---
halfway day:
yessiry, today is the halfway point in the film festival. i'm glad that the logistics of the festival's ticketing has hit its first stride along a rough and tumble road to streamlining the sales aspect of the fest.
the "big boards" are being updated by hand, things are being passed out on time for the most part, flyers and information are available, and everyone seems to have sunk into the more cinematic parts of the festival.
most of the films that i've seen thus far have been a great insight into what storytelling around the globe is like and how it is so unique this world we live in.
i have been a fan of international cinema since i was fairly young. i think the first foreign film i saw was french director jean cocteau's "la belle et la bete." i rented it from the original albany library when i was around 6 or 7 years old, and i thought it was so expressive and interesting. the surrealistic aspects of it amazed me.
i was captivated and i began to question why i had never seen it before. of course it took me a few more years to get used to balancing the enjoyment of a foreign film and getting my reading comprehension up to speed to follow the subtitles. now i get to reap the benefits of those earlier days, and steep myself into the international cinematic arena.
---
mini reviews:
14. february 22nd - journey from the fall, usa, 2:30pm *****
after the fall of saigon, americans left vietnam in a state of unfinished political purgatory, in which one family goes through the hardships of remaining faithful to survival, to their idea of freedom, and to each other. the story spans two countries and approximately ten years.
this film is now the new frontrunner for my favorite of the festival. shot in thailand to be the background for the vietnamese jungles, this film seemingly overcame hardships of its own to be made. the story has been said to be the story of one out of every seven vietnamese living in the united states.
this is the story of life after american involvement, during the times of internal conflict, a mass exodus of its peoples, and the horrors of the "re-education camps" which were little more than propagandistic prisons.
after now hitting its third festival, i believe that this film has the legs to send it on a very prominent career. the story is specific but its themes are universal and touching in very powerful ways. it deals with love, loss, humanity, pride, desires, and has so many emotional arcs, that everyone in the theatre was left in a state of emotional vulnerability.
also displaying a nice subtle treatment of sociopolitical awareness pertaining to the times, it gives a very nicely shown sense of place and being, rather than the usual oversaturation of information.
definitely one to hope will find distribution soon.
15. february 22nd - sympathy for lady vengeance, south korea, 6:30pm **
you know those movies that you really want to love, but after the hype of both previous films from the same director, the buzz of loyal fans and critics, and the marketing flurry, just dislike as a finished piece? yeah, this is one of those...i hesitate to say duds, because there is something there, but i'll stop short of it could've been better.
the shots were nice in the extremely widescreen showing of this one, but the sense of storytelling felt way too rushed in a non hyper-kinetic-for-coolnesses-sake either. it felt hurried unnecessarily. it felt edited strange, like it didn't want to find it's ground and kept fluttering in front of the audience like an idea lost in contemplation and stylization.
i would also say that the tone of the film was hard to pin down. not in the way where you might've missed something, so now you don't know how to feel. rather it was the way of blending high violence, heinous acts, longstanding revenge, and slight dark humor that should've worked based on oldboy's delicious flow, but just never found itself amidst all of the desire to be stylish and cold and hip and strange.
it didn't have a pent up delicious sort of evil backwards revenge, just a strange one that lingered on the use of raincoats too long for me to enjoy the act itself. it was just odd instead of interesting or appealing.
i'm just hoping that i might've been wrong about this one, and there's something great that i'm missing out on if i could just put my finger on it. but at the same time, i don't think that i'd be swayed if someone could prove these things to me. if anything it'll remain one of those films that almost made it for me.
16. february 22nd - magdelena: the unholy saint (santa santita), philippines, 9:00pm **
a young girl going through the erratic mess that is early teenagedom, comes to terms with the path of her self-destructive ways after her prayer-woman mother passes away. she assumes the role of a prayer woman to make ends meet, and by doing so, starts on a short journey to the knowledge of her own gifts.
by all rights, this is a good film. at least it so should be. in fact, i believe that i liked this movie-fable interpretation of the theme of the biblical magdalene, the prostitute who becomes a saint.
i think i got lost in the unconvincing trials and tribulations of the young girl, by the subplot badboy boyfriend with a son, and the pastor who has lost his faith to alcoholism. it's all some realistic issues that get a 90's feel to the dialogue, a 70's odd saturation to the colors, and an all-too-often out of focus shot/reverse shot volley that takes anything away from the themes and story.
i should've liked it, and might be a little harsh, but i just didn't think that pretty girl always equals great film.
---
No comments:
Post a Comment