Movie reviews

YES, GOD, YES

Watchable. Expected a raunchy flick? God forbid! It's a Catholic high school and their  community retreat. The satire on how controlling the Catholic community is is a peculiar mixture: tame but with filthy jokes, even toilet humour is unavoidable. Gentle but sexual connotations are served straight in your face. Pleasant on the whole, mostly owing to wonderfully stereotypical character performances. 

The movie will be available on several Polish vod platforms from Friday and is on one alredy.

FESTIWAL FILMOW FRANKOFONSKICH (FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL) - ONLINE

ADORATION (2019)

Watchable. The first act of the Belgian-French offering plods along, on the silly side, and three elements are disturbing: the bird, the kept girl and the mother but the movie livens up at the escape and, unpredictable from act two, keeps you intrigued. What did Gloria do? Is she truly sane? Can she be really dangerous? The story brings associations with "La Pazza Gioia" ("Like Crazy") - through the troubled but joyful escape and "The Snow Queen" fairy-tale - the places they visit represent various lands and, at least in a runaway's mind, turn dangerous or hide menace. Several frame-like pictures in underlit setting of varying hues are so badly in-your-face they fail to impress.

The sound and Polish subtitles are of the same quality as in "Orizont".

DE GAULLE IN EIRINN (DE GAULLE IN IRELAND) (2020)

Watchable. The Irish documentary, partly in Irish language, about a little known episode in Charles de Gaulle's life is a chance to learn about the history of France, the history of Ireland and 20th century politics in Europe. Lovely pictures of Ireland, mostly shot on the rare days of sunny weather fill the gaps between the historical trivia. As for the form, it consists of 4 parts with blackouts in between. 

The sound and Polish subtitles are of the same quality as in previously mentioned films, with tht difference of a lack of black space below the picture.

TAMBOUR BATTANT (2019)

Watchable. Amusing rivalry in a small Swiss town of the 70s. Aloys is played by Pierre Mifsud whose acting chops and manner match those of late Louis de Funes. Pierre Mifsud is the star of the show. I'm not sure why his competitor looks like a porn star. The comedy is built on oppositions: old and new music, traditional and progressive social values, political right and left. But the moment I laughed out loud was when Aloys was giving a speech so fervently he hit his aide. The best scene though comes right after the shooting at the train station and leads straight to the finale. It's mostly the quality of actual music that detracts from the comedy. 

No black space below the picture again. The subtitles are smaller this time, legible only from up close and placed often on light background.