World is decay. Life is perception. “The Holdovers” (2023)

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directed by Alexander Payne
© 2023 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

Do you recall those family lunches during which there’s a comedy/drama from the 70s playing in the background? So imagine going to the cinema, sitting in a dark room with a huge screen and feeling exactly the same as during those lunches. At least that’s how I’d desribe my experience. Everyone was telling me what an adorable film that is before I decided to see it myself, and I’m here to share a different opinion: it’s dark humour, cynicism, depression and trauma covered in snow and glitter. Excited to read more? I hope so. The main character of today’s film is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a grumpy and extremely demanding professor at a boarding school. You know such kind of teacher for sure – the one that is hated by everyone yet there’s no chance for getting rid of them, so they basically enjoy torturing their colleagues and students without a pinch of hesitation. That’s Paul. Anyway, the Christmas break is coming and not all teenagers are getting back home, so there has to be a professor to stay with them during this time. That’s also Paul. As you can imagine, the students aren’t thrilled to know who their guardian will be, but it is what it is. At this point we also get to know Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a boy who was supposed to spend the break with his mother, but the woman has changed her plans and told Angus to stay in the school. As you can guess, Paul and Angus dislike each other, but they will have a wonderful opportunity to either change their minds or one of them won’t survive till January. Anyway, if you’re wondering whether this film is worth seeing in the cinema – my answer is “YES!”. Why? Since the story is set in the 70s, the crew has stylised the film so it actually looks like one from the 70s. They even made an old-looking title card with logos of Focus Features and Miramax, so from the very beginning you feel as if you moved back in time. It was a really cool experience in the cinema, which allowed me to completely forget about the reality for those around 2 hours. Besides, the story sounds like a silly comedy about a conflict between a teacher and a student, but it’s just the first half of the film. The longer you’re watching, the darker it turns, because you get to know the characters from this less shallow point of view. You’ll understand why Paul is so stubborn and cynical, and why Angus is so angry and rebellious, because their characters are the consequences of certain events. There’s also a lovely lady named Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who’s a cafeteria manager and takes care of their tummies during the holiday break. I’m a huge fan of her facial expressions, which are hilarious at some points, but in fact, she’s a tragic character just like Paul and Angus, but that’s for you to discover. Generally, I see this film as a story about the power of superficiality. At first you may see Paul as an annoying teacher, Angus as a spoilt kiddo and Mary as a standoffish cook, but then you realise that there’s a reason why they are seen this way. Sometimes it’s worth giving the other person a chance to open up and reveal what’s hidden deep inside. And perhaps you can support each other, even though both sides might be in need of help themselves. I know this sounds like a story you’ve heard many times, but there’s something extraordinary about this film and I really fell for it. When it comes to acting – chapeau bas. In my personal opinion, all three actors should be awarded, because they presented a fresh versions of well-known kinds of characters. Unfortunately, unlike Paul and Da’Vine, Dominic Sessa hasn’t received a nomination for an Oscar, but I’m giving him all my personal awards. In fact, I’ve seen something even more interesting in Angus, which is perhaps my interpretation, but I believe that Angus is neurodivergent. As a representative of the group, I loved those little moments where we could see Angus’ perspective (for example the scene when he spaced out during the party when he spotted a snow globe). Maybe it’s just my overthinking (which is also common for neurodivergent people btw, so now you know where all my interpretation theories come from), but I believe Angus was an example of such kiddo, whose life was even more miserable back then. In the 70s, neurodivergent children would be called “naughty” and they’d have to be living with such label. Now, we give them a chance to understand why they see the world a bit differently than their peers, which can really change their lives. And I believe that Dominic did a magnificent job in this case. So, to sum up, three amazing actors, a time machine to the 70s and lots of sarcastic lines that will make you laugh for sure. One of the best productions of 2023 – consider it a must-see.

My rating: 8/10
S.

You have the right to be happy. “Someone, Somewhere” (“Deux moi”, 2019)

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directed by Cédric Klapisch
© 2019 StudioCanal. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re single, I’ve got something for you. Today is the day of people in love, people in couples, people in other romantic combinations. And today is also the day when singles may feel even more single, so I’d like to recommend a film to all the individuals who have nobody to give an overpriced box of chocolate to. Even though it’s also labeled as a romance, it’s not what you might be expecting. Indeed, we have two main characters, yet they are not a couple and they don’t even know each other. Rémy (François Civil) is a rather shy and introvert man doing a simple job, which he loses due to the modernisation of the working process in the company. When that happens and his routine is ruined, he starts realising how lonely he is. In the meantime, we get to know Mélanie (Ana Girardot), who’s a scientific researcher and very passionate about what she does. So much she’s kind of forgot to take care of her love life. Therefore, she starts using a dating app, but each date is an even deeper level of hell. If you’ve ever used a dating app, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re too picky, you don’t match with anyone, but then if you lower your standards, you waste your time with people asking you about your favourite colour for several hours. Or you just hook up with a person whose name you don’t even know and then never see them again. I’m not religious, but I do believe in hell because using dating apps is exactly that. Anyway, those two characters don’t know each other and we’re just following two separate stories, which have three things in common – the guys are both in their 30s, both single and both depressed in their own way. If you think it’s one of those film where such characters ACCIDENTALLY bump into each other and fall in love at that very moment, then no worries, not happening here. As I said, this is not really a romance, unless you count those awkward dates Mélanie goes to, then call it whatever you want. But generally, it’s a very peaceful comedy about being single. Personally, I had a pleasant evening watching this film and I feel that if you’re single, you’ll appreciate it. Especially today, when everything is focused on happy couples. And here’s a story of two depressed singles that reminds us they also have the right to be happy. So does you. Now go get yourself a box of those overpriced chocolates and enjoy. At least you don’t have to share them with anyone, more for you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

If the world treats you like a criminal, you become one. “Flamin’ Hot” (2023)

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directed by Eva Longoria
© 2023 Disney+. All Rights Reserved.

One day you’re a drama queen of Wisteria Lane, another day you’re directing your debut about a man who went from “zero to hero” thanks to Cheetos. Welcome to the world of cinema, take a seat and enjoy. Today’s recommendation is based on a true story of Richard Montañez (played by Jesse Garcia). He grew up in southern California, yet he’s of Mexican origins, so from the very beginning he felt somehow excluded from society. I bet you know what kind of exclusion we’re talking about here. Since he wasn’t taken as seriously as white citizens, he decided to stay in a gang and do all those illegal stuff that let him survive. However, when he gets married and has children, life becomes more complicated for a criminal, so Richard finds a simple job at Frito-Lay factory. He’s not paid well, but it’s a chance for him to change his reality. Still, from the very beginning, he cannot understand why employees are so divided into specific groups, based on their status. Curious about all the machines in the factory, Richard starts talking to an engineer maintenance leader (Dennis Haysbert), who finds Richard quite clever and is willing to help him learn. In the meantime, Richard is slowly working on an idea that may revolutionise the world of crisps and also let him become something more than just a criminal or a janitor. As I said at the beginning, it’s a success story about a man who managed to significantly change his life despite difficult beginnings. And if you don’t know Richard’s story, you will see what he finally achieved. I didn’t have high expectations and I rather thought it’d be just a silly comedy, but in fact, Eva managed to do something extraordinary with this film. I mean, it’s still simple and funny, but not ridiculous and it doesn’t give you parody vibes at all. In fact, the comedic atmosphere made me sympathise with Richard even more. He was a good guy who wanted to do great things, but due to his origins, he was constantly considered a loser, a criminal, a guy who’s not allowed to dream big. And that’s all a huge bullsh… This film is a real empowerment story reminding us that no matter who you are, you can work hard and reach your goals. Don’t listen to others who label you without hesitation. Let them create those labels while you’re climbing to the top of that mountain, honey. I had a lot of fun and I feel inspired, so no reason to dislike this film. Congratulations to Eva and the crew, it’s a good production right there.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Sometimes superheroes make mistakes just like anyone else. “All We Had” (2016)

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directed by Katie Holmes
© 2016 Gravitas Ventures. All Rights Reserved.

Personally, I like finding films that aren’t much popular, yet they would be somebody’s cup of tea, so then I recommend them with satisfaction. Today’s film is quite difficult, but if you like realism and stories that resemble life in all its shades, then go for it. You probably know Katie Holmes as an actress, but she’s directed some productions as well, and “All We Had” is actually her debut as a director. Fun fact shared, let’s talk about the film. We get to know Rita (Katie Holmes), a single mother of Ruthie (Stefania LaVie Owen). The ladies have a rather unstable life since Rita keeps on getting into relationships with wrong men and ends up being used and neglected. One day, her daughter forces Rita to run away again and this time they’re about to go to Boston. However, they have some problems with the car on the way, so they need to use all their money for the necessary repairs. In order to survive, Rita comes up with an idea – she wants to rob a small town diner. Robbing it is not such a big deal, but how can you run away if your car is broken? Not the most convenient. Therefore, the ladies get back and apologise for the attempt explaining their situation and why they had to do that. The owner, Marty (Richard Kind), is a good man and instead of calling the police, he offers them both work. This is a simple story, yet very common, so watching it can be quite emotional. At least it was to me, because I imagined how many people, especially single mothers, have been in such position in their life. Without a stable job, a safe house, a supportive partner and clear perspectives. How many women had to give up on everything to survive and make sure their child is fine? This is a film about all those women. Perhaps it’s terrifying, perhaps it shows that even such victims can do vicious things, yet their actions are often the consequence of what happened to them before. So when you see Rita making another mistake, you may feel incredible pity towards her, instead of anger that you’d feel towards any other random person. Besides, this production also puts a spotlight on children in such difficult situations. They have to grow up much faster than their peers and often take responsibility of their parents in order to save themselves and their parent(s). In this film we can see how Ruthie, who’s still a young girl and needs her mother’s support, has to be a guardian for Rita. What’s more, this rather average-rated film is also, at least to me, about how people who have experienced a lot of evil in their life are the most genuine and helpful. It doesn’t stop surprising me, but there’s something incredible about that. It’s just pure goodness, which has no price and cannot be buried. So as you can see, this film has something important to offer and I hope you accept it.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I am finding being alive fascinating. “Poor Things” (2023)

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directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
© 2023 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Another production by Yorgos Lanthimos and I’m still not sure what to think about this director. On the one hand, he’s very original, controversial, not caring about taboo topics, so I enjoy how unexpected his films are. I never know whether I’d cry, laugh, worry or vomit. Never know. On the other hand, he likes to prolong the duration of certain scenes that even if I liked them at the beginning, next several minutes are boring me. Besides, his films are his. I believe that he doesn’t make films for people, he makes them for himself. And just by the way shares them with us, the audience, to perhaps join his extraordinary world. To me, that’s a huge plus, but I don’t always want to accept the invitation. Still, I believe that “Poor Things” is his best production so far, so if you didn’t like the previous, perhaps you’d like to try this one out. Yorgos is taking us to Victorian London, where we meet Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), a surgeon with a complex life story and quite original ideas. He asks one of his students, Max (Ramy Youssef), to assist him during his home experiment. When the young man arrives, he finds out that the said experiment is a young woman, Bella (Emma Stone). She’s acting unusually and is considered retarded, which seems fascinating to Godwin, because he can observe her reactions and very slow development. He asks Max to constantly follow Bella and take notes about her, especially when the surgeon is busy. As the woman is progressing, at some point she wishes to leave the house and explore. But Godwin is a bit worried because, in the end, Bella is an experiment and she’s not accustomed to society. I tried my best not to spoil too much writing this fragment, so I still hope you’ll get surprised when you see the film. Especially about how Bella was “made” (don’t watch trailers, let it be a surprise, trust me). As I said earlier, this film is definitely my favourite by Yorgos, but I cannot explain you why. Perhaps it’s because of the idea, which is ridiculous and disgusting, but at the same time fresh and unusual. Personally, I’m tired of copy-paste productions, so I definitely appreciate such creativity. Besides, Emma Stone is marvellous as Bella. Generally, she’s a great actress, but in this film she had a very difficult job and she needed to present various faces and skills of hers, which I watched absolutely amazed. She’s so raw and authentic in this fantasy world that I’m not surprised she’s appreciated for the role. Then, there’s the message coming out of the film and I believe that’s a mystery for viewers to solve. Yorgos likes to play with surrealism, so we cannot take everything we see in the film just as it is. To me, this is a story about female oppression and how they’ve developed in society to be seen as equal or sometimes even more competent than men. Bella is surrounded by very different men and at first, she considers them as mentors who surely want all the best for her. At some point, she realises, that she can make much better choices on her own. I recommend you to observe and analyse Bella’s relations with each man and each woman in this story. That may give you an interesting perspective. Perhaps you’ll find it mind-blowing, but I’ve read somewhere that this is a perfect film to present what it is to be an autistic woman. I cannot really confirm whether it’s true or not, we would need to ask such woman, but there’s a lot of points that support this theory. Bella sees and experiences the world differently, which is nothing wrong, but still it’s unusual to most people. I am very happy Yorgos made this film and I hope that he’ll keep on progressing as a director as well. Perhaps one day I’ll be more sure about my opinion on his filmmaking style. But for now, I’m very much positive.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Who’s bad? Sin-bad! “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)

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directed by Tim Johnson & Patrick Gilmore
© 2003 DreamWorks Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Surprisingly, I’m starting this post telling you about another film: I’ve just seen “Nimona”, one of the animations nominated to Oscars this year. I’d love to write about it, but unfortunately I’m incredibly disappointed. The screenplay is messy, the introduction is unclear and way too short, the animation style is not my cup of tea, and I felt like the message they were trying to share within is actually too hidden in this fantasy world, which looks like a combination of several stories. So it’s a “no” from me. But, while I was watching, I couldn’t stop thinking about the two characters – there are two knights competing with each other. And I had this feeling as if I’d seen them somewhere else. At some point, a lightbulb over my head shone and I realised that the knights might be a cheap copy of Sinbad and Proteus, who are the characters of the film I’ve decided to recommend you today. If 2023 doesn’t give us quality animations, let’s get 20 years back, shall we? Sinbad is a pirate who does rather pirate kind of things – travelling and robbing, simple as that. His life seems peaceful, if being a thief can be considered peaceful, until he decides to steal the Book of Peace. It’s a magical book that protects the world, so if he manages to rob it, the authorities will pay all money possible to get it back. So, the plan is to grab the book, exchange it for lots of gold and spend the rest of the life in Fiji. Unfortunately, things get complicated. The pirate meets Eris, the Goddess of Discord, who offers to pay him even more than any human for the Book of Peace. Sinbad obviously agrees, but when he attempts to steal it, he changes his mind seeing his old friend Proteus, whose life would change drastically if that book went missing. So when the pirate gives up, Eris impersonates him and steals the book herself, but in the body of Sinbad, so now everyone blames him. When Sinbad is sentenced to death, Proteus tells him to find the book and if the pirate fails, Proteus volunteers to be killed for him. Will Sinbad ignore the fact that his childhood friend might die? Or perhaps he will save him? That’s for you to see. Watching those two knights from “Nimona” I just saw Sinbad and Proteus. In fact, they even looked the same… Call me a grumpy old cinephile, but I appreciate the old animation much more. It used to be one of my beloved films, because it’s adventurous, funny, exciting, surprising and moving, so while watching, you’re riding an impressive rollercoaster of emotions. Besides, Proteus’ fiancée Marina joins Sinbad’s crew and we get one of the coolest female characters. She’s such a badass, I swear! Not only she’s stubborn and brave, but also horribly smart and mentally strong. All characters in this film are well-written, but Marina is that cherry on top. When I was a child, the animation was just fun, but as an adult, I see much more in the story. To me, this film is not only about true friendship, but also about staying yourself. You may be a fair person no matter if you’re a prince or a pirate (although that may seem strange to read), so don’t let others tell you how to live – experience, learn, discover and then you’ll know. Could there be a better message to share with children? And that’s the kind of animations I miss the most. Feel free to see it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it very much.

My rating: 8/10
S.

I will not accept defeat. “Nyad” (2023)

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directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Do you feel the Oscars season being right around the corner? I do. Every year I promise myself not to follow them anymore, yet, as a cinephile, I always fail. Today, I’m recommending you a film that has received two Oscars nominations in 2024, both for its actresses. Will any of the ladies win? That’s still not sure. However, no matter what happens in March, you should see this production. It’s a biographical film presenting Diana Nyad, a swimmer, who’s also become a writer and a motivational speaker. Before you skip this title because perhaps you’re not into sports dramas, let me assure you that it’s not what you may think it is. Personally, I’m not into sports, so it’s pretty clear I’m also not into films about sports. However, this one was incredibly pleasant and I enjoyed it from the very beginning. It mostly focuses on the time when Diana, at the age of 60, came up with an idea to swim from Cuba to Florida. Here comes a little SPOILER, but I’d like to share this fact with you: despite her quite advanced age, she wasn’t the oldest to achieve this goal. Still, she was the first person who has succeeded to swim this distance without a shark cage. The two previous swimmers used a cage, but Diana wanted to do it her own way and be the first to do it without such protection (she used something else, but you may see that in the film). Insane? For sure, but imagine the adrenaline! And what’s a better motivation for sports people? I have to admit that I didn’t know about Diana before watching this drama, so I’m glad it was made and more of us find out about her and her achievements. Another reason why I might find this production enjoyable is the acting. Still, as much as I admire Annette Bening and her skills, she wasn’t the best choice for this role. If you watch some videos of real Diana, you will see what a positive and energetic freak she is, while Annette is rather subdued, so I’m afraid she didn’t portray Diana well enough. Different temperaments, that’s it. But Jodie Foster? Oh holy spirits, that’s why you should see this film! Jodie plays Diana’s best friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll, and she does it marvellously! This film would have lost so much of its charm without this actress, so I’m absolutely satisfied with her nomination to receive an Oscar. Besides, this is also a story about an authentic and strong friendship between two mature women, which if nurtured, it’ll endure anything. After watching, I felt the need to call my best friend, so I guess that’s another reason why you should choose this production. For friendship and dreams!

My rating: 7/10
S.

What legacy? “Mimi” (2021)

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directed by Laxman Utekar
© 2021 JioCinema. All Rights Reserved.

Since Hollywood has recently started noticing Bollywood a bit more, then I should Bollywood the week a little bit as well. I’m actually glad their productions are being appreciated in other countries, because I truly like watching them. Yes, they are overacted. Yes, they are often naive. Yes, lots of scenes are unrealistic. But that’s the charm of Bollywood and if you accept their rules, you’re gonna open the door to numerous very entertaining stories. However, except seeing impressive choreography and bouncing to cheerful music, each Bollywood film comes with a certain message/lesson, so you always end up a bit inspired. Today, I’m recommending you a comedy/drama, which let me relax after a long day, but which also covers an important social topic. Mimi (Kriti Sanon) is a beautiful young woman who’s dreaming of making a career in Bollywood. Unfortunately, except an astonishing body and dancing experience, she also needs money to cover all the necessary expenses. Here comes Bhanu (Pankaj Tripathi), a taxi driver, who has met an American couple trying to find a surrogate in India. The lady cannot have children, so they decided to ask another woman to help them. When they mention their plans and how much money they’re ready to pay for this whole process, Bhanu immediately introduces them to Mimi. The couple are very picky when it comes to choosing their surrogate, but Mimi seems to be a perfect candidate. The woman is a bit shocked, but knowing how much she’d earn on helping the Americans, she agrees. Unfortunately, when Mimi gets pregnant, it turns out that the child will be born with Down syndrome, which terrifies both the surrogate and the couple. In order not to spoil what happens next, I’m warning you that SPOILERS are coming. It’s impossible for me to address the problem presented in the film without telling you what happened, so I hope you’re reading this part after watching. So, to me this production presents how irresponsible people are when it comes to having children. It’s wonderful when people have healthy sons and daughters, when they share adorable family photos and look so satisfied with their parenthood. However, being a parent is a huge responsibility before even having a child. That is why, before making this huge life step discuss with your partner whether you’d be ready to bring up a child no matter what they’d be like. It’s not about having some dark thoughts – it’s about being realistic. Just like you cannot choose their character, you cannot choose their health problems. This film reminds viewers to have children if they are ready to have “imperfect” ones. I’m putting the word imperfect in inverted commas because this is just how the society sees children with any kind of disability. Still, despite such heavy lesson, this production may really make you laugh, so Bollywood yourself and discover more of Indian cinema.

My rating: 6/10
S.

The happy childhood is hardly worth telling. “Angela’s Ashes” (1999)

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directed by Alan Parker
© 1999 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

As a cinephile and a bookworm, I love how those two industries complement each other. We all know this popular question “what do you prefer – the book or the film?”, and I personally think we should appreciate both, because each enriches us with a different kind of experience. In fact, I believe watching a film and reading a book based on one story is super exciting, because we may compare them and get surprised by certain differences. Today’s recommendation is based on the book of the same name written by Frank McCourt. I haven’t read that book, but I’m surely adding it to my to-read list after seeing the film. If you haven’t heard of the story, I’m sure you’ll be both amazed and terrified by what this productions has to offer. It’s about a big family of six living in the US in the 1930s. Another member has just been born, little Margaret, but she dies shortly after. The tragedy is incredibly difficult for them all to deal with, that is why the mother, Angela (Emily Watson), is suffering from depression, and the father, Malachy (Robert Carlyle), starts drinking way too much. Since the parents cannot provide for their children, they get back to Ireland, where they both originally come from. The decision was quite strange because the situation in Ireland was much more complicated than in the US back then, yet the family moved. They all have to adapt to horrible conditions and live with a constant fear of death, which continuously takes them away one by one… It’s a very uncomfortable story told by the eldest son, Frank, who shares his whole childhood with us. Or actually lack of it. You don’t have to be good in history to know that the 1930s were a true nightmare in Europe, so watching this film you may feel speechless, as well as horribly grateful. Speechless what a human can go through, and grateful that you’re in a better situation right now. I hope you are, because I wouldn’t wish anyone to have a memoir like this one. The film is certainly culturally significant, because it presents authentic life of people back then and is better than most history classes I attended at school, that’s for sure. What I also appreciate this story for is numerous questions about faith. The family is very religious, yet they literally go through hell every single day. At one point, the mother says to her children that if they need anything, they should pray to Jesus, and one boy starts wondering if they could tell him they’re hungry. It’s a short moment in the film, yet it hit me hard. The topic of questioning God is very much present there, but I don’t want to share my personal opinions on that. Besides, even though this story is set in the 1930s, there are many moments covering the topic of feminism and toxic masculinity, which are more common in modern cinema. We see Angela who has to take care of all the children on her own, but we also see Malachy, who cannot provide for them and it is slowly killing him, because he doesn’t feel like a “real man”. And then, a bunch of little humans, who didn’t ask to be born into that world. If you’re looking for a difficult production, you’ve just found it. But it’s very good and you should definitely see it. I’m a fan of Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle, so seeing them together on the screen is incredibly satisfying.

My rating: 7/10
S.

What was once unthinkable became a routine. “Society of the Snow” (“La sociedad de la nieve”, 2023)

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directed by J. A. Bayona
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

If you don’t know what happened in the Andes in 1972, then today’s recommendation will be a beginning of a great adventure. I have to admit that I didn’t know about this disaster before watching, so I didn’t even know how the story ends. And if you’re in a similar position, I hope you don’t read or watch anything before pressing play (except this post, because it’s spoiler free). Promise me that. Because then, the whole experience becomes even more exciting. As I already mentioned, we are taken to 1972, where an Uruguayan rugby team is about to take a flight to Chile to play a match there. The players are very young men around their 20s and they are also travelling with some of their family members or fans. Unfortunately, the plane crashed in the Andes, but it’s difficult for me to explain you why. I’ve read a little bit about that tragedy and all I understand that it could have been a problem with navigation, difficult weather circumstances or a mistake of both pilots. I’m not anyhow competent to describe aviation disasters, so I’ll just finish this point with “they crashed”. Both pilots died, so did several passengers. Luckily, a lot of those young players survived the accident, but they crashed in the mountains, where nobody could help them. Still, the group stays hopeful that they’ll soon be found, because it’s obvious someone will send a rescue team. And indeed, they spot an aircraft flying over them, so they are pretty sure help is coming. Unfortunately, hours are passing, days are passing, and nobody comes. They manage to find a radio in this whole luggage mess and somehow make it work, but perhaps they wished they didn’t… Because at some point they hear the news about their crash and the speaker informs that rescue teams haven’t found anyone and they’ll resume the search in December. Just so you know, the crash happened in October. So knowing that nobody is searching for them and they are left alone in the Andes, they have to stay strong, survive and make another day. Despite being a terrifying catastrophe, there’s also a significant controversial element that made that disaster known about around the world (I didn’t know about it because I wasn’t even born back then, so excuse my lack of knowledge). As days were passing, their food supplies were quickly disappearing and in order to survive, the survivors started eating other dead passengers. Perhaps it’s difficult to imagine for us, but you’ll see in the film how limited their options were. So forcing yourself to cannibalism is one thing, but there was also another issue. The whole team was incredibly religious, like most people living in Uruguay. To them, eating another human being was showing disrespect towards their God. This film is full of difficult discussions about life, faith, friendship and hope, which is definitely its strongest side. But, unfortunately, I believe the actors could have done a better job. As a viewer, I didn’t believe them in their characters and their stories. But as far as I know, they were very fresh actors with little experience, so that might be the reason. Perhaps the director wanted them to be more authentic, but lack of acting skills doesn’t equal authenticity on the screen, and this film is a sad example of that. However, the reason why I’m rating this film quite high is because I also watched the American version from 1993 called “Alive”. And I’m so glad the remake was made… Go see both versions and I bet you’ll appreciate the new one even more. Plus, I’m glad that in a film about an Uruguayan rugby team we have actors from Uruguay (or at least South America) and it’s fully in Spanish. Time to stop americanising every story, because we’ll end up having citizens believing Napoleon spoke English. Although, wait, it’s happening already… Ridiculous. Anyway, a story worth knowing, so make sure to learn about it. This rating is a bit higher just because the 1993 version was horrible, but I do believe that tragedy deserved a more emotional and better acted film.

My rating: 7/10
S.