The last castle

The last castle (131 min)

Seen on the 30th January 2009

In the valle of Elah

In the valley of Elah (121 min)

Seen on the 25th January 2009

Interesting film about loss of children. A father embarks upon discovering the reasons of one of his children's AWO when coming back from Iraq. It presents the reality of war and the psychological trauma that follows.

The 40 Year Old Virgin

The 40 Year Old Virgin (116 min)

Seen on the 18th January 2009

This an american comedy which really worked for me. The plot is simple, 40 year-old Andy hangs out with a group of friends who cannot believe he is still virgin at his age. The film is funny mostly but turns serious when the prospect of a long-term, stable relationship appears for Andy. A funny and enjoyable film.

The life of others

The life of others (137 min)

Seen on the 18th January 2009

This is a truly enjoyable film. The life of others tells the story of a group of artists in Eastern Germany towards the end of the communist era. People live in a climate of suspicion as the all powerful states watches the lives of its people excusing this vigilante attitude as a greater good. When we meet Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler we immediately think we are in for quite a tense film. Wiesler is the archetypical tyrant who does not stop to contemplate human beings if they are braking the law. This rather cold and cynical character is assigned to spy on the lives of a group of artists who are rather content with the socialist establishment of the time.

Two spies move in the house of Georg Dreyman and his partner Christa-Maria Sieland. The turn of events that follows puts Georg in the middle of a counter GDR movement aiming at publishing a paper in a western periodical. Wiesler immediately realizes that something is cooking up so he investigates further. What happens next is really the focus of the film that only shows how human feelings can destroy but also save. In a turn of events the two characters (Wiesler and Dreyman) meet in reunified Germany when the situation has completely changed for both of them. An excellent film.

Parpados Azules

Parpados Azules (98 min)

Seen on the 17th January 2009

This is a very cryptic film. It talks about loneliness (both shared and individual) and what people do to overcome. It starts not telling the story of the main characters Victor and Marina but by telling us about an old, almost embittered elderly Lola. Lola sets the tone of the film, very cheerful in appearance, by telling us she is happy having divorced (one presumes) of a very macho and dominant husband.

To celebrate one more year of Lola's business, she gives away 10 days in a sunny, tropical island. Marina is the lucky (or perhaps unlucky) winner but faces a problem: who will go with her? Marina searches among his acquaintances but no one is around anymore, it's being too long since she last call. Her sister tries to take the price away from her but she refuses and we realize Marina must be a very lonely girl. She finds out another lonely soul Victor, who is very enthusiastic about a "common" past that Marina desperately tries to forget. The film to me raises the question: What is a better form of loneliness? Being by oneself or sharing loneliness with others? 

In the mood for love

In the mood for love (98 min)

Seen on the 11th January 2009

A very enjoyable film! The picture and the music are only two of the sensual elements of this visual poetry. Mr. X and Mrs. Y (the X and Y are mind) really have nothing in common except for sharing the corridor of their flats in Honk Kong. The landlady notices that with time neither Mr. X and Mrs. Y have nothing else to do in their spare time. These two have a wife and a husband who are always abroad. They get to know each other eventually when both of them in the noodles bar.

Mr. and Mrs. start realizing that their partners have very similar times to disappear and realize they are actually having an affair and that the move to this new flat was not casual. Mr. ad Mrs. start having a reaction to the unfaithfulness of their partners and start dating slowly leading to a more profound relationship. This relationship has to move on so they go to Singapore where they realize the force of their love might not be as strong as a normal reaction to the unfaithfulness of their partners. The last minutes of the film go fast and makes us think about the love that could have been but never was true.