This film is the retelling of an old fairy tale where the characters are made from gingerbread. Oops! Wrong fairy tale. This one is dark, unique, Gothic, and somewhat satanic. That said it is also mesmerizing, creative and “Grimm.” (oops, couldn’t resist!)
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Brotherhood (Canada, Tunisia, Qatar and Sweden)
This 25 minute film delivers a big package and a lot of tension and family drama when one brother comes home with a new Syrian wife. It was originally released in 2018 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Arabic with English subtitles.
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NEFTA Football Club (France)
This fascinating 17 minute film tells a tale of how a cartload of narcotics ends up…not on the street…but on a football field. Charming and inventive. Arabic with English subtitles.
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Saria (USA)
This was a difficult film to watch. The focus is on two orphaned sisters, 12 and 14 years old, at a “Safe Home” where they faced daily physical abuse by the institution designed to protect them. In 2017 41 girls died when a fire broke out in the school. Finally the girls escape and find shelter in the US. 23 minutes. This is our pick for the Oscar. Spanish with English subtitles.
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The Neighbor’s Window (USA)
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Neighbors harbor envy, voyeurism and grief when they become obsessed with the activities from their neighbors windows. It’s concurrently funny and embarrassing. The run time is 20 minutes.
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A Sister (Belgium)
This is a spooky film where a woman is being kidnapped and pretends to call her sister to check in on her children, but is actually on the phone to a help line. It’s an intense psychological thriller packed into a 17 minute film. French with English subtitles.
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This is the 15th consecutive year for the Documentary Shorts. The total combined run time is 160 minutes.
In the Absence
This 28 minute film from South Korea explains what happened to the MV Sewol passenger ferry that sank off the coast of South Korea in 2014. It’s heartbreaking to watch. Korean with English subtitles.
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Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
This film from Afghanistan is about a skateboarding program exclusively for girls. Most young girls in Afghanistan are not permitted to have such activities, especially those from poor neighborhoods. The program has resulted with a new generation of young ladies who believe they can do anything. Run time is 39 minutes. Afghan Persian with English subtitles.
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Life Overtakes Me
This is an amazing story about parents with children from the old Soviet Block countries who sought refugee status from Sweden. Over 400 children suffered from a coma like illness. The story is breathtaking and haunting. Run time is 39 minutes. Russian and Swedish with English subtitles.
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St. Louis Superman
This outstanding 28 minute film chronicles the life of Bruce Franks Jr. Black activist and rapper elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. It’s an intimate and powerful story about politics, perseverance and community. This is our pick for the Oscar.
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Walk, Run, Cha-Cha
Thus 21 minute film from the US tells the love story of two teenagers who fell in love in Vietnam during the war. Years later they reunite in California. The filming occurred over 6 years. It’s a charming story. Vietnamese and English with English subtitles.
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This year’s nominated Animated Short Subject films are not to be missed. Each is unique with powerful messages in their short duration.
Dcera (Daughter)
It’s a somber look at a strained relationship between a father and daughter spanning several years. Czech Republic.
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Hair Love
This is a delightful family story that is uplifting, funny and emotional. USA. This is our choice for the Oscar.
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Kitbull
A stray kitten and a pit bull discover a friendship with each other. Another Pixar home run! USA.
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Memorable
An aging painter and his wife struggle with his advancing dementia. France.
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Sister
It’s the touching story about a Chinese family growing up under the ‘one child policy’. China/USA.
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The National Gallery in London is home to one of the worlds largest art collections. It has been a while since we toured the galleries (it would take days/weeks/months to see everything.)
We were drawn to many of the most famous and have chosen the following for your enjoyment.
Thank goodness for international films. It’s almost assured you’ll have a unique movie experience. This film is an animated production touching on a variety of global issues.
This film was a huge hit in Japan and is now enjoying global distribution. The overarching theme is the change in global weather. It’s inspiring, clever, and quite down to earth.
Japanese with English subtitles.
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OK, now we are talking about a serious movie experience. This film reinvents modern horror films involving contact from outer space. Surprisingly this movie is based on a short story dating back to 1927.
Be warned! This film is beautifully produced. It’s realistic to an uncomfortable degree. Thank goodness it’s all just awesome imagination…(or is it?!)
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We were surprised with the tepid reviews of this film. While the story is a bit confusing at first, it quickly becomes intense and ultimately powerful, unique and thought provoking.
The cast and the production are intriguing. The script is filled with lots of surprises. There is a lot to think about once the film ends. We liked it a lot.
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This latest film from Guy Ritchie is a Crime Action film set in the United Kingdom. It is equally gritty, often violent, graphic and crude. The scenes involving lots of children are brutal and difficult to watch.
To be frank, the entire film was difficult to watch. It’s yet another film about illegal drug dealing by horrible people in horrid conditions simply trying to survive.
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One critic characterized this film as “both more or less than the original Charles Dickens story”. It is exactly what the title of the film declares. It’s a study of comedies based on the 1850 writings by Charles Dickens.
It’s intelligent, beautifully filmed with an excellent cast. It is concurrently old fashioned and contemporary at the same time. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
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This is a clever computer animation film with unique characters, interesting concepts and some very funny episodes. It’s the first Blue Sky Studios film and part of Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Will Smith is the voice of the lead character. It’s a funny, goofy, action packed story with a very funny pigeon.
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After a super busy Fall and a very busy Holiday Season we decided a quick trip to London might be a good way to start year 2020!! Our flight from San Francisco departed early and landed early in London. Overall welcomed news. As usual we took the “tube” into the city where we dropped our luggage at the hotel and decided to wander for a bit.
We have spent the last several days exploring areas we haven’t explored in a while along with areas we know quite well. Weather has been good/very good overall. A few showers here and there but mostly cool and mild. The City is crowded with shoppers from around the world as usual.
We decided to visit The Wallace Collection yesterday. It’s a free admission to a world class collection of art housed in a once palace. We had not seen this collection in several years. We were pleased to see it hasn’t lost its luster.
Some of our favorites follow…
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First, it’s that odd time of year between the Holiday releases, the industry awards season, ending of course with the Academy Awards. This ‘movie void’ is when last minute releases are at their peak.
This is just one of dozens this year. It’s an OK story set in the not too distant future where mankind has managed “breakthroughs” with inner space (our oceans) and outer space (but that’s another story).
All said, this film may appeal to the Gen Z teens by design given the “feeling of helplessness” and “surprise appearance” of previously unknown “sea monsters”! We found it to be a dark claustrophobic mess!
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First and foremost this film draws attention that racism is alive and well in our time. This film is based on real events around a 1987 case in Alabama.
It’s a powerful and thought provoking subject matter that is excellently produced. It’s also a scary example where injustice is still under attack in our society.
Special note: The Academy Award Nominations were released today. This film was not nominated. It seemed a bit odd to us. The Oscars are scheduled for global television Sunday February 9.
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Humm…What do you say when you see a film that offends almost every social sensibility you’ve embraced for most of your life?
This film is an insult to educated, intelligent entrepreneurs of either gender, especially when the focus is the female industry of cosmetics.
It’s a shame given the talented cast of characters.
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