I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. “Tootsie” (1982)

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directed by Sydney Pollack
© 1982 Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

The most sophisticated joke in the history of cinema is a man dressed up as a woman. It’s such a basic and cheesy thing, but somehow people still laugh when they see a man in full makeup choosing a dress and shaving his legs. Even in the 21st century where we have more and more transgender people, Mr Smith in high heels makes us giggle. However, this film is an absolute classic that you should know. If you’re a fan of Dustin Hoffman, then I’m sure you can agree that this is one of his most significant roles. And, honestly speaking, he’s a better woman on the screen than plenty of actresses I could name… Anyway, if you haven’t heard of “Tootsie”, then let me introduce you to the story. Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is a very good actor, but he has problems getting jobs. Nobody wants to work with him because he’s incredibly meticulous and does everything professionally. Desperate about not getting new roles, he decides to dress up as a woman and take part in a soap opera audition as Dorothy Michaels. Very original name switch. Anyway, he somehow manages to trick the producers and they give him the role. But instead of playing a silly chick, he actually becomes a real feminist in front of the camera, which surprises everyone. Soon he becomes well-known for his personality as Dorothy. This film is not only a funny comedy about a jobless actor, but also a significant production for the history of the USA. It presents the social situation there in the 80s and how women still needed to fight for their rights not to be seen as human-sized dolls. In 1983 Dustin Hoffman lost to Ben Kingsley when it comes to the Academy Awards. I believe both gentlemen did an equally great job, so the fact that Hoffman ended up empty handed is just bad luck. I honestly recommend you”Tootsie” because of this one role. Without Hoffman, this film wouldn’t be the same for sure. Interesting fact: the name “Tootsie” comes from Hoffman’s personal life. His mother used to be calling him this way. Told you it wouldn’t be the same.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Close your eyes, think of something nice. “The Impossible” (“Lo Imposible”, 2012)

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directed by J. A. Bayona
© 2012 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s wake you up properly on this beautiful first day of the week. I’m sorry for proposing a tragic film, but it’s definitely worth your attention and time. Although if you’re having a difficult day, I would recommend to postpone watching “The Impossible” for some other time. Not only the story is heart-breaking, but the fact that it was all based on a real story may actually freeze your broken heart. We follow a family: the father Henry (Ewan McGregor), the mother Maria (Naomi Watts) and their three sons Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast). They all decide to go on a Christmas holiday to Thailand. They hope to enjoy the time on a sunny beach or playing in the swimming pool. However, two days after their arrival, a huge tsunami destroys the area where the family is staying. The members get separated. Maria is trying to survive with her oldest son Lucas. While searching for help, they find a small boy Daniel who has lost his family. They decide to help the toddler and save him from drowning. At some point they end up in a hospital where Maria needs to be taken care of because of her severe injuries. While the doctors are trying to keep the woman alive, Lucas has to become more independent. He forgets about his age and starts acting like a grown-up. He even comes up with an idea to help all the panicked people at the hospital find their family members. What has happened to Henry and two other boys? You will find out yourselves. This film isn’t just about a family tragedy. I think it’s just a background for the character of Lucas. I think the producers wanted to present the story from a different perspective, so they chose the boy for the protagonist. We may actually feel like him from time to time. Young, terrified and practically on his own. I expect such type of films to be rather clichéd, but this one’s form has surprised me a lot. 

My rating: 7.5/10
S.

When I kill you, you will never be able to kill anybody. “In the Shadow of the Moon” (2019)

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directed by Jim Mickle
© 2019 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Some of you might be surprised that I’m recommending this film to you. It doesn’t receive the best ratings or recommendations. In fact, a lot of people say it’s illogical, incoherent or simply too naive. I agree with them all, but I still decided to write about it as a film you may want to see. At first we see some shots from 2024 where the world is literally burning. And then we move back to 1988. Just like that. Okay, so we will find out what happens with us that in 36 years we stop existing. In 1988 we observe some random people suddenly bleeding from their ears, noses, eyes and eventually dying. Then we follow Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) who is a police officer. He tries to get involved in the case as much as possible because it may help him become a detective. Unfortunately, not even his brother-in-law Detective Holt (Michael C. Hall) wants to cooperate with Thomas, therefore he decides to work on his own with the help of another policeman Maddox (Bokeem Woodbine). Each victim has those specific wounds on their neck, so Thomas is searching for the person responsible for making them. While he’s chasing the guilty woman (as we soon find out), his wife is giving birth to their daughter, but the police officer is too focused on the case. When he finally manages to catch his target, the woman says that… Ha, no spoiler. But what she says actually happens. And the story gets even more complicated, especially nine years later when another group of people suddenly die due to the massive blood loss. I was questioning plenty of things in this production and I think that the writers had a fantastic idea, but they drank too much whiskey one day and got lost in making the elements of the story coherent with each other. Anyway, the message coming from the film is actually very much thought proving. What if the fact that the world hasn’t ended yet is because we actually manage to stop ourselves from destroying it? How? See yourselves. Maybe it’s not my top film, but I’d definitely show it in some film club where I could discuss the ending. 

My rating: 6/10
S.

Actually, you’re a pretty handsome man. “The Blue Angel” (“Der blaue Engel”, 1930)

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directed by Josef von Sternberg
© 1930 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

This film is an absolute classic and it’s incredibly important in German cinema. You should definitely read more about Josef von Sternberg if you haven’t heard of him. He’s one of the filmmakers who actually exposed human emotions. Mostly those negative ones, but hey, you have to start from something. In this production you may see amazing actors such as Emil Jannings and Kurt Gerron, but also the cinema diva, Marlene Dietrich. It’s a wonderfully made film which I watched with my eyes wide open. I was amazed how well they were telling the story… almost 100 years ago! We start by meeting Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings) who is a professor at a school. Despite his knowledge and experience, he isn’t very much respected by the students. The boys aren’t interested in the lesson. Instead they stare at the photographs of Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich), who is known for her performances in “The Blue Angel”, the local cabaret. The professor wants to humiliate his students, so he goes there one evening to catch them. He doesn’t manage to do it, but he accidentally ends up at the backstage where he notices Lola… in… a… specific situation. Next evening he needs to return there because the students played another prank on him: they put a pair of panties in his coat. If you’re a woman and a man comes to you with panties in his hands, you have only two reactions to choose from. You either slap him or… exactly. But don’t think it’s just a typical romance. This film is beautiful and devastating at the same time. I mean, if you try to focus on the character of Immanuel Rath, you may finish feeling empty inside. This is how I felt. Despite marvellous quality of the production, I needed a moment for myself, because the story really hits you. A fun fact: this film was banned by the Nazis a few years later, but Hitler was a huge fan of Marlene Dietrich, so he had his own personal copy with him. Tempted? Now you have to watch it!

My rating: 7/10
S.

What can you do with your fingers? “Populaire” (2012)

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directed by Régis Roinsard
© 2012 Mars Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

If you search for today’s film description, you will find that it’s a romance, a comedy, a drama… Which means it’s everything and nothing. I mean, it’s really hard to name it, because there’s this dramatic story going on, but at some moments you may actually laugh… and at some roll your eyes. Especially when the main character screams “I LOVE YOU” with those poor dog’s eyes. But you’ll see yourselves. Speaking of the main character, her name is Rose (Déborah François) who tries to avoid marrying some local mechanic and wants to create a better future for herself. Therefore she applies to become Louis Échard’s (Romain Duris) secretary. At first the man isn’t really impressed with her, but then she shows him her typing skills. Rose uses only two fingers, but she can type incredibly fast. And that’s how she gets the job. But not only. Louis wants her to take part in speed-typing competition, which… she loses, mostly because other contestants use all 10 fingers. The man decides to offer Rose staying at his house and starts training her. And since I’ve already told you that it’s partially a romance, then you can guess to whom Rose shouts that dramatic “I LOVE YOU” in the face. The story is rather predictable and I’m pretty sure you won’t be surprised at the end. But the main character is adorable and at some point you begin to cheer for Rose. You really wish her all the best. Perhaps there isn’t a deep message coming from the story (except “use all 10 fingers while typing”), but we all need a cute film for a Friday evening sometime, right?

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

Children can’t understand. “Tell Me Who I Am” (2019)

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directed by Ed Perkins
© 2019 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

It’s not a very long documentary, but definitely too emotional. I mean, the description totally pushed me to watching it, but I guess I hadn’t realised what I was getting myself into. It’s a story of two twin brothers, Alex and Marcus. The first one survives an accident, but when he wakes up, he cannot remember a thing expect his brother. He doesn’t know his own name, the house he lives in, the school he goes to. Not even his mother. So, despite being an 18-year-old, he needs to learn almost everything from the beginning. Marcus becomes Alex’s life guide who shows him how to prepare food, how to ride a bike, where he needs to go to the bathroom and also who Alex’s girlfriend is. The boy is incredibly lucky to have survived and have such an amazing brother who really dedicates a lot of time to support his “second half.” One day their mother dies because of a brain tumour and soon after that Alex finds out about a horrible secret. Marcus knows exactly what’s the secret, but he doesn’t want to share it with his brother to protect him. However, Alex finds out only about a small part of what is being hidden from him. Many years later, when both men are over 50, he makes a decision to push Marcus and learn the truth, even if it’s hurtful. The whole documentary is made in a gentle and intimate way, so you can really focus on what the two brothers are saying to the camera. I was moved by the story incredibly. I’m not a twin myself, but I guess I would do exactly the same what Marcus did. He really wanted to protect his brother and give him another chance. I don’t want to share too much because discovering the whole secret is fascinating, so I’ll leave you with that.

My rating: 7.5/10
S.

It’s a hell of a lot longer when you’re innocent. “Life” (1999)

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directed by Ted Demme
© 1999 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

One of those films which are playing with you. You feel like smiling in one moment, then crying, then laughing… and then frowning again… So yes, basically, prepare for having your mind messed up. The story begins with an elderly man (Obba Babatundé) attending his two friends’ burial. There are two other young guys digging the graves and the old man decides to tell them the story of Ray and Claude. Ray (Eddie Murphy) is a hustler who knows how to manipulate people professionally, while Claude (Martin Lawrence) has just been accepted to work at First Federal of Manhattan and definitely doesn’t tell as many lies as Ray. Those two have nothing in common, so you may be asking how they end up together? Ray chooses Claude for his next victim. Or rather Claude’s wallet. Later some mess happens, which you will see yourselves. Anyway, the two gentlemen witness a murder of another person and, unlucky for them, they are the ones considered guilty. Two Afro-Americans, 1932, a murder… You know, it’s obvious. Both of them get sentenced to life. Claude is extremely mad at Ray, but the second one tries to accept the situation and move on. He even tries to make friends with his ex-victim. Generally, we get two totally different characters dealing with the problem of racism and segregation in the US, which, ironically, brought all the Afro-Americans closer to one another. On one hand it’s a silly comedy during which you may laugh at Eddie Murphy being goofy and Martin Lawrence trying to be the “serious” guy, but on the other hand this whole “comedy” happening there is just a pretty cover for the tragedy those people were going through. You may be smiling while watching it, but deep inside, I hope, you will feel for Ray and Claude and the whole bunch of very often innocent people suffering because of their skin colour. Oh and you will love the ending!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Tarapara. “Seventeen” (“Diecisiete”, 2019)

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directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
© 2019 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I really don’t like trusting people. Maybe this film isn’t rated super low, but I’ve found a lot of comments that the acting (in today’s film) is lame and the conversations aren’t even funny. You know what? You don’t want to know what. This production is absolutely marvellous and I’m so happy I didn’t listen to all those haters. I will tell you what the story is about, but I need to comment on that previous information first. So, the acting isn’t bad. It’s specific, because the main character isn’t an ordinary teenager. He perceives the reality a bit differently from others, so he cannot act like any random boy. He might be acting like a robot, but that’s the thing. I don’t want to suggest any conditions he may have, because it doesn’t matter. He’s just exceptional and I think the actor did a fantastic job with this particular character. And about the conversations… I guess I’ve seen a different film, because the dialogues are both hilarious and heart-warming (or breaking, you’ll see). Anyway, the story goes like this: Héctor (Biel Montoro) is a 17-year-old staying at a juvenile detention because he doesn’t really like obeying the law. Why? It’s better if you see yourselves. At the place where he’s staying they organise this kind of integration of the youth with dogs from a local shelter. One day Héctor gets encouraged to take care of one of the dogs and his world turns upside down. He really falls in love with the animal and finds something to focus on. Unfortunately, after some time the dog gets adopted by someone and the teenager’s heart breaks. He hasn’t only lost his best friend, but also the meaning of his existence (I know it sounds serious, but this is what it is for Héctor). He decides to run away, find the dog, kidnap it and drive far far away. But he cannot do it without his dying grandmother that, as he says, is a saint and she must go with him. Héctor’s older brother Ismael (Nacho Sánchez) catches him at the hospital and somehow agrees to help. I was laughing at loud, because the conversations are brilliant. But in the end you will melt because this film is about the importance of support. Sometimes we may think we can do everything ourselves. But what for if we could do it together? One of the most important films of this year for me.

My rating: 8.5/10
S.

We’ll have to deal with this ourselves. “Elena” (2011)

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directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
© 2011 Zeitgeist Film. All Rights Reserved.

Monday means drama, so why not recommending you a Russian drama to diversify your day? Perhaps it isn’t the best production after a tiring first day of the week, but it may comfort you. Unless you’re highly empathetic then you will go to sleep empty inside. You’re welcome. Anyway, the main character is Elena (Nadezhda Markina), who works as a nurse. Once she takes care of a businessman in the hospital and soon he becomes her husband, despite the background difference between those two. She’s rather a simple woman while Vladimir (Andrey Smirnov) is the one not counting money. Obviously, after the marriage, Elena moves in with the man and she starts living the new quality life. She has an adult son from her previous relationship who lives with his wife and children. Their eldest son may soon be sent to the army unless he goes to university. Unfortunately, the family needs money for that since they live in poverty. They ask Elena to support them, but it’s Vladimir who is responsible for the finances in the marriage and he refuses to help. What’s more, he informs that he is going to leave his wealth to his daughter (from a previous relationship, welcome to the 21st century were everyone has children from previous relationships) and Elena will be receiving only a small money support after his death. What happens next? Let it stay a secret. The film may not be overly attractive, but it gives a lot of food for thought. Critics say that it’s a wonderful picture of our society. I mean they use the word “Russian”, but I’m pretty sure most of us may agree that the situation is similar in our countries. It shows an interesting perspective on proletarians. It’s not like they can’t do anything with their life. It’s just they are used to their lifestyle so badly that even if you gave them one million dollars, they would still sit with a can of beer in front of the tv. And complain, obviously. The film also presents the difference between generations and how much each can do for their family . I’m glad I’ve seen this film.

My rating: 6/10
S.

If you want something to be done right, do it yourself. “Cartel Land” (2015)

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directed by Matthew Heineman
© 2015 The Orchard. All Rights Reserved.

Perhaps this film will open some people’s eyes and give them a good kick in the butt. We love to complain about everything that is happening around us, but all we can do is just sit and observe how those above us ignore our problems. It’s a story about several people who decided to get into action and make sure that everyone feels safe. And it wouldn’t be that important if it was a sci-fi production. No. This time I have a documentary for you about the power of people. Not the kings, presidents or other well-dressed guys in expensive cars. The power of ordinary citizens fighting for their rights. The film presents two groups, one in Mexico, one in the US. The first one has been started by Dr. Jose Mirreles, who was tired of the local cartel making mess everywhere. One day he goes out and organises a group of volunteers who want to do what the police should be doing: protect their home.  Then in the US we can see a paramilitary group which has been dealing with the same cartel. Their goal is to stop the Mexican criminals from doing business on the other side of the border. We may follow their actions and look at the problem from their perspective. A very good camerawork and shots. A huge respect for recording the work of both groups. Perhaps the problem could have been presented more deeply, but I’m still glad such production exists. It’s a proof that no matter how horrible government we may have, it’s all up to us. If we want to change something, there’s no point in waiting. The people presented in the film risked their life in order to protect others. I hope you will never have to make such a drastic decision yourselves. But I also hope this story will inspire you to take things into your own hands.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.