The Horde
is a horror film made in France and it is one of my favorites. In a nut shell
the zombie apocalypse has hit and a group of cops and group of gangsters are
trapped in a building together. They have to put aside their distrust and hate
for each other in order to survive and find a way out. Granted their distrust
of each other fuels a few instance situations and not everyone dies because of
zombies. There are some bloody scenes but it’s the interaction with the
characters that make this film.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Princess Mononoke
The Serpent's Egg
Metropolis
For a silent film I thought it did a very good job of keeping your attention by using the right music. It had a very futuristic approach to it and I still cannot believe it was filmed in 1927. The actors had awesome coordination moving in unison during the shift change. Its a good thing a restored copy of this movie will be able to survive history forever!
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Kind of weird movie at times, however I'm glad we had the opportunity to watch this in the auditorium. The message I was able to take from this movie is just how important family is no matter how rich or how much you have. Probably the most impressive thing about this film was the fact it was developed with such a low budget of 1.8 million dollars!
13 Assasins
I thought this movie was awesome! A lot of Samurai movies are boring and mild. The Rating of R made this movie able to be graphic and show awesome battle scenes especially for the last half hour of the movie. Reminded me of the movie '300' a little bit. Anyone else get that feeling?
Rare Exports
Rare
exports is a movie that was from Sweden about the secret behind Santa Claus. It
is about a group of people living on a mountain and the mystery behind the
excavation less then a couple miles from their homes. After the digging is
done, weird things start happening around the town. All the reindeer
mysteriously start dying. Children start disappearing as well. When one of
these elves is caught in a trap, and information from the children who explored
the excavation, the town slowly understands what is going on. A plan is created
to trap the elves and blow up Santa in order to get the town back to normal.
The house that Santa is in is blown up and the elves are then destroyed. I like
this film because while it is fantasy, I think that it’s a message for kids to
behave. Showing Santa able to hear children and immediately face consequences for
their actions made them think twice even about cursing to their friends. This
movie while fantasy, I enjoyed a lot and was definitely one of my favorites
from the class. One thing pointed out that I didn’t understand was that it was
all men. Doing some research on this question, I was unable to find anything at
all and have determined it was probably a fluke with this film. I would like to
explore some other movies from this country and see if there is any relevance
with only men being shown on the screen.
Hiss
Hiss is both a bad horror film and an amazing special effects film. The
story is off a sick and crazy American who is dying of cancer and hears a tale
that if you take the mate of the Naga that she will grant that person a wish if
they return her mate unharmed. George, the crazy American, captures the Naga’s
mate and waits for her to find him to grant his wish. While the Naga searches
for her mate she causes all sorts of destruction and commits many murders
against men who abuse women. With the help of a police officer the Naga finds
her mate and murders George.
Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) - 2010
This is a beautiful film that shows how four different people, from four different castes' lives are intertwined. There are some cringe worthy moments from an American point of view. One character is so enamored with another that she stalks him and takes pictures of him from afar, all in the name of "love".
It is a pretty slow paced film but at 1hr and 42 minutes it doesn't seem that long since you're following 4 different lives that flick back and forth. Also there is a dark surprise a the end which can really pull at your heart strings.
It is a pretty slow paced film but at 1hr and 42 minutes it doesn't seem that long since you're following 4 different lives that flick back and forth. Also there is a dark surprise a the end which can really pull at your heart strings.
Bachna Ae Haseeno
Bachna Ae Haseeno - 2008
Drama / Romance
Bachna Ae Haseeno follows Raj through three periods of his life where he meets three different women. Jumping from one love affair to the next until finally falling in love and realizing the wrong he did to the previous two women.
The first woman was Mahi whom he met in 1996. Raj played off of Mahi’s desire to meet her true love and used to her to prove to his friends he was a “killer”. Mahi’s heart was broken and Raj disappeared out of her life.
The second woman was Radhika whom he met in 2002. Radhika was his next door neighbor turned live in girlfriend. Raj gets a job promotion to Australia and instead of telling Radhika he wants to end their relationship and move, he lies about other things and purposely puts a strain on their relationship. Raj lets it get the point where he and Radhika are to be married and he leaves her standing at the courthouse in her wedding gown while he whisks away to Australia to live the bachelor life.
The third woman Raj meets is Gayatri. Gayatri is a taxi driver and store clerk working to put herself through business school. Her attitude is very much like Raj’s and as Raj gets to know her more he falls in love with her. Raj asks Gayatri to marry him and she refuses. Raj is left broken hearted and suddenly realizes how badly he must have hurt Mahi and Radhika. Unable to live with this new knowledge and sudden guilt Raj decides to set the records straight and apologize to Mahi and Radhika, asking for their forgiveness.
Raj finally locates Mahi and finds out that she is married with two children but not all is well in her married. Her husband accosts Raj and blames him for ruining Mahi’s belief in love and romance. Mahi has turned cold and dutiful since Raj hurt her and hasn’t truly love since. Raj realizes that Mahi’s husband, Joginder, is the love she’s been looking for her whole life and decides to try and fix it. Raj corner’s Mahi at her sister’s wedding and apologizes to her, he then tells her about her husband and that she must not lose the true love that she has in front of her. After a typical bollywood song and dance number, Mahi shoes her husband that she truly loves him and forgives Raj.
Raj then searches for Radhika who has become a famous model/actress/singer and changed her name to Shreya. Raj begs Shreya for forgiveness and she refuses to give it to him. Instead she tells him that he must work for her forgiveness and makes him her PA. Shreya works Raj constantly and tries to humiliate him at every turn. Raj takes the abuse knowing that he deserves it. One night Shreya can’t stand it and tells Raj how hurt and worthless she felt the day he left her on the wedding steps. Shreya refuses to forgive Raj and sends him away. While at the airport waiting for his flight Raj sees Shreya sitting next to him. She explains that she realized the root of all her problems stemmed from her pent up hatred of Raj and once she let that go she felt like Radhika again. Radhika forgives Raj and goes on to live a happier life.
Raj returns home to find dozens of notes slipped under his door. All the notes are from Gayatri telling him that she does love him and was foolish. Raj has been gone for six months and desperately searches for Gayatri to tell her that he still loves her. Raj finds Gayatri, they fight, they make up, they live happily ever after. All in all, a typical bollywood romance.
Drama / Romance
Bachna Ae Haseeno follows Raj through three periods of his life where he meets three different women. Jumping from one love affair to the next until finally falling in love and realizing the wrong he did to the previous two women.
The first woman was Mahi whom he met in 1996. Raj played off of Mahi’s desire to meet her true love and used to her to prove to his friends he was a “killer”. Mahi’s heart was broken and Raj disappeared out of her life.
The second woman was Radhika whom he met in 2002. Radhika was his next door neighbor turned live in girlfriend. Raj gets a job promotion to Australia and instead of telling Radhika he wants to end their relationship and move, he lies about other things and purposely puts a strain on their relationship. Raj lets it get the point where he and Radhika are to be married and he leaves her standing at the courthouse in her wedding gown while he whisks away to Australia to live the bachelor life.
The third woman Raj meets is Gayatri. Gayatri is a taxi driver and store clerk working to put herself through business school. Her attitude is very much like Raj’s and as Raj gets to know her more he falls in love with her. Raj asks Gayatri to marry him and she refuses. Raj is left broken hearted and suddenly realizes how badly he must have hurt Mahi and Radhika. Unable to live with this new knowledge and sudden guilt Raj decides to set the records straight and apologize to Mahi and Radhika, asking for their forgiveness.
Raj finally locates Mahi and finds out that she is married with two children but not all is well in her married. Her husband accosts Raj and blames him for ruining Mahi’s belief in love and romance. Mahi has turned cold and dutiful since Raj hurt her and hasn’t truly love since. Raj realizes that Mahi’s husband, Joginder, is the love she’s been looking for her whole life and decides to try and fix it. Raj corner’s Mahi at her sister’s wedding and apologizes to her, he then tells her about her husband and that she must not lose the true love that she has in front of her. After a typical bollywood song and dance number, Mahi shoes her husband that she truly loves him and forgives Raj.
Raj then searches for Radhika who has become a famous model/actress/singer and changed her name to Shreya. Raj begs Shreya for forgiveness and she refuses to give it to him. Instead she tells him that he must work for her forgiveness and makes him her PA. Shreya works Raj constantly and tries to humiliate him at every turn. Raj takes the abuse knowing that he deserves it. One night Shreya can’t stand it and tells Raj how hurt and worthless she felt the day he left her on the wedding steps. Shreya refuses to forgive Raj and sends him away. While at the airport waiting for his flight Raj sees Shreya sitting next to him. She explains that she realized the root of all her problems stemmed from her pent up hatred of Raj and once she let that go she felt like Radhika again. Radhika forgives Raj and goes on to live a happier life.
Raj returns home to find dozens of notes slipped under his door. All the notes are from Gayatri telling him that she does love him and was foolish. Raj has been gone for six months and desperately searches for Gayatri to tell her that he still loves her. Raj finds Gayatri, they fight, they make up, they live happily ever after. All in all, a typical bollywood romance.
Break Ke Baad
Break Ke Baad - 2010
Drama/Romance/Comedy
This is a very western love story about two kids who grew up together as friends for ten years before dating for another ten. Abhay Gulati is head over heals in love with Aaliya Khan. Abhay’s father wants him to take over the family business of running the theaters and Aaliya wants to be an actress like her mother. In order to achieve her dreams Aaliya will walk over anyone’s emotions and push people away. She applies to a college in Australia without telling her mother or boyfriend, Abhay. When she is accpeted Abhay and Ayesah (her mother) are deeply hurt. Aaliya lashes out at Abhay when he shows concern over the situation and tells him that he’s not even truly happy with the life he has.
Aaliya moves to Australia to live with her aunt and go to school under one condition to her mother, that she not do any acting. This aunt turns out to be very strict and Aaliya leaves and moves in with Cyrus and Nadia. Aaliya joins a school play and breaks her promise to her mother in secret. Abhay tells Aaliya that she should just come clean to her mother, Aaliya gets angry and ends up “taking a break” from Abhay for a month. Abhay calls her one night to talk and Aaliya is in the middle of a party, they fight, she throws the phone down and a young man who has been trying to woo her picks up the phone and tells Abhay to get in line. Aaliya wakes up in bed the next morning with the young man, she is clothed and so is he but she’s still upset. She starts fighting with him and the roomates join in when Abhay comes out of nowhere and starts beating on the young man. Aaliya gets made at Abhay and officially breaks up with him. Abhay refuses to accept that it’s over and rents out a room in the same house as Aaliya. Abhay starts taking up odd jobs to make money when he discovers his true talent and passion are cooking. Abhay opens up his own food stand and eventually goes into business with Nadia and Cyrus.
Aaliya gets noticed in her place and is offered an acting contract which she signs without telling anyone. Abhay keeps trying to win Aaliya back and she finally starts to be friendly with him again. Abhay takes this as a sign that they’re back together again and Aaliya just uses Abhay to help her emotionally. Aaliya graduates and her mother comes to see her. The mother finds out about the acting contract and gets upset and leaves Australia early, Abhay realizes that Aaliya has just been using him and refuses to speak to her as well. They split up and go their separate ways.
Abhay, Cyrus and Nadia open up 2.5 restaurants and are doing well. Aaliya is starting in major films and is also doing well. Both characters have matured and grown into their own, even though Abhay still hasn’t moved on from Aaliya. Aaliya visits Abhay and they make up, she tells him to just get married already because he’s the marrying type. Abhay goes home to visit his family and makes a call to Cyrus to tell him that he’s getting married. Cyrus tells Nadia and Aaliya that Abhay is getting married and Aaliya becomes upset that Abhay didn’t even call her.
Aaliya realizes that she loves Abhay and doesn’t want him to marry anyone else but her. She get Cyrus and Nadia to come with her to India to try and stop the wedding. Upon arriving at Abhay’s house she finds Abhay and pours her heart out to him and asks him if there’s still a chance for him to choose who he wants to marry and he should choose her. Abhay tells her to look inside the wedding invites and it has Aaliya listed as the bride. Abhay and Aaliya end up getting married and living their lives happily.
Drama/Romance/Comedy
Aaliya moves to Australia to live with her aunt and go to school under one condition to her mother, that she not do any acting. This aunt turns out to be very strict and Aaliya leaves and moves in with Cyrus and Nadia. Aaliya joins a school play and breaks her promise to her mother in secret. Abhay tells Aaliya that she should just come clean to her mother, Aaliya gets angry and ends up “taking a break” from Abhay for a month. Abhay calls her one night to talk and Aaliya is in the middle of a party, they fight, she throws the phone down and a young man who has been trying to woo her picks up the phone and tells Abhay to get in line. Aaliya wakes up in bed the next morning with the young man, she is clothed and so is he but she’s still upset. She starts fighting with him and the roomates join in when Abhay comes out of nowhere and starts beating on the young man. Aaliya gets made at Abhay and officially breaks up with him. Abhay refuses to accept that it’s over and rents out a room in the same house as Aaliya. Abhay starts taking up odd jobs to make money when he discovers his true talent and passion are cooking. Abhay opens up his own food stand and eventually goes into business with Nadia and Cyrus.
Aaliya gets noticed in her place and is offered an acting contract which she signs without telling anyone. Abhay keeps trying to win Aaliya back and she finally starts to be friendly with him again. Abhay takes this as a sign that they’re back together again and Aaliya just uses Abhay to help her emotionally. Aaliya graduates and her mother comes to see her. The mother finds out about the acting contract and gets upset and leaves Australia early, Abhay realizes that Aaliya has just been using him and refuses to speak to her as well. They split up and go their separate ways.
Abhay, Cyrus and Nadia open up 2.5 restaurants and are doing well. Aaliya is starting in major films and is also doing well. Both characters have matured and grown into their own, even though Abhay still hasn’t moved on from Aaliya. Aaliya visits Abhay and they make up, she tells him to just get married already because he’s the marrying type. Abhay goes home to visit his family and makes a call to Cyrus to tell him that he’s getting married. Cyrus tells Nadia and Aaliya that Abhay is getting married and Aaliya becomes upset that Abhay didn’t even call her.
Aaliya realizes that she loves Abhay and doesn’t want him to marry anyone else but her. She get Cyrus and Nadia to come with her to India to try and stop the wedding. Upon arriving at Abhay’s house she finds Abhay and pours her heart out to him and asks him if there’s still a chance for him to choose who he wants to marry and he should choose her. Abhay tells her to look inside the wedding invites and it has Aaliya listed as the bride. Abhay and Aaliya end up getting married and living their lives happily.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Lockout
| Whoo Hoo! This ones is in English. It was nice to take a break from reading subtitles. |
Directed by James Mather, Stephen St. Leger. Released 4/2012. From France in English.
Hour of the Wolf
1968 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman
Someone mentioned in class this movie reminded them of Salvador Dali. I agree. At the beginning of the movie you can hear the director giving orders.The movie is bases on someones life a diary. When I first started watching it I thought it was a documentary The director in the background seemed to give the story more merit like it was real. It was a good movie and I am very surprised he did not kill his girlfriend.
Abel
Release date: April 25th 2011
Certificate (UK): 15
Running time: 79 minutes
Certificate (UK): 15
Running time: 79 minutes
Original language: Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Diego Luna
Let the right one in
I loved this movie. This was a unique vampire movie. I was pleasantly surprised that the main characters were children. We talked some in class about Eli not really being a female. I did not pick up on that part. I believe she says she is not a girl meaning she is a vampire. It was a nice love story and one of my favorites this semester.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Let the Right One in
This movie was a not what I excepted at all, as I have never seem a vampire movie where a child was the vampire. Once going over this in class it made a little more sense as the vampire was looking for someone to replace to replace her current dad as he was getting old and sloppy in killing people. It found the young boy that did not have anyone that really cared for him and he fell in love with it.
La vita è bella
This movie is set during the German ocuppation of Italy. The main caracter uses his imagination, and happy demeanor to capture the love of the girl of his dreams, and finally to protect his son during their emprisonment in a German concentration camp. A comedy, love story, and drama all in one film. This powerful movie will keep you glued to the screen. Laughs, love and tears all in one! Gifted actors keep the interest in the sotry until the better sweet ending. A must see!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Code Unknown
This is a French film (2000) written and directed by Michael Haneke.




The film features several different storylines, most of
which is in Paris. Where the fates of several characters intersect and connect
periodically throughout the film. Cinematically, the film is composed of
unedited long takes filmed in real time, cut only when the perspective within a
scene changes from one character's to another in mid-action. When watching this
film I paid less attention to the subtitles and just really watched the movie.
It was amazing to see how this guy stood up for a lady and where his story and
the rest of the story take these people’s lives. This reminded me of a couple
movies I watched recently for this class, Fallen Angels and Amores Perros. All
these movies had intertwined storylines.
Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch)
This movie is in Spanish it was released in 2000. This
was a great movie. There was a lot of action and drama. It was about three stories
which are connected by a car accident in Mexico City.
Amores Perros is sometimes referred to
the “Mexican Pulp Fiction” Each of the three tales is also a reflection on the
cruelty of humans toward animals and each other, showing how they may live dark
or even hideous lives. An unusual fact I read about is the production was in
danger of filming in the poorer sections of Mexico City. The director and some
of the crew were actually robbed by street gangs. Ultimately, the gang members
became friends with them and protected them while they were in the streets. This movie showed some gruesome dog fighting
scenes. I was glad to read later on that no dogs were hurt making the movie.
This movie shed some light on the underground dog fighting world.
Fallen Angels
Fallen Angels is a 1995 Hong Kong movie written and directed by Wong Kar-Wai , starring Leon Lai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Reis, Charlie Yeung and Karen Mok. I believe the move was in Cantonese and or Mandarin with Japanese and English subtitles. The movie is composed of two stories that have little to do with each other except for a few casual run-ins where some of the characters happen to be in the same place at the same time. This movie has won many Hong Kong awards. I have seen many movies in the last couple years that follow this same theme , few casual run-ins but not really part of the story or stories that have stories of their own. I would say this movie makes you think because I spent some time wondering what each individual story had to do with the other.
The Spirit Of The Beehive
A film by Victor Erice (1973) Spanish
After watching this movie I did some research to find out this is considered the masterpiece of Spanish cinema. It was made during the last few years of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, and set in 1940, the film subtly criticizes post- civil war Spain. At several points in the film Fernando describes in his writing his revulsion at the mindless activity of the beehive. This is possibly an allusion to human society under Francoism: ordered, organized, but devoid of any imagination (Film Notes-Spirit of the Beehive). The movie is about a young girl and her fascination with Frankenstein. The ending was sad but the movie was very life like.
Onibaba
This is part of the Criterion Collection. Onibaba is Japanese (1964) Black and White. Director Kaneto Shindo's. As far as my out of class viewing this was my favorite. I was sucked in as soon as the movie started. I didn’t even mind the movie was in Japanese or in black or white. It is a about a guy that makes it back home from battle. He has tells to his friends mom and wife that their loved one has passed. The guy and the widow begin a love affair that the mother in law does not want. She starts to secretly torment her daughter in law. The end is great a must see movie.
Stalker
Stalker a Russian Film by Andrei Tarkovsky (1979)
I did not know this was a well know film when I watched it. One of the things I found interesting was the movie started out in black and white and after a while it transitioned into color. That was to my delight as I found myself starting to get bored. The movie was slow at some points long and drawn out. 163 minutes. I would recommend this movie to watch because it is said it has inspired filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg.
I did not know this was a well know film when I watched it. One of the things I found interesting was the movie started out in black and white and after a while it transitioned into color. That was to my delight as I found myself starting to get bored. The movie was slow at some points long and drawn out. 163 minutes. I would recommend this movie to watch because it is said it has inspired filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg.
Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence
This movie was directed by Mamoru Oshii. It was released in 2004 it is a Japanese film. I did not watch the first "Ghost in the Shell" but I was able to follow along in the storyline. This movie was created in the anime/computer animated style. The setting is in 2032 where cyborgs have either taken over or this is a cyborg world. There are not too many humans. The main characters are detectives; one is completely a computer or cyborg. The other one still has some human traits/parts to him. It is amazing to see where computers could take us. There is even a computer dog that eats sleeps shits and kisses his master. The whole point of the movie is to solve the scandal behind some killings that started with computer/cyborg sex dolls. Overall this movie was very imaginative and interesting.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Let The Right One In
Ahhh...who better than the Swedes to mix pre-teen angst, bullying, and vampires all in one film so beautifully. I have to agree with an earlier post by Anita - if you can get past the blood and gore, there is quite a beautiful love story here. I wasn't sure where the movie was going to go, but that is what I liked about it - it kept me on edge. As I am not much of a blood & gore person, it took me quite a while to warm up to this movie, but after the first half, I got used to it. I particularly like how the bullies are handled - karma can be a real bitch. Rather original for a vampire movie.
La vita è bella (Life is Beautiful)
If you have not seen this one yet, I highly recommend it. This is an Italian comedy that tells a great love story. Parts of the movie take place during German's occupation of Italy. After an Italian family is sent to a concentration camp, a father does everything he can to shelter his son from the horrors of reality.
Watch it!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
NowhereinAfrica
I watch NowhereinAfria directed by Caroline Link,
an Oscar winning foreign film.
A family on the run for their lives finds
themselves in a beautiful but utterly unfamiliar world in this drama based on
the autobiographical novel by Stefanie Zweig. Walter is a successful Jewish
lawyer living in Germany during the rise of the Third Reich. Aware of the
increasing dangers of remaining in Germany, Walter seeks exile on a farm in
Kenya, while his socially prominent wife, Jettel, and his young daughter,
Regina, stay behind. In time, as the pogroms against the Jews increase in
Germany, Jettel and Regina join Walter in Kenya, but the transition is not easy
for Walter, who is still learning the nuts and bolts of running the farm (and
discovers that Germans are not welcomed by the British settlers in Kenya), or
Jettel, who is not accustomed to physical labor and resents having to help with
the farming. While Regina at first finds her new surroundings alienating and
unfamiliar, she soon becomes fascinated with the rugged beauty of Kenya.
What a wonderful movie this was. The scenery,
the setting, the music, the characters were amazing. This film captures your
heart in a most amazing way. This is a must see movie.
Monday, December 3, 2012
We Have a Pope (2011) Habemus Papam
Last night I was tired and wanted to watch something that wasn't gory or disgusting, but rather light and comical. I did a search on Netflix and I found this title. We Have a Pope - Habemus Papam, is a fairly recent Italian movie. It's description communicated that the movie would be a comedy about a man voted in as the new Pope, but who did not want to be Pope.
I'm not Catholic, but I was intrigued to watch it because of all the pomp and circumstance Catholic doctrine dictates about selection of Pope as well as the power and influence the Pope supposedly has worldwide. I was even more drawn to watch it because it made me ponder about the reality that some of the past Popes chosen may have never wanted to be strapped with the responsibility, regardless of being "called" by God or not.
The movie starts with the Cardinals arriving to Vatican City for the funeral of the dead Pope and to elect a new Pope. They are locked away in secrecy and begin the process of prayer and voting. We "hear" the silent prayer of our star and a few others praying to God to NOT let it be them that are chosen. However, our star is chosen and he reluctantly acknowledges the position in front of his colleagues He is then taken off to be adorn in the Pope's garb and is expected to great the faithful from the balcony of the Vatican.
Seconds before stepping onto the balcony he suffers a panic attack. He retires to his apartment and a psychoanalyst is called. The psychoanalyst doesn't get anywhere with the Pope's panic issue because the Vatican won't allow him to ask the Pope certain questions. But, since he has seen the Pope, he is not allowed to leave the Vatican for fear he will announce who the Pope is before the man himself greets the world.
Finally, the Pope is dressed in street clothes and is secretly taken out of the Vatican to meet, incognito with another therapist. After the meeting, the Pope tells his escorts he needs to take a walk. They follow a safe distance behind, but when the Pope crosses the street, a large truck separates the Pope from his escorts and the Pope escapes. He is missing for three days before being found.
During the three days, his escorts lie to the conclave that the Pope is in his apartment, praying and reflecting. They have a member of the Swiss Guard stay in the Pope's chambers to turn lights on and off, move the curtains, and eat the food - all for the sake of appearances.
The Pope wanders the streets, scared to death of the responsibility he's been burdened with, yet, he connects with many different people.
Finally, when the Pope's escorts let the cat out of the bag about the Pope not being inside the Vatican, many of the Cardinals and Swiss Guards go to look for him - in his favorite known place - a playhouse. They stroll inside while the play is being conducted and walk around the audience until finally, one of them spots the Pope. All Cardinals and Swiss Guard turn in his direction and the rest of the audience finally understand what is going on and they too, turn towards the Pope, applauding.
Now the identity of the Pope is known. He is driven back to the Vatican and once again adorned in his robes. He takes the balcony, and just when you think he may have come to terms with his fear, he makes the statement that he is not a leader, but one who needs to be led. He cannot take on the position of the Pope. You see the hearts of the Cardinals break, as well as those of all of the Faithful who are standing in front of the balcony. And that is how it ends. We don't know who becomes Pope or if this man was eventually forced to be Pope anyway.
I'm glad I watched the movie. However, while there were a few comical scenes in the movie - such as the entire Cardinal conclave playing tournament volleyball in the inner Vatican courtyard while sealed away until the new Pope revealed himself to the faithful. Or when the freshly elected Pope's therapist suggested he had a "parental deficit". Later, the Pope wanders into a donut shop and is given a fresh donut. The baker asks if it is good and the Pope nods and says yes. Then says to the baker, "I have a parental deficit. I don't know what it is". Even with those comical scenes, I rather find this movie to be very poignant in regards to a man who struggles with facing a tremendous responsibility that he simply does not want and did not ask for, even if that means going against God's will.
I looked online for the donut scene but could not find a short clip of it. I did find this long clip that includes the donut scene as well as a taste of what is going on in the movie.
Nanni Moretti directs the movie and plays the part of the psychoanalyst who ends up being locked up with the Cardinal conclave. Michel Piccoli plays the Pope and does a superb job, I think. You can feel his self torment and struggle with regards to his humanness vs his spirituality.
Scenery was okay. Basically, that isn't what was important to the film anyway. The shots that were of the Vatican were nice. Music was nice, pretty much what you expect to hear in a film such as this - chanting and masses.
Overall, nicely done.
I'm not Catholic, but I was intrigued to watch it because of all the pomp and circumstance Catholic doctrine dictates about selection of Pope as well as the power and influence the Pope supposedly has worldwide. I was even more drawn to watch it because it made me ponder about the reality that some of the past Popes chosen may have never wanted to be strapped with the responsibility, regardless of being "called" by God or not.
The movie starts with the Cardinals arriving to Vatican City for the funeral of the dead Pope and to elect a new Pope. They are locked away in secrecy and begin the process of prayer and voting. We "hear" the silent prayer of our star and a few others praying to God to NOT let it be them that are chosen. However, our star is chosen and he reluctantly acknowledges the position in front of his colleagues He is then taken off to be adorn in the Pope's garb and is expected to great the faithful from the balcony of the Vatican.
Seconds before stepping onto the balcony he suffers a panic attack. He retires to his apartment and a psychoanalyst is called. The psychoanalyst doesn't get anywhere with the Pope's panic issue because the Vatican won't allow him to ask the Pope certain questions. But, since he has seen the Pope, he is not allowed to leave the Vatican for fear he will announce who the Pope is before the man himself greets the world.
Finally, the Pope is dressed in street clothes and is secretly taken out of the Vatican to meet, incognito with another therapist. After the meeting, the Pope tells his escorts he needs to take a walk. They follow a safe distance behind, but when the Pope crosses the street, a large truck separates the Pope from his escorts and the Pope escapes. He is missing for three days before being found.
During the three days, his escorts lie to the conclave that the Pope is in his apartment, praying and reflecting. They have a member of the Swiss Guard stay in the Pope's chambers to turn lights on and off, move the curtains, and eat the food - all for the sake of appearances.
The Pope wanders the streets, scared to death of the responsibility he's been burdened with, yet, he connects with many different people.
Finally, when the Pope's escorts let the cat out of the bag about the Pope not being inside the Vatican, many of the Cardinals and Swiss Guards go to look for him - in his favorite known place - a playhouse. They stroll inside while the play is being conducted and walk around the audience until finally, one of them spots the Pope. All Cardinals and Swiss Guard turn in his direction and the rest of the audience finally understand what is going on and they too, turn towards the Pope, applauding.
Now the identity of the Pope is known. He is driven back to the Vatican and once again adorned in his robes. He takes the balcony, and just when you think he may have come to terms with his fear, he makes the statement that he is not a leader, but one who needs to be led. He cannot take on the position of the Pope. You see the hearts of the Cardinals break, as well as those of all of the Faithful who are standing in front of the balcony. And that is how it ends. We don't know who becomes Pope or if this man was eventually forced to be Pope anyway.
I'm glad I watched the movie. However, while there were a few comical scenes in the movie - such as the entire Cardinal conclave playing tournament volleyball in the inner Vatican courtyard while sealed away until the new Pope revealed himself to the faithful. Or when the freshly elected Pope's therapist suggested he had a "parental deficit". Later, the Pope wanders into a donut shop and is given a fresh donut. The baker asks if it is good and the Pope nods and says yes. Then says to the baker, "I have a parental deficit. I don't know what it is". Even with those comical scenes, I rather find this movie to be very poignant in regards to a man who struggles with facing a tremendous responsibility that he simply does not want and did not ask for, even if that means going against God's will.
I looked online for the donut scene but could not find a short clip of it. I did find this long clip that includes the donut scene as well as a taste of what is going on in the movie.
Nanni Moretti directs the movie and plays the part of the psychoanalyst who ends up being locked up with the Cardinal conclave. Michel Piccoli plays the Pope and does a superb job, I think. You can feel his self torment and struggle with regards to his humanness vs his spirituality.
Scenery was okay. Basically, that isn't what was important to the film anyway. The shots that were of the Vatican were nice. Music was nice, pretty much what you expect to hear in a film such as this - chanting and masses.
Overall, nicely done.
TAKE HOME EXAM - FINAL
The final take home exam consists of three topics.
1. Discuss one of the listed directors and how
their work influenced their own national cinema as well as world cinema. Also comment on common styles and themes in
their work. Please watch at least one film that was NOT part of our class viewings
or assignments. Some of these
directors were not covered in our viewings.
Watching two films for any of these is recommended. You may use any of these viewings or any of
the class assignments for the following question.
2. Give a detailed analysis of one of the films you
have watched for this class. How does it
fit into any cinematic or national trend or movement? How does it reflect the work of its director
in style, theme and artistic development?
3. Select a topic from the “movement, genres &
styles” section and discuss its definition, background, development, major
proponents, film examples and influence on world cinema.
Length: At least one full
double-spaced page per question. In
giving a solid and detailed answer, you may be as lengthy as you wish. Facts are expected, ideas are encouraged.
The following items are all subjects you can use for the
take home final exam. It is due in hard
copy form on the final day of class along with your research paper (also in
hard copy).
You may select alternate titles (other than those below) for
the listed directors. Hulu.com has many
additional films by these directors.
Films from class and assignments
·
The Host
·
The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari
·
Metropolis
·
Bicycle Thieves
·
A Woman is a Woman
·
The Last Circus
·
Pan’s Labyrinth
·
13 Assassins
·
Rare Exports
·
Let the Right One In
Supplementary viewing on Netflix
·
Ran
·
Un Chien Andalou
·
Hour of the Wolf
·
Nosferatu (silent)
·
Faust (silent)
·
8 ½
Supplementary viewing on Amazon
·
The Seventh Seal
·
Wild Strawberries
·
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
·
Cet Obscur Objet du Desir
·
The Seven Samurai
·
Yojimbo
·
M (dir. Lang)
·
La Dolce Vita
·
Nights of Cabiria
·
Shoeshine
·
Breathless
·
Alphaville
Movements, genres & styles
·
German Expressionism
·
Surrealism
·
Italian Neo-Realism
·
French New Wave
·
Films of the Fantastic
Directors
·
Akira Kurosawa
·
Ingmar Bergman
·
Luis Bunuel
·
Jean Luc Godard
·
Vittorio De Sica
·
Federico Fellini
·
Fritz Lang
·
F.W. Murnau
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