If you like food, Eat Drink Man Woman is your film. It’s at the centre of the Chu family from Taipei. It brings them together, it fuels their romantic escapes, and even brings them in touch with their past. It’s a guide through life in Taiwan.
From: Taiwan, AsiaContinue reading “Eat Drink Man Woman – Food is Life”
Watch: Trailer, Free on Tubi, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Like Water for Chocolate, Mi Familia, Lamb
From: Egypt, Africa Watch: Trailer, Mubi, Prime Video, JustWatch Next: After the Battle, The Insult, Saudi RunawayContinue reading “Scheherazade, Tell Me A Story – Down With the Patriarchy”
When you think of Samoa, you probably think of pacific island paradise. The Orator not only showcases the island’s beautiful scenery but also Samoan culture. It’s your chance to try and follow the ‘Samoan Way’. Check it out on Amazon here (free for Prime members).
The Orator starts with rain and the views and sounds of the natural landscape. It’s beautiful, lush green, and full of life. Then human voices start singing and the camera cuts to a picture of two grave stones in the middle of the forest.
They’re the graves of Saili’s parents. He visits them almost every day and tries to clear the graves of yam plants local farmers have planted around the site. But because of his size (he’s a dwarf/little person) he gets bullied around by the village. And the farmers planting yams around his parents graves threaten to cut of his head if he keeps vandalizing their crops.
Who’s Saili? It’s not entirely clear. All we know is that he’s a taro farmer and that he has a job as the night-time security guard of a local shop. He lives with his wife and her daughter although their relationship seems pretty cordial and friendly rather than romantic. His wife is an outcast just like him, after she was exiled from her home village for reasons we can only assume (probably for having her daughter out of wedlock?).
Director Tamasese doesn’t waste time with exposition in The Orator. Instead he immerses us straight into the movie, straight into the Samoan landscape, language, and culture. As a result, we have to figure out what is going on, as well as who the characters are and how they’re related to each other.
His aim is to make you feel like an outsider, just like the two main characters. They have lived most of their lives outside of the ‘Samoan Way’ and have to rediscover it whilst we are trying to figure it out. As a result, we identify more with their journey and struggle.
The Orator is a window into another world. With beautiful cinematography and a slow contemplative rhythm, you’ll slowly be introduced to the ‘Samoan Way’.
There are quite a few great films of indigenous people and customs from across Australasia. I strongly recommend checking out:
Or for another contemplative drama with a strong flavour of local life, check out Timbuktu, where you’ll see how the three tribes/ethnic groups of Timbuktu get along.
Brothers. If you have one you’ll appreciate the sibling rivalry in this Icelandic farmer dry comedy film. Ram’s has got two that hate each other. It’s all because they are both trying to be the best at breeding rams in a very unpopulated valley. There’s only room for one of them. But when serpie (a livestock disease) threatens both their herds, can they come together to keep their heritage alive?
From: Iceland, EuropeContinue reading “Rams – Lock Horns with this Icelandic Sibling Rivalry”
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Toni Erdmann, The Square, The Orator
Sexy Moms + One Uncontrollable Kid = Mommy, a film with Canadian Karaoke and Violence. Sounds like a game of Cards Against Humanity right!? A smart-phone like aspect ratio takes headlines in this one in a beautifully shot film about a single mother trying to raise her unpredictably violent son.
From: Canada, North AmericaContinue reading “Mommy – Sexy Moms and One Uncontrollable Teenager”
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: We Need to Talk About Kevin, Tangerine, Room
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