Film Review: Cette Miason (This House)

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Wednesday, 08 March 2023 01:21

Written by Gilbert Seah

CETTE MAISON (THIS HOUSE (Canada 2022) **
Directed by Miryam Charles

As the voiceover of the deceased informs the audience, “I was born in Stanford, Connecticut, in 1994. I died in 2008 in my house, Céte (in French).  “You are the source that inspired me, I do not need anyone else.”  There are lots of chants at the film’s start and voiceover that are a little confusing, though they put the film in perspective.

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Film Review: Calvaire (The Ordeal)

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Sunday, 19 February 2023 03:37

Written by Gilbert Seah

CALVAIRE (originally tilted THE ORDEAL)(Belgium/Luxembourg/France 2022) ****
Directed by Fabrice du Welz 

These few weeks see the opening of a number of horror films, many of which are also streaming on Shudder, the horror streaming service.  Among them are the really nasty SPOONFUL OF SUGAR, NOCEBO from the  Philippines and Ireland and HUESERA, THE BONE WOMAN from Mexico and the found footage low-budget horror THE OUTWATERS,  Joining the ranks of these horror flicks is what might arguable be the best of the lot, a neat little low budget cult film way back from 2004, from then first time feature director Fabrice du Welz who wrote the screenplay with Romain Protat, best known as Gasper Noe’s cinematographer for IRRESISTIBLE, which is currently enjoying a rerun.

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Film Review: Pacifiction

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Friday, 24 February 2023 11:50

Written by Gilbert Seah

PACIFICTION (France/Spain/Germany/Portugal) ***½

Directed by Albert Serra

On an island in French Polynesia, the Haut-Commissaire, a man, de Roller (Benoit Magimel, who first well-known film was LIFE IS A LONG QUIET River by Etienne Chatiliez, way back when in 1988) with a turbulent naturalness and high diplomacy, lives between the highest echelons of politics and the lowest social stratum of his co-citizens. Conflict as a way of life will lead him to take reckless decisions against his political status, as the film examines.  Director Serra introduces him in a ‘questionable’ club where he goes backstage to look at the costumes, and perhaps flirt with the dancers.

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Film Review: Un Beau Matin

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Category: Cinéma - Movies

Published: Thursday, 09 February 2023 01:01

Written by Gilbert Seah

UN BEAU MATIN (ONE FINE MORNING)(France 2022) ***1/2

Directed by Mia Hansen-Love

Director Mia Hansen-Love (LE PERE DE MES ENFANTS) tackles once again her favourite genre of nuanced romantic relationships, this time between Sandra (Léa Seydoux) and best friend, but a married one, Clément (Melvil Poupaud), before they turn into best friends with benefits.  There are of course complications and baggage. Sandra works as a freelance translator, being an attentive single mother to her eight-year-old daughter (Camille Leban Martins), and caring for her father (Pascal Greggory), a retired philosophy professor slowly losing his sight, memory, and independence due to a neurodegenerative disorder.  It is her father that brings Sandra to tears so often.  Clement, however, is married with a son.  Director Hansen-Love is an expert in creating and developing emotional and realistic characters making UN BEAU MATIN immensely watchable and compelling.  The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022 and opens this week. A solid alternative for a Valentine’s Day Movie - French style.  The film won the Europa Cinemas Label (best European film in Directors’ Fortnight) at Cannes 2022