peter-1061 Reviews

No More Smoke Signals (2008)

This one woke me up

[9/10 · 28 April 2009]

Shown here as part of a Westerns film festival (I'm an American living in a small Swiss town), I expected what the printed summary said: A documentary on the Lakota people in SD, and how their radio station KILI is a community focal point. I love South Dakota landscapes.

What I got was a fascinating portrait of life for present-day Lakota on their Pine Ridge reservation, an illuminating account of their struggles since Custer's time to carve out a decent life for themselves, and in fact, a dramatic account of conflict between them and "their" US government, that grew more riveting as the film progressed. Also, a great story, warm and humorous, about achieving and maintaining the community radio station. And, plenty of the magnificent scenery I came for!

This is a movie that every American should see. I don't know what other films exist on the subject, but it's certainly ironic that it took a Swiss team to make such an insightful and sensitive piece about an American people. It presents a struggle that far too few Americans know much about. The ignorance and disrespect in which non-native Americans hold the natives is an on-going disgrace, and this film seeks to shine a needed light. Thankfully the director avoids the harsh glare, in favor of a lower-key approach that carries us along alternating between daily-life vignettes and expositions of the bigger struggle. I left marveling that these people carry out their lives and present their story with a dignity unwarranted by the depressing reservation conditions and history. It becomes clear that that history remains very much alive, and unfinished, in their souls.

I have no idea how available this film is/will be in the US, but: Seek it out and watch!

Naming Number Two (2006)

Suburban New Zealand life, Polynesian style

[8/10 · 17 January 2008]

A rough gem but a gem nonetheless. Slow going at first, as you wonder what it is with these people. Is there any hope? Has this extended family (apparently) totally lost their way in life? Then as you learn bits of the family history, the high walls and broken bridges separating the family start making sense, and you can see possibilities of reconciliation.

Ruby Dee plays (magnificently) the Polynesian matriarch, living in Mt. Roskill, Auckland NZ, for most her life, who knows what's wrong with her scattered cantankerous family and can see the one path that just might set things right -- a little "tough love", Polynesian style. Even though no one else can see the sense in it, they obediently carry out her demand for a family feast in the backyard, to happen that same evening, at which she will announce her successor. All must attend, even those who never come round.

Preparation for the improbable feast involves everyone, and in the process forces communication that's been avoided for years. But they pull it off, because after all, Mama may have lost her marbles but she is still the matriarch. The result is memorable, and validates her foresight.

The film is also, by the way, a great glimpse of suburban New Zealand life, Samoan (or Tongan, not sure) style. See it just for that, and enjoy the story too.

Adam's Apples (2005)

A stellar film

[9/10 · 7 October 2006]

A darkly comic film of growth and redemption. As it unfolds, you don't know whether to laugh, be enthralled, be revolted, or bathe in its beauty. You'll do all four, while wondering which reaction the director intended. In the end, you find that the story supports all these reactions. Seemingly bizarre actions and statements from the characters are revealed to in fact fit into a sensible context, and the beauty of the setting and cinematography, at first contrasted against the jarring characters, grows to encompass the beauty of their revealed humanity.

The story follows a rural pastor who offers his church as a half-way house for released prisoners. The pastor asks our newcomer (Adam) to set a personal goal, as the others have done, and he's meant to ease back into society while pursuing it. His goal involves the plentiful apples growing on the church grounds. But we soon wonder if the pastor, or perhaps his few parishioners, are in more trouble than the prisoners are.

The film is brilliantly inspired in concept and story, playing out like a fable. Be prepared for bits of violence, mostly stemming from Adam's skinhead past, but also be aware that the film offers hope for its cure.

This is a top-level Danish film, which says a lot. Go see it.

Greed in the Sun (1964)

Big trucks on a roller-coaster adventure in Saharan Africa

[8/10 · 9 August 2005]

Belmondo and Ventura are top-notch in this great Saharan adventure. A network of French long-distance truckers live the macho life in the Arabic western (I think) Sahara. When young Belmondo steals a truck with $100,000 of contraband and takes off across the desert and mountains, the chase begins. If you've seen The Wages of Fear (and you'd better!), this will recall that great adventure, although the seat-of-your pants tension is replaced by the back-and-forth fortunes and fun of the pursuit. But it's the same rough-man frontier atmosphere, same epic scale of adventure, same wide-screen memorable scenery in stunning locations, same big trucks, same handful of beautiful females. I'm sure the film is hard to find in English (I saw it on french TV), but watch it if you find it. You won't regret it.