Rowan Sullivan, Author at FilmRoot

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The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)

Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Imagine a world where everything you say or do is watched by the government. Sound like an episode of Black Mirror?

This was often a part of a public figure’s life in Eastern Germany. There could be microphones hidden behind your light switch, cameras in discrete places above your door, and wire taps on your phone. Get an insight into state spying in this film, and their role in shaping the countries artists. The Lives of Others reminded me of a Speilberg great because of it’s great characters. But for all you who don’t trust me, trust Rotten Tomatoes, there’s a 93% chance you’ll like it.

Why Watch the Lives of Others?

Are you interested in what went on behind the ‘Iron Curtain’? The accuracy of the film’s set and atmosphere stunned former East Germans!
You’re scared by what Edward Snowden leaked a few years ago?
To learn some vital interrogation techniques!
This film won the Academy Award for the best foreign language film in 2006.

The Breakdown

The Lives of Others opens with a uniformed guard leading a man down a hallway that looks like a prison row. He is sat in one room opposite another uniformed man who starts to interrogate him. As the victim denies his involvement in smuggling a friend out of the country the director cuts to the same interrogator giving lectures to a group of university students. One student speaks out against the interrogation techniques and receives a cross against his name in the professors notebook. This guy doesn’t play around. Sure enough, he also gets an answer from the victim after keeping him awake for over 24hours and threatening to detain his family.

In the next scene, our clinical professor/interrogator is sitting at a local theatre watching a play by Dreyman. The subtle anti-state sentiment in the play sparks Wiesler’s suspicions. He can smell a rat anywhere. He gets out his binoculars to take a good look at Dreyman, who is sitting at the back of the theatre on his own. Seeing him through Wiesler’s binoculars makes him look even more alone. In Wiesler’s sight Dreyman is vulnerable and unaware of what is going to happen to him.

Also pay attention to the protagonists’ apartments which really add to the characterization of the two main characters. As state surveillance minister, Wiseler’s apartment is in an imposing concrete block of flats. His apartment is spotlessly clean, with two small uninspiring pictures on his four walls. In contrast, Dreyman’s flat is messy and cluttered, with books stacked up on his desk and against the walls. As a result, their rooms add to their characters. Wiseler’s apartment signals precision, decisiveness, and a distinct lack of emotion. In contrast, Dreyman’s messy apartment makes him seem even more creative, friendly, and relatable.

Conclusion

Out of all the films I’ve reviewed for this site so far, I think that The Lives of Others is a great place to start on your foreign film adventure. It is a great story, easy to follow, and carries a lot of tension. If you’re a seasoned film buff, it’s time to add this to your collection!

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Ajami

Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

On Mubi, Ajami is compared to Brazil’s City of God for it’s use of non-actors and gritty look at life in a city. But I think it compares better with Amores Perros because of it’s narrative structure. Produced by both a Palestinian and an Israeli, this film sheds light on what seems to be an unbiased look at Israel. Building until the last puzzle piece is added, the Academy Award nominee Ajami is one to watch!

Why Watch Ajami?

Get a feel for race relations in Israel – the role of borders and race relations makes Ajami a lot more relevant than some might think.
What drives someone to do something out of character?
Looking for a cleverly layered multiple narrative like Amores Perros, Traffic, or Magnolia? Look no further.
Be amazed at the auction-style way that family disputes are solved.

Breakdown

Nasri, Omar’s younger brother, narrates the opening as he draws a comic book. He introduces us to his neighbour who is fixing Omar’s car and then to his grandpa who he takes care of and washes due to his paralysis. It all seems pretty normal, pretty pleasant. Then two men riding on a motorbike pass by and shoot Nasri’s neighbour fixing their car.

From this point the film takes on a City of God feel as Nasri takes us back in time to explain what events led his neighbour to be shot. After this introduction, the film switches stylistically to a more natural, documentary like style. The colours become washed out, the dialogue takes centre stage, and the music is noticeably absent.

In addition, things happen really quickly. The dialogue is very punchy and snappy, not because of what the characters are saying, but how quickly people respond to each other. The narrative matches the fast pace of the dialogue. A birthday surprise happens so quickly that I felt almost suspicious of it’s authenticity. This made me start to question the authenticity of every character in the film. A lot of them are forced to act outside of their normal character.

Ajami’s genius lies in it’s narratives which are linked in non-chronological order. They come together to create a fatalistic quilt made of interlinking religions, races, and emotions.

Ajami is “a sustained gaze into a widening, all-encompassing trap” – Eric Hynes at Indiewire

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Phenomena

Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Phenomena sure is unique. Yes, it has a lot of the usual characteristics that form the horror genre but, it is definitely not your typical horror flick. Phenomena follows the daughter of a famous American actor who has a strong psychic connection with insects. She is sent to a Swiss boarding school in an area where some girls have been disappearing. And, of course, she sleepwalks.

Why Watch Phenomena?

In addition to the insect-girl mentioned above, this film features an old man in a wheelchair and his pet chimpanzee.
It’s backed by a very loud 80s heavy metal soundtrack to provide some relief to some of the more tense moments.
Lucky for you, there’s no subtitles – it’s mostly in English despite being an Italian film.
Ever wondered what a horror remake of the Sound of Music might look like? Well here’s your chance to find out.

The Breakdown

Phenomena starts in a Swiss Alpine setting. A yellow bus pulls up at a bus stop, picks up a few passengers from a tour group and drives off. As the camera follows the bus (moving on a 180 degree axis) we hear someone shouting “wait”. The camera moves back to the left to see a girl running up to the camera. She’s missed the bus. So what does she do? She goes to explore a house nearby. To her, the house looks empty. But to us, we see shots of some chains being pulled from the wall… she has company!!!

In the opening ‘scare’ the monster is concealed from view. We see the girl running away from the monster through the monsters eyes and we see shots of the girl running, but never shots of the monster itself. This continues deep into the film to build up our fear of the unknown. Revealing the killer would end the build up of tension. (although the heavy metal music seems to weaken the potential scare factor).

Another method the director uses to build tension is to quickly cut between perspectives. For example, later in the film our young American girl is exploring an abandoned house. As she walks up to the house Argento (the director) cuts between her 1st person perspective, a 3rd person perspective view from behind her back, and another establishing shot, to show where she is (in a field in the Swiss Alps walking to a wooden house). This combination of perspectives disorientates the viewer, and stops the viewer from anticipating what will happen, which leads to a greater shock.

If you’re looking for an 80s horror film with a dash of psychedelia and a dash of heavy metal, then Phenomena is for you. Enjoy.

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Lupe Under the Sun (Lupe Bajo El Sol) – London Film Festival 2016

Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Lupe Under the Sun features an ageing migrant worker from Michoacan working in California’s Central Valley. It deals with the vagueness of migrant identity – is Lupe Mexican or American? Or both and neither at the same time? The director, Rodrigo Reyes, shows migration to be both an inspired act of hope and a frightening leap into the unknown.

Why Watch Lupe Under the Sun?

For a timely look at the life of a lonely migrant worker in the U.S. a group verbally assaulted by Trump
To see an old man riding a tricycle
Step in somebody else’s shoes – take a walk through the eyes of an immigrant worker in an unfamiliar environment which you call home
What does it mean to not belong?

The Breakdown

The film starts with a narration by Lupe’s grandson as Lupe walks through arid landscape and orchards.

He says that his grandfather told him a secret; that he was going to America to paint a really big house that will take him a long time. He won’t be back for some time, because he has to keep painting.

Does Lupe really belong here? He doesn’t talk to anyone, except one scene where he is gambling around a small table with two other guys. He doesn’t answer his girlfriend, he mumbles back to the doctor, and doesn’t make any effort to start any conversation. His lack of dialogue emphasises his lack of belonging and identity. He has no friends and no one he cares about in the Central Valley. He has no reason to stay where he is or go home.

Furthermore, his days are occupied by ritual. He wakes up at 4am each morning, cooks his eggs, showers, and shaves his moustache before he gets picked up to go pick fruit. Each day we are shown this same ritual emphasised by fixed shots of the alarm clock, the cooking hob, and the kitchen sink. The repeated shots emphasise the mundaneness of Lupe’s life – is he brave for sticking out this monotone life? His only joy seems to come from riding his tricycle around town.

Why is Lupe living here? Why doesn’t he go back to Mexico where he might feel a little more belonging? Lupe is symbolic of the ‘no-man’s land’ of migrant identity – he is both the man of his past life in Mexico and the man of his present in the U.S. Pick this one for a quiet night in to watch with someone else – watching it alone might make you question your loneliness.

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Neruda

Film Buff Ranking: 3

Neruda is a rather special take on the famous Chilean poets life. Instead of focusing on his fabulous poetry, Neruda focuses on his Pablo’s run from persecution for being a communist. Throughout, Neruda is being hunted by a police inspector named Peluchonneau. In all, the film reminded me of a Borgesian short story with a hilariously Quixotic character.

Why watch Neruda?

You have read and enjoyed Borges
Multiple narratives – try and follow this one! Is it real?
Chilean history -communist persecution (for more on communist persecution, see a real account of the Indonesian death squads here)
For an interesting take on the biopic (think of Frida)

The Breakdown

The film starts with cameras following Neruda through a crowd. He makes his way through a government building greeting people next to him. He finally makes it through to a room where the president and the other senators are (for Neruda is also a senator), goes straight over to the urinal conveniently placed at the side of the room and berates the president out loud whilst he is taking a piss. What a scene! It certainly sets it up for a rather surreal and jovial film.

Neruda is a masterful invention. The character of Peluchonneau, played by the wonderful Gabriel Garcia Bernal, a character invented to embellish Neruda’s reputation. He is Neruda’s (or the director’s Larrain’s) puppet, a tool to show Neruda’s creative vision. Even the name Peluchonneau is perfect, as “peluche” in Spanish refers to a stuffed animal toy. This is exactly what Peluchonneau is, a character that is invented, used to entertain us, and then forgotten when we grow older. Luckily for the film and for us, the director and screenwriters script him perfectly.

Just like in Y Tu Mama Tambien, the events at the front of the screen take centre stage. You can see the effects of the communist persecution in the background. People are being dragged off to concentration camps, homeless kids are wandering the streets begging for money, and indigenous populations are being subjected to landlords. Furthermore these landlords deliberately break the law, just because the government does not care about them anyway. This is the real post-WW2 Chile, not the Chile concerned with a fictional or non-fictional chase of Neruda that pre-occupied everything else.

Conclusion

Neruda is definitely worth a watch. Fans of literature will love the construction of Pelloneau and his fictional existence. It is a little bit of a fight club in this regard. Pelloneau could not exist without Neruda and Neruda’s excellence is heightened by Pelloneau. As a Latin America Literature lover, this truly captured the unique spirit of the continent.