"Claustrophobia in nature caused by war" was the theme of the day in Venice. Not surprisingly, it also caused the most walkouts I’ve seen thus far. First up was Amos Gitai’s “Tsili,” set in a Ukraine forest during the last days of WWII. The prolonged solo dance by the film’s lead over the credits kind of forecasted something different, and Gitai didn’t really disappoint in that regard. A young Jewish woman, Tsili, having avoided or escaped from a concentration camp, is living in the woods. She’s played by two very different looking actresses, Sara Adler and Meshi Olinski, and voiced by a third, Leah Koenig. Not a lot happens: she forages for berries and nesting materials. We watch her do this in very long, static takes. I don’t know why, but we do. In the background, the sounds of warfare are constant, loud. Eventually,...
- 9/3/2014
- by Tom Christie
- Thompson on Hollywood
One of the few films in competition at Venice this year that dares to be different, Shinya Tsukamoto’s Nobi is a serious contender for the big prize. Whereas films such as Amos Gitai’s Tsili (out of competition) bear much in relation to experimental theatre, Tsukamoto’s movie is pure cinema.
That he is also the producer, cinematographer, writer and lead actor makes the film even more remarkable.
Nobi is set in the Philippines in the final stage of WWII; the depleted Japanese army is on its way home, but getting there is no easy task. Tamura (Tsukamoto) is suffering from TB. Of no use to his commanding officer, he’s packed off the to the field hospital, where he sees the writhing mass of the wounded left out in the open to die. The doctor has no time for him and he is sent back to his base.
That he is also the producer, cinematographer, writer and lead actor makes the film even more remarkable.
Nobi is set in the Philippines in the final stage of WWII; the depleted Japanese army is on its way home, but getting there is no easy task. Tamura (Tsukamoto) is suffering from TB. Of no use to his commanding officer, he’s packed off the to the field hospital, where he sees the writhing mass of the wounded left out in the open to die. The doctor has no time for him and he is sent back to his base.
- 9/2/2014
- by Jo-Ann Titmarsh
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Once again the publicist/ producer Richard Lormand has made his picks for the Venice Film Festival. His choices invariably are top-notch and his notes on the films show a deep love for his work. I always gravitate toward his films, as I often gravitate toward others’, both publicists and critics, whom I know to be the best. Why? Because we tend to like the same films.
By Richard Lormand
Greetings Venice-bound (or not) Film Lovers!
Here’s what’s going on with us at this year’s Mostra del Cinema on the Venice Lido…
"Dearest"(Qui’ Ai De) is a powerhouse of emotion. The ensemble cast represents some of China’s finest acting talents – leading actresses Zhao Wei and Hao Lei and actors Huang Bo, Tong Dawei and Zhang Yi all give knockout performances. Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan has made such an intriguing film from newspaper headlines – children gone missing, searching for them, dealing with the loss and sometimes dealing with finding them again. These incidents might not be new, but "Dearest" fascinated me because of thevery original and respectful treatment of this material by its astute writer-director. I really didn’t know where I was being taken. But I liked each new path in this heartbreaking journey of a movie. I felt every one of this film’s thousands of carefully constructed emotional moments. And Zhao Wei’s performance as the foster mother:wow!
"Ich Seh Ich Seh" ("Goodnight Mommy") is a real discovery. It’s clever, playful and it’s really good filmmaking. It’s horror, it’s European art house, it’s Austrian. And produced by bad boy director himself Ulrich Seidl. And it’s a first feature co-directed by sort of an odd pairing – not really related, not a romantic couple. But Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala definitely got something going (talent, intelligence and a passion for cinema) with their mix because the results are all over the screen. I won’t pitch you the horror scenes, but they are real fun and mean like they should be. But what really struck me about this film is that it is so amazingly gorgeous. Such a consistent impeccable taste in all that is beautiful, even the ugly. Oh, the cornfields, the forest. Mom’s bruised and bandaged face and head. Those mischievous twin boys. (By the way, “Ich Seh” is the child’s game “I Spy.” "Ich Seh Ich Seh" because of the twin boys. "Goodnight Mommy" because… Well, you’ll see.)
"The Cut" is Fatih Akin’s much anticipated new feature. It was destined to be controversial in some way or another because of the material, Fatih himself, so many possible reasons. And here it is finally. It’s without a doubt an epic – a big topic, big crowd scenes, wide open spaces, world travels. But "The Cut" is a very intimate epic about a man alone. A man who cheats the Armenian genocide, but sometimes survival is simply not enough. He will only live again through the search for his twin daughters. I admire how Fatih Akin courageously focused on the human side – the blood, sweat and tears - of this potent political subject matter. Fatih’s hero is Nazaret, a sort of Armenian “Everyman”, incarnated by Tahar Rahim whose face tells so many stories without words. Equally remarkable are "The Cut’s" production values. I was especially moved by the haunting beauty of the Armenian shanty town, backdrop for one of Fatih’s boldest scenes, one of many. Still flashing in my mind’s eye: Nazaret watching Chaplin on screen is such a fine Fatih Akin moment of cinema. And the title reference scene in the desert is Fatih Akin intensity like no one else’s.
"Altman" is such an enjoyable and informative documentary about the career of late great Robert Altman. I was very surprised. I see a lot of short, medium and feature-length films about directors, and sadly, I am usually disappointed by something. But Ron Mann’s "Altman" satisfied my bio-doc needs: strong linear structure, interesting archival footage, good interviews and narration and no abuse of movie excerpts. "Altman" actually relies on its own solid research and editorial savvy to remain captivating for 95 minutes. Altman’s wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, served as a consultant on the production and her intermittent narration add both credibility and heart to the film. Not only did I learn some things about Robert Altman, the film made me feel like I even got to know him a bit personally. And it’s a great feeling to think about his films: "Mash," "Short Cuts", "Nashville" "The Player"… "Altman" actually made me want to go back and see all of his movies again. Now that’s what I call an homage to a filmmaker.
"Tsili" is Amos Gitai’s latest exploration of cinematographic language, another manifestation of his passion for cinema. Inspired by an Aharon Appelfield novel in Yiddish, "Tsili" is one of the rare instances when Yiddish is heard in a movie. Young Jewish woman Tsili, hiding out in a Central European forest with the sounds of WWII not so far away, is actually played by three different women in Gitai’s film. Once again, actress Sarah Adler ("Jellyfish" proves that she’s got one of the most beguiling screen presences around today. I loved the visual and emotional treatment of Tsili’s nest. For such sad and lonely subject matter, "Tsili" actually feels quite celebratory. A celebration of life and cinema. "Tsili" is another fine example that Amos Gitai is both an innovator who breaks the rules and a fierce defender of the traditions of pure cinema. He has played not only an essential role in Israeli cinema history, but also in European and international cinema.
"Bypass" is UK writer-director Duane Hopkins’ second film. He previously made the acclaimed "Better Things" (Cannes 2008 – Critics Week). Similarly in "Bypass," this young filmmaker continues to show a real talent for balancing bleakness and hope. I was particularly struck by the aesthetics of "Bypass," as I’m quite sure you will be too. "Bypass" is simply gorgeous to look at. It’s a true example of artistry applied to film. But Duane doesn’t sacrifice his love of the characters for the sake of the film’s beauty. Everything is centered around the outstanding leading performance by George MacKay as troubled Tim who works part-time as a criminal to keep his family afloat. MacKay’s Tim is calmly tense and fascinating to watch. As Tim’s situation becomes more dangerous, Duane shows a knack for crime genre. But just as important – perhaps even more – is Tim’s love for Lilly. It’s as if lovely actress Charlotte Spencer actually incarnated love and hope on the screen.
Quick note: I return to the Toronto Film Festival this year with four films: Christian Petzold’s "Phoenix", Ole Christian Madsen’s "Itsi Bitsi," Bent Hamer’s "1001 Grams" and Danis Tanovic’s "Tigers." More on these Toronto world premieres soon.
By Richard Lormand
Greetings Venice-bound (or not) Film Lovers!
Here’s what’s going on with us at this year’s Mostra del Cinema on the Venice Lido…
"Dearest"(Qui’ Ai De) is a powerhouse of emotion. The ensemble cast represents some of China’s finest acting talents – leading actresses Zhao Wei and Hao Lei and actors Huang Bo, Tong Dawei and Zhang Yi all give knockout performances. Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan has made such an intriguing film from newspaper headlines – children gone missing, searching for them, dealing with the loss and sometimes dealing with finding them again. These incidents might not be new, but "Dearest" fascinated me because of thevery original and respectful treatment of this material by its astute writer-director. I really didn’t know where I was being taken. But I liked each new path in this heartbreaking journey of a movie. I felt every one of this film’s thousands of carefully constructed emotional moments. And Zhao Wei’s performance as the foster mother:wow!
"Ich Seh Ich Seh" ("Goodnight Mommy") is a real discovery. It’s clever, playful and it’s really good filmmaking. It’s horror, it’s European art house, it’s Austrian. And produced by bad boy director himself Ulrich Seidl. And it’s a first feature co-directed by sort of an odd pairing – not really related, not a romantic couple. But Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala definitely got something going (talent, intelligence and a passion for cinema) with their mix because the results are all over the screen. I won’t pitch you the horror scenes, but they are real fun and mean like they should be. But what really struck me about this film is that it is so amazingly gorgeous. Such a consistent impeccable taste in all that is beautiful, even the ugly. Oh, the cornfields, the forest. Mom’s bruised and bandaged face and head. Those mischievous twin boys. (By the way, “Ich Seh” is the child’s game “I Spy.” "Ich Seh Ich Seh" because of the twin boys. "Goodnight Mommy" because… Well, you’ll see.)
"The Cut" is Fatih Akin’s much anticipated new feature. It was destined to be controversial in some way or another because of the material, Fatih himself, so many possible reasons. And here it is finally. It’s without a doubt an epic – a big topic, big crowd scenes, wide open spaces, world travels. But "The Cut" is a very intimate epic about a man alone. A man who cheats the Armenian genocide, but sometimes survival is simply not enough. He will only live again through the search for his twin daughters. I admire how Fatih Akin courageously focused on the human side – the blood, sweat and tears - of this potent political subject matter. Fatih’s hero is Nazaret, a sort of Armenian “Everyman”, incarnated by Tahar Rahim whose face tells so many stories without words. Equally remarkable are "The Cut’s" production values. I was especially moved by the haunting beauty of the Armenian shanty town, backdrop for one of Fatih’s boldest scenes, one of many. Still flashing in my mind’s eye: Nazaret watching Chaplin on screen is such a fine Fatih Akin moment of cinema. And the title reference scene in the desert is Fatih Akin intensity like no one else’s.
"Altman" is such an enjoyable and informative documentary about the career of late great Robert Altman. I was very surprised. I see a lot of short, medium and feature-length films about directors, and sadly, I am usually disappointed by something. But Ron Mann’s "Altman" satisfied my bio-doc needs: strong linear structure, interesting archival footage, good interviews and narration and no abuse of movie excerpts. "Altman" actually relies on its own solid research and editorial savvy to remain captivating for 95 minutes. Altman’s wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, served as a consultant on the production and her intermittent narration add both credibility and heart to the film. Not only did I learn some things about Robert Altman, the film made me feel like I even got to know him a bit personally. And it’s a great feeling to think about his films: "Mash," "Short Cuts", "Nashville" "The Player"… "Altman" actually made me want to go back and see all of his movies again. Now that’s what I call an homage to a filmmaker.
"Tsili" is Amos Gitai’s latest exploration of cinematographic language, another manifestation of his passion for cinema. Inspired by an Aharon Appelfield novel in Yiddish, "Tsili" is one of the rare instances when Yiddish is heard in a movie. Young Jewish woman Tsili, hiding out in a Central European forest with the sounds of WWII not so far away, is actually played by three different women in Gitai’s film. Once again, actress Sarah Adler ("Jellyfish" proves that she’s got one of the most beguiling screen presences around today. I loved the visual and emotional treatment of Tsili’s nest. For such sad and lonely subject matter, "Tsili" actually feels quite celebratory. A celebration of life and cinema. "Tsili" is another fine example that Amos Gitai is both an innovator who breaks the rules and a fierce defender of the traditions of pure cinema. He has played not only an essential role in Israeli cinema history, but also in European and international cinema.
"Bypass" is UK writer-director Duane Hopkins’ second film. He previously made the acclaimed "Better Things" (Cannes 2008 – Critics Week). Similarly in "Bypass," this young filmmaker continues to show a real talent for balancing bleakness and hope. I was particularly struck by the aesthetics of "Bypass," as I’m quite sure you will be too. "Bypass" is simply gorgeous to look at. It’s a true example of artistry applied to film. But Duane doesn’t sacrifice his love of the characters for the sake of the film’s beauty. Everything is centered around the outstanding leading performance by George MacKay as troubled Tim who works part-time as a criminal to keep his family afloat. MacKay’s Tim is calmly tense and fascinating to watch. As Tim’s situation becomes more dangerous, Duane shows a knack for crime genre. But just as important – perhaps even more – is Tim’s love for Lilly. It’s as if lovely actress Charlotte Spencer actually incarnated love and hope on the screen.
Quick note: I return to the Toronto Film Festival this year with four films: Christian Petzold’s "Phoenix", Ole Christian Madsen’s "Itsi Bitsi," Bent Hamer’s "1001 Grams" and Danis Tanovic’s "Tigers." More on these Toronto world premieres soon.
- 8/26/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
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