Interesting Films You Might Have Missed

Here are a few films that our staff enjoyed and thought didn't get enough publicity.

Mother: Do-joon is 27 year old, rather simple-minded and dependent on his Mother. He behaves in foolish and dangerous ways as he has no sense of the consequences. One night after much beer he follows a schoolgirl until she disappears in an abandoned building. The next day the police arrest him for the girl’s murder. A Mother knows her son and will do anything to prove his innocence. This Korean film is terrific and will keep you in the hunt for the real killers.

 

Here and There: It’s hard to find a good, romantic comedy so it was nice to find this off beat film. Robert’s life goes from bad to worse when he’s forced to move before he’s evicted. He calls a small moving company to transfer his limited positions to a friend’s place. Now what? That question is answered by the van driver. His girlfriend needs an American bachelor to go to Serbia, marry her and bring her back and it pays $10.000. Easy right?

 

The Queen and I: As a child in Iran the film maker lived in dire poverty but clearly remembers watching the fairy tale marriage of the Shah and his new Empress Farah. As a teenager she joined the Communist faction of Khomeini’s revolution hoping that a new day would dawn for Iran. In fact she became a victim of this revolution and was forced into exile. The exiled Empress has agreed to be interviewed and filmed by her fellow refugee. Can these two women who share a revolution find common ground and a common history.? This documentary is a most interesting portrait of a very famous but very unknown woman, Empress Farah Pahlavi.

 

The Maid: Another great film coming from South America for your enjoyment. After 23 years as the family’s maid, Raquel is becoming less and less well and has started to lose her grip as she fights to defend her “territory”. Her upper-class matriarch Pilar trapped by quilt refuses to just let her go and hires helpers for Raquel. Raquel is driven into a jealous frenzy and pulls dirty tricks on the helpers trying to force then out. Finally, a helper is hired who sees beyond the tricks and sees a woman in crisis and befriends her. Touching. Sincere. Worth your time to sit and enjoy.

 

The Sun: This is the very first film in which I have seen any actor portraying the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. The director, Alexander Sokurov (Russian Ark) has created 3 films about the dictators who brought the world to the brink in World War 2. The first in this film trilogy is Moloch (1994) which portraits Hitler, the second Taurus (2001) portraits Lenin and now Hirohito. This film is the first to become available and Trilogy is pleased to make it available for viewing. The Sun is an elegantly constructed meditation on absolute power and how it dissipates the man who wields it.

 

Happy Tears: There have been several films about how adult children deal with their parents as they disappear into dementia. The great cast in this film, Demi Moore, Parker Posey and Rip Torn offer us a funny and heart warming version that I found very refreshing and honest.

 

 

North Face: Set in the German Alps prior to the Berlin Olympic Games of 1936 this thriller is a gripping-edge-of-you-seat thriller. It’s hard to imagine the conditions these pioneers endured with their limited equipment. Imagine wool mitts and hemp ropes compared with today’s advances. The story is true and will become one of your personal favorites.

 

Mirush: Fifteen year old Mirush lives with his mother and older brother in Kosovo. He idolizes his absence father who left the family when Mirush was just an infant. Tragic events cause him to leave his home and undertake the long journey to Norway in search of his lost father. Once there he finds his father who has no idea this young man is any relation to him. Over the years his father has allowed his life to become ruled by some pretty seedy characters which lead to danger for both. This modern tale of a family separated is very well done and worth your investment of 104 minutes.

 

The Horse Boy:While many films have been made over the last few years regarding children and adults with Autism this new documentary stands out. Conventional therapies had little effect on Rowan when at the age of 2 he was diagnosed.Over the next few years his parents discovered a profound kinship between Rowan and animals-particularly horses. This discovery and their deep beliefs in the power of healing lead the family on this incredible journey.

 

 

Cloud 9: This lyrical and moving story is truly ground-breaking. Inge, a 67 year old married woman rediscovers her passion and sexuality when she unexpectedly falls in love with 76 year old Karl. This film shows an aspect of life rarely portrayed on screen in our youth obsessed culture. Ursula Werner, who plays Inge, won the German Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance..

 

 

Disgrace: Based upon the Booker prize-winning novel, “Disgrace” stands out as a gritty, gripping drama of brutality, survival and hope. The film starring John Malkovich looks at current day South Africa and the changes, both subtle and not, that are occurring.

 

 

 

Breakfast with Scot: The tragic death of his Mother has thrown the life of 11 year-old Scot into turmoil. This flamboyant boy, a fan of musicals and Christmas carols, dressed in vibrant colors and wearing his dead mother’s charm bracelets is staying temporarily with his Uncle Sam. While Sam is open about his life choices his ex-hockey star life partner Eric is not. Eric still works in the media and guards his macho persona. This warm-hearted, funny movie celebrates diversity and the freedom to be whomever we want to be, Kids often have a much better sense of the truth than adults.

 

Welcome: You may have already seen this film at the Portland International Film Festival but if not we are very happy to provide you with the opportunity to view it. Bilal, a 17 year old Kurdish refugee travels across Europe trying to reunite with his girlfriend. Her family has relocated to England and he is determined to join her there and win the approval of her family. The last barrier to this reunion is the English Channel. His determination only increases as his attempts fail and he hatches a do or die strategy. He finds an ally in a French local named Simon, who teaches swimming at the community pool. Would we risk everything to reach happiness?