A young independent Maltese fisherman, whose forefathers had all been fishermen for many generations, is finding it difficult to make ends meet competing against bigger operations, especially now that he has a newborn baby who is in need of some specialized care because of some health concerns. Feeling the pressure from his partner, and with a recent damage to his small wooden boat, he takes some work with people who do shady business. When he…
A young woman, Elza, living in Paris with her mother since she was very young, decides to go back to Guadeloupe against her mother's wishes. She wants to find the father she never knew and when she first discovers him, she finds him in the middle of an affair and cons her way into becoming the babysitter of his granddaughter. As the babysitter Elza finds out her father is wealthy, exploits his workers, is racist…
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Letterboxd Season Challenge 2024-2025
Week 26: I-Spy Week
A fascinating and educational in-depth look at the elaborate process that was conducted over many months to use simple techniques like depravation of necessities, especially sleep, to elicit the kinds of confessions, which omitted a ton of clarifying truths, that a group of government officials in Czechoslovakia, who once were hailed as heroes, were involved in an anti-Communist party conspiracy. The charges were all phony and it was all created to serve…
Letterboxd Season Challenge 2024-2025
Week 25: Thai New Wave Week
There are two halves to this movie where the characters in a hospital say and do similar things in each part, sometimes almost exact, but with a few differences. The first part takes place in a rural area, while the second part takes place in a city where there are more people and better facilities and equipment. However, the version in the rural area is…
A teenage girl, who has quit school and does all the housework because her mother is ill, and who is the daughter of a poor cobbler wanders the capital city of Mauritius after finishing her chores. She has a simple joy of existing in her city, which entices other people like a foreign photographer who likes to take photos of feet and wants to talk with the girl further. There are some bad omens and…
A modern telling of Mary's immaculate conception that explores young women's conceptions of themselves, their sexuality, and how their bodies are linked to their souls. The editing and sound design provide an even more surreal effect even as the pondering of the women are deeply human and ever baffling. Will we never cease to question our selves?
Watched as part of my 5 Favorite Actresses X 5 Movies: Part 4 challenge!
As might have happen to others, I didn't actually even mean to watch this, but nevertheless it is a strong portrait of a young girl who's parents are going through a separation and who may be immersing herself into a few various interests and a deep inner-life as a coping mechanism. Nothing in the filmmaking is overt, but it is good to bear witness to how a real child might behave.
A small story about a shy and guarded woman who finds herself torn by how much she wants to be known when a new coworker starts paying attention to her. Anyone who has worked in a small office setting will find humor in several early scenes. Ridley is great and I hope to see her in more roles.
Two strangers in Miami, both stuck in life in different ways, meet at a bar and end up thrown further into limbo together when they think they've accidentally murdered someone and go on the lam. Except they can't afford to get out of town and wallow in a cheap motel instead. It's definitely slacker Bonnie and Clyde vibes with some gender dynamics that make for a good finale.
Watched as part of the 100 Female Directors Challenge.
Letterboxd Season Challenge 2024-2025
Week 8: Alien Encounters Week
A future race of humanoids sends a message into the past explaining what they are like as beings, how their destruction has become imminent, and offering a bit of hope. This message plays out in small bits, as eerie orchestral music and black-and-white cinematography of strange structures in natural environments fill the screen and provide atmosphere. This kind of movie only has limited appeal to me.
Watched as part of my 5 Favorite Actresses X 5 Movies: Part 4 challenge!
Two families live next to each other: one rich because the father is a shoemaker and one poor because the father is a college professor. One of his spoiled, arrogant, wealthy students falls in love with his daughter and slowly transforms into a more kind and generous man, who convinces his trustee father that people like professors and the clergy deserve a livable wage. Meanwhile, the rich mother has disdain for her poor neighbors, but is too transformed by the…
A young man and a young woman form a relationship over many long phone calls, but she is seriously ill and her family thinks the phone calls are taking a toll on her energy and health. All of this is played out between one male and one female narrator who simply explain what was said and what is happening as the camera gently glides around landscapes, the interiors and exteriors of buildings, and two women and a man who almost…