“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

“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

Multiple facets of mother-daughter relationships (4/29)

“Angela” by Rebecca Miller (USA, 1995)

First Feature

Good dialogues

A young girl with a depressive mother and a stressed father takes her younger sister into a (religious) fantasy journey, torn between anger and guilt, heaven and hell
Some very amateurish aspects (have you seen the microphones?) but a movie that keeps surprising the viewer and that has a very expressive musical score
Nevertheless, there’s something that just feels wrong… Maybe it’s the fact that all females are having difficulties integrating the reality…

IMDB 6,4

Cast: Miranda Rhyne, Charlotte Eve Blythe, Anna Levine
Director: Rebecca Miller
Writer: Rebecca Miller
Music by Michael Rohatyn
Cinematography by Ellen Kuras
Film Editing by Melody London

“The Proposition” by Lesli Linka Glatter (1998)

Favorite 52 movies screened between Aug 20 and May 21 (#5)

Good script and humor
Excellent dialogues, images, gender content, and expression
Top personages, direction and message

An ambitious movie that realizes much of its potential. Its Shakespearean plot and twists are never too stretched to become ridiculous, especially since it is set in the 1920s, mainly because of the strongly delineated personages and excellent acting.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 4,5
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 6,4
IMDB 6,2
TMDB 5,8
Average critics 4,5
Average public 6,1

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe, William Hurt
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Writer: Rick Ramage
Music by Stephen Endelman
Cinematography by Peter Sova
Film Editing by Jacqueline Cambas

“In Between” by Maysaloun Hamoud (2016)

A week of first features

A Weekend Treat!

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

The various facets of the patriarchal world experienced by three Israeli Palestinian women
“… an actual fatwa was issued against Hamoud—the first against a Palestinian in 70 years—for her depictions of homosexuality, intoxication and drug use. That—combined with no less than Isabelle Huppert declaring the women featured in “In Between” as “heroines of our time” while presenting an award at Cannes last year—is as good a recommendation you can get.” Susan Wloszczyna

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

Original title: Bar Bahar

Cast: Mouna Hawa, Shaden Kanboura, Sana Jammalieh, Mahmoud Shalaby
Director: Maysaloun Hamoud
Cinematographer: Itay Gross
Editor: Nili Feller, Lev Goltser
Composer: M.G. Saad

“The Proposition” by Lesli Linka Glatter (1998)

Two features by Lesli Linka Glatter (2/2)

A Weekend Treat!

Good script and humor
Excellent dialogues, images, gender content, and expression
Top personages, direction and message

An ambitious movie that realizes much of its potential. Its Shakespearean plot and twists are never too stretched to become ridiculous, especially since it is set in the 1920s, mainly because of the strongly delineated personages and excellent acting.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 4,5
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 6,4
IMDB 6,2
TMDB 5,8
Average critics 4,5
Average public 6,1

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe, William Hurt
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Writer: Rick Ramage
Music by Stephen Endelman
Cinematography by Peter Sova
Film Editing by Jacqueline Cambas

“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

“Yes, God, Yes” by Karen Maine (2019)

Facets of Patriarchy

First Feature

Good humor and direction
Excellent gender content and message

Everyone is doing it but no one admits it!
A teenage girl tries to understand why she’s being rekected as a weirdo-psycho pervert for wanting to discover sex while she sees everyone around her doing it… Fortunaltely, sex is lately a bit more libertated, but hypocrisy still prevails
Interesting ending scene between the girl and the priest

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 7,2
Metascore 7,1
Roger Ebert 7,5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,6
IMDB 6,0
Average critics 7,3
Average public 6,8

Cast: Natalia Dyer, Francesca Reale, Alisha Boe
Director: Karen Maine
Writer: Karen Maine
Music by Ian Hultquist
Cinematography by Todd Antonio Somodevilla
Film Editing by Jennifer Lee

“Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem” by Ronit & Shlomi Elkabetz (2014)

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

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

An extraordinary movie about a woman who wants to divorce her husband according to Jewish religious law

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 8,5
Metascore 9,0
Roger Ebert 10,0
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 8,0
IMDB 7,7
Average critics 9,2
Average public 7,9

Cast: Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Menashe Noy, Gabi Amrani, Dalia Beger
Director: Ronit Elkabetz. Shlomi Elkabetz
Writer: Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz
Director of Photography: Jeanne Lapoirie

“Angela” by Rebecca Miller (1995)

The work of Rebecca Miller (1/5)

First Feature

Good dialogues

A young girl with a depressive mother and a stressed father takes her younger sister into a (religious) fantasy journey, torn between anger and guilt, heaven and hell
Some very amateurish aspects (have you seen the microphones?) but a movie that keeps surprising the viewer and that has a very expressive musical score
Nevertheless, there’s something that just feels wrong… Maybe it’s the fact that all females are having difficulties integrating the reality…

IMDB 6,4

Cast: Miranda Rhyne, Charlotte Eve Blythe, Anna Levine
Director: Rebecca Miller
Writer: Rebecca Miller
Music by Michael Rohatyn
Cinematography by Ellen Kuras
Film Editing by Melody London

“The Miseducation Of Cameron Post” by Desiree Akhavan (2018)

 

Teens & Sex

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

A magnificent illustration of the conflicts teenagers can have between what society and religion impose on them – who they should be and not be – and the identity they feel they possess
Another look on identity conflicts – See Appropriate Behavior

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

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Jennifer Ehle, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Campbell, Quinn Shephard
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writer (novel): Emily M. Danforth
Writer: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele
Cinematographer: Ashley Connor
Editor: Sara Shaw
Composer: Julian Wass

“Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity” by Mina Shum (2002)

Tribute to Mina Shum (2/3)

Great script, personages, direction and content

A young girl tries magic to bring her mother happiness: it works for everyone around her except for the mother
As in her first feature, Double Happiness, women are depicted as flexible, adapting themselves to new circumstances while men heavily suffer from the Confucian patriarchal ideology in which they are still stuck

Rotten Tomatoes Critics 5,3
Metascore —
Roger Ebert —
Rotten Tomatoes Audience 7,2
IMDB 6,5
Average critics 5,3
Average public 6,9

Cast: Sandra Oh, Valerie Tian, Ric Young
Director: Mina Shum
Writers: Dennis Foon, Mina Shum
Music by Andrew Lockington
Cinematography by Peter Wunstorf
Film Editing by Alison Grace

“Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem” by Ronit & Shlomi Elkabetz (2014)

International update (2/10)

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

An extraordinary movie about a woman who wants to divotce her husband according to Jewish religious law

Cast: Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Menashe Noy, Gabi Amrani, Dalia Beger
Director: Ronit Elkabetz. Shlomi Elkabetz
Writer: Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz
Director of Photography: Jeanne Lapoirie

“The Outsider” by Randa Haines (2002)

The Work of Randa Haines (5/6)

Good script, images

Here again, the hero is taught a lesson: this time, a professional killer lays down his weapons, converted by a woman who belongs to the Plain People (Anabaptists) and with whom he’s fallen in love
Slick direction, lubricated images…

Cast: Tim Daly, Naomi Watts, Keith Carradine
Director: Randa Haines
Writers: Penelope Williamson (book), Jenny Wingfield (teleplay)
Music by Todd Boekelheide
Cinematography by Ben Nott
Film Editing by Lisa Bromwell

“The Last Days Of Chez Nous” by Gillian Armstrong (1992)

Facets of Fatherhood (10/10)

Fridays Classics

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

Intricate love relationships between a man and a woman as a couple, between two sisters, between a daughter and her father, between a teenager during her first kiss… Many facets, few certitudes…
A very dynamic direction with a Godard touch … and a subtle sense of humor!
““The Last Days of Chez Nous” is a drama, and so none of the characters play their expected parts, and what we get is astonishing: movie characters who think for themselves.” [Roger Ebert]

Cast: Lisa Harrow, Bruno Ganz, Kerry Fox
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
Writer: Helen Garner
Music by Paul Grabowsky
Cinematography by Geoffrey Simpson
Film Editing by Nicholas Beauman

“Ginger And Rosa” by Sally Potter (2012)

Facets of Fatherhood (8/10)

Good script, music
Excellent personages, direction, images, dialogues
Top score: minorities, message (10)

Set during the Cold War in the nascent post-war world of feminism and youth activism / Another facet of the influence of a strong fatherly figure on a young girl (see also The Man Who Cried (2000)) 

Cast: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Alessandro Nivola, Annette Bening, Timothy Spall
Written and directed by Sally Potter
Cinematography by Robbie Ryan
Film Editing by Anders Refn

“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

“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

“In Between” by Maysaloun Hamoud (2016)

A year’s favorites review

= First Feature =

The various facets of the patriarchal world experienced by three Israeli Palestinian women
“… an actual fatwa was issued against Hamoud—the first against a Palestinian in 70 years—for her depictions of homosexuality, intoxication and drug use. That—combined with no less than Isabelle Huppert declaring the women featured in “In Between” as “heroines of our time” while presenting an award at Cannes last year—is as good a recommendation you can get.” Susan Wloszczyna

Cast: Mouna Hawa, Shaden Kanboura, Sana Jammalieh, Mahmoud Shalaby
Director: Maysaloun Hamoud
Cinematographer: Itay Gross
Editor: Nili Feller, Lev Goltser
Composer: M.G. Saad

“Fill The Void” by Rama Burshtein (2012)

A year’s favorites

= First Feature =

A very well-made movie with a strong script that brings you inside the mind of a young Jewish girl who finds it difficult to get married to the husband of her deceased sister, according to the Biblical tradition.
Though it might not be your gender roles idealization – a woman is nothing if she’s not married – you will surely gain an anthropological and intimate insight in the complex relationship between men and women in a Jewish ultra-orthodox community, which might counterbalance the absence of any critical statement.

Cast: Hadas Yaron, Renana Raz,  Yiftach Klein, Irit Sheleg
Director: Rama Burshtein
Screenplay: Rama Burshtein
Music by Yitzhak Azulay
Cinematography by Asaf Sudri
Film Editing by Sharon Elovic

“It’s Easier for a Camel…” by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (2003)

A year’s favorites

= First Feature =

A woman tries to make sense of the chaos in her life
Fantastic acting, a thoroughly chosen cast, an almost continuous humorous undercurrent, a fine, underrated comedy

Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Chiara Mastroianni, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Director: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Writers: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Noémie Lvovsky, Agnès de Sacy
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Anne Weil

“The Last Days Of Chez Nous” by Gillian Armstrong (1992)

A year’s favorites

Intricate love relationships between a man and a woman as a couple, between two sisters, between a daughter and her father, between a teenager during her first kiss… Many facets, few certitudes…
A very dynamic direction with a Godard touch … and a subtle sense of humor!
““The Last Days of Chez Nous” is a drama, and so none of the characters play their expected parts, and what we get is astonishing: movie characters who think for themselves.” [Roger Ebert]

Cast: Lisa Harrow, Bruno Ganz, Kerry Fox
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
Writer: Helen Garner
Music by Paul Grabowsky
Cinematography by Geoffrey Simpson
Film Editing by Nicholas Beauman

“The Miseducation Of Cameron Post” by Desiree Akhavan (2018)

A year’s favorites

A magnificent illustration of the conflicts teenagers can have between what society and religion impose on them – who they should be and not be – and the identity they feel they possess
Another look on identity conflicts – See Appropriate Behavior

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Jennifer Ehle, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Campbell, Quinn Shephard
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writer (novel): Emily M. Danforth
Writer: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele
Cinematographer: Ashley Connor
Editor: Sara Shaw
Composer: Julian Wass

“Qui a envie d’être aimé?” by Anne Giafferi (2011)

= First Feature =

It’s not really clear why all the male personages of the movie behave the way they do (rejecting others, violent…) and why suddenly one of them is touched by divine grace! A not too inspired illustration of the phrase “God ways are unfathomable!”

Cast: Éric Caravaca, Arly Jover, Valérie Bonneton
Director: Anne Giafferi
Writers: Thierry Bizot (novel), Anne Giafferi
Music by Jean-Michel Bernard
Cinematography by Jean-François Hensgens
Film Editing by Christophe Pinel

“A Castle In Italy” (Un Chateau En Italie) by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (2013)

The work of Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (3/3)

As in her preceding movies, past and family are intertwined in the story in present time with her usual themes – wealth, religion, guilt, death – and three female characters.
“I think I should make room for life in my life.”

Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Louis Garrel, Filippo Timi
Director: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Writers: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Noémie Lvovsky, Agnès de Sacy
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Anne Weil

“It’s Easier for a Camel…” (Il est plus facile pour un chameau…) by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (2003)

The work of Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (1/3)

– First Feature –

A woman tries to make sense of the chaos in her life
Fantastic acting, a thoroughly chosen cast, an almost continuous humorous undercurrent, a fine, underrated comedy

Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Chiara Mastroianni, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Director: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Writers: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Noémie Lvovsky, Agnès de Sacy
Cinematography by Jeanne Lapoirie
Film Editing by Anne Weil

“The Wedding Plan” by Rama Burshtein (2016)

One message of this movie is similar to Rama Burshtein’s previous movie Fill The Void: A woman is not a person until she gets married!
This story though is less intimate, but makes an enjoyable comedy with intelligent dialogues and good humor.
As in Fill The Void, music plays here a great role too, but though the musical choice is perfect when it is embedded in the script, it becomes dubious (childish, bland) when it’s not an integral part of the scene.

Cast: Noa Kooler, Amos Tamam, Oz Zehavi, Irit Sheleg, Roni Merhavi, Erez Drigues, Odelia Moreh-Matalon
Director: Rama Burshtein
Writer: Rama Burshtein
Cinematographer: Amit Yasur
Editor: Yael Hersonski
Composer: Roy Edri

“Fill The Void” by Rama Burshtein (2012)

first feature

A very well-made movie with a strong script that brings you inside the mind of a young Jewish girl who finds it difficult to get married to the husband of her deceased sister, according to the Biblical tradition.
Though it might not be your gender roles idealization – a woman is nothing if she’s not married – you will surely gain an anthropological and intimate insight in the complex relationship between men and women in a Jewish ultra-orthodox community, which might counterbalance the absence of any critical statement.

Cast: Hadas Yaron, Renana Raz,  Yiftach Klein, Irit Sheleg
Director: Rama Burshtein
Screenplay: Rama Burshtein
Music by Yitzhak Azulay
Cinematography by Asaf Sudri
Film Editing by Sharon Elovic

“Lourdes” by Jessica Hausner (2009)

Jessica Hausner, a work in progress

 

A woman surrenders to (religious) forces around her / the script lacks dynamism

Cast: Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini
Director: Jessica Hausner
Writers: Géraldine Bajard, Jessica Hausner
Cinematography by Martin Gschlacht
Film Editing by Karina Ressler

“At Five In The Afternoon” by Samira Makhmalbaf (2003)

Hommage to Hana and Samira Makhmalbaf

(and to Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Marziyeh Meshkini)

A father and her daughter have to keep moving in a voyage that leads them from not much to nothingness
“Despite the deprivations suffered by its subjects, At Five in the Afternoon is distinguished by the elegance and eloquence of its images.” [Jason Anderson]
As in Samira Makhmalbaf’s previous movies, fighting ignorance plays a central role

Cast: Agheleh Rezaie, Abdolgani Yousefrazi, Razi Mohebi
Director: Samira Makhmalbaf
Writers: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Samira Makhmalbaf
Music by Mohammad Reza Darvishi
Cinematography by Ebrahim Ghafori, Samira Makhmalbaf
Film Editing by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

“Mary Queen Of Scots” by Josie Rourke (2018)

first feature

A woman can’t reign as a woman (the loving, child-bearing Mary), but it becomes possible when she pretends to be a man (the childless, conspiring Elisabeth)
Good leads but weak supporting personages

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant, Guy Pearce, Gemma Chan, Ian Hart, Maria Dragus, James McArdle
Director: Josie Rourke
Writer: Beau Willimon
Based on the book “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy
Cinematographer: John Mathieson
Editor: Chris Dickens
Composer: Max Richter

“Challat Tunes” (Le Challat De Tunis) by Kaouther Ben Hania (2013)

first feature

Filmed in a documentary style but lacks depth

Cast: Mohamed Slim Bouchiha, Jallel Dridi, Moufida Dridi
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Writer: Kaouther Ben Hania
Music by Si Lemhaf, Ben Violet
Cinematography by Sofian El Fani
Film Editing by Nadia Ben Rachid

“The Miseducation Of Cameron Post” by Desiree Akhavan (2018)

A magnificent illustration of the conflicts teenagers can have between what society and religion impose on them – who they should be and not be – and the identity they feel they possess
Another look on identity conflicts – See Appropriate Behavior

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Jennifer Ehle, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Campbell, Quinn Shephard
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writer (novel): Emily M. Danforth
Writer: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele
Cinematographer: Ashley Connor
Editor: Sara Shaw
Composer: Julian Wass

“In Between” by Maysaloun Hamoud (2016)

first feature

The various facets of the patriarchal world experienced by three Israeli Palestinian women
“… an actual fatwa was issued against Hamoud—the first against a Palestinian in 70 years—for her depictions of homosexuality, intoxication and drug use. That—combined with no less than Isabelle Huppert declaring the women featured in “In Between” as “heroines of our time” while presenting an award at Cannes last year—is as good a recommendation you can get.” Susan Wloszczyna

Cast: Mouna Hawa, Shaden Kanboura, Sana Jammalieh, Mahmoud Shalaby
Director: Maysaloun Hamoud
Cinematographer: Itay Gross
Editor: Nili Feller, Lev Goltser
Composer: M.G. Saad

“Oscar And Lucinda” by Gillian Armstrong (1997)

7 Wednesdays with Gillian Armstrong (5)

Confusing script lacking the strict focus of Armstrong’s preceding movies
A very symbolic ending / Music at times too grandiloquent

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh, Clive Russell
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
Writers: Peter Carey (novel), Laura Jones
Music by Thomas Newman
Cinematography by Geoffrey Simpson
Film Editing by Nicholas Beauman

“The Last Days Of Chez Nous” by Gillian Armstrong (1992)

7 Wednesdays with Gillian Armstrong (3)

Intricate love relationships between a man and a woman as a couple, between two sisters, between a daughter and her father, between a teenager during her first kiss… Many facets, few certitudes…
A very dynamic direction with a Godard touch … and a subtle sense of humor!
““The Last Days of Chez Nous” is a drama, and so none of the characters play their expected parts, and what we get is astonishing: movie characters who think for themselves.” [Roger Ebert]

Cast: Lisa Harrow, Bruno Ganz, Kerry Fox
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
Writer: Helen Garner
Music by Paul Grabowsky
Cinematography by Geoffrey Simpson
Film Editing by Nicholas Beauman

“Mrs. Soffel” by Gillian Armstrong (1984)

7 Wednesdays with Gillian Armstrong (2)

As in her preceding movie, a woman acts according to her convictions, which leads her to sacrifice everything
Many scenes possess a mysterious appeal / Armstrong uses surprising angles and unexpected approaches to engage the viewer into discovering the scene’s purpose / Reminds me often of Orson Welles

Cast: Diane Keaton, Mel Gibson, Matthew Modine
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Writer: Ron Nyswaner
Music by Mark Isham
Cinematography by Russell Boyd
Film Editing by Nicholas Beauman

“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

“To Each, Her Own” by Myriam Aziza (2018)

second feature

A Jewish lesbian falls for a Muslim Black
Performances lack cohesion but message is welcome

Cast: Sarah Stern, Jean-Christophe Folly, Julia Piaton
Director: Myriam Aziza
Writers: Myriam Aziza, Denyse Rodriguez-Tomé
Music by Martin Rappeneau
Cinematography by Benoît Chamaillard
Film Editing by Vincent Zuffranieri

“Where Do We Go Now?” by Nadine Labaki (Lebanon, 2011)

Non-U.S. female directors

In a war-torn country divided along religious lines, the Christian and Muslim women of a small Lebanese village work together to stop their men’s fighting.
Intelligence and humor, comedy and drama, clear message

Cast: Nadine Labaki, Leyla Hakim, Yvonne Maalouf, Antoinette Noufaily
Directed by Nadine Labaki
Written by Thomas Bidegain, Nadine Labaki
Music by Khaled Mouzanar
Cinematography by Christophe Offenstein
Film Editing by Véronique Lange

“Novitiate” by Maggie Betts (USA, 2017)

A somewhat stereotyped nun story with vocational doubts and hierarchical abuse, enriched with an intricate historical perspective

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Morgan Saylor, Liana Liberato, Denis O’Hare
Director: Maggie Betts
Writer: Maggie Betts
Cinematographer: Kat Westergaard
Editor: Susan E. Morse
Composer: Christopher Stark

“When Night Is Falling” by Patricia Rozema (Canada, 1995)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

The passion a woman feels for another woman makes her abandon all her moral certitudes / Some weaknesses in the script / Excellent camera work on bodies and movement

Cast: Pascale Bussières, Rachael Crawford, Henry Czerny
Director: Patricia Rozema
Writer: Patricia Rozema
Music by Lesley Barber
Cinematography by Douglas Koch
Film Editing by Susan Shipton

“Elena Undone” by Nicole Conn (USA, 2010)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

Predictable but very real, with good love scenes / Shunned by critics

Cast: Necar Zadegan, Traci Dinwiddie, Gary Weeks
Director: Nicole Conn
Writer: Nicole Conn
Music by Mark Chait
Cinematography by Tal Lazar
Film Editing by Nicole Conn, Brian Wessel

“I Can’t Think Straight” by Shamim Sarif (UK, 2008)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

Less audacious than her preceding movie, but better acting, a more confident direction, and a nice touch of humor

Cast: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Antonia Frering
Director: Shamim Sarif
Writers: Shamim Sarif, Kelly Moss
Music by Raiomond Mirza
Cinematography by Aseem Bajaj
Film Editing by David Martin

“Buster’s Mal Heart” by Sarah Adina Smith (USA, 2017)

A typical piece of Americana with doomsayers, prophets, and believers of all kind at every corner. However, not sure what the story is all about, with its narrative marred in mysteries that lead nowhere

Cast: Rami Malek, Dj Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Toby Huss, Lin Shaye, Mark Kelly
Director: Sarah Adina Smith
Writer: Sarah Adina Smith
Cinematographer: Shaheen Seth
Editor: Sarah Adina Smith

 

“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

“Yes” by Sally Potter (UK, 2004)

The Work of Sally Potter

Excellent opening! Poetical dialogues in lambic pentameter sounding “like prose that has been given the elegance and discipline of formal structure” (Roger Ebert) Very elaborated images structured around perspective lines
When all is said and done, it’s the cleaning lady that possesses the meaning of the universe 🙂

Cast: Joan Allen, Simon Abkarian, Sam Neill, Shirley Henderson, Sheila Hancock, Samantha Bond, Stephanie Leonidas, Gary Lewis
Written and directed by Sally Potter
Music by Sally Potter
Cinematography by Aleksei Rodionov
Film Editing by Daniel Goddard

“Ginger And Rosa” by Sally Potter (UK, 2012)

-The Work of Sally Potter

Set during the Cold War in the nascent post-war world of feminism and youth activism / Another facet of the influence of a strong fatherly figure on a young girl (see also The Man Who Cried (2000)) 

Cast: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Alessandro Nivola, Annette Bening, Timothy Spall
Written and directed by Sally Potter
Cinematography by Robbie Ryan
Film Editing by Anders Refn

“Linha De Passe” by Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas (Brazil, 2008)

Working in pair: man + woman directing

Social drama set in Brazil showing how football and religion as a source of hope ultimately prevent the poor from escaping their condition

Cast: Sandra Corveloni, João Baldasserini, Vinícius de Oliveira
Directors: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas
Writers: George Moura, Daniela Thomas
Music by Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography by Mauro Pinheiro Jr.
Film Editing by Gustavo Giani, Lívia Serpa

“The Innocents” by Anne Fontaine (France, 2016)

Compelling story, sober but powerful images

Cast: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza, Vincent Macaigne
Director: Anne Fontaine
Writer (based on an original concept by) Philippe Maynial
Writer (adaptation): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer (dialogue): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer: Alice Vial, Sabrina B. Karine
Cinematographer: Caroline Champetier
Editor: Annette Dutertre
Composer: Grégoire Hetzel

“When Night Is Falling” by Patricia Rozema (Canada, 1995) (2)

The passion a woman feels for another woman makes her abandon all her moral certitudes.
Some weaknesses in the script / Excellent camera work on bodies and movement, when she and he make love (lights on the wall), followed by the two women making love, beautifully underscored by two female trapezists exercising.

Cast: Pascale Bussières, Rachael Crawford, Henry Czerny
Director: Patricia Rozema
Writer: Patricia Rozema
Music by Lesley Barber
Cinematography by Douglas Koch
Film Editing by Susan Shipton

“The Innocents” by Anne Fontaine (France, 2016) second viewing

See also the first viewing

Cast: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza, Vincent Macaigne
Director: Anne Fontaine
Writer (based on an original concept by) Philippe Maynial
Writer (adaptation): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer (dialogue): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer: Alice Vial, Sabrina B. Karine
Cinematographer: Caroline Champetier
Editor: Annette Dutertre
Composer: Grégoire Hetzel

“The Art Of Loving Story Of Michalina Wislocka” (Maria Sadowska, Poland 2017)

To be watched twice (at least)!

Actors: Karolina Gruszka, Magdalena Boczarska,Justyna Wasilewska
Director: Maria Sadowska
Writer: Krzysztof Rak
Music: Radzimir Debski
Cinematography: Michal Sobocinski
Editing: Jaroslaw Kaminski

“Love Like Poison” by Katell Guillévéré (France, 2010)

A 14-year old girl tries to deal with the conflict created by her nascent sexual desire and her faith. The significant others in her life are clearly divided into two groups. The non-believers are all male (father, grandpa, boyfriend) and all clearly express their desires. The believers on the other hand (the mother, the girl, and the priest) all have to repress their desires in order to comply with the dogma imposed by their religion.
Incongruous music

Actors: Clara Augarde, Lio, Michel Galabru
Director: Katell Quillévéré
Writers: Mariette Désert (collaboration), Katell Quillévéré
Music: Olivier Mellano
Cinematography: Tom Harari
Editing: Thomas Marchand

“Miracles From Heaven” (Patricia Riggen, USA 2016)

A tearjerker/feel good movie. It’s a pity its message is not more universal, its main ingredient, faith, being considered to be a monopoly of the church.

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Brighton Sharbino, Courtney Fansler, Queen Latifah, Eugenio Derbez, Kelly Collins Lintz, John Carroll Lynch
Director: Patricia Riggen
Writer (book): Christy Beam
Writer: Randy Brown
Cinematographer: Checco Varese
Editor: Emma E. Hickox
Composer: Carlo Siliotto

“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

“Songcatcher” (Maggie Greenwald, USA 2001)

 

Cast: Janet McTeer, Aidan Quinn, Emmy Rossum, Pat Carroll, Jane Adams
Written and Directed: Maggie Greenwald
Music: David Mansfield
Cinematography: Enrique Chediak
Editing: Keith Reamer

“The Innocents” (Anne Fontaine, France 2016)

Director: Anne Fontaine
Writers: Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine, Sabrina B. Karine, Philippe Maynial, Alice Vial
Actors: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza

Compelling story, sober but powerful images