Foreign
Film Review – Where Do We Go Now?
When it comes to religious tensions, there are two ways to approach the topic on film—either by showing the ways tensions tear society apart, or by using humor to show the ridiculousness of the situation. Both tactics have merits, and have worked in films from…
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SIFF Film Review – Elena
In the new Russian film Elena, which premiered locally at the Seattle International Film Festival, Nadezhda Markina stars as the title character. In her early 60s, she is a dutiful wife to her rather cold and curmudgeonly older husband, Vladimir (played by Andrey Smirnov). Each…
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Film Review – Polisse
The new film Polisse is not a masterpiece, but the dedication to this story from the director and screenwriter, Maïwenn, makes for an interesting look at the work of the CPU (Child Protective Unit). Maïwenn places us right in the middle of these cops’ lives,…
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Film Review – A Cat in Paris
A Cat in Paris is a delightfully animated tale that keeps you entertained the whole way through. When the Academy Award nominations were announced last year for Best Animated Feature, I was thrilled that A Cat in Paris and Chico and Rita were nominated. I…
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Film Review – Hipsters
Where there is a system telling people to act a certain way, there are always those who will embrace the system and those who will rebel. In the Russian musical film Hipsters (2008), from director Valeriy Todorovskiy, Mels (Anton Shagin) is one who is within…
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Film Review – Turn Me On, Dammit!
Turn Me On, Dammit! (2011) is a Norwegian film about 15-year-old Alma (Helene Bergsholm), who is stuck in a small town she hates. She has a mad crush on Artur (Matias Myren), a local hottie, and she is horny. She is not a pervert and…
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Film Review – Goodbye First Love
Goodbye First Love is a character study of young love, with no developed characters, or examination, or realistic love. At the start of the central relationship, they are two typical, over-involved kids. Camille (Lola Créton) is fifteen and certain she is in love with Sullivan…
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Film Review – Headhunters
It is hard to feel any real passion, negative or positive, for Headhunters (2011). While the film has its moments, director Morten Tyldum’s thriller has a real sense of been-there-done-that with much of what is happening. We are introduced to Roger (Aksel Hennie), a pleasant-looking…
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