Movie reviews

Again from the past year:

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER

Watchable. None of the original characters or even spin-off ones, a whole new set of protagonists. Leslie Odom Jr. as the girl's father is superb. The action starts in Haiti - shot in the Dominican Republic - with a real life reference to an earthquake which makes sense. 13 years later the protagonists are in the US and already speak with clear American accent. Catherine masturbates in the church which is a direct reference and a slightly new take on the trope from "The Exorcist " from 1973. The exorcism itself is trite and boring. A few jump scares. The realistic parts are very plausible, even in the way the two girls' school conversation is shot. The main message is: blacks should believe too, priests are indispensable for such rituals and it's girls that get possessed. Although here, in the plot, the church superiors want no interference, the subcontext is as above. 

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - THE PROGRAM INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING 6 FILMS:

מזל טוב (MAZAL TOV)

Watchable. Very colourful but it's not known what dramatic event it alludes to. Does burning the food mean anything?

מכתב לחזיר (LETTER TO A PIG)

Recommended. Black and white animation with bits of reddish. On people's attitude to animals, Jewish being non-cruel. While pigs are looked at with contempt also in their culture, these animals turn out to be loving, protective, greatly surpassing humans. The film's original both in the memory part and in the phantasmagoria. The whole thing is tear-jerking and shocking.  

MOISHE

Watchable. This British short is based on facts. The Russian Orthodox Church forced conversions to Christianity too, where the main problem for Judaists was they couldn't eat non-kosher. Interesting to find it out but not much happens story-wise. 

CUT

Watchable. This Australian gay drama is quite complex but also beautiful and smart in how religions and worldviews coexist in a sign with a crescent and a cross on a rainbow flag. On the other hand, it tells of shocking religious practices including sacrificing a cock to atone for human sins. 

PORTRET RODZINY (FAMILY PORTRAIT)

Watchable. This Polish short starts with weird questions on the phone, then a weird job and, finally, the situation at work which is even weirder. 

CASTLES IN THE SKY

Watchable. NYC in the 70s, cruel and demanding rules of the religion and dull poetry slams the religious sex educator takes part in. Annoying Jewish music, at the finale suddenly Britney Spears, as it seems. 

SWIETO OGNIA (FIRE FESTIVAL)

Switched off. The physiology of pregnancy, birthgiving and a disability is quite revolting. As is the father seeing a prostitute. The constant narration is annoying. Tomasz Sapryk with his hair dyed black looks weirder, not younger. And there's nothing unusual or engaging in the plot. Just a typical Polish drama about a disabled person.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

HORROR STORY

Watchable. After Adrian Apanel's earlier fantastic short film "Stancja" ("The Last Room on the Left") I expected better. While the set-up, where a young man is looking for a room to rent and the landlady and the housemates are all weird, and the lead actor are the same and Jakub Zając, Konrad Eleryk, Michalina Olszańska excel in their roles and the comedy is funny, e.g. when Tomasz is eavesdropping and his neighbour sneaks on him from the back, many gags are old chestnuts. We all know the standard of self-presentation trainings or job interviews. And there's no horror, just a dash of magic in the story this time. Deflecting stupid interview questions is superb though.