Monthly Archives: July 2013

Marguerite Duras, and her film “Baxter, Vera Baxter” [1977 France]

To claim that Marguerite Duras is the director of some of the most demanding films I’d ever seen, would be an understatement. You will need patience, a reasonable intellect, and be fully tuned to the characters on-screen to truly … Continue reading

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Terminus Paradis – the final destination for dreamers and romantics [1998 Romania, France, Italy]

Lucian Pintilie had something pressing to say in his whirlwind of a drama, “Terminus Paradis” [Eng. Title: Next Stop Paradise], and he certainly pulls no punches in getting the message across.
He shows us a post-communist Romania where love is … Continue reading

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“La Sirga” – a review [2012 Colombia]

William Vega makes an assured directorial début through “La Sirga” [Eng. Title: The Towrope], an allegorical thriller-drama set in a off-season tourist spot by a great lake, high in the Andean region of Colombia.
A young Alicia (Joghis Arias) arrives … Continue reading

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Affectionate portrait of a working class family, “Life is Sweet” [1990 United Kingdom]

When I watched Mike Leigh’s “Life is Sweet” for the first time all those years ago, it didn’t particularly make a strong impression – it was well made alright, but it was also as if I knew these characters … Continue reading

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Brisseau’s take on old-age and loneliness, “La fille de nulle part” [2012 France]

It appears Jean-Claude Brisseau is finally mellowing – his latest film “La fille de nulle part” [Eng. Title: The Girl from Nowhere] is surprisingly subdued, both in scope and budget, as he goes back to basics by even casting … Continue reading

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