nbott

Are we so taken by Hollywood filmmaking techniques that we can not recognize a truly original story when we see it? This film is very believable and I was quite moved by the real situation suffered by two very sympathetic characters. Every moment in this drama is real. The conversations between the two characters abandoned by fate is exactly what one would imagine between two people caught up in such a situation. This is a simple story told quite effectively.

I was held in suspense from the moment these two wonderful people were abandoned by a boat crew not attentive enough to their jobs. These things happen and I found myself believing it could happen. The feeling of abandonment was chilling. Have we not all had nightmares about being abandoned?

I found the ending to be real also. I will not disclose it here but it was a surprise to me. But then this is not a Hollywood feel-good sappy film. I would congratulate the filmmakers if I could. Bravo indeed! Highly Recommended.

I personally found this film to be both believable and deeply moving. It is really an old-fashioned family drama with a twist. What is the twist? There has been a dramatic change in daddy since he left home years ago and our heroine has really two mothers. She is also coming of age and likes a boy she meets.

The acting by all concerned is quite excellent and the film's pacing holds your attention. I was deeply moved at the mother's feelings of betrayal, the daughter's feelings of rejection by her father and the "father"'s coming to terms with having a daughter and dealing with his changes. There is even a slightly crippled good hearted young lad in the picture. This is traditional film making exploring the nature of real-life relationships.

I personally knew someone who underwent this operation late in life and it was a tragedy. One can only try to understand the angst of someone who feels that nature has made a mistake and deeply desires to change it.

This film is really worthy of a viewing. Check it out.

Jodie Foster and Michael Ontkean playing French war resistors is a stretch of the imagination I could not entertain. This story should have been in French with French actors and actresses. I really do not like films that have English lines but songs that are in French etc. At least they did not attempt to have phony French accents. I hope Mr. Chabrol was paid well for this lapse in his usual brilliant film career. This is truly the worst film I have seen directed by this classic filmmaker. Towards the end of the film there is a bit of script writing involving a love-obsessed Nazi and Jodie Foster that is one of the silliest things I have ever seen. This film, as so many others do, seems to enjoy depicting Germans during World War II as somehow not intelligent. Storytellers seem to forget that they almost conquered all of Europe. This VHS will definitely be donated to the next charity yard sale in my neighborhood. Skip this film.

Four Guys (Jacks) go into the restaurant business with a fifth Guy and lose all common sense. They allow themselves to be abused worse than textile workers at the turn of the century without simply leaving the situation. This is truly one of the worst films I have ever seen. I just hope I can resell this item to someone who might like it.

It is true that it holds your attention if you can let the illogical plot developments not bother you too much. It is very silly throughout however especially once a stranger enters the restaurant. Who is he? Guess.

At the conclusion, I sat stunned near tears. I am often impressed with films I am viewing but I rarely am left speechless. This film is one of those moments when film history is being written. I assumed all along that this was the telling of a true story because of its documentary style. But it is merely representative of the many such stories that happen every day in this cruel exploitative business of people smuggling.

This film makes it's point without being ponderous or preachy. I felt I was there with these beautiful unfortunate young men on the horrendous journey to escape their life of poverty in a refugee camp. This film maker should be given some type of international award for his courage in making this film about this subject matter. I never felt more appreciative of my apartment than I did last night when I got home.

Highly Recommended. 10 points.

I will long remember the acting of Clara Khoury in the main role in this film. I do not know if she is a professional actress or not, but she could be. She acts beautifully with her eyes and facial expressions. Many of the greatest films in history especially by French and Italian filmmakers have used non-professional actors in their films. The film is especially valuable in showing the fact that normal everyday life can go on even under foreign occupation.

I admit to bias in favor of the Palestinians in their quest for freedom from Israeli occupation, but I actually thought this film was deeply moving as pure drama. The visual sweep of the film, the music and the deeply moving poetic fragment at the end were almost overwhelming.

I certainly hope that Kino Video or some such distributor of quality foreign films will pick this up for distribution, although I suspect certain influential political action committees might object.

Highly Recommended.

This film is a drama of great emotional depth. We can feel the conflict in the young man who feels he must act to inform on his mother. His devotion to an often stern father is equal to the love he also feels for his mother. The motivations of all the characters are very clear if one follows the story closely. This is a powerful film of conflicting emotions. The young man must know for sure how his father died and this is the method he takes to find out.

The film is a beautiful piece of cinematic art with a great film score. The direction is flawless and the ending is surprising. I can not even imagine any American director with the ability to tell a story of such depth with such intense feeling and truth. Highly Recommended. A Masterpiece. 10 out of 10

I have decided that this film is a masterpiece. In fact, I can not see anything at all wrong with it. It has all the characteristics that make a good film including superb acting, believability, cinematography, music and editing. If I were dying of a heart defect, I would want to live life to the fullest just as our heroine does. I personally think that the filmmaker has created a wonderful milieu for this powerful emotional drama of love and loss. The characters have depth and I found myself wanting to be there with them. Highly Recommended 10 out of 10.

This film is rather interesting and held my attention. However, too many games are played on the viewer before the film reaches its telegraphed conclusion. The motivation behind the actions of most of the characters is not spelled out and they almost seem like cartoon characters not real people. One of the actors reminds me of a Spanish Johnny Depp in his approach to acting and Noriega is always his wonderful brooding self. Ana Torrent plays a character that is actually quite stupid. It is hard to believe that anyone in her positions in this film would have responded the way that she does. The characters not only do not have much character, they do not have any ability to judge the character of other people.

Having said all this, I still enjoyed watching the film. It's just important to suspend normal judgment and go with the flow. The story line itself is certainly shocking and may be the real reason that it holds the attention of movie fans. Mildly Recommended. 6 out 10.

The acting by Martin Compston is truly magnificent. The story and its setting is at once disturbing and totally believable. I was not really familiar with this filmmaker until I saw this film. I would now like to see more of this man's work. What a compassionate deep artist he is.

I was concerned for this child as I watched him try to cope with suddenly being cast into the world as an adult. Of course, his actions are onerous, but how could they be otherwise? This is a story that could have come to us from today's headlines in any number of societies. One's family is important to how one adjusts to the rigors of everyday existence. This lad is truly inspiring in a sense despite our repulsion at what he often does. Why is this? Because we identify with the truth of the film.

Can we picture ourselves in a similar situation given the background of this lad? Of course we can and like any great art, we are made to feel deeply the pain of what we are viewing and we can only have compassion for this "hero" figure. Highly Recommended.

It is the finale of this film that redeems any possible weakness of the story one may entertain in one's mind as one views this film. The ending is so overwhelming, I had to watch it again at once. I then rewatched parts of the film just to luxuriate in the brilliant acting of Albert Finney. This is truly a masterpiece. There have been some criticisms of Ms. Bisset's acting etc, but this is small potatoes compared to the sheer genius of this story and its' realization. The music in the opening credits sets the tone and immediately draws you into the film. You know something profound will happen in the film and to you as you watch this film. Highly Recommended.

This is an excellent story of repressed sexuality. We have a governess that has problems far more troubling than any problems that the two boys in the film have. Add in a very attractive local hunky male and you have a prescription for disaster.

The acting in this film is quite excellent. Ms. Schygulla as the governess is memorable. The actors playing the children are excellent. This film has a pleasant beginning but things quickly become sordid. The ending is quite bizarre and even a little unexpected.

I can recommend this film without reservation. 8 out of 10.

I personally found this film to be an excellent story of three women thrown together by life on a small Greek island. I was very impressed by the acting abilities of all the women and the villagers who played most of the other roles. In this regard, I was especially moved by a scene between some real villagers in their home and Eva. They were not professional actors but they were obviously wonderful people. The film is full of such wonderful moments.

I was also moved by the tender care shown to Eva by a deaf-mute handyman on the island and by the splendid understanding that developed between the three women. The ending was deeply moving.

The music and the cinematography were magnificent. I recommend this film. (8 out of 10)

There are many different reasons to watch a film. I personally enjoy casual get out the six pack of beer type movies and I appreciate sincere great film art. Vagabond is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. I was drawn into this deeply tragic tale from the very opening scene with the wonderful music and cinematography. The documentary style used as a device to tell the story of Mona was bold and very appropriate to convey the depth of the impact this person had on the other characters in the film.

The acting of Ms. Bonnaire convinced me to care about this deeply troubled character and the isolated existential life she led. I personally have met in my own life people living in this way and I am always perplexed that I can not understand what is going on in that person's head. This film is and example of what makes great art. It tells a story that is universal and yet very personal. See this film. (10 out of 10).

This is an enjoyable film on its own terms. I found the production values and acting to be somewhat variable but I did feel transported to a small town in the Northwest. I was quite moved by the story of a young man who is not sure that he has seen enough of life in order to stay settled down with his more experienced, worldly partner. His sidekick from a previous life, Frieda, is a memorable character in her own right and brings real humor to the story. I would recommend this film. It is not top-notch drama but it is an interesting film containing love and truth.

This is, without a doubt, one of the finest films I have ever seen. It works so well on so many levels. It is a religious drama, an historical drama and a darn good yarn. The acting is first-rate throughout and the cinematography and music are breathtaking in their beauty. Vlacik had an obvious fondness for deep poetic and metaphysical image and story-telling. But, he also had a gift for sheer drama. There are many shocking moments that almost take your breath away. You really feel you are in the Middle Ages with all of its existential isolation and horror.

The previous reviewer describes the film fairly well so I will not get into the actual story. But if you have a chance to see this film at a film festival, see this film. This film is as good as the best of Kurosawa, Rivette, Bergman, Angelopoulos etc. 10 points out of 10.

This film is a somewhat disjointed affair for those of us who like our movies to be rational and to have either a happy or sad ending. This film is very direct and not very nice to the audience in some ways. But it is believable. As in real life, people don't have either happy or sad endings, they just have endings. At first, I found the film's characters to be simply one screwed up person after another floundering about and going nowhere. Finally, upon reflection, I found the film to be a study of what is truthful about a culture based on drugs and rock and roll. There are a lot of endings in this lifestyle that are what they are, neither sad or happy, just there. The film does not always explain why these people are where they are. I believe we are to assume they are where they are due to the lifestyle with its inherent flaws.

The film is quite creative in its editing from scene to scene. The acting is all first rate. You really, after a few minutes, really do care about these people even though they all appear to be messed up in one way or the other. The film left me somewhat resigned to the truth that people can not be changed, that we all have to face the results of the decisions we make.

Life nowhere operates with such clear definitions of right and wrong as this film does, but it is well acted and good for what it is. We are in a boys school where our professor is almost perfect. He had an unclear, possibly even sexual, past with the wife of a friend we never get to meet. He tries very hard to make every boy in his charge a literary scholar, but nowhere do we get any real feel for what makes this character tick. He is, in the final analysis, a classic bookworm.

There is no real reason to go out of your way to see this film, but no harm is done if you do. It is certainly a feel good movie with a good moral lesson or two. 6 stars out of 10 about sums up my feelings.

This film is a true masterpiece. The character delineation of our hero and how he gets there is true comedy at its best. Great comedy not only makes us laugh but makes us reflect on human life at the same time. This film does that. We get a satire on recent French history and well as the mores of the society. There are so many scenes where one knows that only a French film could be made this way.

This film is even better than Mr. Audiard's marvelous film "Read My Lips." The acting is superb and the script flawless. Do yourself a favor and rent this.

This is one I had never heard of, but it is very interesting. The filmmaking style is definitely that of the late 60s' and 70s'. It has an ending one should have known was to going to happen but it is no less jarring to the heart. While you are watching this film of a loser, you are on his side hoping that he will make it. As you laugh at the silly predictable situations our hero gets into, you are still assuming he will make it. Does he make it? See the film. The sound on the DVD I watched was hard to follow at some points but the film is worth the effort.

The script is very creative although not entirely successful. There are moments where you can not really believe this could happen but it does. The acting by George Segal and Karen Black are excellent. By the way, drugs were even bad way back in the 70s'.

This is an incomplete deeply moving masterpiece. The scenes of Auschwitz are disturbing, of course, but more so set against a genuine human drama involving two women on opposite sides of this evil situation. We see how the best of human sensibility can be drawn out in the worst evil places. We witness mixed motives on the part of our overseer of prisoners. Why is she protective of this one concentration camp victim? We see her drawn to the beauty and the power of this simple woman victimized by this idiotic Nazi policy of confinement. She is also conflicted regarding this simple woman's love for her fiancee, a fellow prisoner.

This is a situation where you can genuinely regret the cruel fate that would deny us this completed film which is so powerful even in the truncated form completed by his colleagues after Munk's death. See this film if you can get a chance.

This film is, in short, a cinematic masterpiece. The film is moved along brilliantly by intense images that deeply move the sensitive viewer. The film opens during the Spanish Civil War as a group of children seek their revenge on another child. In fact, they are acting out in their world a version of what they have witnessed in the adult world around them. Later we meet three of these children again as adults at a sanatorium. Here we see what life has wrought on each of them. One is a reclusive sexually repressed patient. Another man is a hustler who has become ill. The third child, a young lady, has become a nun and is serving at the sanatorium. This film is an allegory about the effect of violence on the psyche.

This film has a climax that is definitely not for the squeamish members of the viewing audience but it is logical as well as profoundly moving. The acting is excellent and the script is quite well written. There is a musical score that provides an undercurrent of dread throughout this film. This is not a film for thrill seekers but a film for a thoughtful audience.

I personally think you have to be Polish or have studied a great deal of Polish history during World War II and, perhaps, the cultural history of Poland to understand everything in this film. But, it is a set of brilliant dark commentaries on men in time of war. In our first film, Scherzo alla Polacca, a man runs away from his duty during the Warsaw Uprising. He has been a selfish man and does not adapt well to sacrifice, but he reluctantly makes an attempt to do something for the cause without much real effect. This is dark comedy at its best and pokes fun at Hungarians as well as poking fun at opportunists during wartime.

Our second film, Ostinato Lugubre, tells the story of a group of Polish Officers encamped in a German Prisoner of War camp and details the everyday life of the men as they deal with their feelings, lack of privacy and their affection for one man who escaped. Did he really escape? This is the plot point that holds this story together so well. We witness brilliant acting and a deeply moving script.

This is considered one of Munk's great masterpieces and deserves a chance to be released on video. This was part of a festival at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

This film opens with a gorgeous black and white shot of a train at night journeying to some destination until it is forced to stop because it has hit a man on the tracks. From this point, our story proceeds to unravel the mystery with an ingenious method of telling the story backwards. Different characters who had a relationship with the dead man during his life take part in the investigation of his death and they relate their involvement with the dead man.

A fascinating character study and mystery all at the same time. The cinematography is excellent, as good as it gets in black and white. The script is ingenious and the acting is uniformly superb. I am sorry that some enterprising movie company has not seen fit to offer this wonderful film on video. Munk was clearly a great story teller and it is a shame he did not live long enough to create many more great films. This is a masterpiece.

This is a rare film by this very influential Polish filmmaker. It is breathtaking in its cinematography and it employs a documentary style of storytelling. The actors are real and even includes some people who were there at the actual event that took place near the end of World War II.

A group of volunteers in The Blue Cross undertake to go over several mountain ranges to rescue injured and isolated Russian and Polish Partisans from a cabin in the woods near a German outpost. It is very interesting story and holds your attention. If this happens to show at a film festival near you, make a mental note to see it. I was fortunate to see it at the National Gallery of Art in Washington during a festival of Munk's films.