catherines_uk Reviews

Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)

Colonialism then and now

[8/10 · 8 October 2019]

Set in the 19th century in an unnamed Asian frontier post, this story describes how imperialism and colonialism disrupts the lives of ordinary people. Mark Rylance is the magistrate of a peaceful settlement where the biggest crime is a pig invading a neighbour's garden brilliantly acting an excellent script based in a prize winning novel,. Johnny Depp is the sinister policeman from the capital who suspects a rebellion and uses torture to get "confessions" A young nomadic girl who is a victim is befriended by the magistrate. The story is well told and the scenery spectacular- deserts and mountains. What is very well done by this film set in the past is that the methods of the policeman, the attitude of the empire , and the whole issue or race and occupation are as relevant today , and this is an allegory of what is happening in the Middle East, the Congo and elsewhere at this very moment.

The King (I) (2019)

not quite a true history- but worth seeing

[7/10 · 4 October 2019]

This was on at the London Film Festival. It is loosely based on fact, though there are three inaccuracies one about Thomas of Clarence , one about Falstaff and the other about the Dauphin of France. but they get the result of the Battle of Agincourt right. The dialogue attempts to sound slightly Shakespearian but there are various phrases that grate on an English ear like " lets go visit with Henry IV" and "in order to have reform you need regime change", and a reference to the archbishop tasking. We saw it with the HOH subtitles and there was a bit where a horse "nickers" which I assume is the American or aussie for whinny. The graphics are good- computer generated sailing ships,and a fairytale castle , The sets were shot in Hungary and feel genuinely medieval, costumes, props, battle scenes all done well. The acting is pretty wooden except for the Dauphin- straight out of Blackadder. It takes longer than it needs to to tell the story but its an enjoyable romp through ( somewhat inaccurate) history with plenty of gore and grunting.