Movie reviews

HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL

BODY AS BATTLEFIELD - set of 7 shorts:

BATTLEFIELD

Watchable. Vague black and white images. The music at the cinema sounds better than in the online trailer. No distinguishable topic or story. 

رقص الأجل عيوني (LET MY BODY SPEAK)

Watchable. The Syrian tale is unusual since it concerns a women's military school but to an outsider it's not clear if the woman is lesbian and if her schoolmates are. 

THE WEDDING CAKE

Watchable. The cake is evocative, the dolls less so. The story's shocking.

CERNOBILA (BLACK AND WHITE)

Recommended. A wonderful compilation of numerous movie excerpts.

ANKEBUT 

Watchable. Turkish. So vague it's the only thing I can say about this film.

NAPORNO (HARD)

Recommended. The film proves porn acting is the world's oldest profession. Or at least since the invention of the camera.

THERMOPLASTISCHE ELASTOMERE (THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS)

Recommended. Very informative and eye-opening: the sex-doll brothel wins me over.

MORGANA

Watchable. This full-length feature film presented at the festival projects freedom. And joy. Morgana Muses, 53 years old at the time of shooting, is neither slim nor beautiful but she's creative and her films, whose excerpts we see, range from revolting - where she has cake smeared all over her body - to beautiful - most others, bonding was surprisingly the most awe-inspiring due to its artistry. When you hear her life story and how porn work saved her from suicide, it's even inspiring. The film is exciting but you also feel for her. It's also most body-positive which is wonderful once you drop your bias. And did you know the porn industry has its own film festivals? Those people seem so warm and joyful. Good for her. I personally don't always find it aesthetic. Still, personal liberty rules. 

TITANE

Recommended. Lots of violence and sex - by a woman. Directed by Julia Ducournau and superbly acted by Agathe Rousselle as Alexia and Vincent Lindon as Vincent - both in ultra difficult roles. Both the violent and erotic bits come as shocks, even when you can foresee them - they're so brutal and graphic. While some viewers claim the second part is more timid and even see love in it, I find that part to be even more shocking and the protagonists perfidious, e.g. smiling to each other in the dance which some see as loving and I view as false. In my perception Alexia goes with the flow of Vincent's delusions to take advantage of the situation. The story is ambiguous: blood is not black, is it? For the most part I wasn't sure if she was pregnant or imagined to be. Others discover the truth hence making it clear to viewers. What I find disturbing is crossing each others' personal boundaries in the second half: starts with opening the son's door without a knocking and grows in severity, e.g. at the injection request. What follows only increases in intensity and involves a kiss like in porn. The finale is on the verge of science fiction but also sheds new light on who the rape perpetrator could have been. Just like the opening, the ending refers you to mythical Titans. Some scenes mirror each other, e.g. twerking - even by Vincent - or Alexia's spread eagle. The pictures and the music captivate you.