Didn't realise that this was actually a book, and having seen the film --> I can't imagine the book would be very different, but i would totally read it!
From the website:
On the low end of the totem pole at the tabloid newspaper where she is employed, Annika Bengtzon (Helena Bergström) receives a call from Rebbeca Bjorkstig, encouraging her to write a story about ‘Paradise,’ a foundation that protects women from domestic abuse. Having herself been the victim of domestic violence, Annika is sympathetic to Paradise’s cause. After taking a call from a distressed woman named Aida, who claims to be suffering at the hands of her abusive partner, Annika ensures Aida is taken care of by Paradise. However, Annika later discovers that Aida is wanted by the police for questioning about a murder, and that Paradise may not be what it seems…
The film totally sucks you in at the beginning with the Baltic (?) wedding scenes, and then the frantic terrible chases that follow. The "love interest" reminds me of Hugo Weaving, with a gap in his front teeth! There is a confusing scene/montage where there is an attempt to link Annika's abusive relationship experience with that of Aida, which is a little stretched and confusing given we haven't met Annika at that point.
Story : 7.5/10 it's interesting and has a bizarre plot development at the end which although totally unnecessary for the film makes complete sense now that I know it's a book.
Photography: 7.5/10 I liked it, it was a bit gritty, but it helped that the actress was so lovely to look at!
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
SBS Film - Something like happiness
Something Like Happiness
From website:
"...follows three childhood friends, now in their young adulthood, from a mid-sized Czech city. The trio tries to crystallise a role in life while struggling to cope with parental pressure on one hand and depressing physical and social conditions on the other."
Really sad film, but really good to watch. Helps to broaden one's mind on how others have to cope how little choice people have in other countries. This is the one with the dysfunctional mother and her good friend who looks after her children. The good friend's boyfriend has moved to America and is waiting for her to come to him there. The third party is the guy who has stayed in Czechslovakia and tried to be original and live by renovating his old family home. Happiness is almost reached and then taken away.
Story : 8/10
The way the director has made these three sad people interesting, and for the viewer to care about then while still providing some hope in this film is a gift of genius. It's not a higher score just cause it's a sad story.
Photography 7.5/10
There's nothing wrong with it, it perfectly captures the feel and grit of the situation, but as the situation isn't pretty so the aesthetics aren't pretty.
From website:
"...follows three childhood friends, now in their young adulthood, from a mid-sized Czech city. The trio tries to crystallise a role in life while struggling to cope with parental pressure on one hand and depressing physical and social conditions on the other."
Really sad film, but really good to watch. Helps to broaden one's mind on how others have to cope how little choice people have in other countries. This is the one with the dysfunctional mother and her good friend who looks after her children. The good friend's boyfriend has moved to America and is waiting for her to come to him there. The third party is the guy who has stayed in Czechslovakia and tried to be original and live by renovating his old family home. Happiness is almost reached and then taken away.
Story : 8/10
The way the director has made these three sad people interesting, and for the viewer to care about then while still providing some hope in this film is a gift of genius. It's not a higher score just cause it's a sad story.
Photography 7.5/10
There's nothing wrong with it, it perfectly captures the feel and grit of the situation, but as the situation isn't pretty so the aesthetics aren't pretty.
SBS Film - Letters to Father Jacob
Postia pappi Jaakobille (original title) 2009
I LOVED this, and I like the original title even better (said like jacobi)It's a quiet film, really only two characters, but there is a twist at the yes cheesey but bittersweet end.
Story : 9/10 for me (perhaps not everyone!) It was a great plot but then beautifully handled by the media of film. It didn't feel slow to me as the mystery around leila was intriguing enough.
Photography : 8.5/10 lovely, but not hard it's in a lovely isolated forest somewhere in Finland.
from the website:
Leila (Kaarina Hazard), a newly pardoned convict, agrees to work as an assistant to a blind pastor. Father Jacob (Heikki Nousiainen) spends his days answering the letters of the needy, which Leila finds pointless. But when the letters stop, the pastor is devastated and Leila sees their importance and finds herself cast in a new role.
SBS Film - King's Game
Kongekabale (original title) (2004)
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Writers: Nikolaj Arcel, Rasmus Heisterberg, and....
Stars: Anders W. Berthelsen, Søren Pilmark and Nastja Arcel
Really good to watch. had to download the end from the internet just so I could watch it (bloody SBS programming!)
From the SBS Filmsite:
Story 8.5/10 great plot, great character development, a fun "heist" like ending, but realistic and believable.
Photography: 8/10 well it's copenhagen, lots of grey (and I mean LOTS) but used well, some of the contrast in some night scenes isn't awesome but otherwise it's nordic!!
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Writers: Nikolaj Arcel, Rasmus Heisterberg, and....
Stars: Anders W. Berthelsen, Søren Pilmark and Nastja Arcel
Really good to watch. had to download the end from the internet just so I could watch it (bloody SBS programming!)
From the SBS Filmsite:
Starting a new job as a political journalist at a leading newspaper, Ulrik Torp (Anders W. Berthelsen) witnesses a brutal struggle for power in the Midparty's ranks – a struggle that coincides with the party's charismatic leader's involvement in a near fatal car accident. A flurry of lies and media speculation surround the incident. Gradually, Ulrik unearths a ruthless conspiracy involving the incumbent prime minister and becomes obsessed with bringing the truth into the light. But neither his colleagues nor the politicians are willing to listen to him, and as election day draws near, Ulrik finds himself alone, battling against the powers that be.
Story 8.5/10 great plot, great character development, a fun "heist" like ending, but realistic and believable.
Photography: 8/10 well it's copenhagen, lots of grey (and I mean LOTS) but used well, some of the contrast in some night scenes isn't awesome but otherwise it's nordic!!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
SBS Films - White Night
Danish Film 2007
Compelling and credible character study of a man whose personal guilt and self-punishment manifests in loneliness, egoism and pessimism. (Lars Brygmann - from Unit One)plays Ulrich Nymann, a successful property/salesman who is involved in a drunken late night fray that ends in his opponent’s death. With the help from friends in high places, Ulrich is pardoned without a sentence, but the psychological damage done having a greater impact than expected as his life begins to unravel to reveal an entire history of regret. In the following weeks Ulrick attempts to make amends for his transgression by getting closer with the man's grieving family.
Ulrich’s cold and hard exterior has been formed by layers of a tragic pas. The intricacies of his strained relationship with his father are beautifully woven into a tragic but unexpectedly inspiring story of loss, loneliness and renewal.
Story 7.5/10 - it's a common theme in nordic dystopias, but it works here.
Photography 7/10 again because I really like grey, steel, clinical architecture and design. Not quite as good as "the bothersome man" in terms of filmography.
Compelling and credible character study of a man whose personal guilt and self-punishment manifests in loneliness, egoism and pessimism. (Lars Brygmann - from Unit One)plays Ulrich Nymann, a successful property/salesman who is involved in a drunken late night fray that ends in his opponent’s death. With the help from friends in high places, Ulrich is pardoned without a sentence, but the psychological damage done having a greater impact than expected as his life begins to unravel to reveal an entire history of regret. In the following weeks Ulrick attempts to make amends for his transgression by getting closer with the man's grieving family.
Ulrich’s cold and hard exterior has been formed by layers of a tragic pas. The intricacies of his strained relationship with his father are beautifully woven into a tragic but unexpectedly inspiring story of loss, loneliness and renewal.
Story 7.5/10 - it's a common theme in nordic dystopias, but it works here.
Photography 7/10 again because I really like grey, steel, clinical architecture and design. Not quite as good as "the bothersome man" in terms of filmography.
SBS Films - The Bothersome Man
A Norwegian film from 2006.
"Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. The people around him seem cut off from any real emotion, and communicate only in superficialities. The ominous ”Caretakers”, who make sure the city runs smoothly, keep an increasing watch over Andreas as they find he doesn’t fit in. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but he discovers there’s no way out. Andreas meets Hugo, who has the same longings as himself. Hugo has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack. Maybe it leads to ”the other side”? A new plan for escape is hatched."
It's a perfect yet essentially soulless dystopia. Shades of clockwork orange, brand new world, 1984 and so on. The very last scene with him falling out of the bus into the blizzard probably could have been left out, if one wanted the film to end with a bit more hope. There are some great scenery shots like the volcanic desert scenes which were shot in Iceland.
Not sure why, but I really really liked it! It was quite sad in a way, with very little explanation or closure at the end,leaving one feeling both empty but retaining a small amount of hope!
As an aside what I am starting to really notice about Nordic films, especially Danish is the distinct lack of bright colours in general. If used they are a "pop" of colour to make a statement against the general smooth steel grey backdrops.
Photography - 7.5/10 but only because I like the grey, neat streets, offices and homes of the Danish. Some lovely juxtapositions and use of colour. Gorgeous interiors and architecture OF COURSE. Great use of location or context to reflect feeling eg. barren wastelands, green fields, souless city.
Story - 7.5/10 it was intriguing, and reads promisingly but ultimately unfulfilling if closure and explanation is desired.
"Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. The people around him seem cut off from any real emotion, and communicate only in superficialities. The ominous ”Caretakers”, who make sure the city runs smoothly, keep an increasing watch over Andreas as they find he doesn’t fit in. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but he discovers there’s no way out. Andreas meets Hugo, who has the same longings as himself. Hugo has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack. Maybe it leads to ”the other side”? A new plan for escape is hatched."
It's a perfect yet essentially soulless dystopia. Shades of clockwork orange, brand new world, 1984 and so on. The very last scene with him falling out of the bus into the blizzard probably could have been left out, if one wanted the film to end with a bit more hope. There are some great scenery shots like the volcanic desert scenes which were shot in Iceland.
Not sure why, but I really really liked it! It was quite sad in a way, with very little explanation or closure at the end,leaving one feeling both empty but retaining a small amount of hope!
As an aside what I am starting to really notice about Nordic films, especially Danish is the distinct lack of bright colours in general. If used they are a "pop" of colour to make a statement against the general smooth steel grey backdrops.
Photography - 7.5/10 but only because I like the grey, neat streets, offices and homes of the Danish. Some lovely juxtapositions and use of colour. Gorgeous interiors and architecture OF COURSE. Great use of location or context to reflect feeling eg. barren wastelands, green fields, souless city.
Story - 7.5/10 it was intriguing, and reads promisingly but ultimately unfulfilling if closure and explanation is desired.
Friday, November 5, 2010
SBS Films - The Girl from Monaco
SBS Films - The Girl from Monaco: "A brilliant but neurotic attorney (Fabrice Luchini) goes to Monaco to defend a famous criminal. Instead of focusing on the case though, he falls for a beautiful she-devil (Louise Bourgoin), who turns him into a complete wreck. Hopefully, his zealous bodyguard will step in and put everything back in order... or will he?"
Hmm, bit disappointing, possible very french? the body guard's body is the thing for which to watch out.
Photography - 7/10 - mostly of monaco, the body guard and Audrey. Strangely unattractive when she was being her calous self.
Plot - 5/10 ending had a small turn, film would have been saved by something clever here.
Again - prob not.
Hmm, bit disappointing, possible very french? the body guard's body is the thing for which to watch out.
Photography - 7/10 - mostly of monaco, the body guard and Audrey. Strangely unattractive when she was being her calous self.
Plot - 5/10 ending had a small turn, film would have been saved by something clever here.
Again - prob not.
SBS Films - You Bet Your Life
SBS Films - You Bet Your Life: "Kurt (Georg Friedrich) is an unemployed gambling addict who lives with his girlfriend, Manu (Gerti Drassl). On a losing streak, Kurt sheds the last of his cash at a card game and tries unsuccessfully to get more from Manu. He then tries to get money from his devout Christian dad. A chance encounter with a woman named Elvira (Claudia Martini) leads to a temporary winning streak at roulette with a seemingly lucky gambling die. Kurt starts using the die to help him make decisions in his life."
WEIRD ending, I've got the flu so it took me a while to get it.
I kept being alternately repulsed and attracted by the lead actor, so he was kind of awesome, perfect for the role.
Photography - 8/10
Feel - 8/10
Story - 6/10 not too original..but a few nice turns.
Again - maybe, middle of the scale.
WEIRD ending, I've got the flu so it took me a while to get it.
I kept being alternately repulsed and attracted by the lead actor, so he was kind of awesome, perfect for the role.
Photography - 8/10
Feel - 8/10
Story - 6/10 not too original..but a few nice turns.
Again - maybe, middle of the scale.
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