borrelli

I saw 'Defiant Requiem' at the opening night of the DocuWeeks film festival at the IFC in New York City. When I read there was a Holocaust theme to this one, and that this film was on opening night, I knew there had to be something new & unique and special about this film – and is there ever! Having seen many Holocaust docs over the years (like so many of us), along comes this INCREDIBLE story that I had never heard about before, and it is told quite beautifully here.

"Defiant Requiem" is an incredible story of the Nazi concentration camp at Terezin, wherein many talented Czech artists were imprisoned – and it specifically tells the story of one Czech composer, Raphael Schächter, who's idea it was to lead a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" inside the camp. And it tells the parallel story of music conductor Murry Sidlin who decades later went back to Terezin specifically to perform "Requiem" again, quite beautifully, this time with survivors from the camp. I don't really have the words – let me just say this story was completely new to me and had a profound impact on me, particularly the incredible interviews with the survivors.

When the film was over, the whole crowd stayed still and silent all the way through the final credit, before breaking out in applause. It was such a profound experience to be educated on something completely new relating to the Holocaust, and for the subject matter to be told with such depth and compassion, but also restraint. The story was sensational enough, the filmmakers wisely chose not to be manipulative (which would have been easy in this case) – they just told you and showed you this story with honesty, clarity and genuine beauty…. This is what true documentary filmmaking should always be like.

I have no idea how wide the distribution is going to be on this film – NY and LA are lined up so far, maybe other cities? Maybe TV? I have no idea, but if you come across this film SEE IT, you won't regret it.

Saw this film at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC and was deeply impressed. A loving, yet honest, look at Quentin Crisp in his later years in New York. John Hurt just IS Quentin Crisp in this role. It's amazing how accustomed we can be to bad acting as a norm until you see a performance like this and are suddenly reminded of how it's really done. Supporting cast is equally effective (how can they not be when you've got Cynthia Nixon and Swoosie Kurtz) with a massive standout being Denis O'Hare. Beautiful understated effective performance. More than simply biographical, it offers many social subjects for consideration in context - queer-on-queer prejudice, appropriate responses to AIDS in the 1980's, and much much more. It's a really good film, and well worth seeking out for just the acting alone. John Hurt is just perfect.

I was lucky enough to check this out at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, and I HIGHLY recommend it. Very though-provoking and very well done! See this film! It's a very interesting look at independent professional wrestling & explores various concepts about balancing religious faith with being a performer, finding a balance between being true to yourself and your family whilst also being an entertainer. And, it of course touches on stereotypes - how can it not with a title like "Team Taliban" - and it presents some challenging ideas about our own stereotypes, but also how playing into our own stereotypes can be lucrative. I really hope it gets a television broadcast so I can recommend it others who can't get to the film festivals. Highly recommended short documentary!

this film is, with little question, the best film of 1999. the simple, often painful plight of the human condition was not more beautifully illustrated in 1999 than in this picture. paul thomas anderson has done it again. my only suggestion is to listen with careful caution to whatever you may have heard (or did not hear because too few actually saw the film). see the film and judge for yourself. it was an incredible experience that stays with you long after viewing. try it.