A Drama Written by Jihad Hojeily, Michelle Keserwany, Nadine Labaki, & Khaled Mouzanar Directed by Nadine Labaki Zain is probably about 12. No one knows for sure. He's on trial for stabbing and wounding a man. He's also suing his parents in court. No, not for neglect, but simply for bringing him into this world … Continue reading Capernaum: Growing up too fast in Lebanon
Category: Social Issues
If Beale Street Could Talk it would praise this movie
A- Drama Written by Barry Jenkins, from the novel by James Baldwin Directed by Barry Jenkins The Republican establishment won't know what to say about Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk. It's about a man falsely accused of rape, which as I write this is the Great Fear of the Fox News crowd. But … Continue reading If Beale Street Could Talk it would praise this movie
Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
C documentary Directed by Frederick Wiseman Frederick Wiseman's latest documentary studies life in a small, agricultural town in what we might call Trump country. We see people at work. We see people exercising. We see people joking around and telling funny stories. We see people in church and in town meetings. And when we don't … Continue reading Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
The War at Home seems so far away now
B Restored documentary Directed by Glenn Silber and Barry Alexander Brown I usually review new films. But this time, I'm reviewing a new restoration of a nearly 40-year-old documentary. Some people may find it nostalgic; I didn't. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, America was in a hopeless, unwinnable, far-away war in Vietnam. College students, … Continue reading The War at Home seems so far away now
United Nations Festival starts tonight
I can't possibly cover all the Bay Area film festivals. It's hard enough just listing them. However, just this morning, I realized that I should write something about the United Nations Association Film Festival, which opens tonight. After all, its screening three movies that I've already seen. None of these films are likely to get … Continue reading United Nations Festival starts tonight
Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
This year's Mill Valley Film Festival closed Sunday. I caught two narrative films there. I loved them both. Both films will get theatrical releases in the near future. A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for … Continue reading Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
The Hate U Give comes back to you
A- Drama Written by Audrey Wells, from a novel by Angie Thomas Directed by George Tillman Jr. Of this year's many impressive films about the African-American experience, The Hate U Give must be the most thematically ambitious. It covers police brutality, inner-city neighborhoods, being black in an overwhelmingly white school, drug dealing, black-on-black violence, demonstrations, riots, … Continue reading The Hate U Give comes back to you
