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drwls
Reviews
Ich war neunzehn (1968)
Soviet/East German propaganda, sugar coating history
I rented this film because of an interest in German culture and history. I lived there for a while, and have a (former East-) German wife and relatives. My wife, who was 11 in 1945 when this film takes place, says that it was much worse then than the movie shows, particularly with regard to the utter devastation, starvation, and behavior of the Russian soldiers. Few women between ages of 13 and 50 escaped being raped, and most boys of her age and a bit older were taken away and never seen again. After reunification, the mass graves of many of them, killed by Russians, have been found. Her father, who was never a soldier or Nazi, was shipped off to slave labor in Kazakhstan for about ten years. In the movie, it is implied that the surrendering German soldiers were rewarded with extra food, and then sent home. Get real.
The intent of the movie, made in the GDR at a time when they were barraged with propaganda trying to make them believe that Russians were their friends, is obvious.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy watching it, because even propaganda can be interesting for what it is. (Example: Triumph of the Will, which is infinitely better than this movie). The events involving the surrender of Spandau prison to the 19 year old Russian "commandant", which may have been based on fact and the director's own experience, were of particular interest, and well dramatized.
Persona (1966)
"Persona" is "non grata"
I am a lover of Bergmann films, most of which I'd seen more than 20 years ago. This one got by me somehow, but because of all the glowing reviews I've read here and elsewhere, I decided to rent the DVD. It was a complete waste of time: pretentious, dull and hollow. The only part remotely interesting was when the nurse describes an erotic beach encounter with some voyeur boys. Flashbacks, apparent dreams, repeated scenes, unexplained images. None of it worked for me. About the only thing that held my interest was whether or not Liv Ullman would ever speak a line. The answer to even this question remained ambiguous.
This is the "Emperor's New Clothes" of all art films, as far as I am concerned. There is nothing there.
Malèna (2000)
Cinema Paradiso was better
This a chance for males to fantasize while ogling Italian beauty Monica Belucci, and telling themselves they are seeing an "art movie". You will see very little of her acting ability in this movie. The two stars only talk to each other in the last minute of the film. It is a rather silly and routine male "coming of age" movie, and I found the preoccupation with penis size and masturbation in the first half of the movie to be tasteless and unfunny. The film is redeemed by its heartwarming ending, though the sudden acceptance of the heroine by the townspeople who had brutalized and gossiped about her during WW2 is a bit of a stretch.
Yes, she is beautiful, but I felt rather ashamed of myself for having sat through this.
Zamani barayé masti asbha (2000)
Amateurish cinema verite' of harsh life in a poor Kurdish village
I expected a lot more from this movie after reading of its film festival prizes. It did not deliver. The scenes of harsh village life near the Iraq border of Kurdish Iran are unforgettable, but I was bothered by the freak-show aspect of the portrayal of suffering of a terminally ill dwarf, and the inability of most of the actors to be convincing. It seemed to have been shot with no retakes without professional actors. The ending was particularly disappointing;it seemed that they just ran out of film or that the film broke. (Perhaps it did; I don't recall any credits being shown at the end.) This is not in the same league as another Iranian film issued recently, "The Color of Paradise". See that one instead.
Autumn in New York (2000)
My pick for worst movie of 2000.
I used to be a big Winona Ryder fan, but could not stand to sit through this stinker. The lovely autumn New York scenery could not save it. There is no convincing chemistry between Richard Gere (a total jerk in this one) and Ryder. The movie was released in theaters before critics could review it. Now I see why.
Lena's Holiday (1991)
My wife and I loved this movie!
My wife (a former East German) happened to tape this off the Romance channel, and we watched it together later. We had never heard of the movie, and doubt if it ever played in theaters here. The situations were very funny and romantic, and the lead actress' East German accent and mannerisms are right on the mark. We had just been visited by a young (21) East German niece of my wife with many similarities to the heroine. We were both amazed to find she is played by an English actress, Felicity Waterman. I would like to see more of her movies. She is perfect in this one. I enjoyed it as much as any movie I've seen in the past year.
Local Hero (1983)
This is my favorite movie. I've seen it at least 6 times.
Everything about this movie was perfect, for me. The characters are quirky, diverse, and unforgettable. I loved it so much that I made a special effort on a side trip while in Britain to visit the film sites in coastal Scotland. If you happen to love astronomy, Scotland, or Burt Lancaster at his curmudgeony best, or are just fed up with city life and stress, this film is for you. I laugh just as much every time I see it. It has absolutely the best comic/romantic ending I've ever seen.. although there is no one there.