Rowan Sullivan, Author at FilmRoot

406

Food Inc. (USA)

Watch on Netflix or click the poster to buy on Amazon

Food Inc. Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Food INC. is one of the great documentaries to watch to open your eyes to the giant that is the food industry of the United States of America. You’ll learn what makes a McDonalds burger and how almost everything in Walmart contains some form of corn. But along with all the bad stuff you’re going to here (which will make you think twice about what you buy) you also learn how you can make a difference (which will also make you think twice about what you buy).

The simple answer: You can change the food industry and the world when you go to the supermarket and buy your food. Everything you buy is a vote for that product!

Check out the trailer below to find out more before you head to Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon to watch!

Why Watch Food Inc?

To learn where your food is coming from (mostly you America, but relevant to the whole world)
See how the food industry has been monopolised by a few big companies
Learn how you can change the world with what you eat
It’s on Netflix!

407

Dear Diary (Italy)

Dear Diary Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

You may have seen Rome and Italy in a number of films, but you have never seen it like it is in Dear Diary. Nanni Moretti will guide you around the country like the best tour guides – one that doesn’t care what people think of him. He parodies the Italians whilst making fun of himself for our entertainment. It’s a bit Monty Python esque and a bit Quixotic! Go watch this man’s stream of consciousness!

Why Watch Dear Diary?

For a visual stream of consciousness portrayal of Rome and Italy
It’s also a great comedy with plenty of parody
There’s a great soundtrack featuring Juan Luis Guerra and Cheb Khaled!
To see director Nanni Moretti dancing in a cafe

The Breakdown

Chapter 1. On My Vespa

‘Dear diary, there’s one thing I like the most.’ And cut to Nanni Moretti riding down the back streets of Rome on his Vespa. There’s music, there’s no cars, and the streets are beautifully lined with trees!

You know those moments when you are walking on your own and your mind starts to wander? Then a few minutes later you realise that you’ve walked a mile without paying attention to what you’ve walked past. Well, the only way I can describe this film is by comparing it to one of those moments. Nanni Moretti guides us around Rome, but as he keeps getting distracted as he is doing so and takes us on his tangents.

What’s even more amazing is that he even interrupts the improvised tour he takes us on. For example, in one scene he turns up at a group dancing merengue in a square in Rome. He walks up to the band singing and starts singing along with the lead singer. He’s kind of like a Don Quixote making his way around Rome. One thing is for sure, you’ll never get a tour of Rome like this!

Conclusion

Just like The Great Beauty this great Italian film just seems to flow naturally. But unlike The Great Beauty this film is funny as well! Where else are you going to see a Director riding around Rome on a Vespa while dancing to Cheb Khaled’s ‘Didi’. Plus, I haven’t even talked about the hilarious second chapter or the darkly funny third chapter. This is one to watch!

408

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (Finland)

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

“It’s nice that you’re modest, but we want a national champion”

Olli Maki is a Finish baker who happens to be a very talented boxer. He is training for the biggest boxing match of his career, a day that will be the ‘happiest day in his life’. But, a few weeks before the match, he falls in love. For an alternative to the typical macho boxing film watch this gorgeously shot film which won awards at Cannes!

Why Watch this Film?

It’s a feel good film – it will put a smile on your face 🙂
To learn what makes a successful sportsman and a happy person
If you’re tired of macho boxing films
Experience a Finnish wedding!
For some beautiful black and white cinematography. There’s one pretty epic shot of Olli Maki wading naked into a pristine lake like Hercules.

The Breakdown

The first thing you notice is the grainy black and white footage as Olli Maki walks down a train and takes a seat in an empty carriage. He sits alone and looks out of the window in the carriage door, his brow furrowed. Is he concerned? Nervous? Or just shy and introverted?

It turns out that he’s just a modest man from a humble background. He is the Finnish baker battling for the boxing world title. You can tell he’s a humble guy from the first 10 minutes of the film. His creaky car breaks down, so he cycles to the wedding he is in town for. He plays with the kids at the wedding instead of chatting with the adults. But most of all, his modesty is shown in his facial expressions. His furrowed brow, his wide eyed look, and his smiles make it easy for us to sympathise with him. And the actor pulls of the face perfectly throughout the film!

Also pay attention to the beautiful cinematography. The filmmakers use grainy black and white footage with a lot of hand held shots to make it look like a 60s home movie. This style heightens the film’s happy moments as we associate home movie footage with happy nostalgia (think kids playing, funny faces, and days out). The style also takes nothing away from Olli Maki’s modesty. In contrast to the vivid colours and strong lighting of a Rocky film, Olli Maki is not brought out of the film artificially.

Conclusion

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki is a welcome alternative to the many macho boxing films, such as Raging Bull and Rocky. Olli Maki will help you find what is important in your life. As a bonus, the film also explores class and patriotism in Finland whilst remaining an easy to watch feel-good film.

409

Shok (Kosovo)

Shok Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Whilst in Kosovo, I asked a Kosovan what Kosovan film I should watch. He told me to watch Shok. If you don’t know much about the Kosovan War, or anything at all, go spend 21 minutes watching this film. You’ll learn a lot.

Why Watch Shok?

To learn about the war crimes committed in the Kosovo War (contentiously not termed a genocide because the aim was forced migration rather than destruction of ethnic Albanians).
It’s a film from Kosovo – so you’ll be able to tick off Kosovo from your film checklist
Shok is only 21 minutes long – shorter than your favorite TV shows
If you love all coming-of-age films

The Breakdown

Shok starts with a shot of the Kosovan hills in autumn. A Mercedes drives towards the camera and stops in front of a bike lying on the ground. Two guys hop out the vehicle. The driver tells the other to move the bike and get back in the car, however the passenger tells him to drive on without him.

As the passenger picks up the bike and cycles down the road, the film flashes back to the 1990s during the Kosovo War. You see the war through two boy’s friendship. Firstly, they are told off for being out after curfew. Secondly, when Oki stays over you can see images of Serbian tanks on the TV – the news reader tells us that many have been massacred. These are the signs that life is not normal for these two boys despite their joyous friendship.

However, the filmmaker leaves plenty of clues that things are not going to end well. Firstly there’s the first scene – why does this man get out of the car to ride a bike along an empty road? Secondly the director sews together a few scenes with apocalyptic images in monochrome. One of them is of a bike laying on the road, wheels spinning. The other shows a swing swinging on it’s own. Both are ominous signs that signify the ultimate forced migration of Albanians out of their land.

Conclusion

Shok is a powerful short film that will show you the war crimes that took place in the Kosovo War. It packs as much into 21 minutes as a feature film would in 100, without feeling rushed. Shok was the first Oscar nomination from Kosovo and is well worth 21 minutes of your time. Go find it on iTunes or online now!

As for more films which explore life living in a conflict and under occupation, I’d check out Omar and Ajami which both explore the Israel-Palestine conflict.

410

The 10th Victim (Italy)

The 10th Victim Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Yes! There is a film which is a combination of Austin Powers and The Hunger Games. It’s called The 10th Victim and it was made in Italy in the 1960s. You may be thinking: “how does it work?” My answer is: don’t worry about it, the dystopian world that director Elio Petri creates is worth your time. It’s colours, setting, and subtle critiques of modern society make this film one of the most unique films and one that you should watch.

Why Watch The 10th Victim?

To watch the Italian 60s equivalent to the Hunger Games
This dystopia is complete with brothels, minimalist furniture and fashion, artificial insemination centres, and no old people!
It features Marcello Mastroianni from La Dolce Vita and Ursula Andress (the first Bond girl)
To find out more about ‘The Big Hunt’ – “Hitler would have become a member”

The Breakdown

The 10th Victim starts with a gun shootout between a man and a woman in an abandoned warehouse. As they are firing at each other, a narrator pauses the action to explain what is going on. The man and woman are members of ‘The Big Hunt’, a game where one plays 5 times as a hunter and 5 times as a victim. As a hunter, you are given a target to kill. However, as a victim, you must try and find out who your hunter is and kill them before they kill you. The one who comes out alive after 10 rounds is honoured and given $1million. Would you become a member?

The ‘Big Hunt theory’ is advertised throughout the film with it’s many slogans. Here’s some of the best:

“If you are suicidal, the big hunt has a special place for you”
“An Enemy a day keeps the doctor away”
“Hitler would have become a member”

The whole event was thought up as an outlet for violence (an idea also shown in The Most Dangerous Game based on the Spartan Crypteia event).

In The 10th Victim the violence is limited to those who choose to take part in the big hunt. Taking part is a quick way to find fame as the best killers are constantly stalked by paparazzi and dominate the news. These killers are the equivalent of today’s celebrity. They relish the spotlight, support the biggest brands, and always have to look good for the camera. This is one of the strangest, memorable critiques of capitalism on film.

Conclusion

Elio Petri’s The 10th Victim is a pop-culture blast. The world he creates is unlike anything you’ve seen, with bright colours, minimalistic architecture, and one-tone clothing. The wacky soundtrack confirms that Elio Petri’s tongue was firmly in his cheek when he was making this film. The cheesiness and laughs are all part of the satire that makes fun of consumerism, corporations, and celebrity culture. What a strange but awesome film!