“Daughters of the Dust” by Julie Dash (1991)

A second week of first features

Good direction and gender content
Top images and minority presence

The Gullah, a community of African-Americans on Ibo Island off the coast of Virginia in 1902.
The women are all dressed in white and seem to be in charge.
A world of traditions that has difficulty integrating the modern world
The story is told as a patchwork of loose memories during a picknick by the sea
Sometimes too theatrical, and the music, though good, does not always fit the time and place

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,8
Metascore 8,1
Roger Ebert 7,5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,2
IMDB 6,6
TMDB 6,9
Critics average 7,8
Audience average 6,9

Cast: Cora Lee Day, Alva Rogers, Barbarao
Director: Julie Dash
Writer: Julie Dash
Music by John Barnes
Cinematography by Arthur Jafa
Film Editing by Joseph Burton, Amy Carey

“To The Bone” by Marti Noxon (2017)

A second week of first features

Good personages, dialogues, minority presence, and expression
Excellent direction
Top gender content and message

An eye-opener for those who (like me) are not familiar with this disorder and the way people affected with it see the world, applying a very different kind of logic…
Remarkable is that a boy was included in this mainly female universe
Pity that some personages were a bit too furtively sketched

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 6,6
Metascore 6,4
Roger Ebert 6,3
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,0
IMDB 6,8
TMDB 7,2
Critics average 6,4
Audience average 7,0

Cast: Rebekah Kennedy, Lily Collins, Dana L. Wilson
Director: Marti Noxon
Writer: Marti Noxon
Cinematographer: Richard Wong
Editor: Elliot Greenberg
Composer: Fil Eisler

“Set Me Free” by Lea Pool (mother-daughter relationships 14/29)

“Set Me Free” by Lea Pool (Canada, 1999)

Good dialogues, images, music, and minority presence
Excellent script, personages, direction, and message
Top gender content

As in Lea Pool’s later movies, the relationship mother-daughter is a central theme, shown as a key element to the development of the child, while the fatherly figure is depicted as a loser and a source of conflict / Excellent acting

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,3
Metascore 8,0
Roger Ebert 7,5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,4
IMDB 7,1
TMDB 6,3
Critics average 7,6
Audience average 6,9

Cast: Karine Vanasse, Alexandre Merineau, Pascale Bussieres, Miki Manojlovic, Charlotte Christeler, Nancy Huston
Written and Directed by Lea Pool
Music by Robyn Schulkowsky
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Michel Arcand

“Homesick” by Anne Sewitsky (mother-daughter relationships 11/29)

“Homesick” by Anne Sewitsky (Norway, 2015)

Good gender content

With this third movie, a recurring theme appears in transparency, as a watermark, through the work of Anne Sewitsky: love does not respect any (social) boundaries. In her first movie, all the personages transgress these limits. In her second movie, the “taboo” concerns the love of a ten-year-old girl for a boy of her class. Finally, this third movie is about the incestuous love between a young woman and her half-brother. A series about trespassing love!
The Norwegian title of this third movie can be translated by “the nearest,”  a title that fits the movie much better than the official ‘public-pleasing ‘homesick’.
Again, an original musical score (although less so than in Happy, Happy)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 5,7
TMDB 4,9
Critics average —
Audience average 5,3

Cast: Ine Marie Wilmann, Simon J. Berger, Anneke von der Lippe
Director: Anne Sewitsky
Writers: Anne Sewitsky, Ragnhild Tronvoll
Music by Ginge Anvik
Cinematography by Daniel Voldheim
Film Editing by Christoffer Heie

Multiple facets of mother-daughter relationships (1/29)

“Come Simi” by Jenica Bergere (USA, 2015)

First Feature

Weak direction and message
Bottom score: music (2)

Pointless script, unbearable music…

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 6,1

Cast: Jenica Bergere, Molly Shannon, Tawny Kitaen
Director: Jenica Bergere
Writers: Jenica Bergere, Doc Pedrolie
Music by Johnny Harris
Cinematography by Peter Mosiman
Film Editing by Jaceson Mann

“I Like It Like That” by Darnell Martin (1994)

Favorite 52 movies screened between Aug 20 and May 21 (#3)

First Feature

Good script and images
Excellent humor, music and expression
Top personages, direction, gender content and minority representation

Lots of passion but very little tenderness (Otis Redding’s Try a Little Tenderness in the background)
Darnell Martin succeeded in making an energizing comedy during 100 minutes and 10 minutes of strong drama
Great acting by Lauren Velez

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,5
Metascore —
Roger Ebert 7,5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,8
IMDB 6,9
TMDB 6,6
Average critics 7,5
Average public 7,4

Cast: Luna Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Tomas Melly
Director: Darnell Martin
Writer: Darnell Martin
Music by Sergio George
Cinematography by Alexander Gruszynski
Film Editing by Peter C. Frank

“Come Simi” by Jenica Bergere (2015)

Two movies by Jenica Bergere

First Feature

Weak direction and message
Bottom score: music (2)

Pointless script, unbearable music…

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 6,1
Average critics —
Average public 6,1

Cast: Jenica Bergere, Molly Shannon, Tawny Kitaen
Director: Jenica Bergere
Writers: Jenica Bergere, Doc Pedrolie
Music by Johnny Harris
Cinematography by Peter Mosiman
Film Editing by Jaceson Mann

“I Like It Like That” by Darnell Martin (1994)

Tribute to Darnell Martin (4/4)

A Weekend Treat!

First Feature

Good script and images
Excellent humor, music and expression
Top personages, direction, gender content and minority representation

Lots of passion but very little tenderness (Otis Redding’s Try a Little Tenderness in the background)
Darnell Martin succeeded in making an energizing comedy during 100 minutes and 10 minutes of strong drama
Great acting by Lauren Velez

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,5
Metascore —
Roger Ebert 7,5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,8
IMDB 6,9
TMDB 6,6
Average critics 7,5
Average public 7,4

Cast: Luna Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Tomas Melly
Director: Darnell Martin
Writer: Darnell Martin
Music by Sergio George
Cinematography by Alexander Gruszynski
Film Editing by Peter C. Frank

“Finding Ohana” by Jude Weng (2021)

a week of first features

Good humor

A film for you if you like a content focused on family and traditions,,, I don’t
Bad acting, but some good dialogues and images

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,3
Metascore 6,9
Roger Ebert 8,8
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,8
IMDB 6,1
TMDB 6,6
Average critics 7,7
Average public 7,2

Cast: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson
Director: Jude Weng
Writers: Christina Strain
Music by Joseph Trapanese
Cinematography by Cort Fey
Film Editing by Priscilla Nedd-Friendly

“City of Trees” by Alexandra Swarens (2019)

A nice romance but a slice of life that could have gone deeper into the personages
The direction has to mature… and the musical score as well
Hopefully in her next movie…

IMDB 6,9

Cast: Alexandra Swarens, Olivia Buckle, Joseph Miller
Director: Alexandra Swarens
Writer: Alexandra Swarens
Cinematography by Cory Xenos
Film Editing by Cory Xenos

“Love Revisited” by Nicole van Kilsdonk (2017)

A Week of Weak Works

It is only very recently that we became conscious of the fact that older people too have a love and a sex life! It is certainly interesting to see more of it on the screen… However, not much else to get excited about this movie

IMDB 6,2

Original title: Oude Liefde

Cast: Hadewych Minis, Halina Reijn, Gene Bervoets
Director: Nicole van Kilsdonk
Writer: Peer Wittenbols
Music by Joris Oonk, Chrisnanne Wiegel
Cinematography by Gregg Telussa
Film Editing by Wouter Jansen

“My Happy Family” by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross (2017)

Best movies seen in 2020

Good message
Excellent script, personages, direction and gender content
Top music

A very simple story: her children being grown-ups, a woman in her fifties decides to stop playing the various roles her family (and society) imposes on her (mother, daughter, wife, sister…), and decides to leave her family for no other reason than wanting to be on her own.
Intelligent direction and exceptional (Georgian) music

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore 8,6
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 7,4
Average critics 9,3
Average public 7,4

Original title: Chemi Bednieri Ojakhi

Cast: Ia Shugliashvili, Merab Ninidze, Berta Khapava, Tsisia Qumsashvili
Director: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß
Writer: Nana Ekvtimishvili
Cinematographer: Tudor Vladimir Panduru
Editor: Stefan Stabenow

“Float Like A Butterfly” by Carmel Winters (2018)

Good personages and music
Excellent gender content
Top minority representation

A look at the macho and patriarchal world of a ‘tinker’ community in post-Second World War Ireland

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 5,8
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,0
IMDB 5,7
Average critics 5,8
Average public 6,4

Cast: Hazel Doupe, Dara Devaney, Johnny Collins
Director: Carmel Winters
Writer: Carmel Winters
Cinematography by Michael Lavelle
Film Editing by Julian Ulrichs

“House Of Hummingbird” by Bora Kim (2018)

First Feature

Good script, personages, dialogues and gender content
Excellent message

A look at the world of a Koreanse teenage girl in search for love at home and at school, and how difficult for her it is to make any sense of what she experiences
A delicate, very slow-paced first feature
Loved by critics

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 8,4
Metascore 8,8
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,4
IMDB 7,4
Average critics 9,1
Average public 7,4

Cast: Ji-hu Park, Sae-byeok Kim, Seung-Yun Lee
Director: Bora Kim
Writer: Bora Kim
Music by Matija Strnisa
Cinematography by Guk-hyun Kang
Film Editing by Zoe Sua Cho

“My Happy Family” by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross (2017)

Good message
Excellent script, personages, direction and gender content
Top music

A very simple story: her children being grown-ups, a woman in her fifties decides to stop playing the various roles her family (and society) imposes on her (mother, daughter, wife, sister…), and decides to leave her family for no other reason than wanting to be on her own.
Intelligent direction and exceptional (Georgian) music

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore 8,6
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 7,4
Average critics 9,3
Average public 7,4

Original title: Chemi Bednieri Ojakhi

Cast: Ia Shugliashvili, Merab Ninidze, Berta Khapava, Tsisia Qumsashvili
Director: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß
Writer: Nana Ekvtimishvili
Cinematographer: Tudor Vladimir Panduru
Editor: Stefan Stabenow

“Unstrung Heroes” by Diane Keaton (1995)

A week of (US) first features
(a week-end treat)

In Diane Keaton’s only attempt at directing a feature movie, the too many different threads illustrate the chief beginner’s mistake, namely that of wanting to force too many ideas into one’s work….  There’s enough material in Unstrung Heroes for 5 movies (the relationship crazy uncles-boy, the science versus religion aspect, the boy who loses his mother and has to deal with his father, Uncle Arthur’s message that we’re all stuck in a role, etc.)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 6,2
Metascore 7,0
Roger Ebert 8,8
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,4
IMDB 6,7
Average critics 7,3
Average public 7,1

Cast: Maury Chaykin, John Turturro, Andie MacDowell, Michael Richards
Directed by Diane Keaton
Written by Richard Lagravanese
Music by Thomas Newman
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael
Film Editing by Lisa Zeno Churgin

“Cider With Rosie” by Philippa Lowthorpe (2015)

War movies directed by women

Weak direction and message

Some interesting personages and situations but the whole doesn’t get anywhere.
The choice to use the deep, almost broken voice of a veteran smoker as voice-off for Laurie Lee is difficult to link to the main personage of the film whom we only see as a boy and in his teens.

IMDB 6,4

Cast: Timothy Spall, Samantha Morton, Georgie Smith
Director: Philippa Lowthorpe
Writers:Ben Vanstone, Laurie Lee (based on the book by)
Music by Peter Salem
Cinematography by Julian Court
Film Editing by David Thrasher

“The Olive Tree” by Icíar Bollaín (2016)

The Work of Iciar Bollain (5)

Good script, personages, dialogues and images
Excellent humor and direction

Nice story by Paul Laverty

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 6,6
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,2
IMDB 6,8
Average critics 6,6
Average public 7,0

Original title: El Olivo

Cast: Anna Castillo, Javier Gutiérrez, Pep Ambròs
Director: Icíar Bollaín
Writer: Paul Laverty
Music by Pascal Gaigne
Cinematography by Sergi Gallardo
Film Editing by Nacho Ruiz Capillas

“The Farewell” by Lulu Wang (2019)

My Year’s Favorites (Aug. 2019-July 2020)

Good dialogues, humor, gender content and minority presence
Excellent script, images and music
Top personages, direction and message

Thirteen minutes into the movie, the plot is clearly established, and we are emotionally involved
Emotions are very soberly displayed / no false notes in the characters /  good editing and photography, and a very interesting musical score… An amazing feat!
All this within the profound humility of an homage made by a grand-daughter to her grandma
This second feature is a strong follow-up to her first movie Posthumus.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 8,5
Metascore 8,9
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,6
IMDB 7,6
Average critics 9,1
Average public 8,1

Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, Jiang Yongbo
Director: Lulu Wang
Screenplay: Lulu Wang
Director of Photography: Anna Franquesa Solano
Editor: Michael Taylor

“A Bun In The Oven” by Nadege Loiseau (2016)

French Week

Nothing much but a nice moment to spend… if you’re receptive to this type of humor

IMDB 5.9

Original title: Le Petit Locataire

Cast: Karin Viard, Philippe Rebbot, Hélène Vincent |
Director: Nadège Loiseau
Writers: Fanny Burdino, Julien Guetta
Cinematography by Julien Roux
Film Editing by Frédéric Baillehaiche

“Go Back To China” by Emily Ting (2019)

2019 was a good year!

Good minority representation and message

A good thing about this movie is that it humanizes a bit the China that so many politicians and media chastise as being the cause of all evils.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 6,7
Metascore 5,1
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience —
IMDB 5,7
Average critics 5,9
Average public 5,7

Cast: Anna Akana, Richard Ng, Lynn Chen
Director: Emily Ting
Writer: Emily Ting
Music by Timo Chen
Cinematography by Josh Silfen
Film Editing by Anthony Rosc

“Lovely Rita” by Jessica Hausner (2001)

Teens & Sex / First Feature

Great script, personages, direction, images and gender content
Excellent message

A girl – who does everything ‘wrong’ because of her impossibility to communicate what she feels and what she wants – loses her only friend while discovering the excitements of sexuality, a real break in the boredom of the home and school aimless routine.
A first feature about a girl who tries to escape the world imposed on her (home + school), a theme that recurs in Jessica Hausner’s following movies.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 6,0
IMDB 5,8
Average critics —
Average public 5,9

Cast: Barbara Osika, Christoph Bauer, Peter Fiala
Director: Jessica Hausner
Writer: Jessica Hausner
Cinematography by Martin Gschlacht
Film Editing by Karin Hartusch

“What They Had” by Elizabeth Chomko (2018)

Impressive First Features

Great script, direction, images, gender content and message
Excellent personages and dialogues

Substantial but flowing family drama with great acting
Excellent first feature!
“So many feelings are wrapped up in a story like “What They Had.” ” [Monica Castillo]

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,3
Metascore 6,9
Roger Ebert 8,8
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,8
IMDB 6,6
Average critics 7,7
Average public 7,7

Cast: Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster, Blythe Danner, Taissa Farmiga, Aimee Garcia, Josh Lucas, Jay Montepare, Jennifer Robideau
Director: Elizabeth Chomko
Writer: Elizabeth Chomko
Music by Danny Mulhern
Cinematography by Roberto Schaefer
Film Editing by Tom McArdle

“Johnny Dangerously” by Amy Heckerling (1984)

Tribute to Amy Heckerling (2/3)

Great direction (8)
Excellent humor (9)

Weak scenario but great fun!

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 5,0
Metascore 5,4
Roger Ebert 5,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,2
IMDB 6,5
Average critics 5,1
Average public 6,9

Cast: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner
Director: Amy Heckerling
Writers: Norman Steinberg, Bernie Kukoff
Music by John Morris
Cinematography by David M. Walsh
Film Editing by Pembroke J. Herring

“The Farewell” by Lulu Wang (2019)

2019 was a good year!

Good dialogues, humor and content (8)
Excellent script, images and music (9)
Top personages and direction (10)

Thirteen minutes into the movie, the plot is clearly established, and we are emotionally involved
Emotions are very soberly displayed / no false notes in the characters /  good editing and photography, and a very interesting musical score… An amazing feat!
All this within the profound humility of an homage made by a grand-daughter to her grandma
This second feature is a strong follow-up to her first movie Posthumus.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 8,5
Metascore 8,9
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,6
IMDB 7,6
Average critics 9,1
Average public 8,1

Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, Jiang Yongbo
Director: Lulu Wang
Screenplay: Lulu Wang
Director of Photography: Anna Franquesa Solano
Editor: Michael Taylor

“Queen of Hearts” by May el-Toukhy (2019)

2019 was a good year!

Good script, dialogues, direction, images and music (8)

A middle-aged mother starts a relationship with her stepson, but pushes him to suicide to prevent him from destroying her family.
One critic saw Anne (Trine Dyrholm) as “one of the most complicated female villains of recent memory.” I saw a woman who seeks to fulfill unsatisfied sexual needs, but realizes when it’s too late that she will lose her daughters. The price to pay for her sexual escapade is too high, and she fights to the most dramatic end. A man who would have sex with the (adult) daughter of his ex-wife would not be punished as harshly…

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,3
Metascore 6,7
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,6
IMDB 7,2
Average critics 7,0
Average public 7,4

Cast: Trine Dyrholm, Gustav Lindh, Magnus Krepper
Director: May el-Toukhy
Writers: Maren Louise Käehne, May el-Toukhy
Music by Jon Ekstrand
Cinematography by Jasper Spanning
Film Editing by Rasmus Stensgaard Madsen

“The Olive Tree” (El olivo) by Icíar Bollaín (2016)

The Work of Iciar Bollain (5)

Good script, personages, dialogues and images (8)
Excellent humor and direction (9)

 

Nice story by Paul Laverty

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 6,6
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,2
IMDB 6,8
Average critics 6,6
Average public 7,0

Cast: Anna Castillo, Javier Gutiérrez, Pep Ambròs
Director: Icíar Bollaín
Writer: Paul Laverty
Music by Pascal Gaigne
Cinematography by Sergi Gallardo
Film Editing by Nacho Ruiz Capillas

“Carolina” by Marleen Gorris (2003)

A Tribute to Marleen Gorris (5/5)

Good dialogues and humor (8)

Remake of “Antonia” transposed in California today
Despite the fantastic acting by Shirley MacLaine, the movie misses (too) much of the content and atmosphere of the original Dutch version

Rotten Tomatoes Critics —
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,4
IMDB 6,1
Average critics —
Average public 7,3

Cast: Julia Stiles, Shirley MacLaine, Alessandro Nivola
Director: Marleen Gorris
Writer: Katherine Fugate
Music by Steve Bartek
Cinematography by John Peters
Film Editing by Alan Heim, Michiel Reichwein

“Working Woman” by Michal Aviad (2018)

International update (10/10)

Good dialogues, humor (8)
Excellent direction (9)
Top score: gender (10)

Adding a facet to the story of women facing sexual abuse in Israel (see her previous movie Invisible), Working Woman is a powerful movie on the many challenges a young woman faces when she wants to combine family life and career.

Cast: Liron Ben-Shlush, Menashe Noy, Oshri Cohen
Director: Michal Aviad
Writer: Michal Aviad, Sharon Azulay Eyal, Michal Vinik
Cinematographer: Daniel Miller
Editor: Nili Feller

“Breaking News” by Iulia Rugina (2017)

International update (9/19)

Good personages, direction (8)

Heavy drama in a colorless world

Cast: Dorin Andone, Valeriu Andriuta, David Blaj
Director: Iulia Rugina
Writers: Ana Agopian, Oana Rasuceanu
Cinematography by Vivi Dragan Vasile
Film Editing by Catalin Cristutiu

“The Last Escape” by Lea Pool (2010)

Facets of Fatherhood (2/10)

Good dialogues, direction, images (8) Top score: minorities (10)

A typical Lea Pool’s family situation with a dominant father in continuous conflict with his children and a mother who holds the family together
A movie about incomprehension and resentment

Cast: Yves Jacques, Jacques Godin, Andrée Lachapelle
Director: Léa Pool
Writers: Gil Courtemanche, Léa Pool
Music by André Dziezuk, Marc Mergen
Cinematography by Pierre Mignot

“Queen of Hearts” by May el-Toukhy (2019)

May el-Toukhy (2/2)

Top score: script, dialogues, direction, images, music, gender (8)

A middle-aged mother starts a relationship with her stepson, but pushes him to suicide to prevent him from destroying her family.
One critic saw Anne (Trine Dyrholm) as “one of the most complicated female villains of recent memory.” I saw a woman who seeks to fulfill unsatisfied sexual needs, but realizes when it’s too late that she will lose her daughters. The price to pay for her sexual escapade is too high, and she fights to the most dramatic end. A man who would have sex with the (adult) daughter of his ex-wife would not be punished as harshly…

Cast: Trine Dyrholm, Gustav Lindh, Magnus Krepper
Director: May el-Toukhy
Writers: Maren Louise Käehne, May el-Toukhy
Music by Jon Ekstrand
Cinematography by Jasper Spanning
Film Editing by Rasmus Stensgaard Madsen

“Beautiful Kate” by Rachel Ward (2009)

Rachel Ward (1/2)

Top score: gender (9)

Interesting story but the way it is structured around flashbacks keeps the personages at a distance. Pity!

Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Sophie Lowe, Maeve Dermody
Director: Rachel Ward
Writers: Rachel Ward (screenplay), Newton Thornburg (novel)
Music by Murray Paterson, Tex Perkins
Cinematography by Andrew Commis
Film Editing by Veronika Jenet

“A Family” by Pernille Fischer Christensen (2010)

The work of Pernille Fischer Christensen (3/5)

Top score: personages (8)

A realistic script that tells the story of a woman at a crossroad in her life and the difficult choices she has to make – nothing very extraordinary, just a pragmatic take on life.
Half-way, however, the movie leaves the young woman and her choices to concentrate on the sick father who doesn’t want to die…
Good musical choice

Cast: Jesper Christensen, Lene Maria Christensen, Pilou Asbæk
Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen
Writers: Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen
Cinematography by Jakob Ihre
Film Editing by Janus Billeskov Jansen, Anne Østerud

“The Farewell” by Lulu Wang (2019)

Discovering Lulu Wang (2/2)

Thirteen minutes into the movie, the plot is clearly established, and we are emotionally involved
Emotions are very soberly displayed / no false notes in the characters /  good editing and photography, and a very interesting musical score… An amazing feat!
All this within the profound humility of an hommage made by a grand-daughter to her grandma
This second feature is a strong follow-up to her first movie Posthumus.

Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, Jiang Yongbo
Director: Lulu Wang
Screenplay: Lulu Wang
Director of Photography: Anna Franquesa Solano
Editor: Michael Taylor

“Holy Lands” by Amanda Sthers (2017)

Top score: gender (8)

An eclectic film that approaches various themes but does not bring any of them anywhere / still enjoyable

Cast: James Caan, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Efrat Dor, Rosanna Arquette, Patrick Bruel
Director: Amanda Sthers
Writer: Amanda Sthers
Music by Grégoire Hetzel

“Becoming Burlesque” by Jackie English (2017)

Week of first features

Top score: gender (10)

A somewhat amateuristic script and direction, but a joyful atmosphere

Cast: Shiva Negar, Elise Bauman, Alli Chung
Director: Jackie English
Writer: Jackie English
Music by Bruce Fowler, Keegan Jessamy, Bryce Mitchell
Cinematography by Clement Lush
Film Editing by Paul Whitehead
Art Direction by Kei Yano

“Lost In Yonkers” by Martha Coolidge (1993)

The work of Martha Coolidge (4/6)
Fridays Classics

Top score: music, script, personages, dialogues, humor, minorities (8)

A bit theatrical, the movie switches from conedy to drama
Good dialogues and humor, professional score by Elmer Bernstein

Cast: Irene Worth, Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl
Directed by Martha Coolidge
Writers: Neil Simon
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography by Johnny E. Jensen
director of photography: A. Troy Thomas
Film Editing by Steven Cohen

“Archipelago” by Joanna Hogg (2010)

The impressive work of Joanna Hogg (2/4)

Top score: personages (9)

As in her first feature, a family during their holiday, with tensions being part of the normalcy
Excellent use of sound without musical score

Cast: Christopher Baker, Kate Fahy, Tom Hiddleston
Director: Joanna Hogg
Writer: Joanna Hogg
Cinematography by Ed Rutherford
Film Editing by Helle le Fevre

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” by Stacie Passon (2018)

Interesting direction

Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover
Director: Stacie Passon
Writers: Mark Kruger, based on the novel by Shirley Jackson
Music by Andrew Hewitt
Cinematography by Piers McGrail
Film Editing by Ryan Denmark

“Going Away” (Un Beau Dimanche) by Nicole Garcia (2013)

Nicole Garcia (2/3)

Some true personages in a realistic context that suddenly becomes a fantasy

Cast: Pierre Rochefort, Louise Bourgoin, Dominique Sanda
Director: Nicole Garcia
Writers: Jacques Fieschi, Nicole Garcia
Music by Éric Neveux
Cinematography by Pierre Milon
Film Editing by Simon Jacquet

“Set Me Free” by Lea Pool (1999)

A year’s favorites review

As in Lea Pool’s later movies, the relationship mother-daughter is a central theme, shown as a key element to the development of the child, while the fatherly figure is depicted as a loser and a source of conflict / Excellent acting

Cast: Karine Vanasse, Alexandre Merineau, Pascale Bussieres, Miki Manojlovic, Charlotte Christeler, Nancy Huston
Written and Directed by Lea Pool
Music by Robyn Schulkowsky
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Michel Arcand

“Capernaum” (Capharnaüm) by Nadine Labaki (2018)

A year’s favorites review

Extremely touching and powerful movie, anchored in a revolting reality!
SPOILERS coming
Nadine Labaki opposes two families, both dysfunctional, both living on the fringe of society. On the one hand, a Lebanese family with many (many) children – Zain, a 12-year old boy, is one of them – living in the slums of Beirut. On the other hand, an Ethiopian woman with her baby living in a refugee camp. Although this single mother has nothing and struggles to keep her baby alive, it’s by her and her baby that Zain will find the love and care that were absent in his own family.

Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawthar Al Haddad, Fadi Kamel Youssef, Nour el Husseini, Cedra Izam
Director: Nadine Labaki
Writer: Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojeily, Georges Khabbaz, Michelle Keserwany
Music by Khaled Mouzanar
Cinematography by Christopher Aoun
Film Editing by Konstantin Bock, Laure Gardette

“Private Life” by Tamara Jenkins (2018)

A year’s favorites review

A couple tries to have a child (without success), and every minute of their quest reinforces their relationship
Great acting, fantastic direction
Private Life broadens what already was present in The Savages

Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, Emily Robinson
Writer: Tamara Jenkins
Director: Tamara Jenkins
Director of Photography: Christos Voudouris
Editor: Brian A. Kates

The 50 best films of 2018: No 5 – Private Life

“What They Had” by Elizabeth Chomko (2018)

A year’s favorites

= First Feature =

Substantial but flowing family drama with great acting
Excellent first feature!
“So many feelings are wrapped up in a story like “What They Had.” ” [Monica Castillo]

Cast: Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster, Blythe Danner, Taissa Farmiga, Aimee Garcia, Josh Lucas, Jay Montepare, Jennifer Robideau
Director: Elizabeth Chomko
Writer: Elizabeth Chomko
Music by Danny Mulhern
Cinematography by Roberto Schaefer
Film Editing by Tom McArdle

“Big Girls Don’t Cry… They Get Even” by Joan Micklin Silver (1992)

Joan Micklin Silver 1/4

Good dialogues and good music, but the cast finds it difficult to free itself from the straight-jacket script

Cast: Griffin Dunne, Dan Futterman, Patricia Kalember, David Strathairn, Adrienne Shelly
Director: Joan Micklin Silver
Writers: Frank Mugavero, Mark Goddard, Melissa Goddard
Music by Patrick Williams
Cinematography by Theo van de Sande
Film Editing by Janice Hampton

“Monsoon Wedding” by Mira Nair (2001)

Excellent direction: Mira Nair juggles with all the characters, bringing together their different stories in a natural flow while adroitly mixing traditional values with modern norms. Refreshing music, singing and dancing

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah Pimmi, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shetty, Parvin Dabas, Vijay Raaz, Tilotama Shome, Vasundhara Das Hemant
Directed by Mira Nair
Written by Sabrina Dhawan
Music by Mychael Danna
Cinematography by Declan Quinn
Film Editing by Allyson C. Johnson

 

“The Wonders” by Alice Rohrwacher (2014)

Like Corpo Celeste, her first feature, The Wonders is a well-knit drama with a 13-old girl as central figure and a powerful social content: the depopulation of the Italian countryside due to a rejection of the modern world. This leads to an exodus to the city that was a key aspect of Rohrwacher’s previous movie.
This second feature adds also some depth to the first one: the critical stand on the church in Corpo Celeste is extended here to the smoke and mirrors that TV programs and fame promise.

Cast: Monica Bellucci, Alba Rohrwacher, André Hennicke, Sabine Timoteo, Sam Louwyck, Maria Alexandra Lungu, Agnese Graziani, Eva Lea Pace Morrow, Carlo Tarmati
Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Writer: Alice Rohrwacher
Director of Photography: Hélène Louvart
Editor: Marco Spoletini
Composer: Piero Crucitti

“Capernaum” (Capharnaüm) by Nadine Labaki (2018)

Extremely touching and powerful movie, anchored in a revolting reality!
SPOILERS coming
Nadine Labaki opposes two families, both dysfunctional, both living on the fringe of society. On the one hand, a Lebanese family with many (many) children – Zain, a 12-year old boy, is one of them – living in the slums of Beirut. On the other hand, an Ethiopian woman with her baby living in a refugee camp. Although this single mother has nothing and struggles to keep her baby alive, it’s by her and her baby that Zain will find the love and care that were absent in his own family.

Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawthar Al Haddad, Fadi Kamel Youssef, Nour el Husseini, Cedra Izam
Director: Nadine Labaki
Writer: Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojeily, Georges Khabbaz, Michelle Keserwany
Music by Khaled Mouzanar
Cinematography by Christopher Aoun
Film Editing by Konstantin Bock, Laure Gardette

“Homesick” by Anne Sewitsky (2015)

Love obeys no rules
Three movies by Anne Sewitsky (3)

With this third movie, a recurring theme appears in transparency, as a watermark, through the work of Anne Sewitsky: love does not respect any (social) boundaries. In her first movie, all the personages transgress these limits. In her second movie, the “taboo” concerns the love of a ten-year old girl for a boy of her class. Finally, this third movie is about the incestuous love between a young woman and her half-brother. A series about trespassing love!
The Norwegian title of this third movie can be translated by “the nearest,”  a title that fits the movie much better than the official ‘public-pleasing ‘homesick’.
Again, an original musical score (although less so than in Happy, Happy)

Cast: Ine Marie Wilmann, Simon J. Berger, Anneke von der Lippe
Director: Anne Sewitsky
Writers: Anne Sewitsky, Ragnhild Tronvoll
Music by Ginge Anvik
Cinematography by Daniel Voldheim
Film Editing by Christoffer Heie

“Lovely Rita” by Jessica Hausner (2001)

Jessica Hausner, a work in progress

first feature

 

A teenager girl – who does everything ‘wrong’ because of her impossibility to communicate what she feels and what she wants – loses her only friend while discovering the excitements of sexuality, a real break in the boredom of the home and school aimless routine.
This first feature is about a girl who tries to escape the world imposed on her (home + school), a theme that recurs in Jessica Hausner’s following movies.

Cast: Barbara Osika, Christoph Bauer, Peter Fiala
Director: Jessica Hausner
Writer: Jessica Hausner
Cinematography by Martin Gschlacht
Film Editing by Karin Hartusch

“What They Had” by Elizabeth Chomko (2018)

first feature

Substantial but flowing family drama with great acting
Excellent first feature!
“So many feelings are wrapped up in a story like “What They Had.” ” [Monica Castillo]

Cast: Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster, Blythe Danner, Taissa Farmiga, Aimee Garcia, Josh Lucas, Jay Montepare, Jennifer Robideau
Director: Elizabeth Chomko
Writer: Elizabeth Chomko
Music by Danny Mulhern
Cinematography by Roberto Schaefer
Film Editing by Tom McArdle

“The Land Of Steady Habits” by Nicole Holofcener (2018)

6 Mondays with Nicole Holofcener (6)

A finely-structured movie that shows the difficulties that men as young adults and during their midlife-crisis encounter as they try to find their place in a society that asks them to grow up. Immaturity is so difficult to live, whatever one’s age!
This movie parallels Nicole Holofcener’s preceding one, but instead of being centered on a middle-aged woman who has a daughter and develops a close relationship with the best friend of her daughter, it focuses on a middle-aged man, his son, and the close relationship that this man develops with the best friend of his son.

Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Edie Falco, Thomas Mann, Elizabeth Marvel, Connie Britton, Michael Gaston, Josh Pais, Charlie Tahan
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Writer: Nicole Holofcener
Cinematographer: Alar Kivilo
Editor: Robert Frazen
Composer: Marcelo Zarvos

“Private Life” by Tamara Jenkins (2018)

3 Movies by Tamara Jenkins (3)

A couple tries to have a child (without success), and every minute of their quest reinforces their relationship
Great acting, fantastic direction
Private Life broadens what already was present in The Savages

Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, Emily Robinson
Writer: Tamara Jenkins
Director: Tamara Jenkins
Director of Photography: Christos Voudouris
Editor: Brian A. Kates

The 50 best films of 2018: No 5 – Private Life

“The Last Escape” by Lea Pool (2010)

5 Fridays with Lea Pool (4)

A typical Lea Pool’s family situation with a dominant father in continuous conflict with his children and a mother who holds the family together
A movie about incomprehension and resentment

Cast: Yves Jacques, Jacques Godin, Andrée Lachapelle
Director: Léa Pool
Writers: Gil Courtemanche, Léa Pool
Music by André Dziezuk, Marc Mergen
Cinematography by Pierre Mignot

“Set Me Free” by Lea Pool (1999)

5 Fridays with Lea Pool (1)

As in Lea Pool’s later movies, the relationship mother-daughter is a central theme, shown as a key element to the development of the child, while the fatherly figure is depicted as a loser and a source of conflict / Excellent acting

Cast: Karine Vanasse, Alexandre Merineau, Pascale Bussieres, Miki Manojlovic, Charlotte Christeler, Nancy Huston
Written and Directed by Lea Pool
Music by Robyn Schulkowsky
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Michel Arcand

“Dark River” by Clio Barnard (2018)

Shows the profound traumatic sequels child abuse can have
A movie true to Clio Barnard’s previous movies
Great performance by Ruth Wilson

Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean, Esme Creed-Miles, Dean Andrews
Director: Clio Barnard
Writer: Rose Tremain
Writer: Clio Barnard
Cinematographer: Adriano Goldman
Editor: Nick Fenton, Luke Dunkley
Composer: Harry Escott

“Mommy Is At The Hairdresser’s” by Lea Pool (Canada, 2008)

Non-U.S. female directors

The 60’s, the American dream. A woman discovers that her husband betrays her with a man. She is so humiliated and wounded that she leaves her family.
Her three children express their resentment, loss, pain, feeling of guilt, and incomprehension in very different ways. A beautiful and poignant movie!

Cast: Marianne Fortier, Élie Dupuis, Hugo St-Onge-Paquin
Director: Léa Pool
Writer: Isabelle Hébert
Music by Laurent Eyquem
Cinematography by Daniel Jobin
Film Editing by Dominique Fortin

“They” by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh (USA, 2017)

First feature

A movie about hesitation in which everyone is at a crossroad

Cast:  Rhys Fehrenbacher, Koohyar Hosseini, Nicole Coffineau
Director: Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
Writer: Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
Music by Vincent Gillioz
Cinematography by Carolina Costa
Film Editing by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh, Dean Gonzalez

“A Perfect Ending” by Nicole Conn (USA, 2012)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

An unnecessary soapy script saved by good acting and directing, and the surprising editing / Shunned by critics

Cast: Barbara Niven, Bryan Mordechai Jackson, Jessica Clark
Director: Nicole Conn
Writer: Nicole Conn
Music by Bob Fowler, Stephen Ridley
Cinematography by Tal Lazar
Film Editing by Nicole Conn

“Forever My Girl” by Bethany Ashton Wolf (USA, 2018)

A movie that not only celebrates everlasting love, but adds to it family, religious, and small town values in a most simplistic and nauseating way / Propaganda cinema at its best! And it works: the public seems to like it (6,4 on IMDB and an astonishing 9 as audience score on Rotten Tomatoes)! So depressing! 😦

Cast: Alex Roe, Jessica Rothe, John Benjamin Hickey, Abby Ryder Fortson, Tyler Riggs, Peter Cambor, Gillian Vigman, Morgan Alexandria
Director: Bethany Ashton Wolf
Writer: Bethany Ashton Wolf
Music by Brett Boyett
Cinematography by Duane Manwiller

“Nena” by Saskia Diesing (Netherlands, 2014)

A heavy subject treated with lightness

Cast: Abbey Hoes, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Gijs Blom
Director: Saskia Diesing
Writers: Saskia Diesing, Esther Gerritsen
Music by Paul Eisenach
Cinematography by Aage Hollander
Film Editing by Barbara Toennieshen

“Landline” by Gillian Robespierre (USA, 2017)

Some good moments, but at times clumsy script and direction / Jenny Slate sounds often fake, and the dialogues do not fit the period.

Cast: Jenny Slate, Edie Falco, Abby Quinn, Jay Duplass, John Turturro, Finn Wittrock, Amy Carlson
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Writer (story): Elisabeth Holm, Gillian Robespierre, Tom Bean
Writer: Gillian Robespierre, Elisabeth Holm
Cinematographer: Chris Teague
Editor: Casey Brooks
Composer: Chris Bordeaux, Jordan Cohen, Clyde Lawrence

“Endless Love” by Shana Feste (USA, 2014)

Variation on a theme already found in Shana Feste’s The Greatest: a family mourns their deceased son / love introduced by a new personage brings the mourning process to a conclusion
Some good moments in an otherwise syrupy and predictable movie

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde, Bruce Greenwood, Joely Richardson, Rhys Wakefield, Robert Patrick, Dayo Okeniyi, Emma Rigby, Anna Enger
Director: Shana Feste
Writer: Shana Feste, Joshua Safran
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography by Andrew Dunn
Film Editing by Maryann Brandon

“Bitch” by Marianna Palka (USA, 2017)

A wife who’s treated like a dog by her family becomes a dog
Unfortunately, just like her previous feature, this original idea with good humor doesn’t bring us anywhere. Interesting use of sound

Cast: Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Brighton Sharbino, Rio Mangini, Kingston Foster
Director: Marianna Palka
Writer: Marianna Palka
Cinematographer: Armando Salas
Editor: Brett W. Bachman
Composer: Morgan z Whirledge

“Lady Bird” by Greta Gerwig (USA, 2017)

Nuanced approach of all the things on which the life of a teenage girl is built / Excellent acting, great editing! However, a too “uniquely American” comedy, as Christopher Gray puts it.

Cast:  Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Greta Gerwig
Cinematographer: Sam Levy
Editor: Nick Houy
Composer: Jon Brion

“Lifted” by Lexi Alexander (USA, 2010)

 

A movie dedicated to the “fallen heroes” of Afghanistan and Iraq, praising patriotism and religion, but also showing those left behind who struggle to survive in affluent America.

Director: Lexi Alexander
Writer: Lexi Alexander
Cast: Nicki Aycox, Uriah Shelton, Dash Mihok
Music by Kurt Farquhar
Cinematography by David Brower
Film Editing by Gregory Nussbaum

“Love Is Thicker Than Water” by Emily Harris & Ate de Jong (UK, 2016)

Working in pair: man + woman directing

Great female lead, good humor, surprising editing

Cast: Lydia Wilson, Johnny Flynn, Ellie Kendrick
Directors: Emily Harris, Ate de Jong
Writer: Ate de Jong
Cinematography by Zoran Veljkovic
Film Editing by Brent Backhus, Antonio Rui Ribeiro

“It’s Complicated” by Nancy Meyers (USA, 2009)

 

 

Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell
Written and directed by Nancy Meyers
Music by Heitor Pereira; co-composer: Hans Zimmer
Cinematography by John Toll
Film Editing by Joe Hutshing, David Moritz

“Plush” by Catherine Hardwicke (USA, 2013)

Good music, but lacks unity

Cast: Emily Browning, Xavier Samuel, Cam Gigandet, Dawn Olivieri, Frances Fisher, Thomas Dekker, Marlene Forte, Kennedy Waite, Kimiko Gelman, Christopher Craven
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Writer: Catherine Hardwicke, Arty Nelson
Music by Nick Launay, Ming Vauz
Cinematography by Daniel Moder
Film Editing by Julia Wong

Sharasojyu (Shara) by Naomi Kawase (Japan, 2003)

Structure, personages, scarce dialogues with the story being told through the images, blending of anthropological veracity and sensitivity are very similar to those found in Moe No Suzaku.

Cast: Kohei Fukungaga, Yuka Hyyoudo, Naomi Kawase
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writer: Naomi Kawase
Music by Ua
Cinematography by Yutaka Yamazaki
Film Editing by Shôtarô Anraku, Naomi Kawase, Tomoh Sanjo

“First They Killed My Father” by Angelina Jolie (USA, 2017)

“That this movie even exists is a small miracle. That it seems to have been made without compromise and largely without ego makes it even more rare.” Matt Zoller Seitz. RobertEbert.com, September 15, 2017

Cast: Phoeung Kompheak, Sveng Socheata, Sareum Srey Moch
Director: Angelina Jolie
Writer Angelina Jolie, Loung Ung; based on the book by Loung Ung
Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle
Editor: Xavier Box, Patricia Rommel
Composer: Marco Beltrami

“Suzaku” (Moe No Suzaku) by Naomi Kawase (Japan, 1997)

A look both anthropological and sensitive on the disappearance of traditional life in the Japanese mountains – The dialogues are sparse, but the leitmotifs guide us. Solid camera work

Cast: Jun Kunimura, Machiko Ono, Sachiko Izumi
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writer: Naomi Kawase
Music by Masamichi Shigeno
Cinematography by Masaki Tamura
Film Editing by Shûichi Kakesu

“Suzanne” (Katell Quillévéré, France 2013)

 

L’amour fou – Strong structure, sustained tempo, flawless

Actors: Sara Forestier, François Damiens, Adèle Haenel
Director: Katell Quillévéré
Writers: Mariette Désert, Katell Quillévéré
Cinematography: Tom Harari
Editing: Thomas Marchand

“The Adopted” (Mélanie Laurent, France 2011)

This movie has a somewhat complex structure that lacks transparency.

Cast: Marie Denarnaud, Denis Ménochet, Clémentine Célarié
Director: Mélanie Laurent
Writers: Mélanie Laurent, Morgan Perez
Music: Jonathan Morali
Cinematography: Arnaud Potier
Editing: Guerric Catala

“The 33” (Patricia Riggen, Chile 2015)

Strong images, weak personages

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mario Casas, Adriana Barraza, Kate del Castillo, Cote de Pablo, Bob Gunton Director: Patricia Riggen
Screenplay: José Rivera, Mikko Alanne
Composer: James Horner
Editor: Michael Tronick
Cinematographer: Checco Varese