D's Movie World

Yesterday - Yesterday, the name of the title character, is an interesting and powerful film about a woman in Africa that finds out she has AIDS. It’s her journey trying to see a doctor that is many miles away from her village. Finally she meets someone who helps her to get to the doctors facility early so that she has a better chance of seeing the doctor. Things get worse when she searches for her husband to make sure he gets testing. The film shows the misinformation and ignorance of people about the transmission of the virus. The fear and isolation from brought on by the small community.
Yesterday’s cinematography is like looking at photographs. It’s surreal and stunning.
It’s a touching film of determination and fulfilling dreams.

All About My Mother - This is a Pedro Almadovar film that is a story within a story. It seems inspired by All About Eve and a Street Car Name Desire. Penelope Cruz, one of Pedro’s muses also stars in this film. It’s typical Almadovar, from the color to the quirky characters.

Thanks for stopping by and do come back.

D Cinema File 2010

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film that didn’t have a happy ending. I prefer films that are truer to life. We don’t always get what we want or things turn out differently than we expected.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an incredible film with an ending I was not expecting. It’s the story of a family that finds out the truth about the Nazi prison camps. The story delves into the psyche of six family members and how their beliefs are changed and twisted by a turn of events.

If you love foreign films you are going to enjoy this movie. If you like dramas based on historical events you’ll love this film, which stars, David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga.

Another film that I watched this week was A Single Man. It’s based on a book and directed by Fashion Designer Tom Ford. A Single Man looks at the life of a man who loses his lover of many years and how he copes with being single. A female lover he once had wants to rekindle the flames, but he’s not focused on that. Julianne Moore is exquisite in the supporting role of the female friend. Dated pieces work so well for her. She was born to wear costumes.
Colin Firth is The Single Man. Reflecting on his past and wondering if he has a future as he prepares to end his life.
This is a must see for film lovers.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Foreign Films

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - This is an incredible film. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a film without a happy ending. It was truly amazing. I’m going to have to add this to my collection. I wasn’t sure what the film was about, but one of my film buddies knew I would like it and they were right. The film stars David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga as the parents of an 8 year old boy who doesn’t understand why the Germans hate the Jews. Having his father as an officer he takes a job and the young boy has to leave his friends behind. In his need for adventure, the curiosity of the farm peeks his interest. He soon finds a way to get off the grounds and discovers a young boy his own age who happens to be Jewish. A friendship develops as the young boys try to come to an understanding of why one can’t be with the other. In a turn of events, the young German boy ends up in a pair of striped pajamas.

I highly recommend this emotionally charged film. It has a great sound track and the cast is great. You can see the emotion in their eyes and see and feel their change within about the decision they have made.
The film is in German with English subtitles, but its worth the look. For the ladies, it is a tear jerker.

Hilde’s Journey was an interesting film about a man that dies and the attempts his family goes to that his wishes are not fulfilled. There’s betrayal, on all levels as the friends lover tries to see that the wishes are honored. He drives to Paris to scatter the ashes in the sea with the ex- lover who was granted a substantial amount of money, but is being duped by the man’s family who does not wish to acknowledge that he was gay and died of aids. It’s an interesting film as we get to know the characters and the real relationship to the deceased, Martin Hilde.