Change Your Image
classy54
Reviews
Cecilia (1982)
Melodramatic period film based on fictional work
To me the film was a propaganda piece to reiterate how awful slavery was, with vivid, though perhaps unverifiable, cruelty. How shallow and callow, fickle, and untrustworthy was the aristocracy, particularly the anti-hero, Leonardo. We are shown many instances how the ruling class exploits people of color and the lower classes. The story was based on what appears to be a Gothic novel and was so melodramatically interpreted it made me laugh. Except for the acting in a wonderful scene in which Leonardo's mother is bargaining with the 'governor/viceroy' to protect her son because she was sharing with him valuable information gained from him to thwart a lower-class/slave rebellion. The make-up of the principal actors looked fake, and gave them unnatural skin tones, which were distracting. Little or no background information was worked into the script to help viewers understand the place, time, and control in Cuba.
Bon voyage (2003)
A gem of a French comedy ...set in early 1942 France
One comment said it wasn't a comedy...Mistake! It was a delightful comedy of a period of history that doesn't lend itself easily to that genre. Very busy...and active film from beginning to end. Often the shots out the window of the train, or car, were just beautiful. An enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours in a theater. All the French historical figures, like Charles de Gaulle and Petain and the some of the people involved in the French Resistance were included in the script, which might send those who are unfamiliar with the collapse of France under the German invasion might want to research. The characters were engaging and the actors portraying them were excellent. Recommend it, 9 out of 10.