kimkino

What already worked out for the German 99euro-films 1 proves again an interesting concept with its European sequel. EUROPE-99EURO-FILMS 2 is a get-together of the shortfilms of 9 European cult-directors such as vampire-film-director Harry Kümel, actress Ellen ten Damme, London horror-director Richard Stanley and Andrej Zulawski's son Xavery. RP Kahl's connecting episode takes the viewer on a trip through Europe's capitals. A mysterious beauty makes us curious of the stories which might be hidden in cities like Paris, London, Warsaw and Berlin. And we are being rewarded: The directors take us into the mystical London underground, develop a simple road trip into a thriller or give us an insight into the world of dwarfs... The idea of independent film-making is again celebrated at its best in EUROPE-99EURO-FILMS 2!

LIE WITH ME is one of the few good erotic films I've seen. I don't believe that there is something like a typical "women's erotic film". But like many others - men included - I'm bored of stereotype characters and narration in most erotic films. LIE WITH ME is produced and directed with the same elaborateness one would expect from a "normal" independent feature film. This is what makes the explicit sex scenes work for me. And the actors: Lauren Lee Smith (who also starred in "The L-Word") and Eric Balfour (great minor role in "Six Feet Under") inspire the protagonists with their ideosyncratic characteristics and physical presence on the screen and make the story come to live. They are NOT equipped with big "perfect" breasts or big perfect six-packs. They are beautifully normal - which is why I can relate to them.

MÄDCHEN AM SONNTAG/Sunday GIRLS is a loving portrait of four lovely young actresses who work beyond the mainstream industry in Germany – might be only the big roles for them haven't yet been written. In this intimate film portrait by RP Kahl they are eventually put into limelight – a light which focuses on their personal highlights as well as their defeats, their troubles and the mechanisms of film business. It is high time that these young women, namely Laura Tonke, Nicolette Krebitz, Katharina Schüttler and Inga Birkenfeld are given a speaking tube! BecausE they are the German pendants to Chloe Sevigny or Juliette Lewis in the US, Charlotte Gainsbourg in France, and Asia Argento in Italy. Included on this DVD is a great extra that turns the table: now it is the actresses who interview their director. Very recommendable!