Are you expecting it to be safe? “Beau Is Afraid” (2023)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Ari Aster
© 2023 A24. All Rights Reserved.

Ari, Ari, Ari… I admire this man so much for his bravery to make films that are so unusual that there’s a huge risk of not reaching to many viewers. However, his work is loved not only by me, but millions of other cinephiles, and perhaps that’s why I had such big expectations before watching today’s film. As you see, I’m still recommending it, so I did like it in the end, but it’s definitely not my favourite production by Ari Aster. In this story we get to know Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), a middle-aged man living alone in a really dangerous city. He struggles with a serious anxiety and has to be taking meds in order to function. Beau is preparing for visiting his mother, who is a wealthy and successful person, but because of certain reasons he misses the flight and has to come up with some other way to reach her. Things get complicated and the man doesn’t know how to solve his newly occurring problems, yet he really needs to visit his mother as he’s afraid to disappoint her. And that’s all you can learn from me about the plot, because what happens next is too strange to even describe it. The film is 3 hours long and I think that after 2,5h I was still not convinced about the point of making this production. Why did he do it? It’s so messy, it’s way too much in every single aspect, it’s horribly inconsistent in its form… but then the ending happened and everything became clear to me. I’m not going to spoil much, but I do want to share my interpretation of this film, so if you haven’t seen it, here’s a warning. So… I’m not sure what other people see in this story, but to me it’s an incredibly important issue that Ari has addressed. I believe that Beau is an example of a grown-up man who has been highly traumatised by his mother. You may say – nothing new, we have many stories like that. Indeed, but here we kind of indirectly focus on the character of the mother – she represents women who decide to have children without a pinch of awareness what raising a human being really means. His mother has been accusing Beau for everything from the very beginning and the boy grew up constantly feeling like a failure. If you watch closely, he keeps apologising for things he’s not even responsible for. Here’s a small spoiler – remember the messages he was getting in his flat about being noisy even though he wasn’t noisy at all? Maybe I’m wrong, but to me it was supposed to show us that the world keeps searching for someone to blame and we have to have a thick skin not to let them destroy us. Beau was raised as his mother’s personal toy to blame, so he didn’t have a chance to adapt to the real world. His parent didn’t support him in strengthening his self-esteem and finding his personal value, so he ended up feeling constantly anxious and worthless. The ending hit me the most because it showed how little we care about helping traumatised people. It wasn’t Beau’s fault to be born in such family, so from the very beginning he was left alone to learn and deal with everything our reality has to offer. And what do we do as society? We ignore. We judge. We reject. The idea for this production was marvellous and I’m thankful that it was made. However, in my opinion Ari couldn’t decide about the form and went for them all. “Hey, Ari, which form is your film going to be in?” – “Yes.” At some points it was even tacky, so that is why I cannot rate it higher. But for the sake of the messages coming out of this production – I definitely recommend you to see it.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Determination of a woman. “Mother of Apostles” (“Maty apostoliv”, 2020)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Zaza Buadze
© 2020 Golden Fleece Studio. All Rights Reserved.

Today, I’m offering you a real gem I saw during a Ukrainian film festival last year. I generally try to avoid productions about war as they are emotionally tiring and I need to be in the right mood to appreciate them fully. However, this one is slightly different. We’re following Sofia (Nataliya Polovynka), a woman whose son is a pilot. She receives news that the plane he was flying was shot down. The woman is trying to get any information about her child, yet the military shares nothing, so she decides to travel to the war zone herself. She’s not a soldier, she’s just an ordinary woman who wants to make sure her son is still alive. Despite the obvious danger, Sofia’s determination is too strong for her to give up at any point. The filmmakers take us back to 2014 when the war between Russian and Ukraine began. If you think that the occupation has been taking place for about a year, then I’m sorry to tell you it’s been over 9 years now. This production was especially significant during the last year’s Ukrainian film festival, because of the ongoing attacks on a huge scale in Ukraine in 2022. However, I wouldn’t like to focus on political issues here and instead, discuss the film itself. I was absolutely amazed by the character of Sofia. Not only it was very well played by the actress, but also it made me truly sympathise with the woman. I believed everything the character was presenting and I had chills watching her steps. She just looked innocent and weak, but deep inside she was a real lioness who wouldn’t stop until her goal was achieved. And her goal was to find her son, even if that means losing her own life on the way. Despite political and cultural aspects of this production, I admire the story for showing this unimaginably strong mother’s love that may lead to putting the woman in danger, but for sure leads to brave actions. All the interactions that Sofia has with other people are also a separate topic worth discussing. Even though there’s an ongoing war, people find some mysterious empathy that tells them to help Sofia and make sure she’s safe. I’ve never experienced war in a direct way, but I can only imagine how little everything matters – people simply try to survive. Yet, not sure whether it’s human solidarity or the energy that Sofia shares, but she’s got more luck than we could imagine. I was fascinated by this production and I hope that you’ll find a moment to see it as well. It really is a film about love and determination more than about the war. I hope you believe me.

My rating: 7/10
S.

It’s an entirely different kind of flying. “Airplane!” (1980)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
© 1980 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film is definitely a classic and a production that’s not for everyone. What I mean by that is back then, in the 80s and 90s, making an inappropriate joke was actually a difficult task. Nowadays, we try to be more politically and socially correct, so we really have to be careful what we’re laughing at, even if those are just silly jokes and we have no intention of hurting anyone. I remember watching “Airplane!” when I was younger and I did consider those texts a bit cringy, yet I didn’t feel like they were crossing the line that much. Until I ended up in current times where thinking twice before speaking is very much recommended. Anyway, if you’re able to forget about any kind of correctness and just want to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon with an old comedy, that’s your choice. Telling you about the plot is actually pointless because it’s really not that important. The filmmakers wanted to mock typical disaster films with airplanes in the spotlight. Except the obvious flight that happens there, we have some love story, we have a dramatic story, the passengers are of different ages, cultures and backgrounds – so all the points of “how to make a decent disaster film” have been covered. What matters in this comedy is that it’s made by people who visibly had a lot of fun on the filmset and they wished to give us, cinephiles, a piece that will let our brain take a breath after all those overly intellectual productions we often watch. Was is a success? Definitely. I’m sure many of my older readers remember this film well and my post is just a nostalgic reminder of how cringy and inappropriate our humour used to be, yet it was ours and I’m sure some of us miss those times. I can’t even count how many legendary texts were said there, which makes me smile even now as I think of them. However, if you haven’t seen this comedy, try to remember that it’s just a parody full of jokes that are not there to offend anyone. And perhaps, you’ll spend a fun Sunday flight with Leslie Nielsen. Over.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You don’t have to say anything. “The Quiet Girl” (“An Cailín Ciúin”, 2022)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Colm Bairéad
© 2022 Break Out Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I feel like today’s film wasn’t much visible during the Oscars’ ceremony. I mean, generally international films get less attention and here I am to encourage you to check this title out. “The Quiet Girl” represented Ireland during the Oscars this year and I think that Irish people should be proud of that choice. I wasn’t so sure I would like it, even when I started watching the film, but the ending made it all clear to me – this production is brilliant. But first, the plot: we’re moving back to the 80s where a little Cáit (Catherine Clinch) in living with her family in the country. The girl has many siblings and her mother gets pregnant again, therefore they decide to send Cáit to stay with her distant cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her husband Seán (Andrew Bennett). The girl has troubles fitting in at school and is generally incredibly quiet, which makes it even more difficult for the couple to communicate with her. At the beginning, they treat Cáit like an ordinary girl, but soon they realise she is not like other girls in her age. If you think it’s getting spooky here, then absolutely not. In fact, it’s a heart-breaking drama that hits hard when you really get into its world. Cáit represents all those neglected and unloved children who grow up insecure, unappreciated, unprepared for the reality they’re living in. The girl is so used to being maltreated that she considers it as normality, something that has to be accepted. The cousin and her husband show Cáit that she can be a cheerful and curious child, who deserves love, stability and support in her everyday life. There are many productions that tackle this topic, yet this film is somehow outstanding because not only the girl is quiet – the whole film is quiet. It’s incredibly calm and silent, but you may feel horribly anxious, even disturbed while watching. We don’t get tacky dramatic scenes – they are all well-planned, well-produced and full of emotions, even if not much is happening on the screen. I believe the ending is a true cherry on top, so make sure not to give up on this story somewhere in the middle. Besides, the little actress playing Cáit, Catherine Clinch, had a very difficult task because she had to express a lot without really expressing that much, if it makes sense. She had to really understand her character and make us believe in her story. I did, and I hope you will too. Great job, Ireland.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Social smoking. “Love in a Puff” (“Chi Ming yi Chun Kiu”, 2010)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Pang Ho-cheung
© 2010 Making Films. All Rights Reserved.

Are there any smokers here? Do you also believe that cigarettes bring people together? Obviously, they are unhealthy and smoking is bad, yet this little poison has the power to connect us with each other. There’s even this concept of social smoking, which makes people smoke because someone else is doing that. I often hear “I don’t smoke, but if I go out with friends, then yeah, I love to have a cigarette or two” – and then they smoke the whole package, right? As a person who does smoke (I know, naughty S.), I have to admit that despite destroying my lungs (yeah, I know, I know), without cigarettes I wouldn’t have met many great people. And this film is basically about that. We’re moving to Hong Kong where their authorities have decided to ban indoor smoking (which is quite common in many countries now), so everyone who needs a moment with that devil’s addiction has to go outside. If you’re not a smoker, I may tell you that starting a conversation and making friends while smoking outside is so easy. “Do you have a lighter?” – and after 5 minutes you’re best buddies. So in this story we’re observing such group of smokers sharing their unhealthy moment together. Among them, there’s Jimmy (Shawn Yue) and Cherie (Miriam Chin Wah Yeung). The man and woman are from two quite different worlds, yet they have one thing in common. Smoking, indeed. What I’m offering you today is an adorable rom-com, which can really warm your heart and turn you into some sort of a passive smoker. Obviously, I’m not encouraging you to start smoking, but the idea of using this activity as a way to connect with someone else was a great choice for a film. Generally, if we think about it, this doesn’t have to be a cigarette. I believe the filmmakers wanted to show that we don’t have to search for a person who entirely matches our features, interests and way of living. Sometimes, two very different souls may find this one connection, which may be an invitation to explore each other’s realities. I watched this production with pleasure, had a good laugh, had some “aww” moments and it reminded me of all my personal connections that started by lighting up a cigarette. Once again, smoking is bad, but searching for perfections is even worse. Stay yourselves and if you’re meant to match with someone, you will. Life can get random, so just let it be. A smoking romance (see what I did there?) worth your evening. Recommended!

My rating: 7/10
S.

There are different types of heroes. “Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest” (“Kim Kanonarm og rejsen mod verdensrekorden”, 2021)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Mads Hedegaard
© 2021 Good Company Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

It’s been quite some time since I saw this film, but I guess I’m ready to finally write about it. I watched it during a film festival and it’s one of the productions that I remember most from that event. The documentary focuses on a group of middle-aged Danish gamers who share their passion for playing old games, drinking beer and enjoying their time together. Non-gamers feel bored already? Well, I’m not a gamer myself, unless playing The Sims and removing the pool ladder counts as being a gamer, but I haven’t done that in a long time. Although now I’m feeling nostalgic… Anyway, let’s get back to our lovely bunch, shall we? We mostly focus on Kim Kobke, also known as “Cannon Arm”. The man wishes to break the world record for playing arcade game Gyruss. For non-games – flying a spaceship and pew pew-ing to different objects on the screen. His goal is to play for 100 hours without breaks. I mean, technically without breaks. The idea is that the game has to be turned on and he cannot lose during the whole 100 hours. I wasn’t entirely sure what to think about that plan because, let’s face it, 100 hours means over 4 days. 4 days of constant gaming without a proper rest. As much as I would never go for that, I was fascinated by the passion Kim shared with his friends and how engaged they all were in the preparation. They were meeting to discuss the plan, the schedule (because one of the guys always had to be close to Kim to support him or, simply, wake him up if needed), even the diet that Kim should follow before and during the record breaking. If you want to see some great team work and men being 100% involved into something – then this film brings hope, I swear. As I said, the gaming world is not really my thing, but this documentary actually got me excited. I mean, I was fascinated how well they all cooperated with each other and supported Kim in making his dream come true. However, did he succeed? You have to see yourselves. Also, as much as I admired that whole nerdy team work, I was a bit disturbed by how much one can sacrifice for the sake of playing a game. Don’t get me wrong, we all have our hobbies and things we like, but staying up for 4 days straight is very unhealthy and may lead to numerous problems, both physical and mental. I support people in following their dreams and doing what makes them happy, but taking care of ourselves should be a priority. Anyway, technically this documentary is well-produced and I believe the filmmakers did a very good job. In the end, a decent documentary should make your brain burn, and that’s what happened in that case to me, so I’m giving thumbs up. Feel free to put your own brains on fire. Pew pew!

My rating: 7/10
S.

You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take. “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” (2021)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Dean Fleischer Camp
© 2021 A24. All Rights Reserved.

It’s time for me to write about Marcel, because I bet a lot of you expected me to comment on this production and I didn’t mention it during the Oscars period. So – yes, I definitely recommend you to get to know Marcel. In fact, for a long time it was my personal winner this year, but then I watched “Pinocchio” and my heart was stolen. Both of those films are marvellous stop-motion animations, yet “Pinocchio” won, at least in my eyes, because of a better-written screenplay. But first things first – meet Marcel (voice – Jenny Slate). As the title indicates, Marcel is a shell with shoes on. The director of this film, Dean, stays in an Airbnb house which is also the house of Marcel, his grandmother and his pet. The shell is a very adventurous little buddy with a very optimistic way of seeing the world. It’s fascinated by everything around and is willing to share its thoughts with Dean. When the director shares a video with Marcel on the internet, people go crazy about it. Suddenly, Marcel becomes a real star and many want to get to know the shell. Marcel isn’t much bothered with its popularity, yet becoming famous brings some hope of finding its family and reuniting with them. Abstract? Yes, totally. This is not just a stop-motion animation, but also a mockumentary, so at some point you may feel like Marcel actually exists, which is both ridiculous and hilarious. Personally, I had those moments when I was like “hey, such a smart little shell, I’d like to meet it” – and then realised how much my brain was playing with me. Marcel is an adorable character and I bet a lot of people adore it for its looks, but this shell in cute shoes is also incredibly smart, charismatic and a bit cynical. Marcel is a mix of a child’s spirit and a senior’s mind. During the whole film we may hear numerous important quotes reminding us to open our minds, appreciate who we are, be gentle with others and ourselves, keep asking questions, stay curious, and shortly – enjoy our lives, as simple as it sounds. Even though I was incredibly moved by Marcel, I believe this animation was way too long. One of my friends commented it as “great idea for a short film” – and I couldn’t agree more. I believe that if they made a short out of it, we would have had a total winner in that category. However, they decided to make it longer without polishing the screenplay to make it entertaining enough for viewers to stay equally amazed by Marcel for the whole 90 minutes. What’s more, this film is actually based on a series of short videos with Marcel the shell, so the filmmakers did start with such idea. And, in my opinion, they should have keep the films short. Still, I believe “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is a very good production and it stands out from other animations that are usually awarded, so if you’re wondering whether it’s worth seeing, I say “hell yes”. Besides, I believe Marcel was the best dressed nominee of all award events, so this little shell is not only a great motivational speaker, but also a true icon on the red (or any other) carpet. I recommend you to get to know Marcel, because it’ll brighten your day for sure.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You have to live the life you were born to live. “The Sound of Music” (1965)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Robert Wise
© 1965 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s get back to the 60s and enjoy the sound of music, shall we? I’m sure many of you recognise this production even if you haven’t seen it yet. Lots of artists have got inspired by this story and the film adaptation definitely popularised it on a bigger scale. Because if you didn’t know – the film I’m recommending today is an adaptation of the stage musical from 1959. However, the screenplay of that stage musical isn’t a totally made-up thing. In fact, it’s based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp called “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. So what you’ll see in the film is mostly based on a real story, which to me is even more exciting. Everything is set in the late 30s in Austria. The main character is actually Maria (Julie Andrews), a young woman who’s preparing to become a nun. Unfortunately, shortly speaking, she’s way too fun to stay in the abbey, so she’s ordered to work for Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). The man is very wealthy and has a huge villa where he lives with his seven children. Their mother died and Captain finds it difficult to raise this whole bunch on his own, therefore he needs a governess. At first, the children aren’t thrilled about meeting Maria, but the woman has so much charm that she manages to become their friend quite fast. However, Captain is a very strict man and he’s used to discipline, while Maria is a free spirit who finds pleasure and happiness in everything around her. Those two seem to be from totally different worlds, yet at some point they find something in common – and it’s their love for music. And that’s all I want to share about the plot so you can enjoy discovering it. This musical is an absolute classic and a must-see. Even if you don’t like musicals, this one is a significant piece of art in the world of cinema, so if you’re a cinephile who likes understanding references and certain allusions, go and watch it. It’s difficult for me to say anything against it because it’s a legendary production made from A to Z. The songs you may hear in this musical are still remembered and appreciated, and it’s impossible not to sing along with the characters. Besides, Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer did a marvellous acting job there, which gives real chills and makes you feel lucky that you’ve shared this planet with such artists – at least I do feel so. And last but not least – it’s fascinating how they presented those historically difficult years in contrast to Maria’s spirit and never-ending optimism that she shared with the whole Trapp family. The scene where all of them perform is worth more than any words. Therefore, I’ll stop my post here and just say – watch it, appreciate it, enjoy it.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Do you want to be special? “Hunger” (2023)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri
© 2023 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I just love finding random films which turn out to be real gems. Today, I’m taking you to Thailand to recommend you one of their dramas. Just be aware of the fact that this film may make you feel hungry… or quite the opposite, depends on your current mood and how full your stomach is. We get to meet Aoy (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying), a young woman working in their family restaurant. They cook simple and cheap food for ordinary people, yet they do it with passion and using old recipes, so many customers enjoy eating at the place. One day, Aoy gets an invitation to a very fancy restaurant called “Hunger” to meet with its chef, Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam). The man has an incredible charm and Aoy admires his authority in the kitchen, therefore, when he offers her a job, she accepts without any doubts. The woman knows deep inside that there are many differences between her and the chef, however, she wants to do everything to impress him and become as special as he is. Unfortunately, while working in the prestigious restaurant, Aoy realises that becoming special has its huge price. If you’re getting “The Menu” (2022) vibes from this description, then I have to tell you that it really reminded me of the American production. Chef Paul is also a very disturbing person and he’s in the contrast to Aoy, an ordinary woman who doesn’t understand his made-up glamorous reality. The middle of the film could have been done better because I felt like its pace wasn’t similar to the beginning or the end, but I still enjoyed the film a lot. The character of Aoy was on point because they didn’t make a tragic figure out of her just because of her social status. Indeed, she’s a simple cook, but she also has a strong personality, which is visible to the chef and other colleagues. There was something magical about her static and focus, which said a lot about the character’s strength. Even if this film may remind you of “The Menu”, I think it’s still much different and has a lot of elements worth learning about. The most basic thing is that it’s a Thai production set in Thailand, so obviously, we may experience a bit of their culture. Perhaps we won’t understand all socioeconomic contexts, but it always gives a slight idea of what their reality looks like. I definitely loved the atmosphere of this production and the performance by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, who is also an actress with a very impressive surname. Try to remember it, because I’m sure it’s worth seeing this lady’s work more often.

My rating: 7/10
S.

The purest form of love. “The Elephant Whisperers” (2022)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Kartiki Gonsalves
© 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Before Oscars 2023 happened, this film was my favourite short documentary and during the event I was thrilled they got appreciated. Although I find it ridiculous that the Academy awarded a film about the purest love between humans and animals and in the same evening they forced a poor donkey to be brought onto the stage so a bunch of wealthy and famous people could have a laugh. I wish common sense could be bought with money. Anyway, let’s focus on this beautiful story as it actually brings me lots of joy. In “The Elephant Whisperers” we get to meet Bomman and Bellie – a couple living in South India. They are both indigenous people sharing a rather simple yet happy life together. And just like some of us have different pets such as dogs or cats, Bomman and Bellie have their own baby elephant Raghu. The little-not-so-little fella is a true sunshine that needs a lot of attention from their humans, but also brings a lot of happiness to their family. I was incredibly moved by this film because it shows the purest form of love. Bomman and Bellie didn’t have to accept the elephant – they could have just let the animal be or find someone else to worry about that. Their life is not that easy and they struggle to provide for themselves, so having such a baby pet is a huge challenge. And still, they didn’t give up on Raghu. They live all together and you can’t even imagine any different scenario for this little family. I love how much time and effort they’ve been putting into caring about Raghu and how much they’ve learnt about the animal, as if that was their human baby. This film really reminds us that we don’t have to be able to change the entire world with our actions – it’s enough to make a little step, especially in our surrounding. Besides, we could really live in peace with animals. This cruelty that has become our everyday life is completely unnecessary if you think about it. We really don’t need to hurt animals to have food, clothes or any other products. Just because certain things are common or have become our traditions, doesn’t mean we should be blindly following them. Try to take a break from it all and reflect on the topic yourself. Today’s documentary is full of peace and affection and I hope that by recommending it to you I’m also reminding you to seek for the same in your realities.

My rating: 8/10
S.