Eternity and a Day

 Eternity and a Day: 1998 Greek Drama: 2h 12m: Director- Thodoros Angelopoulos: Old poet Alexdrandros (Bruno Ganz) is dying and day before of the sanatorium departure, he saves a migrant boy from human traffickers. The strange  kid utters typical words which remind Alexandros an old poet who once bought the words by paying money. Frustrated from his own daughter, Alexandros frequently talks to his late wife and shares with her the past moments. He tries to help the kid which develops a poignant bonding between them. It's a poem than a movie as it exposes the loneliness of both the characters in a very delicate manner and in different ways. Bruno's performance is so impressive (who portrayed the Hitler in The Downfall) and the kid's innocence tears you apart. A very great job indeed.

Kukuska

 Kukuska

aka The Cuckoo: 2002 Russian War Comedy Drama: 1h 45m: Director- Aleksandr Rogozhkin: This is an oddest humorous film I have ever seen. Second world war is at the fag end and Veikko the Finnish soldier is shackled in a rock by his own fellow German supporting troop. He uses his all skills to be freed from the shackles and succeeds. Ivan, being taken for court martial by the Russian army and attacked by their own forces accidentally survives because of a young widow living around with her reindeer farm. When these two men team together with the beautiful widow, things get crazier. Three of them speak their own languages and no one understands a thing. Despite that they eat and work together even enjoy the sex. In the climax both soldiers go off in different directions and woman stays alone in the ruins.

It's an amazing experience to watch this movie which takes you off to a new comedy world.This one is highly recommended movie.

And Breathe Normally

 And Breathe Normally: A nice and soft Icelander drama with a great touch of humanity. A poor mother Lara gets the job at airport passport security counter where she detects a black woman passenger escaping with a forged passport. In later stage they understand each other's feelings which makes Lara to take a risky and dangerous decision. A good movie with different scenarios.

The Place

 The Place: An outstanding Italian mystery thriller of 2018. A strange man always sitting in a bar and helping the people to fulfill their wishes in return of something. This movie is the best example of effective script writing which makes you to visualize the scenes before your eyes. Kindness always overpowers the evil thoughts. Entire movie is filmed on a table of the restaurant. A perfect one and half hour thriller not to be missed.

The Rickshaw Man

 The Rickshaw Man : 1958 Japanese Drama: 1 h 44 m: Dir.-Hiroshi Inagaki : Matsugoro is a wild rickshaw puller, fighting all the time with others till he comes across a sober family. After the demise of family head, this softened rickshaw puller helps that widow and her son in all the ways. At the fag end of his life he feels his love and affection towards the widow he helped the whole life but the feeling of his expectation for his good deeds from her leads him to a great amount of guilt and he dies. Hiroshi Inagaki was bit senior to Kurosawa and one can find the resemblance in their directions. It could be the best performance of Toshiro Mifune's acting career. Hats off to this movie.

The Swimmers

 The Swimmers: 2022 Syrian Drama (Based on real events) : 2 h 14 m: Dir.-Sally El Hosaini: Due to domestic unrest two Syrian sisters decide to go to Germany to participate as Olympic swimmers. They forcefully make agree to their father who is their coach also. Accompanied by a cousin they start the dangerous journey and reach Berlin with their brave fighting instincts. This is very awesome stuff and performances of real life sisters are very realistic.

The Night of the Iguana

 The Night of the Iguana: 1964 Romance Drama: 2 h 5 m : Dir.- John Huston: Clergyman Shannon (Richard Burton) turns into a tour guide of a group of old ladies traveling to Mexico, where he finds himself in a jam surrounded by four ladies. Despite targeted by the lady group leader, he tries to straighten out the things but situation becomes too tough. This hilarious movie ends with a beautiful poem which is a center part of attraction. Performances of stunning Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr are so refreshing.

Strangers In Good Company

 Strangers In Good Company: 1990 Drama: 1 h 45 m: Dir.- Cynthia Scott: Seven elderly women with a young one stuck into middle of nowhere, due to failure of their tourist bus. They occupy a deserted house and try to make themselves comfortable. Skilled in different areas all these old and beautiful ladies arrange the food, share their pasts, marriages, affairs, families and illnesses. These moments of couple of days tie them into an emotional knot. Despite the rescue help they leave this uncomfortable and lonely place with heavy hearts. This movie is too cute to forget as many ones can feel that, they are watching their own mums or grandmothers. A real gem.

Living

 Living : 2022 Drama: 1h 42 m: Dir.- Oliver Hermanus: Mr. Williams is aging, working as officer in municipality. Many times he gets tired due to the unending pressure of work. When he comes to know about his terminal illness, he decides to contribute his genuine efforts for the building of children's park and he joins the team of mothers who are trying to get it done but being tossed by certain power holding personalities for their own interests. He hides his illness from his son and daughter as they are always busy in their own tangled world. His colleagues decide to walk on his unselfish path when he dies in the deadly winter sitting in the swing of the garden. This movie is based on Kurosawa's great work 'Ikiru' (1952) which was adapted from Leo Tolstoy's Russian novel The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Oliver has scissored many scenes and events of Ikiru and cut short the film. But despite the low length, movie is quite effective. Bill Nighy has played Mr. Rodney Williams so brilliantly but missed the Oscar because of Fraser. Overall it's a nice watch.

Sofia and the Stubborn Man

 Sofia and the Stubborn Man : 2012 Spanish Drama: 82 min.:Dir.- Andrés Burgos Vallejo: Aging Sofia is living in the Colombian country side, having a small house in the lap of beautiful mountains. Her husband runs a daily needs stores and he is very meticulous about certain things. Frequently he has been avoiding the sea trips arranged by his wife very tactfully. Sofia is desperately fascinated by the sea, it's sound and waves. One day she decides to go with her childhood friend Mercedes but after few attempts they get back to home due to some reasons and then all of a sudden Mercedes dies of an attack. Sofia feels so miserable and decides to go alone. On the way of journey many incidents take place. She befriends with a young black boy who takes her to see the ocean. Here, in her absence, life of Sofia's husband shatters and lose control over the things. Storyline is so simple but it's an amazing movie with catchy landscapes, classy cinematography and above all the stunning performance of Carmen Maura as Sofia who never utters a word in the entire movie. A not to miss movie.. err..poem I would rather like to say.

Pandora's Box

 Pandora's Box: 2008 Turkish Drama: 1h 52 m : Dir.-Yeşim Ustaoglu: Three siblings, two working sisters and one brother, who is a vagabond. They have an old mother suffering from Alzheimer. The married one daughter is taking care of her mother from the bottom of heart but always disturbed due the strange behavior of her own son Murat. Other two siblings are busy with their own problems and failing affairs. Murat, the grandson is a frustrated youth but comes very closer to his grandma and he decides to take her back to the village mountains, as she desired because her husband was died in those mountains. Turkish movies move very slow always and this movie is also not an exception, but treatment to the characters with timely dialogues and disturbing background score in the end made it so watchable. Kudos to the french actress Tsilla Chelton who portrayed the Grandma at the age of 89 years, she was simply awesome.

The Grand Highway

 The Grand Highway : 1987 French Drama : 1 h 47 m : Dir.- Jean-Loup Hubert: A pregnant mother drops her only son to the countryside to live for a while with her close friend Marcelle, so as to focus on her own  upcoming child. Initially reluctant, Louis befriends with a young and bold neighborly girl and the husband of his mother's friend. There he learns many things from her newly formed girlfriend which are allowed and not allowed to his age. This story is bit common but presentation is quite impressive and coming of age stories definitely teach some unknown philosophies to the people who are ripe ones or else. Similarly, I feel that, despite the childhood, children make us to view in a different angle or adapt an ultimate perspective towards our life with their innocence and pure affection. Finally they achieve this goal with an enthusiastic way. A must see stuff.

Somewhere in Europe

 Valahol Európában aka Somewhere in Europe: 1947 Hungarian War Drama: 1h 45m : Dir.-Geza von Radvanyi : After heavy bombarding, many wounded kids and teens came out of the ruins and started to rush towards the safe places where they gathered one by one. This formed group of orphans was named as 'gang' which ran to the countryside in search of food and shelter. One known and aged musician allows them (initially they make him to allow) to stay with him in his isolated and ruined mansion. He makes these adamant and mischievous kids to follow the discipline and work together for daily feeding. He protects them and fights with them against the 'gang' terminating authorities. Geza von Radvanyi really put a great effort and worked hard to feel the viciousness of war, hunger, fighting over the food and looting the belongings from the hanged people and corpses. This movie definitely must have inspired director Roberto Rossellini to direct the movie Germany, Year Zero, released in following year 1948. It's a sit on the edge movie, hats off.

Parada Aka The Parade

 Parada Aka The Parade: 2011 Serbian Comedy Drama: 1 h 55 m: Dir.- Srdan Dragojevic : A group of gay people decides to undertake a parade on the streets of Belgrade, but police denies to protect them from the orthodox citizens. Then the group requests some X criminals for the protection and the fun begins. On the day of parade, a founder member dies and many get injured in cross attackings. This movie is a big satire on so called human freedom and equality. Director Srdan exposed the poignant facts with the touch of light comedy in a piercing and palpable way. A different stuff to watch

Mes Petites Amoureuses

 Mes Petites Amoureuses Aka My Little Loves: 1974 French Drama: 2 h 3 m : Dir.- Jean Eustache : Daniel is an adolescent, living with his granny in Paris. One day his mother comes and takes him to a country side where she is living her life with a short earning. Reluctant and lonely Daniel tries to adjust himself without friends and school as his mother couldn't afford it. She sends him to work in a cycle repair shop run by the brother of her divorce awaited boyfriend. He befriends with some village hoodlums and tries to know about girls he is always curious for. After spending sometime in village, having an elderly experience, he gets back to Paris and tries to seduce the girls in the way he learned in the village. It's a simple movie about children psychology and their fears and whims about life. One can put himself in that position, as all of us thought in that way in our own childhood.

Bal aka Honey

 Bal aka Honey: 2010 Turkish Drama: 1h 43 m: Dir.- Semih Kaplanoglu: It's a beautiful piece of work. It can be said that this movie is a monologue of a six years old boy living in a remote place with his parents, bit hesitant to talk but quite sensitive. He fights to express his grief when his father dies in an accident while collecting honey. Entire movie is filmed in a lush green valley with natural and original sound of the nature. It is not a watching stuff but to have an experience of silence and quietness.

Adam

 Adam: 2019 Moroccan Drama: 1h 38m: Dir.- Maryam Touzani : Pregnant Samia gets shelter and work at Abla's house after a tough exercise. Abla is a widow (with a daughter) who runs a home bakery shop. After an initial stubbornness both women open themselves and share the grieves of their lives. Samia's behavior and liveliness make Abla to change her lifestyle, where as Samia becomes more rigid about her newly arriving baby. No doubt Maryam Touzani has done a hell of job on the relationship of strangers grows so delicate. She handled few shots very cleverly like, Abla's resistance against certain song and kneading of dough with an intense feeling but after the half, movie seems more melodramatic. One really wonders how the soulful and skilful Samia's mentality changes so abruptly. Performances of Lubna Azabal and Nisrin Erradi are so remarkable. One shot of an old wrinkled woman smoking so desperately is really unforgettable. Over all it's a good stuff to watch.

The Covenant

The Covenant: 2023 War Drama: 2h 03m: Dir.- Guy Ritchie: Sergeant John Kinley is deployed in Afghanistan. After the death of his interpreter in an attack, he hires Ahmed for further action plans in exchange of US visas for his family. John gets injured in an ambush when a bullet hits in his thigh. Ahmed undertakes a dreadful journey through the mountains carrying his sergeant, while doing so he kills many Talibanis and eventually hands over John to US forces. After a long treatment, John finds himself with his family, living a normal life. He recollects the incidents and efforts taken by Ahmed to save him. He demands his government to get Ahmed back to US as he had promised him. After a lot of struggle John comes back to Afghanistan and sets a search operation for Ahmed. Movie is based on true events and Guy kept it so moving. Amazing photography and special visual effects made it quite watchable.

The Blue Caftan

 Le Bleu du caftan aka The Blue Caftan

: 2022 Moroccan Drama: 2h 03m: Dir.-Maryam Touzani: Haleem runs a shop of caftan with the help of his ill wife Meena. Haleem's gay nature frequently drags him to visit the Hamamkhana where he fulfils his sexual desires with the similar ones. After appointing a young helper Youssef, Meena notices the undue attention of her husband towards him and thinks that she is living in vain. Gradually she withdraws herself and opt to die for. Director Maryam has chiseled all the characters very meticulously and skilfully. She made us to visualize the loneliness like a vast ocean which keeps you swinging like the waves. Haleem envelopes his dead wife with a blue caftan which was specially made for the wife of an important government official. All the artists performed so well but Lubna Azabal is outstanding in the role of Meena.

Remember Us

 Bizi Hatırla aka Remember Us

: 2018 Turkish Drama: 2 h: Dir.- Cagan Irmak: A successful tele serial maker Kaan brings his sick father from countryside to cure his sickness. Due to his busy schedule he decides to operate his father's tumor in his absence with a heavy heart. After knowing the pain of his son, father decides to get back to his village and get operated there when he comes back. Eventually he dies after stitching a special dress for his god daughter before his son comes from America. Despite the melodramatic scenes director really has established an intense relationship between a father and a motherless son.

My Sailor My Love

 My Sailor My Love

: 2022 Romance Drama: 1 h 43 m: Dir.- Klaus Haro: Old Howard is living at his own in an isolated home next to the ocean. Aware of his condition and unpleasantness towards her, his daughter Grace hires an old maid for him. Initially stubborn Howard makes the maid Annie to leave the job but after knowing her concern towards him, he requests her to come back. Gradually they become closer which makes Grace unhappy as she knew her father too well. Old fella dies due to TIA and after that only Grace and Annie understand each other. It's an old age romance with some worthy locations and ultimate photography. Performances of Brid Brennan as Annie and Catherine Walker as Grace are memorable but I feel that title of the film should have been different one.

The Bothersome Man

 Den brysomme mannen aka The Bothersome Man:2006 Norwegian Mystery Drama: 1h 35m: Dir.- Jens Lien: Andreas finds himself in a strange town where he has been provided all comforts like a corporate job, house and a girlfriend. Everything seems so good and simple, everyone is cooperative and living without any hard feelings or grudge. This comfort and simplicity begin to creep over Andreas's mind. He misses the regular life and it's chaos, he feels entrapped and tries to reach the outer world but in vain. His frequent attempts become unbearable to the citizens of the town and they throw him into the nothingness. 

This is  one of the weirdest movies I have ever watched but on the other hand one can find incomprehensible material in the lavishly designed comforts. It's a feast for those people who look the world in a different angle with a strange perception. Photography and background score make this film more watchable.

Stromboli

 Stromboli: 1950 Drama: 1h 47m: Dir.-Roberto Rossellini: Young Karin meets an Italian POW Antonio in a camp and agrees to marry him. Antonio takes her to Stromboli island which is ruined in war and always under the scare of a live  volcano close to the island. Antonio goes everyday for fishing and Karin feels lonely in the destroyed and deserted village. She tries to get away from that suffocated environment and traditional customs but Antonio doesn't allow the same. Frustrated Karin takes the help of the lighthouse keeper and gets stuck near the volcano. Ingrid Bergman played the role of Karin so intensely who fell in love with the director Rossellini in the making of this film and got married with him later. Once again Rossellini proved that he is an ace of the war tragedy movies like Germany year Zero, Paisan and Rome, Open City. Hats off to him for creating dead silence atmosphere and outstanding capture of volcano blast in the end, special effects were too realistic to feel.

Sunset Boulevard

 Sunset Boulevard : 1950 Romance Drama: 1h 55m: Die.- Billy Wilder: Aged but beautiful silent movies actress Norma is still living in past period by refusing the fact of changing film industry and audience taste. She hires a screen writer (who meets her accidentally) to ghost her own story . Jobless and penniless Joe the writer accepts her offer and decides to stay in her big but dreadful mansion where her servant is the only person apart from them. Norma starts to posses Joe in a strange way which suffocates him. Eventually, while escaping from her after sacrificing his own affair with a young girl, he gets killed by Norma for her fatal fancy.

Billy put all his talent to fit this movie in a golden frame of perfection. Movie behind strategies, naked truths and some revealing facts by the Norma's servant in the end, haunt the audience in a shocking way. Gloria Swanson and William Holden were really made for the roles of Norma and Joe. A perfect Wilder movie indeed.