Movie reviews

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

WUNDERKINDER (PRODIGIES)

Recommended. Lots of beautifully performed classical music: Dvořák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Schumann etc. - the film's worth hearing for the sake of the renditions themselves - forms the framework for a tragic story. The storyline spans from the onset of WW2 till 1941 with a nowadays wrap-up. It's a gripping thriller where you know that one person will come out alive. An outstanding bomb explosion scene gives you the feeling of tension and uncertainty of the war time. The rest keeps you on the edge of the seat till the very emotional finale. It's a German production which I see as part of the wave of the national clearing of conscience - and enacted in style, as usual. It's impossible to leave the cinema rightaway. You have to come to terms with the ending first.

CRESCENDO - #MAKEMUSICNOTWAR

Recommended. Starts with mostly poor musicians who get better and achieve mastery in the end. But it's not the point. According to the producer, young people want peace. And the movie conveys a powerful peace message, being psychologically true and moving at the same time. The finale is brilliant. It can't candidate for an Academy Award because it's more than 50% English but it deserves one. The young people are amazing actors and the script is plausible too.

The movie was inspired by a Palestinian-Israeli orchestra set up in 1999. Some of its musicians were in the movie alongside the actors who impersonated Omar, Shira, Daniel, Layla and who had never played an instrument before. Both on set and in the real life orchestra, they did fight on the first day but later made friends and didn't want to part. Israel and Palestine still haven't purchased the movie - 20 countries have: Spain, Italy, Japan etc. Earlier the same producer had made Holocaust movies which had been shown at Israeli festivals each time. This one was rejected. The film doesn't say who's right and it appears that Israelis expect that. Produced by Alice Brauner, whose father, Artur Brauner, got 2 Golden Globes and 3 Academy Awards (i.e. Oscars) nominations for his productions. Her Polish was better than the interpreter's English - perfectly comprehensible anyway. Both her and the director have Polish roots. The movie idea came from her father. The director was asked to join in the last stage of the project.


KOJA JE OVO DRZAVA (WHAT A COUNTRY!)

Watchable. This Croatian production is partly a drama about coping with war traumas and remorses, partly a political satire. The plot's quite intriguing. It's slow but that lets you reflect on the developments. The bizarre events make sense in the end. Well acted, including Polish actor Daniel Olbrychski speaking Croatian as the president.

ASPROMONTE - LA TERRA DEGLI ULTIMI (ASPROMONTE: LAND OF THE FORGOTTEN)

Watchable. Set in 1951 and made in the style of old Italian films, just in colour, which has its charm. Some silliness in the plot and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's mannerisms are annoying.

THE IRISHMAN

Recommended. Perfect execution. Of the movie, I mean. And not only. You don't feel the 3,5 hours when you witness a few decades of the US history through a mobster's eyes. And it's not very brutal. Based on good dialogue and criminal intrigues rather. You can't help but marvel at the immense extent of power they exert over politicians. The dialogues display brilliant sarcasm: "Who's going to be there? Tony, Tony, Tony and Tony" or "You know he's Pro's cousin?" "They are all cousins!" Deeply moving, on the sorrowful side, towards the end. Frank's sudden loneliness and fear of death get you thinking that what kept the chap in the mob for so many years was camaraderie. Probably the first time I cried at a gangster movie. Leaves you despondent.

HONEYLAND

Recommended. I'm glad I didn't walk out during the seemingly uninspiring early sequences. The documentary juxtaposes caring about an elderly mother and animals versus a dysfunctional family where no respect is shown to each other or animals big or small. It shows how the love of living beings makes you prosper (spiritually at least since the area is poor at large) and how anger and exploitation ruin anything you touch. Also just one season of bad neighbourhood causes an irreversible damage. Leaves you despondent too.


WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

AKIK MARADTAK (THOSE WHO REMAINED)

Watchable. Flat, evokes no emotions. The clear-cut tale is simple, the doctor pleasant so you just keep watching, in spite of no depth.


INNA DE YARD: THE SOUL OF JAMAICA

Watchable. Recent and more distant history, musicians' personal stories, bits of music in no specific order. The lyrics have reflected current events being poor people's media. The music all sounds the same with the exception of Ken Boothe's "Everything I Own" from the 60s which I had always thought to be Boy George's song from the 80s. The shot sister who inspired another rastafarian's song moved me deeply. But most of the film just drags. For reagge fans only.