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.

Director

• Klaus Härö

Cast

• Heikki Nousiainen
• Esko Roine
• Jukka Keinonen
• Kaarina Hazard

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:

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!!

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.