BACK IN TIME - THE '50S - "CINEMA PARADISO"

Now, this film warmed me to the cockles of my heart. It’s a story about growing up and discovering; discovering life, discovering oneself and generally growing up. The year it was released, in 1988, it cleared the table, Oscars®, Cannes, César Awards, the David Di Donatella awards and many besides… When you look at the subject matter, you might think that it is a classic case of the cinema honoring itself – it is the story of the discovery of the cinema too (and possibly one of the reasons I felt so close to it) but it is A LOT more than that. It is a tribute to another era, the era of classical cinema…
Salvatore Di Vito is one of the most successful directors in Italy. He lives in Rome and spares little thought for his hometown; a tiny village he hasn’t visited for 30 years… A telephone call he receives one day will jerk him back there however. A very old friend has died. Salvatore is swept up by memories and we follow him back to the 1940’s, an era where the cinema was the only form of entertainment for a small village. Films were in black and white, sound was a novelty and Salvatore – Toto back then - was a very naughty little boy forever getting into trouble and forever pestering Alfredo, the long suffering fellow working the projector in the local cinema. Toto wants to learn how to operate the machine, Toto wants the old scraps of film lying around and Toto is forever under Alfredo’s feet. In time, the two will become fast friends and Alfredo will guide Toto, as he grows up, through some of the most difficult decisions of his life…
We have all watched “coming of age” movies of course. But this one IS special. We see Toto portrayed by various actors at various stages in his life, but the little 7 year-old Toto is by far the SWEETEST little kid I have seen in a long time… The story is naïve and touching in one way, and in another very poignant, even today. It’s all about what to do with one’s life, difficult and life changing decisions and all the things that shape and mold us as we grew up.
Besides, again, it reminds us of a different era, no? Before home entertainment systems and DVDs, the cinema ruled. Like the opera of the 19th century people went there to see and be seen. Movie stars were huge. In small villages like this one, people centered their lives round the cinema; there is one scene where people almost break the door down clamoring for another showing – can you imagine that happening today at any cinema? You’d just put the DVD back on, right? A worthy tribute to the past of a great medium and a must-watch for any cinephile…

HISTORIAS MINIMAS / MINIMAL STORIES - WHERE THE SMALL THINGS TAKE CENTER STAGE

Historias Minimas is the first in the “Argentinian Stories” trilogy by Argentinean director Carlos Sorin. Bombon El Perro is the second, andI have enjoyed both thoroughly. I am looking forward to getting to watch the third…
As I watched the film, I remembered once again the reason I love South American Cinema so much. Sorin’s film, like so many films of the genre, is full of the stories and the life of the continent. I know, I should be giving you a synopsis around now but in fact I am not sure where to begin, because the film, like life itself, doesn’t have a concrete theme… An old man takes off on his own to a distant town on a search for his lost dog, but is this really the only reason for his travels? A traveling salesman is preparing a birthday surprise for the child of a pretty widow he has met on his travels… A poor peasant woman is selected to participate in a TV show where she may win a trip to Brazil or a food processor – but she neither has much food or electricity in her house! All these completely unconnected stories come together and drift apart again, along with many other little things to make a perfect mirror of life, full of laughter, irony and tragedies both small and large…
Historias Minimas is indeed minimal. It reminds us that life, for many reasons – mainly economical – in South America is tougher than others. The “trappings” other people (Hollywood for instance) posses may not be at hand. Therefore, the things that matter, life itself, comes into perspective. The little things in life that are actually so important but get overlooked get center stage for a change… Minimal Stories is a down to earth and “real” film. And it was VERY refreshing in many ways, even though I am not a big fan of minimal cinema. Definately watch it, and maybe get introduced to the Latin American style while you’re at it. If you haven’t been introduced yet you honestly don’ t know what you’re missing and Carlos Sorin is a brilliant way to start…

A TASTE OF THE ORIENT - UZAK İHTİMAL

Uzak İhtimal is actually a film by Turkish director Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun. First up, the film is in Turkish, so not for those of you who don’t feel comfortable with films in languages you don’t understand… (No offence meant by the way – I mean, my own mother hates watching films in languages she doesn’t understand!) I was going to stay away from films that might be considered “too obscure” but Uzak İhtimal (translates as Small Possiblity) has one a few international awards (Rotterdam Film Festival and Tofifest film festival in Poland for instance) And it’s a really good film. So here goes :
I have to say, Uzak İhtimal is a very typically Turkish film. This is the reason I am glad it has been shown quite extensively in European festivals.
Put briefly, this is the story of a religious official, Musa, who is posted to Istanbul for his first job. He is not from a very rural area in fact he is from Ankara, the capital, but the massive megalopolis that is Istanbul completely baffles him. The story takes him through many facets of life in Istanbul but because of his sheltered and pious upbringing, he is not sure how to negotiate through them. And as he fumbles through, he naturally makes mistakes that have unexpected and sometimes tragic consequences.
Ok, so some of you may find the storyline slightly cheesy. In my opinion, the acting could definitely have been improved as well. But the success of this film is largely elsewhere: in the atmosphere it creates. As you watch, you will see a lot of scenes from everyday life in Istanbul and you will experience the true bewilderment of the little man faced with modern life. You will see the growing pains of Anatolian Turkey faced with the European perspective. (Don’t infer that the film is necessarily political but the parallel is eerily present even though it may not have been meant to be put there) And you will see the confusion of each and every person who immigrates to another country and tries to start afresh…
In short, a magnificent gem of an insight – if you’re into that kind of thing…

LOST AND FOUND ON THE ROAD OF LIFE : “WENDY & LUCY”

Starring the Oscar® nominee Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy is a typically “indie” film telling the tale of a typically human condition.
Wendy (Michelle Williams) is on the road in search of a better life. In fact, she is heading for Alaska for a new, well-paid job. She is in her old battered car and beside her is her one true companion: Her dog Lucy. However, in a small town in what feels to Wendy like the middle of nowhere her beloved car breaks down. One mishap follows another and shortly afterwards Lucy also goes missing. Wendy has now effectively lost everything that means anything to her and has no money to set things right. To make matters worse, the town she is stuck in seems to be just as stuck in one place as she is…
As I said at the beginning, this is a prime example of an independent film but this, for you, could be a plus or a minus. The tone is definitely somber. The pace is undoubtedly slow. However, Michelle Williams glows in the lead role. And the feeling of desperation whether quiet or vociferous and the various ways the characters go about dealing with (or not as the case may be) the situation are quite thought-provoking.
Possibly not a Saturday-night entertainment classic but definitely worth your consideration

THE HAWK IS DYING

Another independent movie that came up on my radar lately: The Hawk Is Dying by Julian Goldberger. Based on the book by Harry Crews, the film is a story of every day despair.
It is the story of George an automobile upholsterer who lives with his obese and insecure sister Precious and her mentally handicapped son. Stuck between a dead-end job and a problem family George (Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti) has two means of respite. One is his casual relationship with a dead-beat psychology student (Oscar nominee Michelle Williams) where he is part sexual partner, part research project. The second one is hawking. George’s ultimate dream in life is to trap and train a hawk, but no matter how hard he and his nephew (the talented Michael Pitt) try all the hawks they catch end up dying in the end… One day, while they are searching for a new hawk, they trap a magnificent red-tailed hawk, and the bird unwillingly starts a chain of events that can only be described in the end as tragic…
One thing about this film is that the acting is absolutely brilliant. And that makes for a thoroughly depressing film, because The Hawk Is Dying is the story of normal people who live mind-numbingly everyday lives and who have to cope with tragic events. No heroics. No “beautiful relationships” and “noble feelings”. Just human beings, warts and all. And let me add that despite the at times desperate overtones the film carries, as in life itself, it is an ill wind that blows no good and silver linings are to be found everywhere so long as you know where to look…
You may, of course protest that we see enough of that in our day to day lives. This would be fair enough. But this film is definitely worth it if you want to try something different…

COOL VS “COOL” : SURFER, DUDE.

This is “a clash of the cools”. The California surfing scene may never see another clash of the titans such as this one!
California is ablaze because the surfing phenomenon Steve Addington (Matthew McCounaghy) is back in town. He is the epitome of cool : ultra laid-back, mostly high and nearly always broke, the latter much to the distress of his manager Jacky (Woody Harrelsson). To be fair Jacky’s fears are easily quelled by a few puffs on a joint, and his “lawn mowing business” is doing well, but as far as being a “major asset” is concerned, Steve is not doing well… Then one day, things get rather “uncool” in the surfing world. Steve’s contract is handed over to one an ex-surfer and new entrepreneur. And his plan for Steve is to get him to live in a “Big Brother” type house for surfers where he will be filmed 24 / 7 and participate in tests to have is avatar created for his new surfing video game. Steve “has no problem going to shake a surfer’s hand” but wants none of the rest of it. His new boss responds by refusing to give him any money until he complies and starts circulating “uncool” rumors about him. This would not really have bothered Steve, unless California was going through the longest “waveless spell” in recorded history…
Unable to surf (and thus with his mind deteriorating) or do anything else ( for lack of funds) and with his manager in jail (another pressure tactic from ) Steve is faced with a tough decision: Sticking to old-school cool or complying with modern times….
Surfer dude is an understated yet hilarious comedy making fun of all the surfing / sports movie clichés while deep down under the hilarity, presenting us with the very real battle of old-school versus “high-tech new school” . It may at first glance look very much like yet another sporting spoof but really, I couldn’t wipe the smile of my face from the beginning to the end of this one… Just be cool and give it a shot…