Black Book (2006)

Black Book – Paul Verhoeven

Zwartboek (original title)

Summary:  In nazi-occupied Netherlands, Rachel Stein (Carice van Houten) is forced to flee when the farmhouse she’s been hiding in is destroyed.  She tries to escape to Belgium but comes under fire in a planned Nazi ambush.  Rachel narrowly survives but still remains within occupied territory.   She creates a non-Jewish alias Ellis de Vries and bleaches her hair to go undetected, yet soon discovers a Dutch resistance group she becomes involved with.  Each risk she takes for the group grows greater and is then given the dangerous and ultimate task to seduce the SD commander Hauptsturmführer Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch), which comes with its own perils she wasn’t expecting.

My Review:  Preparing myself for a heavy and traumatic World War II story, I was taken back at how forward leading lady Rachel Stein is in flirting, seducing and having no strings sex for a Jewish woman during the 1940’s.  Now that I’ve realised Carice van Houten is the same actress as Melisandre from Game of Thrones I might have expected more nudity and seducing.  Actually no, I take that back. I wouldn’t have expected it as this is a war film after all.  Don’t get me wrong, there is undoubtedly upsetting scenes in the Black Book film that doesn’t make light of the situation.  Yet the almost British slapstick style of how men might be easily manipulated by sex overtakes it’s seriousness.  Although I can see the utter determination in Carice’s character for survival, the fact she believes she can get out of most run-in’s with the Nazis with either a wink or a flash of her legs borders on comical.  A happy, go-lucky persona from a Jewish woman surely didn’t work on the SS that successfully.  Or perhaps it’s because of prudish Britishness (no sex in a serious war flick please).

My Rating: 2/5

Know a great Dutch film you can recommend me?  Please share it in the comments section below!

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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Ang Lee

Wo hu cang long (original title)

Summary:  Master Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) is one of the greatest warriors the Qing dynasty has ever seen.  Yet he vows to give up his former life as a swordsman and turns in his legendary sword, the Green Destiny, after his master was sadly killed.  He asks Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) as a favour to transport his sword to Beijing, where she must give it as a gift to their old friend Sir Te (Sihung Lung).  But it is while Shu Lien stays at Sir Te’s estate that the Green Destiny is stolen, causing both Shu Lien and Mu Bai to pursue the thief and throws them back into their fighting lives.  Only the chase in retrieving the sword is not so simple as the warrior pair soon discover and come face-to-face with the killer of Mu Bai’s master, and her accomplice.

My Review:  After watching Ip Man (2008), I wasn’t sure if it was a fluke that I enjoyed a kung fu movie as much as I did.  But Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has surprised me once again! I really liked it and found it very entertaining and no, there’s no sarcasm to detect here!  I actually really liked the the choreography of the fight scenes, that some find hard to believe (especially the fight scene in the trees) and found the connecting storylines worked well, with little cheesiness.  Perhaps it was the $17 million budget pumped behind it that made it more accessible to a western audience with an appetite for big budget movies.  But to me, it still had that mythical kung fu sheen that drew me in.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Love kung fu and martial art films?  Love them or hate them, recommend me your favourite world cinema films in the comments section below!

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The Wind Rises (2013)

The Wind Rises – Hayao Miyazaki

Kaze tachinu (original title)

Summary:  Since a boy, Jirô Horikoshi (voiced by Hideaki Anno) dreams of flying.  Upon discovering his unfortunate nearsightedness he doesn’t let it thwart his fascination with aircrafts; instead Jirô decides if he can’t fly planes, he’ll design them.  Yet, life hasn’t laid an easy path for him, but with each struggle greater than the one before, they each guide him closer to his goal.  When he begins his journey travelling to Tokyo to begin his studies in aeronatuical engineering the Great Kanto Earthquake strikes. Panic and devastation spreads around him, yet a chance meeting with a young girl called Naoko (voiced by Miori Takimoto) will later have a big impact on his life too, despite leaving her and her maid he had helped to safety without leaving his name.  He walks away and continues his life towards becoming one of Japan’s greatest airplane designers in history.

My Review:  This wasn’t the type of Studio Ghibli I was expecting.  Although I have watched some creations from the Japanese animation powerhouse that have certainly had a teaching element; The Wind Rises told a different tale of true historical stories Japan experienced and learnt from in it’s history.  That’s not the usual imagined faraway places, with magnificent characters and beings, but it wasn’t disappointing either.  It scratches at the surface of a number of unhappy times for the country, like the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1927 as mentioned above, the effects of the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidermic and Japan’s involvement in the war.  All still with the Studio Ghibli’s glowing wonder of stunning visuals. It may be a bittersweet struggle The Wind Rises shows of Jirô’s journey in becoming an accomplished airplane designer, against formidable hurdles, but it’s his quiet ambition that’s the real uplifting factor, if you watch it closely enough.

My Rating: 2.5/5

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Yves Saint Laurent (2014)

Yves Saint Laurent – Jalil Lespert

Summary:  Partner in both business and love, Pierre Berge looks through his life with pioneering fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.  From his beginnings of growing up in Algeria with his family before he knew him, to the the start of his stunningly successful fashion career taking over from Christian Dior, before establishing his own brand.  Spanning through the years of their dynamic business partnership and the heavy struggles of their personal relationship, pulled under the pressure of Yves’ dependency to alcohol, drugs and many other dark times, the film gives a personal insight of the man, his inventiveness and his wondrous but at times troubled life.

My Review:  Yves Saint Laurent, a man who didn’t just simply dress women but empowered them.  Some reviews say his life simply wasn’t enough for this biopic, others claim it falls flat and boring.  I agree with neither; believing it doesn’t deserve quite as much criticism it received.  I knew of Yves himself (played by Pierre Niney), but little or near nothing of Pierre (Guillaume Gallienne) before watching it.  The narration, read as if from a letter by Pierre to Yves, has a both personal and touching delivery as we see who the man Yves was through his lover’s eyes, whilst learning about them both.  This may take away its French feel for some, but added authenticity for me of how they were together and separately.  It may help to know some of the fashion label’s background and achievements before watching to fully understand the introduction (and departures) of some characters, but it’s not all that necessary.  Yves Saint Laurent isn’t trying to be the biopic of Yves Saint Laurent, yet a string of memories from his partner who stayed with him up until his dying days.  Insightful and intimate and still an admirable ode to the man and his work.

My Rating: 3/5

Can you recommend me a better French film?  Give it your best shot in the comments below!

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Delicatessen (1991)

Delicatessen – Marc Caro & Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Summary: In a post-apocalyptic France, grain, lentils or the very shoes you wear on your feet have taken over from currency and what were once life’s little luxuries – like meat in particular – is scarce.  Ex-circus clown Louison (Dominique Pinon) arrives in a quiet town to take up an advertised vacant position in routine maintenance for an apartment building.  Accepted, he lives and works in the collection of flats that are filled with its variety of residents, including the landlord (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) who works and runs the petite delicatessen on the ground floor.  His daughter (Marie-Laure Dougnac) also resides in the building and strikes up a close friendship with Louison, who she must now try and protect from the dangers the world now lives in and the sinister plan that’s behind the job that lured him here.

My Review:  From the creators that would later bring us the enchanting Amélie and wondrously gothic The City of Lost Children, comes their debut Delicatessen.  I now know the pair originally started out making music videos and adverts in France, before splashing out in this first big feature film that’ll tickle any fans of black comedy.  It’s a good thing they did take the plunge as it’s certainly rewarded them with genuine and admiring film fans not just in the circle of world cinema devotees.  Delicatessen is darkly amusing and pokes fun at how far we the human race might go to still enjoy eating in a world skint on rations.  It includes cannibalism, vegetarian freedom fighters and botched suicide attempts and yet the film is still understatedly magical and charming.  You’ll find it hard not to love the weird quirky characters in France’s dystopian yet fantastical future.

My Rating: 2.5/5

What’s your favourite French film, French director or actor?  Let me know in the comments section below!

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Akira (1988)

Akira – Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Summary:  Tokyo has been destroyed by a psychic explosion, triggering World War III.  A new city is built within its place and named Neo-Tokyo.  By 2019 Neo-Tokyo has grown into a dystopian metropolis, overrun by gang violence and anti-government terrorism.  It is one night when two rival motorcycle gangs fight against one another, speeding down vast highways, when Tetsuo Shima (voice of Nozomu Sasaki) narrowly avoids colliding with someone, or something, in the middle of the road.  The next thing Tetsuo remembers is waking up in a secret government hospital to horrifying hallucinations, suffering unbearable pain, but holding newly acquired psychic and powerful abilities.  What he doesn’t know is why this is happening or how he’s now mixed up in a governmental secret defence project named Akira.

My Review:  Not being able to recall when, how or where; I’ve always been aware of Akira’s cult presence, visually at least.  The striking red motorcycle and red leather gang outfit is apparently etched into my memory from somewhere, because when I saw Akira in a top 100 world cinema film list, I recognised it.  However, I also knew I’ve never watched it.  Having only dipped my toes into Japanese anime since my childhood love of Pokémon, and thus other anime TV shows, it’s incredible how such a landmark animation film was made just a year before I was born.  The sheer power and force of creativity in both the story and the film’s animation really is astounding; it’s no wonder why this film is so respected.  If you’re one who doesn’t ‘get’ Japanese anime, this could open up a whole new world for you.  It has me.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Are you a big fan of Japanese Anime?  Recommend your favourite anime films in the comments section below!

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The Great Beauty (2013)

The Great Beauty – Paolo Sorrentino

La grande bellezza (original title)

Summary:  Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) is turning 65 years old.  A member of Rome’s high society, he’s revered among his peers since hitting success with his first and only novel written in his twenties and his following journalistic career, spanning the rest of his life.  He welcomes his sixty-fifth birthday with a lavish, yet familiar rooftop party, soon to have his contentment thrown by a series of events.  A shock from the past changes his disposition and leaves him feeling unfulfilled.  He tires of the constant parties and tries to look beyond the superficiality of art, of people and of his lifestyle, to keep returning to the same theme and the same search for ‘the Great Beauty.’

My Review:  I was seriously impressed by The Consequences of Love, the first and only Paolo Sorrentino film I had ever watched.  Combine this with a film title like The Great Beauty, it was hard not to just lay down, kick back and expect to be amazed.  What I found instead was a film with a number of hidden, intricate meanings of ageing, death and fulfillments, set within the beautiful backdrop of Rome.  Perhaps Jep unpeels to finds ‘the great beauty’ in his life is actually Rome, that he’s never found the unrequited love or been able to pin down his second novel.  A number of meanings can be picked from the movie (of which please feel free to comment below with yours), leaving it very ambiguous and almost a world apart from The Consequences of Love.  Actor Toni Servillo transforms his character from a man with dry humour and quick wit, to a wandering soul swept up in the intensity of his own bewildering feelings.  A film that sits and stays with you a while, to be watched at least for the beautifully decadent shots of Rome.

My Rating: 3/5

What’s your favourite Italian film?  Leave you recommendations below!

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Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Jiro Dreams of Sushi – David Gleb

Summary:  Jiro Ono owns Sukiyabashi Jiro, a small sushi restaurant renowned worldwide, situated in the basement of an office building in Tokyo, Japan.  There are only ten seats in the restaurant, yet it’s been rewarded with three Michelin stars, needs to be booked months in advance and costs 30,000 Japanese yen (around £190/$265) for a tasting menu.  At the age of 85 years old, Jiro has achieved legendary sushi chef status and still works in his restaurant everyday, beside his eldest son Yoshikazu.  Yoshikazu understands and feels the pressure of taking over from his father when he’ll pass away and tries to learn from him everyday before that time comes.

My Review:  Although I realise the makers of this documentary are American, I still thought Jiro Dreams of Sushi could squeeze into the world cinema category and shouldn’t be missed from this blog.  Another reason why it shouldn’t be missed is because of it being a truly fascinating watch.  Director David Gelb admitted his initial intention was to make a film about a lot of different sushi restaurants and their different styles, yet when I visited Jiro’s restaurant he was amazed by how greater his sushi was to other sushi restaurants.  What made the place all the more compelling?  Jiro himself, who as Gelb describes is ‘relentless [in his] pursuit of perfection.’ Whether you’re a fan of sushi or not you can’t help but admire Jiro’s passion for his craft, or some might say art.  Apprenticeships at Sukiyabashi Jiro endure for 10 years before they’re allowed onto the simplest of sushi dishes.  An octopus has to be massaged for 50 mins before being prepared into a dish.  Every dish is critiqued – yet Jiro is neither cutthroat or fierce and instead quietly masterful.  A wondrous watch and a must-see for any Japanese culture vulture.

My Rating: 4/5

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Do you know of any great world cinema documentaries?  Let me know in the comments section below!

I Am Love (2009)

I Am Love – Luca Guadagnino

Io sono l’amore (original title)

Summary:  Over two decades ago, Emma (Tilda Swinton) left her home in Russia to marry Tancredi Recchi (Pippo Delbono), an Italian businessman.  Now living in Milan, her husband runs a successful and family-run textile factory, with two sons and one daughter.  One of her sons, Edoardo Jr. (Flavio Parenti), a jockey, loses a race on the day of his father’s birthday, yet his spirits are seemingly not dampened when he arrives at the family dinner party afterwards.  The winner of the race interrupts the dinner later in the evening to bring Edoardo Jr. a beautiful cake as a gift.  Edoardo Jr. invites him in and briefly introduces him to his mother, Emma, yet Antonio (Edoardo Gabbriellini) declines to stay.  Edoardi Jr. and Antonio soon become close friends, looking to open a restaurant together, however his introduction to the family will not only bring them closer together, but also looks to pull them apart. 

My Review: I Am Love was beautiful.  You get a real sense of the (very) affluent family’s setting living in Milan, but also the unease that a major disruption is on its way.  The set, mostly within a beautiful Italian mansion, to begin with, then gracing across the sumptuously sun-kissed European continent, the cast and their clothing attire, flows all so seamlessly, as does Tilda’s Italian dialogue.  This, however, is not the true reward of her performance and instead lies in her quiet surrender.   The chaotic spin of events nearing the end of film mimics that delirious feeling love can consume you within.  Very emotional, enjoyable and of course very chic – a wonderful watch, in every way.

My Rating: 4/5

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What’s your favourite Italian film?  Comment below or tell me through Revenge, Love & Bicycles’ Instagram account here.

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

The Secret in Their Eyes – Juan José Campanella

El secreto de sus ojos (original title)

Summary:  Retired, divorced legal counsellor Benjamín Espósito (Ricardo Darín) sets out on writing a novel on the closed case involving the brutal rape and murder of Liliana Coloto (Carla Quevedo).  Having personally worked on the case 25 years earlier, he feels inextricably drawn back into it and its events.  As he begins to write he discovers he is still haunted by a number of memories left both unexplained and unsolved.  He soon hits a writing block and visits the justice department’s chief at that time Irene Menéndez-Hastings (Soledad Villamil), who reacts to the news of his novel with unease.  They’ve never spoken of the case since, but to help him finish the book she tells him to start at the beginning and he thinks back to when he was first assigned the case.

My Review:  An unpredictable crime thriller flashing between the two parallels of past and present.  The Secret in Their Eyes has a particularly clever tact, arguably not noticeable at first, when peeling away each layer of mystery from its past scenes, it does so by also revealing mysteries of its present.  A skilfully laid-out plot, with good casting and intriguing depth, it deservedly won an Oscar back in 2010 for best film in a foreign language (leaving Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon ignored for the same nomination).  Highlights include a gripping chase through a football stadium, both brilliantly shot and coordinated, and separately a speech on a man’s passion, from Espósito’s sidekick Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella), that leaves a mark.   Two hours of an enjoyable watch.

My Rating:  4/5

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Love world cinema?  Recommend me a film to watch in the comments section below!