two lives

two lives - zwei leben - part 3 for me of the german ff
this one with the added interest of being set in norway
the opening credits running with a state radio broadcast
announcing the dawn of a new era with germany re-unified
the opening scenes of a woman entering the new germany
then donning a disguise straight after coming through customs
next she is at a orphanage and archives centre looking for clues
she claims to have been raised there and pursuing just 1 worker
not really explained - but some relief she may be dead - noted
then a time-shift - 2 weeks earlier and back in rural norway
same woman - katrine - lives with submarine captain husband
her daughter and baby grand-daughter also living with them
standard early morning scenes of each getting ready for the day
latrine's mother called to perform baby-sitting duties - 4 generations
a lawyer comes calling - he wanting to get katrine's co-operation
her father part of the nazi occupation force and she released to the gdr
hers a compelling story of escape on a small boat to norway to find her mother
with the fall of the wall it seems there's now a case for reparation payments
the norwegian government to be held responsible for many cases like hers
katrine is inexplicably reluctant to help - and the orphanage visit re-plays
the film's title then making sense - she does seem to be living a dual life
explained further with her arranging a covert meeting with a german
he demanding she not take part in the case - too much at risk
there's also some very clever archive footage of them both
much younger and a grainy look to add to the authenticity
seems she was a german agent before returning to norway
but in the modern day she seems very content with her life
she loves her family dearly and agrees to take part in the case
court scenes then of her being interrogated about her return to norway
some gaps in her story exposed - and this audience member is struggling
something lost in translation maybe but there's many questions floating
katrine then doing her grandmother baby-walking duties in the town
the baby kidnapped - her agent companion responsible and a threat
his happy life about to be changed and so katrine ordered to leave
the lawyer views some tv footage of katrine - appealing to her mum
and clearly not the same person - that person then seen in archive
she shows up to find her mother but katrine the agent in her place
thankfully it's all making sense now - but the real katrine is shot
even though the new katrine actually tries to help her escape
but she sadly dies and her body is then hastily burnt in the forest
in the modern day katrine's cover is blown and her family in shock
she confesses her lie - she a stasi agent planted to find escapees
but now living her preferred life - but her husband rejects her
she heads to the airport to be put on a flight to cuba as arranged
but steps back from entering the plane and returns to her family
they now more reconciled to the situation and the love is there
katrine decides to turn herself in - and drives off to do that
but her brakes have been tampered with and she crashes
end of story - so well done - more education on east/west
the credits advising that in fact a badly burnt body was found
and that to this day ex-stasi agents are throughout europe
leading normal lives - so a reality angle also in the film
great film - though testing the powers of deduction
if the opportunity arose two lives = two viewings

west

german title - westen - second film seen at the german ff
this one set in the 1970's with the berlin wall still intact
and with it people desperate to escape from east to west
the opening scene of a house in the winter of east berlin
a man bidding a tearful farewell to a woman and child
3 years later - same place - the woman and child leaving
then seen in a car and receiving instructions for the escape
she - nelly - is handed false documents by her new fake husband
then at the border suspicion is aroused and so she is strip-searched
and with it a reminder of the serious intensity of the time and place
nothing found and through they go and deposited at a refugee centre
her celebratory mood seriously jaded by the condition of their new home
more so when she finds out some inhabitants have been there for years
a bit of doubt then creeping in about her expectations of freedom
there's a 12 stage process to be completed before she is accepted
including some rigorous interviews from the local authorities
an african-american representing the u.s. interests most robust
suggesting her partner from 3 years prior is on their radar
she believing him to have been killed in a car accident
this in his native moscow and far removed from her
but the suggestion he was/is a stasi police agent
mainly involved in drafting scientists to the west
all a shock to her of course and she also implicated
though she is unintimidated and defiant to her accusers
some sexual tension evident between her and the american
her young son alexej also having issues adjusting to his new life
teased by his peers, friends leaving for a better life constantly
his best companion is hans a loner man who looks out for him
and offers to help nelly secure an apartment of her own
her paranoia grows with the ever-present surveillance
and a realisation life in the east was similar but easier
alexej also expressing the desire to return - but no can do
she keeps on the case of fulfilling the settlement requirements
resolves the sexual tension with her accuser in a very direct way
leading to her learning more about her ex-partner who is likely alive
she is seen then in an ever-present state of suspicion of all she meets
and at the same time continues to distrust even those closest to her
hans in particular who is seen also by others as a stasi spy
nearly beaten to death by a gang of suspicious refugees
a turning point though as nelly and alexej nurse him
and she is finally accepted to live in west berlin
secures a job and an apartment and all looks good
hans left behind - but - on christmas eve a visit is made
happy ending - not unexpected and certainly well deserved
mission accomplished for the writer, director and all involved
a successful telling of the tale of life can be tough no matter where
the grass is not always greener - and - ultimately - all you need is...
happy with that too - a great tale of east vs west from the heart of it
re-confirming my theory re film festivals - they are picked for a reason
and in this case a good hit rate so far with this german film festival
west - it shall be recommended as a great slice of time insight...

whispers behind the wall

actual title - die frau hinter der wand - german film
opening night at the current 4 day german film festival
brimming with atmosphere and a creepy sense of dread
so reads the program - the festival rules kick in - just do it
martin is a first year law student newly arrived in berlin
seen sleeping in his car and then queuing up for a vacancy
misses the cut and as he is walking away a voice beckons
a disheveled janitor appears hauling a portable oxygen unit
he leads martin up to the inspection of an abandoned apartment
seems the previous tenant robert has suddenly disappeared
martin is desperate for some digs so eagerly applies on the spot
this involves stripping to the waist for a photo for the landlady
she lives behind the wall dividing the once larger apartment
the photo is sent and within seconds a call of approval
he moves straight in and starts the cleanup process
and uncovers some curiosities - a hidden room, a diary
a hole in the wall and a stethoscope which martin uses
thus he becomes a voyeur to the pleasures of his landlady
the naivety of martin reinforced with calls from his parents
there's a random phone number etched on a desk that he calls
the phone then rings in a lower apartment across the street
some strange domestic activity there also and gazes returned
he also receives a call from landlady simone inviting him to visit
on the pretence of signing the tenancy agreement - now - why not?
she of course is as raunchy as he is naive and seduction is instant
interrupted by the arrival of boyfriend sebastian - the lower neighbour
they manage to hide their tryst though he is menacingly suspicious
the scene is set - the characters are introduced and the ride begins
he sees simone in a supermarket - here very sweet and apologetic
schizophrenia very clearly suggested - but too late - he is taken
dinner is arranged and another drug-fueled encounter follows
the director then indulging in some trippy white-out scenes
with the effect then of paying more attention to the detail
actually very good - camera angles, etc carefully selected
all adding to the stated creeping sense of dread of the film
martin standing in a blocked shower of blood-coloured water
the shower scene from psycho referenced with a shadowy visitor
but phew - just the janitor - but the tension now ratcheted up
robert makes a sudden appearance back from a trip to india
a violent confrontation and then he is strangely gone again
similarly sebastian who tires of simones unfaithfulness
leaving martin and simone to continue with their liaisons
but she is a sick puppy - and he is in love and entrapped
he stumbles on another secret room in her own apartment
the horrific discovery of sebastian's body hung in a sling
this then kick-starts the final frantic and bloody scenes
she armed with a large knife and going room to room
the knife plunged into martin's shoulder - me squirming
more so when he grabs it and returns the favour twice over
possibly the most graphic bloody scenes of violence seen by me
a sense of it being very realistic - and sad too - she dies in his arms
final scene - ma and pa show up looking for their errant son
he - glasses lost, blood-splattered and looking in shock
a serious transition from the naive boy they knew
what a cracker - so well done - so many themes
sex, drugs, violence, mental illness, loneliness
etc, etc, etc - it's going to reverberate well...

night moves

i wanted to see this one at the recent nziff
but scheduling issues meant it was by-passed
a short run on general release and this the final night
jesse eisenberg (mark zuckerberg) the main man josh
seen in the opening scenes at a secluded dam with a woman
she - dena - and he having a largely incoherent conversation
and thus setting the tone for the film - nothing is too obvious
next scenes are at dena's workplace of a women's sauna and spa
shots of nude women of various ages - why - though a woman director
me thinking she wanting to prove her independent credentials maybe
a parcel is handed to josh - no explanation provided for this action
then scenes back at his own workplace - a large community farm
if it was the 60s it would be a hippy commune and similar ideals
very few words or smiles exchanged - wassup most common
continuing the theme of austerity in dialogue and action
we are then witness to josh and dena purchasing a jet-boat
discussing the finer points in the private sale with the owner
the name of the boat shown - night moves - and briefly discussed
josh needs a toilet stop and asks to go inside the home for relief
seems something is planned - but no - he just goes to the toilet
again the director demonstrating the theme of  keep-it-simple
the deal is closed and they hook up the boat to their suv and depart
they don't seem the leisure-boat types so something is brewing
further explained in the following scenes with josh's friend harmon
an ex-marine inspecting the boat and providing fertilizer advice
500lbs more is required than what he has already procured
ah ok - boat - bomb - dam - click - we are witness to a plot
dena then seen awkwardly trying to buy the extra fertilizer
there are rules and checks in place that seem too rigid to bypass
but a flutter of the eyes and some sound horticultural-speak helps
the boat is packed up with the goods and the marine-supplied bomb
next we see the boat parked up against the dam wall in the dark of night
the gang of 3 making a nervous and clumsy paddle, run and drive escape
we hear the muted explosion and see the first wry smile on josh's face
mission accomplished then - but a sense of dread that all is not good
they resolve to continue their normal lives as before and no contact
josh back at the farm - his usual loner ways aiding to hide the secret
other workers discussing the merit of blowing up a dam as a protest
here one of many on a river used for hydro-electric generation
conclusion - theatre only - no aid to the environmental cause
this is glossed over so no real insight into the bombers motives
news sneaks in that a camper has drowned in the rush of water
josh then going into a slow meltdown realising he is a murderer
some tense scenes as he sees vehicles and strangers come and go
he breaks the rules of no contact to learn dena likewise affected
a visit to her leading to her 'accidently pulling out' of the team
harmon then advising josh to disappear for a very long time
the closing scene - he applying for a job in a sports store
that's it - the credits roll - the music - minimalist - jeff grace
strange and sudden ending but there's no doubt he will be busted
overall it's a fairly bleak film done in a deliberately austere style
no real environmental message sent - more a psychological drama
works pretty well too - and good to see an unadorned american film
kelly reichardt the director cementing her style apparently
some reviewers claimed it to be ultimately boring
but not me - glad to see it on it's final night...

predestination

this film had to be approached with a very open mind
pre-reading indicating a state of confusion easily attained
with concentration needed to pick up the clue-lines throughout
repeat viewings also recommended to fully embrace the full picture
time travel is at the guts of it - a 'temporal agent' is our guide
the opening scene - an unidentified person enters a building
coat and hat and carrying what appears to be a violin case
'if i put you in front of the person who ruined your life
and guaranteed no repercussions - would you kill them?'
this voiceover presented clearly as the theme of the film
another person setting a counter on what must be a bomb
interrupted, shots exchanged, a fire and a badly burnt face
then seen in a hospital fully bandaged and the boss bedside
as the bandages are removed the face of ethan hawke is revealed
next seen as a bartender and news of the fizzle bomber on tv
new york running scared as his bombs kill more and more
the age of the tv, the clothing, the music suggesting 1960s
ah - got it - the bartender is the time traveller on a mission
he engages in a conversation with john - i guess the bomber
john bets for a bottle of whiskey he has the best ever story to tell
another time shift as john is born as jane and left at an orphanage
grows up a loner, super-intelligent and a tough nut physically
a stranger enters her life, love, impregnation and a baby
but during the birth it is revealed jane has dual organs
and so becomes john - her life ruined by her lover
ok - still with it - good pacing and plot reveal so far
but then it cranks up as the violin case's use revealed
the long string of combination dials used to pick a date
embrace it and - poof - time transport happens - repeatedly
the bartender bouncing around between the 1960s and 1980s
he then interacting with jane, john, the fizzle bomber and the boss
me - very connected to this film - great concept and delivery
yes - too much analysis leads to what-the mode of thinking
but the brain is well engaged and going with the what-if
well locked in to the rapidly moving last part of the film
and revealed - jane is john is lover is bartender is bomber
the technique of repeating scenes never more effective
our perspective completely changed making them new
a quite sudden but appropriate ending and me stunned
extraordinarily good music running with the credits
looking for names/places to give some comfort
but few of those - one of those very generic films
ethan hawke and noah taylor only of any familiarity
the directors - the spierig brothers - unheard of
what a great cinema experience - quite unique
and yes - repeat viewing can only be good
...actually necessary to clear the head...

before i go to sleep

nicole kidman - not usually a big drawcard for me
colin firth more appealing and together they work well
the railway man proved that and some good reviews for this one
a groundhog day kind of scenario with christine (kidman) central
she wakes every day with no memory of anything of prior days
husband ben explains who he is and what has happened to her
an accident several years ago doing the damage to her head
on this day ben advises christine of a trip away that night
he then heads off to work leaving christine alone for the day
there's a daily phone call from a doctor to provide instructions
mainly to retrieve and use a hidden camera to record her thoughts
not fully explained (yet) but her contact with dr nash is covert
he suggesting that it better if ben is not aware of their association
then the action is announced as going back a couple of weeks prior
same routine - she wakes in confusion - ben repeats the explanation
the phone call from dr nash and now also a discreet visit and journey
me thinking how generic the scenery is - could be usa, uk or europe
though the doctor's right hand drive black pug 407 indicates the uk
being distracted by scenery and cars and not characters a sure sign
ms kidman and her typically earnest acting not entirely convincing
but to the story - the doctor inadvertently reveals she was attacked
flashbacks used to graphically show the violent and bloody episode
every night she records the days events into the hidden camera
then each morning she replays the recording and confidence grows
a memory of a very close friend leads to a secret meeting with her
more of her past revealed - she had a child - and also an affair
ben divorced her and had an affair with clare her apparent friend
when she confronts him about all this he flips out and strikes her
a quite confronting scene actually and a major plot shift happens
with it back to the day we started on and ben is taking her away
uh-oh - they end up in the hotel seen in the violent flashbacks
a phone-call confirming ben is not her husband but her lover
having stepped in to her life and played the doting husband
a nasty piece of work with a vicious temper now resurrected
more disturbing scenes of violence and also towards women
but she overcomes him just as the police show up to save her
cut to her lying comatose in a hospital bed - the acting superb
(he says cynically but ms kidman with no lines does it well)
her real ex-husband ben visits and declares his enduring love
then to cap it all off - son adam comes in and the tears flow
with some expert tugging of heartstrings to wrap up the film
phew - colin firth once again lifting the film above average
nicole kidman continuing to add more credits to her c.v.
pretty forgettable really - a hitchcock-wannabe for sure
it will rise and fall quickly - in the usa, uk and europe...

the keeper of lost causes

danish film - danish title - kvinden i beret - woman in a cage
somewhere along the way a decision was made to re-brand it
pre-viewing reading indicating a harsh film and some 'torture-porn'
fortunately that in context and minimal - the girl with... also mentioned
sold - not ever seen a bad scandinavian film so no hesitation really
weird though - this person the only one in the (small) theatre
pre credits showing an ambushed police raid on a house
our main man - carl morck - shot and given paid time out
upon return to the force he is put in charge of 'q' department
desk job with an assistant - assad - 20 years of cold cases to close
ah - the re-brand title explained - one case in particular picked up
merete - a high profile public servant who disappeared off a ferry
leaving behind a dependent and intellectually impaired brother
suicide apparently - though carl suspects she too responsible
the film then splits into three threads - past, present and sometime
flashbacks of the past used extensively to explain her background
in the present carl and assad are learning more about each other
and there are disturbing scenes of merete trapped in a chamber
2 buckets - food and toilet - replaced daily and a yearly visit
with it a man's voice advising the air pressure to be increased
no reason stated but a slow and painful death is promised
the film itself in sepia colours to match the sombre mood
carl and assad painstakingly gather information on merete
she had casual affairs but was devoted to caring for uffe
the lads visit him now in the care of a mental institution
travel on the same ferry and talk to the last people to see her
very clever pacing, dialogue and flashbacks slowly build tension
every sub-titled scene relevant and demanding close attention
carl in a constant scowl even with the in-joke of assad's coffee
he being of arab background and a purveyor of  that special brew
they learn merete was picked up at a conference by a mystery man
head off to sweden in the peugeot 508 to gather more information
but stripped of their badges as they have gone in way too deep
adding further tension to the already intriguing story of merete
the prime suspect is revealed - lars - steely-eyed, lean and mean
the flashbacks showing him in a car accident as a young boy
merete and uffe in a separate car in the same accident
not entirely clear why but lars feels badly done by merete
surely not because she poked her tongue out at him pre accident
a read of the book will explain more but revenge is his to be taken
he now revealed as the captor of merete in the decompression chamber
years have now passed and she looking very disheveled but defiant
carl and assad eventually join all the dots and arrive at the scene
some very tense scenes ensue and with it some brutal violence
needless to say the damsal in literal distress is finally rescued
carl and assad are rewarded with their jobs re-instated
seen with wry smiles and a walk off into the distance
and as some critics suggested - a franchise is born
fully explaining the re-branding of the film's title
as a standalone film from a book quite superb
as a commercial venture - we shall see...

magic in the moonlight

the reviews have been quite lukewarm for this period piece
but woody allen it is and blue jasmine was a cracker of a film
besides - film night and not much on the menu that has any appeal
also colin firth barely puts a foot wrong so that pretty well sealed it
the film opens in berlin in 1928 at a large theatre for a magic show
firth plays stanley crawford on stage as master illusionist wei ling soo
he performs a few tricks then is seen ranting backstage to his assistants
perfection has not been attained so the insults fly - ah - he very arrogant
a fellow magician is also backstage and asks for stanley's assistance
stanley is also an expert at debunking people claiming to be mediums
a young lady is working as such on a rich family in the south of france
stanley has a favourite aunt living there so a visit there is appealing
the two lads then seen in an open-top sports car on the cote d'azur
nice car - shame about the editted in backdrops of the local scenery
however the cars, fashions and music seem genuine for the era
australian jackie weaver plays grace - the matriach of the family
her husband has died and she has asked sophie to make contact
other members of the family are wary of sophies hold over grace
of course she is very attractive though stanley is not taken in
he is rude, abrupt and very dismissive of her apparant powers
not so grace's son brice who serenades her with a ukelele
quite funny actually with his very off key singing/playing
he has proposed but sophie is somehow attracted to stanley
these 2 then seen taking a day drive to visit his aunt vanessa
on the way back the car breaks down and stanley plays mechanic
several hours later and no car-go as very heavy rain sets in
they run to an abandoned observatory and arrive soaking wet
no sign of engine grease - then he hits the open roof button
gazing out at the moon and stars in the sky - ah - film title
next thing and in one scene stanley is suddenly a believer
the power of love - whatever - seems quite incogrouous
even colin firth's acting skills can't make this scene work
more so when his aunt is badly injured in a car accident
at the hospital he is seen saying an out-loud prayer to god
almost cloying - then he snaps back to his old cynical self
his aloofness and arrogance then flatly rejecting sophie
solves the case and then seen in a great scene with his aunt
she magically fully recovered and talks him around to his truth
sophie is the girl for him and of course she answers his call
her ghost-like presence in the room and tapping responses
she suddenly appears and falls into his arms - happy ending
seen coming from the beginning so no surprises with that
quite a confusing film really - not the storyline but the intent
presumably woody allen wanted to tip his hat to a bygone era
when life was simple, love was all and fashion was dominant
films were focussed on character and not the sets and/or action
nor the (lack of) technical wizardry and blatant oddities are ok
colin firth certainly saved the film with his very skilled acting
me thinking that he really is england's own george clooney
the women swooning - both on screen and in the audience
i don't think he will be expecting award nominations
the reviews pretty accurate then - lukewarm it is
glad to have seen it but not rave material...