Film Review: As Bestas (The Beasts)

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Saturday, 29 July 2023 21:42

Written by Gilbert Seah

AS BESTAS (THE BEASTS) (Spain/France 2022) Top 10 *****
Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Antonio (Denis Ménochet) and Olga (Marina Foïs) are a French couple who love the rural life, settled some time ago in a village in the interior of Galicia in Spain. They lead a quiet life ther , seeking closeness with nature, (Antonio says he loves the land and refuses to sign his land away to a turbine company) although their coexistence with the locals is not as idyllic as they would like.  A conflict about the modern windmills with their neighbours, the Anta brothers (Luis Zahera, Diego Anido), will cause tension to grow in the village until it reaches a point of no return.

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Film Review: Cash (Gold Brick)

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Friday, 07 July 2023 12:48

Written by Gilbert Seah

CASH/ GOLD BRICK (France 2023) ***
Directed by Jérémie Rozan

Men are Born free and equal by law.  Then humans wrote them over.  These are the words splashed on the screen at the start of the comedy caper CASH/GOLD BRICK when the audience is introduced to the wealthiest of families Les Breuils who practically won the whole town of Chartres.  Almost everyone works for the family including the film’s hero and protagonist, Daniel Sauveur (Raphaël Quenard).  How did the Breuils get where they are?  There is nothing to learn, the audience is told.  You either have it or not.

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Film Review: LADYBUG AND CATNOIR (France 2023)

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Friday, 21 July 2023 07:19

Written by Gilbert Seah

LADYBUG AND CATNOIR (France 2023) ***
Directed by Jeremy Zag

Opening in theatres this week for a limited release following its streaming on Netflix, this animation from France is no Pixar or Disney blockbuster but a much smaller budget little entry that has its charm and enjoyment.

The film contains the fairy tale elements of magic, a reluctant hero in this case a female one to be current with the times, a nasty villain and a little romance.  The film begins with a sage named Wong Foo, introducing himself and then what the feature’s story is about  “Do you believe in magic?” he asks.  The miraculous, he describes, is a series of gems granted to the greatest heroes  for the conquest of evil.  To stop the evil, Wong Foo foresees that two heroes must arise - Ladybug and Catnoir, the title of the film.  The film that introduced the audience to a girl going to school, feeling sad that she has got no friends.  But she sings a happy song, nevertheless.  The clumsy girl walks to school, the scenery depicting Paris in the morning.

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The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) 2023 Capsule Reviews of Select Films

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Tuesday, 04 July 2023 02:47

Written by Gilbert Seah

ICFF 2023

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) 2023 takes place from June 27 to July 21 2023 at the historical Distillery District incToronto. 

The best of Italian cinema a\will be on display.  For more details and date of the films and program, please check the ICFF website at iff.ca

Capsule Reviews of Select Films:

THE FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE (El Primo Giorno della Mia Vita)(Italy 2023) **

Directed by Paolo Genovese

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