Rowan Sullivan

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What Did You Do In The War Thanasi? (Greece)

What Did You Do In The War Thanasi? Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Time for a Greek comedy! What Did You Do in the War Thanasi is all about the extremely energetic and slapstick Thanasi. As much as he tries not to, you just know that trouble is going to end up finding him. For a fun and easy night in, watch this film with a free trial on Amazon Prime Video.

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 Why Watch this Film?
  • For something light and funny (something we need more of on FilmRoot)
  • It’s our first Greek film set in Greece (see The Lobster for more Greek films)
  • If you liked Life is Beautiful or Closely Watched Trains and want to see another WW2 comedy
  • Experience some Greek humour (the main character is extremely energetic and melodramatic)
The Breakdown

It’s WW2 and the Nazis and Italians have occupied Greece. A bunch of the locals are queuing up for some rations; a big bowl of gruel. Back at home a family is listening to the forbidden BBC radio news trying to give the Greeks hope that the occupation will end.

From what you can see, the occupation looks brutal. Locals are scavenging for any food on the streets and people are starving (like the people in Germany as you’ll see in Little Dieter Needs to Fly). In addition, the German and Italian military occupation is obvious. Guards are watch the streets from watch towers whilst soldiers chase and shoot Greek rebels.

Thanasi, our protagonist, is our comic hero. He tries to avoid all association with the Greek resistance for fear of being caught by the Nazis. Typically, as this is a comedy, he always ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time (kind of like Forrest Gump’s knack for ending up in famous historical moments).

Conclusion

What Did You Do in the War Thanasi is one of the best war comedies I have seen. It is driven by Thanasi’s constant high energy and melodrama (a bit like Guido in Life is Beatiful). Well worth a watch if you are looking for a good Greek film or a nice comedy.

382

Mardan (Iraq) – A Sombre Film Set in Kurdish Iraq

Mardan Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Most of you know that Iraq has had one of the most traumatic modern histories. But when you think of why, you’d probably think of the Iraq War. So when I tell you this is a sombre Iraqi film you’d also probably think that it is about the Iraq War. But you’d be wrong. Unlike Ahlaam, Mardan is set in Kurdish Iraq, and follows the traumatic life of a border patrol guard.

Why Watch Mardan?
  • To see a Kurdish Iraqi film (for an Arabic Iraqi film, check out Ahlaam)
  • If you are up for a solemn (but well made) movie
  • To see the beautiful and wild mountain scenery of Iraq
  • For another story with a traumatic childhood (which reminded me of the Kosovan short film Shok)
The Breakdown

Mardan starts with an extreme close up of half a man’s face. The camera is focused on one of the man’s watery eyes. He is crying.

A traumatic flashback to his childhood shows us why he is crying. It should be an innocent memory of him and his brother playing by the river. But some military men raped and killed his brother, giving him a burden he has had to carry for his whole life.

Surprisingly, the introduction is the only place where the military is shown, apart from the border patrol. Instead, the film focuses on Mardan and how he deals with his harrowing childhood memory. He doesn’t seem like the nicest guy – he accepts bribes and appears pretty grumpy, but the film implies that his background is to blame for this.

His only shot at redemption is by helping a family find their relative. But don’t expect a Hollywood ending. This film is more about the journey and character development than any climactic ending.

Conclusion

Mardan is not the film you want to watch after a long day at work. It is solemn and does not offer any respite. It is a well made film, but you’d only want to watch it if you want to see a bit of life in Kurdish Iraq, some Iraqi scenery, or if you are into sombre films.

 

 

383

Umbango – Your Chance to See a South African B Movie

Umbango Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

The framing is off, the characters are melodramatic, and the dialogue is cheesy at best. Welcome to the South African B-movie Umbango. It’s one of hundreds of films produced at the height of the apartheid for African audiences. By the early 1990s most of these films had disappeared, but luckily for you, Umbango is one of a few that have been recovered.

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Why Watch Umbango?
  • To see an authentic Zulu film (not counting that Michael Caine film)
  • It’s a classic B-movie – perfect to laugh at
  • Find out what kind of films were made under the apartheid
  • For an alternative to the polished South African films such as Tsotsi or District 9
The Breakdown

The opening introduces us to Kay Kay, a bandit chilling by a camp fire out in the wild. Another traveler joins him by the fire and pledges his loyalty to Kay Kay. They fulfill the typical bad-guy and silly side-kick role.

There are two things you’ll notice in this film:

  1. The production quality is pretty terrible. The camera framing is all over the place, the colour contrasts are often completely washed out, and the sets are obviously fake. You have to accept that this is a B-movie to enjoy the little things.
  2. The humour is very different to what you’re used to. It seems to be parodying the western genre as well as some South Africans (although I cannot confirm this). The characters also find calling their enemy ‘smelly’ hilarious. There’s a scene where the bad guy calls his nemesis ‘smelly like a jackal’ and ‘smelly as a skunk’ as if it’s the funniest thing in the world.

As long as you accept the poor production quality and can laugh at the strange humour, you’re in for a treat.

Conclusion

Watch Umbango to get an idea of what films were made for South African audiences under the apartheid. Whilst it is obviously a B-movie, it is still a lot of fun to watch!

384

Eldorado XXI – Peru’s Modern Version of the American West

Eldorado XXI Film Difficulty Ranking: 5

The American West is still alive today in Peru. Migrants from across the country are flocking to the highest settlement in the world for their ‘American dream’ (their rags to riches story). However, the only thing most people find is an incredibly harsh landscape. Check it out below.

Why Watch Eldorado XXI?
  • You’re into ‘Slow Film‘ and want to see more!
  • To see a film from Peru – and our first feature from this diverse South American country on FilmRoot
  • Experience a little of Peruvian mountain life
  • If you’re fascinated by the American West and the Gold Rush
The Breakdown

ElDorado XXI starts with a 25 minute still shot of miners walking up and down a mountain in the darkness. All you can make out is the vague silhouette of their bodies and the mountain from their headlamps. Whilst we watch these miners ramble up and down in the dark we hear the story of one of them.

One of them arrived at Rinconada (the mine) a few months ago after they hit bankruptcy in the city. They heard the rags to riches stories of people finding gold at the Rinconada mine and followed their version of the ‘American dream.’

Unfortunately for them, finding riches was not as easy as in the stories they had heard. They were homeless for parts and had to spend months away from their children, left with relatives in the city. The only thing they could do was work for longer and pray for luck.

That’s when you hear some strange stories about superstitions and rituals that some of the miners use to help their luck. Sacrificing Alpaca fetuses apparently bring luck, but a human fetus would ‘be more effective’. Welcome to the Peruvian wild west!

Conclusion

Eldorado XXI gives you an idea of what life is like in the Peruvian mountains – the modern equivalent of the American wild-west. People flock to this beautiful landscape in search of quick riches, but most of them never strike gold. You’ll see the life and community these migrants have formed and hear of the weird rituals that they try to boost their luck. Well worth a watch.

 

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10 European Films You Need to Watch Right Now

Here’s 10 European films you need to watch!

You’ve probably seen a load of Hollywood movies, but how many European films have you seen? Here’s a countdown of 10 of the best European films ever made.

10. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is one of Fassbinder’s greats. It examines racism and prejudice in Germany 20 years after the fall of Hitler and the Nazis. The film is currently available to watch on YouTube (click on link).

9. Volver

Pedro Almodovar is the don of modern Spanish cinema and Volver is my pick for his best film. For more Almodovar make sure you check out All About my Mother and Talk to Her as well.

8. Leviathan

Leviathan is an epic. Zvyagintsev’s portrait of contemporary Russia draws on biblical stories and a small American business owner to emphasise the state’s disregard for it’s citizens.

7. Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch has style. It’s not like any documentary you’ve seen before as scenes from Munch’s life are reenacted by a full cast.

6. The Great Beauty

The Great Beauty is Sorrentino’s tribute to Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. So much so it feels like an update of the classic – a contemporary ode to the city of Rome.

5. Ex Machina

Yes! One of the best Sci-Fi movies of this century is European. If you’ve already seen this and are after something different check out Under the Skin.

4. Persona

Ingmar Bergman is a Top 5 European director of all time. And if you want to be a film expert Persona is your holy grail. It’s the Mount Everest of the film world. For more Bergman check out Wild Strawberries.

3. Trainspotting

This is Danny Boyle at his best. Who knew a film about heroin addicts in Scotland could be so entertaining.

2. La Haine

Over 20 years after it was made, La Haine is as relevant as ever. It brings social unrest to the big screen, showing us that Paris is not the romantic and happy city portrayed by Hollywood. La Haine gives a voice to the marginalised.

1. Divorce: Italian Style

This comedy is gold. I feel like Mastroianni’s performance influenced everything from Blackadder to Nanni Moretti in this film. It’s also one of Scorsese’s favourites.

 

Honourable Mentions:

Wild Strawberries, The Exterminating Angel, Aguirre: The Wrath of God, The Marriage of Maria Braun, Dear Diary, Insomnia, Toni Erdmann, Son of Saul