I loved Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List when I first saw it in 1993. It blew me away. Within a year or so I bought the Laserdisc (used), and watched it two or three times over the next decade. I recently revisited it for the first time in maybe 15 years - this time via Netflix. … Continue reading Revisiting Schindler’s List
Category: Drama
Drama
The Teacher provides a lesson on Communism
B Drama Written by Petr Jarchovský Directed by Jan Hrebejk The new middle school teacher expects her students - and their parents - to make life easier for her. She wants them to clean her home, do her errands, even smuggle a cake into another country. In exchange, she'll slip them information that will help … Continue reading The Teacher provides a lesson on Communism
Machismo faces the Holocaust: My Blu-ray review of Seven Beauties
Lina Wertmüller's 1975 masterpiece, Seven Beauties, is a Holocaust film (with no recognizably Jewish characters), an examination of Italian machismo, and a witheringly sad and disturbing drama. And at times, it becomes a very funny slapstick comedy. Giancarlo Giannini stars as Pasqualino, a charming but somewhat dense egomaniac. He lives in Naples with his mother … Continue reading Machismo faces the Holocaust: My Blu-ray review of Seven Beauties
Italian comedy & American tragedy: Friday night at the Pacific Film Archive
My wife and I attended two very different films last night (Friday night) at the Pacific Film Archive. One was a 1963, Italian satire on consumerism that is only now being released in the States. The other was an American classic. Both movies recently enjoyed fine digital restorations. Both were screened from DCPs. We sat … Continue reading Italian comedy & American tragedy: Friday night at the Pacific Film Archive
Gook finds no meaning in Rodney King riots
D+ Inner-city drama Written & directed by Justin Chon Everything about Gook tells you that this is an important film. It deals with racial conflict between Americans of African and Korean decent. It's set in one of those poor, dangerous Los Angeles neighborhoods that white people try to avoid. It's set in 1992, on the … Continue reading Gook finds no meaning in Rodney King riots
After Love: How marriage dies
B- relationship drama Written by Mazarine Pingeot, Fanny Burdino, and Joachim Lafosse Directed by Joachim Lafosse The French divorce drama After Love feels very true to life. It reminded me of actual marriages I've seen fall apart. It captures the arguments, the money problems, and the parenting issues to the letter. But that, in and … Continue reading After Love: How marriage dies
Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
A- Futuristic drama Written by Michael Almereyda; from the play by Jordan Harrison Directed by Michael Almereyda One of the hardest parts about losing a loved one is the knowledge that you will never talk to them again and hear a response. This moody, near-future drama posits a way that you just might be able … Continue reading Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
