Foreign Language Hall of Fame

Watched 'Entre Nos', I'll write about it tomorrow. Also, I'll watch La famille Bélier tomorrow night and The Leopard on sunday (I'm watching one Visconti movie per day in release order). I'll submit my list on monday (16) or tuesday (17).

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"This Would Sharpen You Up And Make You Ready For A Bit Of The Old Ultra-Violence."

Samsara

Before I begin, let me share an Idiot Moment of mine with this film. Previously and YET AGAIN, I rented "a" video from my library called Samsara.
It wasn't this one.
It was the 2011 film, which I watched well over half, wondering: so, um, is this thing going to start? Didn't someone remark about a goat getting hit with a rock?. . . A LOT of beautiful and truly gorgeous imagery in this, though. . . Wow, lookit that one. And that one! . . .
THEN I figured it out.

Now, of course, that serious snafu may have actually set my mindset to a more attuned setting since I was at a relaxed state of mind to experience the "correct" film that I found online last night and enjoy the viewing.

It was a bit of a strange beginning with the goat, and yes, I do see how it all fits into the definition of the film title: "the cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound." I couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that it was a Hawk, carrying a rock, that took out the goat. AND that the goat herder cried out: "Not again!"
What a vicious, prankster of a hawk and D@MN what a helluva shot! I thought.

From such an abstract, obscure opening, I was intrigued and invested.

I rather enjoyed the monks, especially the one round-faced youngster, and found that the pacing of the film with a relaxed serenity (as it were) actually moved along quite nicely for me.
The wide shots were quite beautiful and I absolutely loved Pema and her family and all that occurred with them.
The love scenes had a sensual enticement to them, including the cheating scene with the hanging garment and her spinning about on him. I was pretty curious to see, if they didn't get interrupted, if she would have spun back around, once the fabric could no longer twist, with him inside.

I do love the fact that Pema, at the end, as her moment to express her resentment in a parable. I was very impressed by that.

Thank you @MijaFrost, I rather enjoyed this.

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What I actually said to win MovieGal's heart:
- I might not be a real King of Kinkiness, but I make good pancakes

~Mr Minio

When Samsara was nominated I thought of that other movie right away. As much as I wasn't a fan of this one, I'm very happy it wasn't that other one.

Watching the other one, both my room mate and me firmly agreed there was countless images worthy of painting and that watching it on mushrooms would be the happiest, most serene trip EVER.

The Leopard by Visconti, is undoubtedly one of the richest films in film history.
A beautiful panorama, a moral and historical painting of a lost epoch of European history, which revives Visconti beyond bare staffage in the splendor of European monumental film - rightfully one of the most important works in film history.
Burt Lancaster's terrific performance. The Leopard" is a cinematic highlight, which is highly recommended to any cinema lover!

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A normal man? For me, a normal man is one who turns his head to see a beautiful woman's bottom. The point is not just to turn your head. There are five or six reasons. And he is glad to find people who are like him, his equals. That's why he likes crowded beaches, football, the bar downtown...

In tonight's edition of misery porn theater we get struggles of the single mother. An immigrant family stranded in New York City thanks to a father who left them for Miami. The film is semi-autobiographical however the lead female character is treated with a saintly nature rather than fully developing the character.


The film is shot in a cinema verite style which gives it a documentary style feel to it. And I think the film looks rather good for it's low budget quality to it. I just didn't care for all the melodramatic swings in such a short period of time

Entre Nos (2009) - Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza




I have heard a lot of history about brazilians that go to USA to make a living, there they have to work like machines to have money. I have friends there, I have family there too. Although the characters in this film are Colombians, the situation is the same. Of course, my uncles (who are in the US) and the other people I know who have lived or still live in the USA haven't had to go to the streets to look for cans, but you got the point.

This film is very realistic. I didn't needed a lot of time in to understand was going to happen. It was a painful watch for me 'cause I have heard so many bad experiences like this, that I could't be more scared with all that situation.

The story is strong, for me at least. But let's take a look at this film as art, shall we?:

This is that kind of low budget film that searches a docufiction style. Unfortunately, most of the films that embraces this style fail to look authentic. In Entre Nos, the directors used an inconsistent camerawork, with terribles shots (there are some exception). We needed more time with the characters before the storm, eveything happens so fast, that we can't really care for they when everything went wrong in their life. The father, for example, left them so fast that I couldn't care less for his reason (does he have a motive?) They (Mariana and her husband) look at each other as if something is wrong, but when Gabriel asks his mother: Why does he left? she replies: I don't know! Was she lying? It doesn't matter, we didn't have enough time to understand what was happening between them. The acting is good. The kids and Mariana (Paola Mendoza -- she is also one of the directors) are good actors.



The message still strong after all, but it's not a very well made film.


★★★

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but every time I see or try to write Entre Nos, I think it's "Entre Nous" and have to correct it every time. I blame the French.

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I do the EXACT same thing lol

Great film! I think the highest point of praise to give to Nalin, is how he managed to direct a very engaging film with very minimum dialogue, at twenty minutes over two hours and nearly no verbal engagement between characters the film still managed to keep me entertained. I was also very intrigued at the culture displayed, I am far from a munk so I have no clue how accurate it is, but I'm confident I learnt a lot watching this. I also really liked the protagonist, I was very invested in his journey and they present a very personal narrative forward. The ending was also great, impactful, thought-provoking, all that good stuff. Short review but I need to watch three more films. See ya!

SCORE - 78/100

Benny's Video

I just finished watching this, AND read through about 80% of the reviews and the following discussions of this film.

I imagine if I waited a day and got past my initial reaction of dislike and frustration and boredom I could elaborate and discern the finer, more astute aspects of this film.

The fact that I truly care not to, could be, in itself, an excellent mirroring of the desensitizing and emotionless characteristics that Heneke wields as his paint and brush.

I respected the way the murdering video played out.

I despised the parents and spent most of the rest of the movie repeating, with more anger as time went by, "Kill the child. Kill him. Or have him arrested." Instead of what they did do. Sent him on holiday as the father cleaned up his mess.
Right there is the argument that, no, it's not the videos or imagery that we stuff into our heads on daily basis that creates monsters.
It's inherent.
Such coldness, such disregard for life and the shallow concern of prestige over a death of another has been around forever, and, sadly, will forever stay around.
But then, on the opposite side of the coin, so will compassion, and love.
All of it, is within us.
We decide on how we act.
F@ck blaming everything and everyone else. It's on us. For our Good and for our Evil.

Sorry, bit of a rant there and I was doing SO WELL on NOT getting into a rant.
Oh, well.

Appreciated the ending.

Hated
HATED
Did I mention my hatred?
at the never ending tv screens and the insipid things shown on them.
I do get the purpose of it, but GOD HOW I HATED sitting through all of it.

Which may be what truly caused me to spend so much time checking the run time. A whole lot less of that may have done my own personal viewing a far better chance of appreciation instead of frustration.


Oh, and @Okay, I DO respect and appreciate you and please, do understand, not everything works for everyone.
I've read your discussions and definitely see how this is such a great film for you. And because you have shared something you love, I truly do give you credit for that. Thank you, my friend, for sharing.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

A gloomy fairy tale in the tradition of Lewis Carroll and the Brothers Grimm, combines a classic fantasy fairy tale with a political drama - showing the situation of Republican resistance to the Franco regime. It's like watching two movies, the two threads don't complement each other. Del Toro's film's cinematography was excellent, but otherwise lacking. Didn't do much for me at all, so often I have; oh, that uncomfortable feeling! Am not one of those who enjoyed it!

I only have The Saragossa Manuscript left. I'll post my write-ups for Benny's Video and Samsara before the week ends. It's been a very fun HOF nonetheless.

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"A film has to be a dialogue, not a monologue — a dialogue to provoke in the viewer his own thoughts, his own feelings. And if a film is a dialogue, then it’s a good film; if it’s not a dialogue, it’s a bad film."

- Michael "Gloomy Old Fart" Haneke

Y'all talking about the documentary? If so, I loved it! One of my favourite docs eveeeeer...

You're good, and so is anyone who liked/disliked my nomination. I mean, do my previous discussions about Benny's Video give off the perception that I don't understand not everything works for everyone? If I came off as aggressive (??? which I don't believe I did), then it was simply to generate more conversation.

The film is indeed one I really love, and I'm just glad more people are watching it.

I didn't want to watch that because I didn't like Baraka, which was nominated for the documentary HoF.

Yes I am. Truly glorious and beautiful imagery in that.

No, I didn't see it as that all, and, as you stated, it was in pursuit of conversation which is very much one of the main points of these, so BRAVO on that.
My comment was a broad stroke one and nothing on you specifically. It just happens a lot when we nominate something we love and someone hates it. I've enjoyed your conversations and your participation in these so that got included in everything else I stated.

Love the comparision of Lewis Carroll and The Brothers Grimm. Very nice.
Sorry to hear it didn't work for you. As stated previously, my first time seeing it was a rough one as well. I love it now of course, being a fanboy of del Torro.

I 'got' the wrong Samsara too, I still have it...don't know if I'll ever watch it or not. It looked pretty, but like Cricket said Baraka was a drag...well until I played it at 1.4x speed that made all the difference.

LOL
Haven't seen Baraka at all