B+ The Colors of the Mountain. On one level, this is a funny tale about adorable boys who love soccer, set against beautiful mountain scenery. On another, and more important level, it's about the harse realities of third-world life when caught between violent revolutionaries and an utterly heartless and cruel government. At first, Manuel's life … Continue reading SFIFF: The Colors of the Mountain

After two documentaries, two dramas, and a comedy that may have been a tragedy, I felt I needed to see a political thriller. I made an excellent choice. A Walking Too Fast. Set in Communist Czechoslovakia before the Velvet Revolution, Radim Spacek’s taut thriller provides one of the best villains I’ve seen in a long … Continue reading SFIFF: Walking Too Fast

Two pictures I saw Saturday that, by coincidence, happen to be adjacent to each other in the San Francisco International Film Festival's alphabetical list of films: A Life, Above All. Children must often carry greater and more difficult burdens than they should bear. Occasionally, an unusual child is up to the task. That's the case … Continue reading SFIFF: Life, Above All & The Light Thief

Funny. I saw two films at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Friday—a Danish documentary and a Greek drama. They both concerned themselves with a grown but immature woman too dependent on a parent, and they both had a scene of a loved one’s ashes being scattered into the sea. One big difference: Attenberg’s … Continue reading SFIFF: Attenberg

I'm writing this on my phone so I'll keep it brief. I received the press release yesterday afternoon: Oliver Stone will receive the Founder's Directing Award at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. He will be honored Wednesday, April 27 at the Kabuki. A film of his will be screened. Which one has yet … Continue reading Oliver Stone to Receive Director’s Award