drama

6

Loveless (Russia) – An Epic Drama for the Digital Age

Loveless Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

If you’ve seen Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan you need to see Loveless. If you haven’t seen Leviathan, what are you waiting for? Loveless is another dark drama from Zvyagintsev of epic proportions. It’s comparable to one of Shakespeare’s dark plays updated for the digital age. Plus, it’s not just a reflection of Russian society, but a reflection of all our lives.

Why Watch Loveless?
  • You can’t find better drama than this
  • It’s a story you usually don’t see on screen – what happens after the happy marriage – and yes, it’s dark
  • It’s the follow up to Zvyagintsev’s award winning Leviathan and it’s already won the Cannes Jury prize, you don’t have to rely on our opinion!
  • The setting! The snow and empty spaces make it even more chilling!
The Breakdown

Loveless starts with snow. It makes the town it falls on seem more serene; the calm before the storm. It’s the end of school for the day and the camera follows 12 year old Alexey as he walks home on his own. He finds a strip of police ‘do not cross’ tape and waves drags it along with him through the snow before throwing it into a leafless tree. Unlike his parents, he’s just a regular kid.

The opening 5 minutes of the film are focused on Alexey, but then the film is hi-jacked by his parents. When Alexey returns home, we find his parents arguing (they’re getting divorced). From their argument, we follow them through a day of each of their lives at work and their affairs for the next 30 minutes of the film. Alexey’s parents are doubly selfish. They steal the film’s narrative from him and also indulge in their own self-interests whilst they have the limelight. They force Alexey out of the film.

You may also notice the abundance of empty spaces and silence in the movie. The director may linger on a shot after the character has left or remain fixed on a character for slightly longer than normal. Zvyagintsev left these visual and audible pauses for us to give us time to think. This allows us to become ‘co-authors’ as we have time to add in our own interpretations. You’ll see that whilst Loveless is a Russian film, the message is relevant to all of us – making it possible to interpret.

Image result for loveless film

Conclusion

Loveless was one of the stand out films for me at the London Film Festival 2017. Just like Leviathan (which you should watch if you haven’t already) it’s storytelling is at the top level. On top of that, the visuals are a perfect compliment – they make the dark bits of the story darker, and offer us breaks to become co-authors.

Watch it when you can!

 

7

La Haine (Hate)

La Haine Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

This film was so provocative and great that the French Prime Minister at the time commissioned a mandatory screening for all entire French cabinet. The film brings social unrest to the big screen, showing us that Paris is not the romantic and happy city that Hollywood and beyond have portrayed it as. Here are the people we have forgotten. Like Taxi Driver and Do the Right Thing, La Haine gives a voice to the marginalised.

Why Watch La Haine?
  • You have been to Paris and seen the Eiffel Tower
  • If you love a good cinema verite film (other cinema verite favourites include Che, and Battle of Algiers)
  • For a male equivalent to Girlhood
  • Because just like Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, this film is a timeless representation of social unrest
The Breakdown

I’m not even going to narrate the opening scene. Instead here’s the opening quote, read over the top of ‘documentary’ film of rioting in Paris.

Heard about the guy that fell off the skyscraper? As he falls, he tries to reassures himself by repeating:

“So far, so good. So far, so good.

It’s not the fall that matters. It’s the landing.

But it’s not just the powerful narrative that makes La Haine a great movie, the film is also full of incredible camera work. Pay attention to the introduction of Said. He is introduced, facing forward, in the middle of the frame with the housing projects behind him. His eyes are shut, but as the camera zooms into his face, they open. The director cuts to a POV shot with only the back of Said’s head in focus. As the camera moves towards Said, it focuses on what he is looking at, a bunch of policeman who are as static as the birds in Hitchcock’s Birds. They are not here to serve and protect. This sets up the rising tensions between Said and his crew and the police.

For all of you who are familiar with New York City hip-hop, this paragraph is for you. For all of those who aren’t familiar with New York City hip-hop, go listen to Nas’ Illmatic and tell me if it could be a soundtrack to La Haine. Here’s my reasoning:

  • Hip-hop culture is prominent throughout the film, from breakdancing to DJing, it’s all covered.
  • The words “The World is Yours” (the main track on Illmatic) feature on a billboard which Said changes to “The World is Ours” to claim the streets and city which he lives in despite their disenfranchisement.
  • Both portray teenagers trapped within urban poverty and categorised because of it – there is no way out.
Conclusion

This film garnered so much critical buzz at Cannes and beyond. It is a timeless portrayal of disenfranchised teenagers growing up in the forgotten realms of cities. In addition, the camera work is extremely innovative. This might be the earliest film you’ve seen which uses drone cameras. In fact, apart from the appearance of Francs in the film (France’s old currency), I would have believed someone if they said that this film was made in the last few years.

(For an excellent piece on this film I’d recommend reading Indiewire’s review of the film 20 years on right here, although beware of Spoilers!)

8

Extraordinary Stories (Argentina) – Storytelling at it’s Finest!

Extraordinary Stories Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

This is storytelling at it’s finest. If you’re a fan of Borges or Pynchon’s mysteries you’ll love this film. Save this 4 hour wonder for a long journey or break it up into three viewings (with the 2 intervals). You can even try watching it here on YouTube.

Image result for extraordinary stories film

Why Watch Extraordinary Stories?
  • To see another great Argentinian film which is up there with Wild Tales and Secret in their Eyes (not the Hollywood remake)
  • Witness storytelling at it’s finest!
  • If you want 4 hours to go quickly (perfect for a long journey), otherwise this film is broken into three parts so easy to break into multiple viewings
  • Perfect for fans of Borges or Pynchon!
The Breakdown

Extraordinary Stories starts with the story of X, a man walking down a road. He is walking to a nearby town, not really sure if he will find a job there. Whilst he is walking down the road, he witnesses a shootout in a farm field next to the road. Have the perpetrators seen him watching?

This opening episode makes up episode 1. Next up is the story of Z, a man who has just started a new job in a remote town. The third story centres a bet between two rivals.

Without giving anything more away, each of the three stories get more and more interesting and extraordinary as the film progresses. Each one progresses in 5-15 minute episodes and you are often left wanting to see more at the end, like a good TV series.

The strangest part is that you never really find out much about the three main protagonists (X, Z, and H). You never learn their name or their background; each of them remains a mystery. They reminded me of characters from a Borges short story or a Pynchon novel.

Conclusion

You won’t find storytelling better than this. I was skeptical about this 4 hour movie, but I couldn’t stop watching it after I hit play. The director gives you enough to pique your interest in each short episode, always leaving you wanting to watch more.

9

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Germany)

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Buy this film by clicking on the Picture above!

Can you imagine a world 20 years after the fall of Hitler and the Nazis in which a former Nazi ended up in love with an Arab immigrant? Well you don’t have to, you just have to watch this film. You’ll experience racism, prejudice, and loneliness. The experience will hopefully be enough to help you feel the loneliness of life as an immigrant and to drop any prejudices you may have. The film is currently available to watch on YouTube (click on link).

Why Watch Ali: Fear Eats the Soul?
  • It will provoke a lot a debate! So much to talk about!
  • It is one of acclaimed German director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s masterpieces (it won awards at the prestigious Cannes film festival)
  • Experience racism and prejudice in Western Europe in the 1970s
  • See some excellent camerawork – partly discusses below
The Breakdown

Emmi, an old white German woman walks into a bar to get out of the pouring rain. The camera cuts 180 degrees to show a group of Arabs watching Emmi from the other end of the bar. Then the camera cuts back 180 degrees to show Emmi sit down at a seat closest to the door. The camera marks the distance between Emmi and the Arabs drinking at the other end of the bar. Will the distance between Emmi and the Arabs be broken?

One of the barmaids challenges Ali, one of the Arabs, to go and dance with the old woman. Not one to refuse a challenge, Ali crosses the race threshold and walks to the other end of the bar where Emmi is sitting. He asks her to dance, and she accepts! They both cross the threshold and walk past the other Arabs to a dance floor at the back of the bar. All of the bar’s clientele watch them in silence.

Through Emmi and Ali’s relationship we get to experience the horrible amount of racism and prejudice they face from shopkeepers, Emmi’s family, and the people she works and lives with. What stuck with me was the image of Emmi’s son-in-law (played by Fassbinder) sitting on the couch reading a newspaper. He is dressed shabbily, is skipping work, and threatens to hit his wife if she doesn’t go get him a beer. Whilst he is acting like a pig, he complains about all the Arab immigrants and refers to them as pigs. The best metaphor of hypocrisy.

Conlcusion and What to Watch Next

The camerawork and unlikely relationship make this film great. It will challenge your own prejudices. Amazingly there are still a load of remnants from the time of Hitler – Emmi even admits she was a Nazi just like everyone else living in Germany whilst he was in power. For an excellent film on race in Europe go watch this film!

For more films about immigration and the migrant experience check out:

  • Black Girl: Sembene’s classic about a Senegalese girl taken to France to work for a French family. It’s essential viewing and available on YouTube.
  • Sin Nombre (Amazon): A Central American thriller following one boy trying to flee the country to escape the notorious Mara gang
  • Paddington (Amazon): One Peruvian immigrant tries to fit in in the U.K.

 

 

10

Wild Strawberries (Sweden) – How Did You Live Your Life?

Wild Strawberries Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Do you have a grouchy grandpa or a grumpy old friend? Well this is the perfect film to watch with them. It reminds of us of our mortality and explores the meaning of life. Are we better off grumpy or friendly – watch and decide. I admit, it’s not a barrel of laughs, but it is thoughtful, beautiful, and worth every minute of your time.

Check three reasons to watch it below. Then watch it here on YouTube.

Why Watch Wild Strawberries?
  • For the perfect introduction to Swedish maestro, Ingmar Bergman
  • To explore the meaning of life!
  • It’s one of the greatest road trip films (although it is completely different to the extroverted Hollywood road trip films)
  • To see some scary dreams and visions
The Breakdown

Wild Strawberries starts with Isak, a 78 year old professor about to receive a doctorate. He thinks how he has become lonely in his old age (in an inner-monologue that we hear from a lot in this film) before he introduces us to his family and goes to wake up his maid. He is ready for a road trip!

It doesn’t seem like anyone really likes him though. In his old age, he has become lonely because he doesn’t like hanging out with his family or community. To add to that, he is plain rude. Whilst driving, he chauvinistically tells Marianne to stop smoking because she is a woman, and feigns forgetfulness when she brings up how rudely he dismissed her relationship with his son.

Luckily, he begins to change as he starts to look back on his life. One particular dream sets him on this path. In this dream Isak stops outside a house with boarded windows. He anxiously walks to the left of the house, but doesn’t walk more than 10 steps (the camera stops him). He walks to the right, but stops himself again. He looks up at the town clock, but there are no hands on it to tell the time. Then he sees a hearse approaching. As it moves closer, one of the wheels of the hearse gets stuck on a lamppost and the coffin falls out. As Isak moves closer to close it’s lid, the hand of his own corpse tries to pull him inside. Is he already dead?

Conclusion

Wild Strawberries is one of Ingmar Bergman’s classics. It takes a grumpy old man who doesn’t care for his family or community and shakes him with dreams and visions to try and change him. The road trip is his journey to understanding the meaning of life.