Movie reviews

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

The introduction to "만다라" ("Mandala") by film critic 정성일 (Jung Sung-Il - not a correct transcription of hangul but used probably to differentiate him from similar-looking in English names of a film producer and a script writer) reminded me of how I was selling "Dekalog" to South Korea years ago. The Korean critic clearly knew the series. He compared "만다라" ("Mandala") to the Polish series since it's not strictly a religious movie but one around the values in which each Asian/European (respectively) person was brought up. The director, 임권택 (Im Kwon-taek), is not a Buddhist. The film critic explained also that the protagonists represented the 2 distinct methods in Buddhism: reaching enlightenment through self-study or entering the world.

만다라 (MANDALA)

Watchable. It's terribly philosophical and I was more interested in how they lived in their worlds rather than the issues of finding your self. It's overtalked and unsophisticated plot-wise but tackles the superficiality of the common man's religiousness. Even if gimmicky, it touches the core.

델타보이즈 (DELTA BOYS)

Walked out. In the beginning the guys call each other morons. Rightly so. Supposed to be a comedy about a band. Instead it's not funny and at least for the first 40 minutes there's no music, not even in the background.


ALPHA

Watchable. An adventure movie for children, dubbed in Polish cinemas. I nearly laughed at the macho title, the main protagonist getting a ritual beating supposed to toughen him up and bonding with a wolf. But cute Chuck acts as wolf Alpha and awe-inspiring landscapes of the far north: tundra, snow and ice, northern lights, star-studded skies make up for the patriarchal plot. Shot in Alberta, Canada.

TROPPA GRAZIA (LUCIA'S GRACE)

Watchable. An unusual story. Modern Italy. A separated mum of a fencing trainee daughter works as a land surveyor. The contemporariness is amplified by modern cinematography and use of light. Then the modern, non-religious woman has a revelation. The Mother of God is no benevolent though. Astonished with disobedience she beats the woman up. Her husband has "resistance is futile" on a T-shirt at some point.

PETTERSSON UND FINDUS - DAS SCHÖNSTE WEIHNACHTEN ÜBERHAUPT 
(PETTSON AND FINDUS: THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER)

Recommended. I'd love to see more of it. A perfect Christmas tale. A kid-like cat, lots of situation humour, warmth, cuteness, delightful songs about the holiday and preparations for it. The cat is cartoon in real life scenography with real life people, a dog, a fox, an ermine, dressed up and talking hens and animated little creatures inhabiting the house. The picture is perfectly suited for children and I loved it too. Kids present at the screening started dancing afterwards. Curiously the film about the traditional Christmas celebration was directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi. In the Polish version - dubbed, as usual - some songs are in English and some in Polish to a great effect, e.g. "Brud, brud, brud, usunąć brud, wreszcie czysto będzie tu" catches the ear in Polish. In original the songs are in German and English so dual language too. There's a post-credit. 

I've just read one of the book series - not a Christmas one but still: "Stackars Pettson" ("Wishing to Go Fishing") by Sven Nordqvist. In the movie more space is given to other characters, i.e. other creatures inhabiting the house, while the book focuses on the Petterson and Findus duo. While the Swedish author illustrates his books too, the movie visually surpasses the book. Still, his detailed illustrations show the house is full of the lively cat. The text is quite expressive. Pettson, just like in the movie, scolds the cat like a naughty kid.