом, моются после страшной ночи.
- Что будем делать? – спрашивает Юзек.
- А что тут поделаешь? Похороним их на кладбище, - кивает Франтишек на поле, уставленное надгробьями.
- Нет, - твердо и решительно возражает Юзек. – Если мы начнем перетаскивать кости, тут-то все и откроется.

Он больше не сомнамбула. Он очнулся, он трезв и решителен: тайну нужно хранить.
- Мы зароем их там, где нашли. Никто не узнает.
- Но мы знаем! – потрясенно возражает Франтишек. – Наш мир – говно, и мы не можем сделать его лучше, но мы можем не делать хуже. Наша семья уже натворила дьявольщины...
- Хватит, - обрывает брат брата. - Вали в свою Америку! Ты мне не брат!..

Словесная перепалка перерастает в драку, где мирный холодный Франтишек хватается за топор. Тот самый, которым уже отрубили голову любимой собаке. Он замирает, бросает топор, хватает пиджак и бежит прочь со двора.
Младший умывает в шайке лицо.
Слышит сзади шаги... Улыбается вновато и успевает сказать: - Я знал...
«... что ты вернешься» - хочется добавить.
Но – увы – никто не вернулся...
Франтишек стоит на автобусной остановке. Подходит автобус, он запрыгивает в него и едва успевает отъехать, как легковушка соседей загораживает ему дорогу... Его снимают с автобуса и везут назад.
Юзек мертв – прибит гвоздями в позе Христа на дверях амбара.
- Он повесился, как Иуда, - говорит молодой ксендз-антисемит, отводя тему убийства в сторону – по традиции этой деревни.

- Конец. -

Фильм невероятный.
При том, что нет в фильме прорыва в собственно кинематографическом поле. Нет ни одного незабываемого плана, ни одного новаторского режиссерского решения, ни одной захватывающей операторской точки, откуда открывались бы бескрайние поля и луга. Ни одного ОБРАЗА, в который бы выкристализовалась реальность. Напротив – есть расщепление всех стандартных ходов и приемов, свойственных послевоенному кино, работающему с темой войны.
Каждый кадр претендует только на реалистичность – даже когда в полной темноте в черной жиже братья копают подпол собственного дома, стоя по грудь в яме, словно в могиле, покуда не натыкаются на черепа и яма действительно становится могилой.
Могилой, в которой погребены евреи, могилой, в которой покоится общая грязная тайна всего села. Могилой, которую своими руками вырыл их отец – убийца.
Юзек с черепом в руке неожиданно рифмуется с принцем датским, но рифма ломается, тк Гамлет с нежность обращаеться к пустым глазницам: - Мой бедный Йорик! – а Юзек кричит от ужаса и отвращения.

Первая реакция – после ужаса – пугает: впервые в жизни, перекрикивая все свое сиротство, я внятно произношу: какое счастье, что у меня в семье всех убили! Какое счастье, что я из семьи убитых, а не убийц! Третьего, оказывается, не дано в этом «танго смерти», где кружатся, - неразрывны и неслиянны, - прижатые друг к другу жертва и палач, еврей и антисемит.

Вторая – чуть погодя, - особая. Рациональная: зависть к полякам, которым удалось прорваться на другой уровень сознания, о-сознания, о-сознавания собственной истории – государственной, личной.
Объясню, почему.

Двадцатый век ознаменован на самом деле одним по-настоящему важным для всех живущих на шаре событием: на Запад пришел Восток. И Восток принес много новых слов и понятий, с которыми мы за сто лет уже обжились, не очень проникаясь их недюжинным смыслом.
Восток научил нас знать, что смерти нет, а есть бесконечная цепь рождений, воплощений в другом теле, с другим именем , но со все той же СВОЕЙ судьбой. Со своей КАРМОЙ. Кармой, которая работает по единственному закону: «Что посеял – то и пожнешь». И если искровянил ноги, ступая по своей земле, то так и должно быть: идешь по своей стерне. И пока не искупишь то, что сотворил, не будет тебе другой стерни, другой земли и другой судьбы. Сколько ни рождайся – даже смерть не даст избавления.

Завидую полякам, дожившим до этого дня – когда ТАКОЕ довелось им снять. Это грандиозный прорыв на другой уровень сознания. И то, что страна от фильма встает на дыбы – лишее свидетельство того, что авторы попали в точку.
И польского поляка актера Штура угрожают убить за роль польского поляка! Это оно и есть – о чем в фильме кричит Дед Малиновский: «Убей. И будешь ТЫ убийца».

Тяжкий труд предстоит полякам – принять эту картину, принять правду о том, что отцы и деды – убийцы. Перебили «жидков», поселились в их домах, на их земле, присыпав их обгорелые кости землей, вымостив дороги плитами их кладбищ, и вырастили своих детей на этих костях и плитах. А тонкокожие дети услышали... К ним достучался пепел «жидков».

Принять, что отцы – убийцы – это только начало. Главное отмолить грех отцов, покаяться, выпросить прощения и сделать следующий шаг - следить за тем, чтобы не повторить то, что сделали отцы. И история сдвинется с мертвого круга, по которому идет веками и, глядишь, пойдет другим путем.

Тяжкий труд души – взять вину на себя, а не открещиваться – «это сделал не я». Именно эта особенность поднимает польскую драму на уровень древнегреческой трагедии. Туда, где царь Эдип на собственный строгий вопрос «Кто убил царя», отвечает «Я» и выкалывает себе глаза в отчаянии. Так карая себя и вбивая в мировую культуру фундаментальный символов внутреннего прозрения. Ибо нечего видеть и искать во вне. Все – внутри тебя.

Дожить до того дня, когда Россия развернется на себя – не с моим счастьем.

Обсуждать символику убийства Юзека через распинание его на деревянной створе амбара не берусь. Не очень понимаю, почему так поступили ненавидящие его соседи-католики. Почему убили – понятно. Не понимаю, почему ТАК. Он не становится от этого ни Христом, взявшим на себя грехи всех, ни искупительной жертвой. Остается еще одним трупом на совести земляков-убийц. Только уже поляком, а не евреем. И убивает его не представитель отцов, а кто-то из поколения детей.
Кончили убивать чужих – перешли на своих. Хотя, какой он им СВОЙ, если раскопал тайну, которую они взялись хранить?

Сколько фильм продержится в прокате – зависит только от нас: пойдем смотреть – будут сборы – будет он на афише. Не пойдем – исчезнет через три-четыре дня. Как было не раз с прекрасными фильмами, которые американцам не по зубам.

Как поведут себя польские националисты, живущие в Америке, увы, предсказуемо.

Фильм удостен первых наград:
- Приза Яд Вашем на Иерусалимском кинофестивале и
- Приза Критиков на фестивале в Гдыне.

AFTERMATH will open at Elsternwick Classic Cinemas Melbourne JIFF 2013 November 6,
at Lincoln Plaza and Cinema Village in New York on November 1st, and
in Los Angeles at The Royal, Playhouse 7 and Town Center on November 15.
A national release will follow.
Picture

NO PLACE ON EARTH - JIFF 2013
website

it is a true story of survival and strength... not survival actually, fight. they were fighters. it is a documentary,
heroic story of the longest, uninterrupted underground life of Jews hiding from Germans in Western Ukraine. it is an
"AN INSPIRING TALE OF ENDURANCE", it is "THE STORY IS REMARKABLE ENOUGH NOT TO REQUIRE ENHANCEMENT", "GRIPPING AND MOVING. A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO HOLOCAUST CINEMA", "AN AMAZING CHAPTER IN WWII HISTORY", "Even in the Holocaust’s annals of extreme survival THEIR HARSH SANCTUARY HOLDS A SPECIAL POWER". The courage and stamina of the men, women and children boggles the mind. - See more at: http://www.magpictures.com/noplaceonearth/#sthash.R8izi6K6.dpuf - the list of appraisals can continue, but let's agree on this: it was very hard for me watch it, first of all because my grandfathers family, all Jews was all burnt alive, including children and old ones in the same land - they lived in Western Ukraine, quite a sensitive topic for me, secondly because there is one thing I still do not comprehend: who do we get divided by nationalities and why do we kill people only because they are different from us, or what we say is different and in reality is not. I did not rate it: it is too hard for me to rate the history.  


CUPCAKES (BANANOT) - JIFF 2013
website

RATE: 6.5/10

Cupcakes movie from Jewish International Film Festival Melbourne 2013 is an excellent entertainment for the whole family. The music is excellent - lots of new songs.
The main character face some life and family challenges to support them going to  the International Songs Contest in Europe. There are lots of funny moments and unexpected situations.

There is one very important thought 99% of us do: we always say NO to anything that might come our way. Our close-minded decisions sometimes prevent us from excellent opportunities: video clips on your own songs, staging and filming your book, publishing your poetry etc etc. From one moment on let's choose and say YES to everything... and see what  changes will come up...   

RENOIR
RATE: 10/10

it is not art it is magic left to us by the short strokes of his brush...


the movie strikes you from the first episode: there is a very beautiful girl riding a push bike down the country road. not an ordinary picture for this time I believe as they used to see women rather with children sitting at home and cooking. her whole appearance is not ordinary at all and not only becasue of the bike but what she wears: the colors are bright, orange bright, blinding bright like the sun. her hair is the same color: right orange. she is his model, she is Renoir model. her skin is velvety and light, she is like a waterfall in spring. the movie colors continue teasing throughout the whole picture: they are burgundy red and they look so juice on the green country-side background... and his women are the same: they are all full of life and colors. "all women came here as models and remain maids, or they came here as maids and stayed as models..." it is so peaceful, green and tranquil... your eyes are resting together with the naked sleeping models... they have kids and they run everywhere... but something worries you apart from these seemingly still waters there are deep emotions that take place: pain and sickness, death and jealousy...

Renoir's son comes back from war and the emotions become more intense... "you never use black color in your paintings" - "no, war and death... I have no interest in this... why do you go to war? to be killed? or to kill some nice gernam fellow who smokes pipe? war does not change anything..." there is a contrast shown so vividly: she is riding her bike again among flowers and blooming trees and she sees faces of soldiers who have just returned from war: they are ugly and wounded, and crippled, and disabled... but "pain passes and beauty remains..."... and yes, you should never tell your woman that you have no dreams and no ambitions. she lives and breathes for you and your dreams. if you do not have dreams you kills her with just your words... 

the country side is shot magnificently, i adore french movies that show french country side in all its beauty. the more attractive is when the water is pictured right. it gives so much depth and abundance as the most powerful substance on earth... it creates thoughts and brings back your memories so much information it carries...

loved this movie for the fine and complex emotions and for the beauty that is worth all Renoir's colors blend together in the waters of his love and expression of flesh and matter with the spirit shining through... his paintings are not defined - they are like people: you can not draw the lines to get the understanding who they are: they are all with the world and different as the flexible transitions from beige to red, from orange to blue, from a woman to the sky, and from tree to water... "a painting should be something pleasant and cheerful"     

if you like art you will find so much inspiration in this picture ad so much for your imagination...  


the soundtrack for this movie is a separate piece of art on its own (just the last addition to our review)

IDA - JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2013
website for reference only as the movie was added to the festival schedule later
RATE: 10/10

for those of you not familiar with Sokurov, Tarkovsky and some famous Polish directors style this movie will seem very slow. you might even say: there are way too many pauses. but this is the way of traditional Russian, Polish and some other countries school of cinematography - it gives you time to think, to readjust and to judge, as we say more Between words than With words...
the movie is very deep and unpredictable considering the way the story line goes and the behavior of the major characters
it is the high art movie if you look at the camera angles taken and many more small details you will notice

interaction of an individual with society can be built in two ways: a way of sanity and a way of debauchery but both ways are no-through roads so to speak as it is shown in the movie - one is ended by suicidal act, the other - symbolically does not even end, there is no destination point but an isolated road with no aim. if you are in the society it is almost impossible to balance between one and another: you can not claim to be a saint and still lie in adaptation to survival.
the actors are magnificent: the faces are very attractive but not in hollywood shallow suggestion of this word but in inner beauty and spirituality shining through the facial expressions... 
there is a very painful scene show also when the person is confessing in personal conversation how he got the land and the property in exchange of someone's life.money and later on - his own dignity as there is no sin that comes without guilt and repenting first of all in front of your own self - a horrible experience indeed of the soul taking such path... 
have to mention a very thorough and considerate work with subtitles as you actually can read them without interruption during the hole movie... meaning no subtitles disappearing on white screen background etc    


BETHLEHEM - JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2013
website

Jewish International Film Festival opened its doors last night, October 17 with a media preview, drinks, fabulous entertainment and preview of Bethlehem movie at Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick. Please check out JIFF website for upcoming festival movies.  Festival opens 6 — 24 Nov in Melbourne.

RATE: n/a

We can not comprehend their world's values and we never will... they go to breakfasts with Kalashnikov, they play  with guns, they shoot you from the corner and they are not evil nor they are kind. They turn into something that does not have a human definition. You watch the movie and you feel yourself more than 2000 years ago at Coliseum where slaves fought for their lives, bread and freedom. But the audience are not the peasants nor they are noble Romans, The audience is the whole world. When is the light at the end of the tunnel, where is the end of the story in the game "who is right and who is wrong?" and "he killed my brother, i have to kill him". The edges are sharp, the characters are hot blooded and the blood is red and it sticks to your fingers... Whose land is it? Whose money are paid to support this war in the middle of piece and piece in the middle of war. You step into this world and the rules change like in the weird computer game where you must have three lives to survive. It is a men's world. The picture is so vivid and so realistic your heart will stop quickening, not our type of movie though it is done magnificently well...   
FESTIVAL TRAILER WEBSITE LINK

BUTLER
RATE: 8/10

media preview is a kind courtesy of HOPSCOTCH

when it comes to politics i am as they say: "we do not talk politics in the white house" i would like to remain silent. there is no politics - there are just human beings acting either like human beings or as total repulsive creatures when they achieve something and when they get the power. they either love and serve their people for the sake of high purpose of one human being or they simply sell them and betray them for the sake of their own personal gains. politics is made out of people as it is so like everywhere in any industry - there are humans and there are no humans, but animals... i'd rather talk about strong family bonds, relationship between fathers and sons, racism and people humiliation than i talk about politics... and this movie has enough of everything above mentioned...


the actors' work is absolutely stunning: there is one actor better than the other- I can not even list all the famous actors and actresses in this movie as they are all great playing their characters... there is one thing we all should remember: there is no black, no white, no boundaries between countries, no rich nor poor as it is all created to separate us and make us weak... the life of one person would not change anything but there are seeds of love that he/she plants into others heads to create a whole generation of the spiritually advanced and strong generation...


the movie is excellent to watch from a historical point of view as the butler serves 8 consecutive presidents - one after the other. the faces change but the walls are still the same... but i was watching this movie with a heavy heart as i can not comprehend how it was America and it only happened 50 years ago when there were places for white and colored people. i simple could not believe my eyes...   

the movie will be also interesting to watch for the people with families who are raising their own children as most of the problems are the same everywhere: rebellious kids, strict fathers and some family rules that do not mean anything... 

WOMEN DRIVE ME CRAZY
LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2013

website
RATE:
8/10

when you try to fix everyone else lives yours does not work right or does it? you can not avoid your destiny no matter what you do or can you at least change something that your parents fail to change? can you escape a reality by choice or will you be stuck forever with the 7 women of your life.

the main character is funny by nature: he looks like English comedian Mr Bean and Russian comedian Mikhail Galustyan at the same time and he s different - may be he is more Italian-gentler. The type of the face makes everyone laugh just by looking at him, he does not have to try hard. he IS FUNNY. The movie is extremely humorous: the cinema theater that was full of loud by nature Italians was laughing our loud every 2-3 min of this light and entertaining movie.

the main character is literally
"locked" and "bound" to do what he does not want to do following the orders of the women inside his house: his mother, his sisters and his grandmother. they are all awful in their own way: one is a man addict, the other one is very self-centered etc etc, the list goes on and on. he can not invite any girlfriend in his house as it all ends up with a disaster. when women rule - there is no logic and no rules. the girl of his dream leaves him but for a different reason - not because of the women surrounding him but because how he chooses to act in order to make his close ones happy. will they still be together? find out for yourself out be prepared as you will be crying from laughter     

LOVELACE
RATE: N/A

this movie will be eyes opening experience for people who are the main porn movies consumers as well as some parents who do not want to care about their daughter/son's lives. lots of parents do not want to hear what is told to them, they often show their children at the door at the most important moments in their children's lives - parents might learn to listen and to understand without judgement - this is why parents are there for their children: they are there to care and protect. this small gesture might prevent some horrible domestic violence and men abusing women in the most disgusting way. 

A FIVE STAR LIFE
RATE: 8/10
LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2013

website

amazing movie which is not really about a 5 star life! there are just our thoughts after today's view:
1. on the movie: she is single, no kids, not even one lover as she can not afford any of the above because of her lifestyle: checking in and checking out. she values the five star hotels around the world following some specific categories. she is a mystery guest all hotel staff is afraid of...
2. on the actors: astonishing performance of the main character! 5 stars from us! her eyes are sooo full of expression and so beautiful!
3. her profession becomes an obsession of her life where she neglects her relatives, checks everything and everyone on 5 star perfection and life is just passing by her like a magical arabic dancer's see-through outfit passes the eyes of an observer...  
4. can she makes her life better? is not it when she always wanted - loneliness... ?
5. everything might be perfect but it can be annoying to the extend when people who look after her comfort become simple robots when they are required to be humans... so not everything in life can be judged by how many stars it has... robots might be perfect but they do not have soul
6. will she find the turning point in her life or it will always continue to be the same: high teas, white gloves, luggage and dusty curtains... ??
7. there are so many psychological moments in this movie we can not elaborate on all of them: there are family issues apart from the main characters involved and with them in awkward circumstances and situations...
8. is there ever be noise in the artificial silence and luxury of the hotel theater life? are there ever be kids' laughter, friends' eyes and lover's hugs? and where is it happening: Berlin, Morocco, Roma or may be Shanghai?
BTW, the literal translation from Italian version: I TRAVEL ALONE

I"M SO EXCITED
RATE: 6/10


tickets are kind courtesy of Transmission Films

imagine you go to the party and you drink: one - two - and more drinks and you still feel OK... it's this one last drink that you think is still OK that can spoil everything... you never know which one it is... who knows? masters might know...

i am not talking drinks of course - i am talking art taste if you still follow me... there is always a boundary - a thin layer of "oops - you have overdone this!" and they did... they overdone it with sex, drugs and alcohol (really? yes, the latter is there too)... why? because the art needs a feeling and a touch of the master... too much is not better . it is like spices in your dish - you put too much salt or too much sugar - and you spoil the dish... the less the better and the more intense the other flavors will come out... talking and doing sex too much and all the time is not "not good" - it is OK in some particular groups of people that are basically obsessed with it too much...

sex is simply part of life, but there are so many other things - why they try to be so plain and talk and do only this? when it is too much the dish becomes over-spiced... it is still entertaining and light but it is over-spiced... well, one spoon might be good enough for majority of us. it can make the dish boring and you are will not be able to see anything else apart from vomiting after drugs overdosing, alcohol "sufficiency" and sex overindulgence... but some of you might like it spicy...

METALLICA THROUGH THE NEVER
RATE: 9/10


media preview - kind courtesy of Hopscotch Films

in cinemas October 10 Oct. this music ran through me like electricity current reminding me of the times i heard it so many times before as my daughter, Masha was really into it in her teenage years: all her bedroom walls were penciled with their songs' lyrics...

The IMDB website reads: Trip, a young roadie for Metallica, is sent on an urgent mission during the band's show. But what seems like a simple assignment turns into a surreal adventure.

A "surreal adventure" wording sounds like a softy fairy tale, but the emotions will run through you like a sword of the iron rider whose face is covered by a terrible mask of war; the music will stir you like electricity current, like a lighting of the Universe size, like 100,000.enormous fireworks coming from beneath the earth, like storm made out of bronze destruction and like hundreds of missiles blasted in one spot - your chest...  You will experience all of them in one and half hours intense Metallica concert that is accompanying this youngster's adventure mission who is facing the impossible and so real world: unexpected fear, cold horror; there will be intentions that will uncover the deep hidden and darkest parts of your soul - be prepared. You will face death, hatred, resistance and impossibility to change the humankind around you. you will become a silent observer of your life unwrapping its sharpest corners and torturing you with glass and concrete sounds of revulsion... or you might turn into a brave fighter yourself? watch it and you will see... you will be fascinated by the power of the music, the  lyrics and the deep messages it carries across... also keep in mind - it is 3-D so everything is tripled regarding your senses...
"Nothing Else Matters"

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No nothing else matters
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TURANDOT OPERA
RATE: 10/10


preview - kind courtesy of Ned & Co

This screening of delightful Turandot Opera was a really live experience at the Royal Opera House London. It is amazing that lots of people have this opportunity to listen to such masterpieces from their local cinemas with a full quality sound and sensation that you are part of the opera lice audience.

Andrei Serban's staging of Puccini's final opera is a glorious pageant of rich colour, dance and drama. Find out more following this link

Music courtesy of EMI Classics

'I will win' exclaims Prince Calaf as he boldly sets out to thaw the heart of the ice princess Turandot. In the final months of his life Puccini struggled to depict Calaf's triumph: he died before finishing the final act. Turandot was completed by Franco Alfano two years later and given its premiere in 1926 at La Scala, Milan. During this initial performance the conductor Arturo Toscanini famously laid down his baton in Act III, declaring 'at this point, the Maestro died'. Turandot has gone on to have great worldwide success.

Puccini creates a rich soundworld for this dark and erotic fairytale. The opera contains many memorable arias, from 'Signore, ascolta', as Liù appeals to Calaf not to attempt Turandot's deadly riddles, to Turandot's defiant 'In questa reggia'. Turandot also contains one of the most famous of all arias -- 'Nessun dorma', sung as Calaf anticipates winning the Princess's hand. Andrei Serban's staging -- one of the most spectacular in The Royal Opera's repertory -- transports an audience to a beautiful but savage world. Sally Jacobs's colourful sets and costumes are inspired by ancient Chinese culture, reflecting the traditional Chinese melodies woven into the score.


To buy your tickets visit Palace Opera and Ballet

Picture

BLUE JASMINE
RATE: 10/10

you do not want to watch the trailer when you go to Woody's movies - you know already it will be perfect. you only go to check out whet else the genius head has prepared for you on the plate to digest and to think about for the next week...


you will not be bored - that is for sure - as you will never know what is around the corner . it is as complex as life itself

the characters are so natural - you can not say if they are good or not - they are all like we are - both sides are present as it should be, organic.

one of the themes - your past chasing you. even if you started your life brand new you can not wipe it off, nor you can forget it and start from scratch. it will always be there. the people appear from your past when you less expect it even if you want to get rid of your past desperately. you can not run from yourself. you can change your relationship with your past but you can not let go your past...

one more theme - if you have never done anything in life what do you do to live and support yourself. you feel like a plat in a bare field with nothing on it. such people live in glass houses, they do not know life, they do not know any other way of living...

there is another one - two sisters that relate differently to life and how they see themselves in it. low self esteem does not let one of them out of the trap seeing men who do not worth her, on the contrary - the other does not see herself rather than in higher life...

there are much more other themes in this movie... but it is better to watch the movie and enjoy it as it is very complex and very emotional...
another perfect art work of Woody.

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