Movie reviews

PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN

Recommended. A wonderfully shot documentary about photographing the most photographed woman in the world. She commanded respect, intimidated even the great and was a challenge taking into account both the lineage whose portraits had already existed and the fleeting impressions of her which were expected to reveal her true self. Over 90 years of images, no interview ever given. "Above the politicians", her enigma and her responsibility to preserve historical continuity to her subjects are stressed a lot by the "vox populi" and famous photographers alike. The documentary illustrates it all artistically but also with anecdotes and consistent perception of her by others. This outsider look reveals a lot about the collected and reserved personality of the unique portrait subject. 

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

RAPITO (KIDNAPPED)

Recommended. Based on historical facts, with convincingly recreated Bologna and Rome of the mid-19th century, the movie tackles brainwashing and immense power. The story presents the individual level of the kidnapped child, the perspective of the family and the institutions of the state against which an individual is powerless. Religion exerts mind control over people who can't be even punished because they acted in good faith. That shows it's faith that's the problem. Just one mention in the film provokes the thought how one Jew - Rothschild - could have caused the whole Church go bankrupt. That didn't happen. Tear-jerking and frightening.  

PASSAGES

Watchable. It opens with a director complaining about an actor - who soon after turns out to be revealed as his husband, failing to get a passage scene right. Later you realise it's the director himself who's struggling with his life passages even worse. Trying to have cake and eat it too doesn't work in relationships, especially triangles. Film-wise it also barely works out. Utterly ugly Franz Rogowski revolts in erotic scenes, whether gay or straight, the gay ones being more graphic than the straight ones. He also wears really weird outfits. Even if the movie's aimed at gays, I doubt it'll be attractive. Ben Whishaw is not handsome either, but he's the one for whom I stayed till the end. His reactions to his spouse's moves to and fro their marriage and how the woman gets treated is vaguely interesting in the story. 

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

TU CHOISIRAS LA VIE (WHERE LIFE BEGINS)

Recommended. While initially it tells about ordinary daily matters, the two leads' lives turn out to be worlds apart. What ensues is mutual attraction, subtle and slowly evolving into love. Neither finds themselves able to sever the ties with their extended families. You root for them to get together. Lou de Laâge and Riccardo Scamarcio excel in their roles. Biblical references, when she's running from the olive orchard or when they both ponder on the Garden of Eden and its fruit, add a transcendental dimension to the two people's dilemmas. The story's told so beautifully it leaves you in awe.