Transvestism’s fine, but who could stand everyday karaoke? “Potato Dreams of America” (2021)

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directed by Wes Hurley
© 2021 Dark Star Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

What a pretty date we have today, don’t we? 02/02/2022. Visually satisfying. Just like today’s film I’d like to recommend you, but before you see it, let me warn you – it’s a very strange production. I probably wouldn’t choose it myself unless it was shown during one festival last year and then I tried to see as many films as possible. Maybe it’s because of some kind of fate, maybe I just had a good day for such story, but I honestly loved it and I think it was one of the funniest 1,5h spent last year. Alright, fasten your seat belts, I’m taking you for a ride. A ride to Soviet Union where we meet Lena (Sera Barbieri/Marya Sea Kaminski) and her son Potato (Hersh Powers/Tyler Bocock). Both of them are doing their best to survive in their not the most peaceful country in not the most peaceful times. As most Eastern-Europeans back then, they were amazed by everything that’s American, so they were often dreaming of living in this heavenland, where everything is pure perfection, people are constantly happy and unicorns are jumping on rainbows in your garden. In order to escape from USSR, Lena decided to get married with a much older American man, who welcomes his new wife and her son in the US. And then both of them may verify their hopes for a better life on another continent. To be honest, this film is so complex, that it’s impossible for me to explain it here. On the one hand, it’s absolutely ridiculous, full of highly inappropriate jokes (yet hilarious, but that’s my personal opinion) and scenes that were making me think “this is so wrong, this is so wrong, this is so wrong, but soooo good!” One the other hand, it’s actually an unusual autobiography of the director. And you can see a very realistic perspective, even though presented in a caricatural way, of a person from Eastern Europe who honestly hoped it’s better far far away. A lot of people do. This film, despite being a comedy, touches a lot of important subjects and aspects of being a migrant/refugee in the US. I was laughing hard for most of the time, but at the end it hit me – it’s not a typical comedy. It’s actually a very dramatic and serious story, presented in a way which is easier for us to accept, and easier for the director to tell. Even though it’s been several weeks since I saw it, it’s still stuck in my mind and I must say it was one of the best surprises of last year. Yet may you know – the humour there is very specific, so I’m sure many of you will want to turn it off after few minutes. Maybe my post will actually encourage you to finish watching? Maybe not? Try yourselves. Especially if you like karaoke.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Dreaming is for losers. “Voyage to Nowhere” (“El viaje a ninguna parte”, 1986)

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directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez
© 1986 Ganesh Producciones Cinematográficas. All Rights Reserved.

You know how much I love cinema, yet you probably don’t know that my first love was actually theatre. Today’s recommendation is rather personal and while watching I was just trying not to fall from this emotional rollercoaster. We’re following a group of Spanish comedians constantly travelling from town to town and performing for locals. You can tell they are passionate about acting and entertaining people, even though they don’t really get paid well and their life is quite unstable. What’s more, all that is taking place in the 40s/50s, when the whole cinematographic revolution was starting, so people were obviously more fascinated by the blinky blinky on the screen than well-known and slightly obsolete gags from homeless actors. All that is being presented from the perspective of the group leader, Carlos Galván (José Sacristán), who’s now an elderly man remembering his life. At first it seems like an adorable and cheerful story about poor actors trying to survive doing what they love, yet who don’t forget about the importance of their profession. But the longer you’re watching, the more depressing it becomes. First, the guys are truly passionate about what they’re doing, but no matter how badly they wish to perform, people just lose interest. Which is such a dream killer, if you ask me. Second, we also get to know the son of Carlos, who suddenly joins the group and who’s like a penguin in Africa – not really fitting. In my eyes, he’s representing another generation (and generally new generations that keep appearing) who’s got different values, different ideas, and often want to stay away from what their ancestors believed in. Personally, I absolutely get it and support, but sometimes we cut off too fast, you know? We forget to learn on their mistakes and we end up wasting time making the same ones. Plus, this new generation is presented as if they were totally hopeless and deprived of dreams. Which is horribly sad. And yet, when you think it can’t hit you any more, the ending happens and you find yourself sitting, staring at an empty wall and questioning the meaning of life. Okay, that sounded heavy. Well, it’s not an easy film, that’s a fact. Maybe the story itself is simple, but what comes after watching is a real challenge. That’s why I recommend you to see it, but choose a day when you’re mentally ready for a long reflection.

My rating: 7/10
S.

There’s no Aloe without Vera. “Aloe Vera” (2020)

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directed by Peter Sedufia
© 2020 OldFilm Productions. All Rights Reserved.

I believe every person reading this post have heard at least once in their life about the story of Romeo and Juliet. If you somehow haven’t, please ask uncle Google to help you and get back to us. So, today’s recommendation is actually a quite unusual adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet”. But before you roll your eyes and think “come on, not another one”, let me tell you – I thought the exact same thing before watching it. However, after first few minutes I was already a fan and finished the film with a big banana on my face, so give it a chance. Everything takes place in Ghana where, at some point, people in one village started a conflict between each other and created two groups – the Aloes and the Veras. They divided the village into two parts and don’t even cross the border or stay in any touch with the people on the other side. Until one day Aloewin (Aaron Adatsi), who’s an Aloe man, and Veralin (Alexandra Ayirebi-Acquah), who’s a Vera woman, found each other attractive and wished to be together. Classic Romeo and Juliet scenario. However, what I loved the most about this film is its form. First, the village is painted in two colours – blue for the Aloes and yellow for the Veras. The villagers are even wearing clothes only in their “tribe colour”. So visually, it’s ridiculous yet absolutely stunning, in my opinion. Second, it’s a Ghanaian production, directed by a Ghanaian director and you can absolutely feel this. Their way of being, their culture, their emotions are well-visible in the film, which for me was fantastic. Personally, I dislike when filmmakers from all over the world are trying to copy this typical American style of making films. Yes, American films are wonderful, but it doesn’t mean others are of less value. We don’t need to follow the typical Hollywood recipe to produce a magnificent piece. “Aloe Vera” is a Ghanaian film and let’s appreciate it. Also, the acting and dialogues. Even though I knew exactly how Romeo and Juliet goes, I had so much fun watching because of this unusual way of telling the story. All the actors were making me feel like I absolutely do not know this story and they were surprising me with funnier and funnier lines. “Aloe Vera” was the first film I saw during an African film festival last year and it definitely set up my mood for the rest of the projections. I wish to discover more of such gems from Mama Africa, but for now I’m recommending you to see this blue and yellow creation. Also, the ending might surprise you, so don’t you dare not finish it!

My rating: 7/10
S.

A je to! “Pat and Mat in a Movie” (“Pat a Mat ve filmu”, 2016)

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directed by Marek Beneš
© 2016 Patmat Film. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’m taking you to my childhood and I hope that thanks to this recommendation more of you will find out about Pat and Mat. Well, Pat and Mat are two amazing tinkers (by the way, that’s exactly how the series was supposed to be called – “Kuťáci”, which could be translated as “The Tinkers”), who are incredibly creative and no matter how much they complicate their tasks, they always end up with a happy ending. Today’s recommendation is obviously about a film, but Pat and Mat are known mostly for their series, which was released for the first time in 1976! 1976, yes my dear! Back then we had Czechoslovakia in Europe and it was one of the best animated series, at least in my opinion. I’m not coming from there, yet I spent my childhood watching Pat and Mat and I believe they had a huge influence on me, to be honest. Because they basically always complicate everything, but somehow, in the end, they succeed and, even though the whole house is ruined, they are satisfied. I know it may seem like a silly series, yet it honestly gave me a lot of lessons. First, never give up no matter how difficult your problem is. There’s always a way, even if sometimes you need to get crazy. Second, be creative. If you think there’s no way to solve something, it means you’re not creative enough. Just wake up your imagination and do it. And third, the most important, don’t worry about your failures. You broke a window while fixing pipes? No worries, it’s fixable. And if you break a cupboard while fixing the window, again, no worries, it’s fixable as well. Generally, don’t worry, everything is fixable. You can’t even imagine how thankful I am for spending my childhood with those two guys. And when it comes to the film itself, it’s a stop-motion animation, which even now looks amazing, in my opinion. Plus, Pat and Mat don’t speak, so I believe anyone in the world can see them and understand perfectly. In fact, the series has been shown in many countries all over the world, so if you don’t know it, shame on you. The film I’m recommending today is basically about Pat and Mat watching their own adventures, so it’s like watching the series for 80 minutes. I had a lot of fun, nostalgia hit incredibly hard, and I couldn’t stop myself from writing about it. May Pat and Mat be seen by you! By the way, the post title comes from one of the series titles and it means “and that’s it”. So… and that’s it. A je to! (and here Pat and Mat do their wonderful gesture, which I cannot explain, but you can see it in the picture and will see it after every well-done job).

My rating: 8/10
S.

I love my job, I love my job, I love my job. “Boiling Point” (2021)

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directed by Philip Barantini
© 2021 Vertigo Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

I believe we come across the best films absolutely accidentally, which I find wonderful. Especially recently, I’ve seen several big titles – meaning productions that are somehow highly appreciated by film critics or various organisations giving awards – and I feel empty inside. I feel like I no longer agree with most of those choices, but okay. Different tastes, different opinions. However, few days ago I was recommended today’s film by one of my lovely readers (thank you!) and I’m alive again. Cinema is not doomed, I swear to you! Today I’m taking you to a restaurant kitchen where a lot is happening. At first we’re following Andy (Stephen Graham), who’s a head chef and together with his team they need to manage during a very busy evening. And that’s it. No matter how unexciting it may seem, that’s it. But what if I told you that I was staring at the screen for the whole time completely thrilled about what I’m seeing? First, the script was R-E-A-L-I-S-T-I-C. I honestly felt as if someone took me to an actual restaurant and let me observe what’s happening there. It looks like a well-produced documentary, if you ask me, and that’s how I experienced it. Wonderfully natural dialogues, which I’m sure we’ve all heard eating out. That’s something I honestly appreciate as sometimes I feel like screenwriters are living in some kind of bubble and have no idea what they are writing about. I know that cinema is rather an illusion, but it’s hard to start existing in the film’s reality if we keep getting distracted by strange texts and awkward expressions. Here, you won’t experience that. Second, the acting. That’s a beautiful completion of the screenplay, because even the best lines can be said in a wrong way. Especially loved the monologue of Vinette Robinson as Carly, who was just so done with everything she decided to express her thoughts to the manager. I had chills and I was quietly repeating “yes, go girl!” Wonderful performance, chapeau bas. Third, in just about 1,5h they managed to present the intensity and responsibility of working in a good restaurant kitchen. No matter if you’re a chef making sure not to overcook something, or a waiter who has to make a silly show to entertain annoying guests, everyone is going through an emotional hell, which at some point you start experiencing yourself. I’m amazed and thankful to have seen this production, so I hope you’ll follow my recommendation and check it out as well. To encourage you even more – I’ve just realised that this is a one-shot film, but I was so engaged in the story that I didn’t notice. Seems like I’ll have to watch it again to appreciate the form properly. And dear readers – please do send your recommendations. I will be more than happy to share them forward.

My rating: 8/10
S.

What do you want me to do? “Cam” (2018)

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directed by Daniel Goldhaber
© 2018 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I played this film thinking it would be a nice background for me while scrolling social media. Let’s face it, we all do it and we all need such background. Considering the rating, I honestly didn’t expect much from this film. Few minutes later, I put the phone away and realised that I’m actually watching. Wow. And here I am now, recommending it to you. I’m actually surprised how much I’ve reflected on the story, even though it seemed to be a C-class horror. But first, the plot: we get to know Alice (Madeline Brewer) who works as a camgirl. In case you’re new to the Internet, here I am explaining – a camgirl is a woman who performs online and very often her shows are somehow erotic. How much? It depends on the person. So Alice is such performer under the name Lola_Lola. On the website where she’s streaming there’s some kind of ranking and the girl really wishes to be on top, so she keeps coming up with new ideas how to attract viewers and encourage them to pay. However, one day the girl realises that someone has stolen her account and not only she doesn’t have access to it, but that person is actually streaming. How more disturbing it becomes when the person performing on her account is… herself. Doom, doom, doom. I must admit that the way this film was made kept me focused. Somehow, it’s very realistic and at some point even psychedelic, especially when we need to look at the numerous messages from viewers, which makes you feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed. At least that’s how I experienced it. Surprisingly, the film doesn’t present working as a camgirl as something wrong, but it’s my opinion. It’s a job like any other job, even though a lot of people might find it offensive. We don’t know why those women do that, so I prefer not to judge and rather focus on the fact that they still need to be respected. In this film we may see that Alice is left alone with her problem as nobody treats her seriously just because of her job. And that’s what I find the most disturbing. Not the fact she was performing in her underwear, but the fact that suddenly, because of what she’s doing, she’s lost some kind of human worth in others’ eyes. That is why this story was such food for thought for me and I’ve decided to share it with you. Especially since the ending is also quite unusual and each of us may interpret it differently. What’s more, the screenplay was written by Isa Mazzei, who herself worked for some time as a camgirl and wished to share her experiences. In fact, she wanted to make a documentary, but she felt like people wouldn’t accept it as easily as they would accept a horror. I’ll leave you with this, hoping you’ll find a moment to see “Cam” as it’s actually a decent production.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Freedom, but nobody will notice it. “How Much Does the Trojan Horse Weigh?” (“Ile waży koń trojański?”, 2008)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 2008 Monolith Films. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’d like to recommend you one of my favourite Polish productions, which I’ve seen several times and absolutely love getting back to. Not only it’s directed by one of, in my opinion, most talented and creative Polish directors, but in two hours it shows a lot about the culture of Poland and shares universal messages that any of you may make use of. We get to know Zosia (Ilona Ostrowska), who’s turning 40 on the New Year’s Eve in 1999. She’s currently happily married to Kuba (Maciej Marczewski) and together they raise Florka (Sylwia Dziorek), Zosia’s daughter from the previous marriage with Darek (Robert Więckiewicz). I’m sorry I’m throwing a lot of names at you, but it may be crucial for you to understand what’s next. So, during the first night of 2000, Zosia somehow moves back in time and in the morning she wakes up on the 15th of May 1987. She’s then yet before 30, married to Darek, without her daughter and definitely without her future husband Kuba. Zosia is absolutely panicked, but knowing what will happen in the next years, she decides to take some actions to not only help herself, but also her friends and family. All that might not be easy considering her longing for Kuba and Florka… and the fact that Poland in 1987 was very different from the year 2000. This film was released in 2008, so when I watched it back then, there were two dimensions for me – the 80s and the end of the 90s/2000. However, as I recently rewatched the film, I experienced it even better, because now I could compare those two realities with the current state, which gave me a totally new perspective on the story. Generally, it’s an adventure film with a bit of romance, so everyone should enjoy watching it. Especially if you’re not from an Eastern European country, the film may be a wonderful history and culture lesson. Besides, except an adorable love story, there’s also this touching message, which I expressed in the title of today’s post. Recently, when I rewatched the film, this one line got stuck in my head and I reflected a lot. We honestly don’t appreciate what we have. I know, I know, we all have our personal issues, we’re all stuck in the pandemic reality, I know. Still, we have unlimited possibilities to express ourselves, to enjoy our life, to keep developing. Not that long time ago the world looked much different, but it seems like we’ve forgotten about it. This production made me realise that hey – my passport is with me, not in some office, and I can just grab it and go (together with a c-passport, but hey, still!). I can actually stay in whatever hotel I want and nobody needs to know where I’m from. If I want to have a fancy dinner, I don’t need to collect the products for weeks because shops are empty. I can pay with a card, not lots of high-denomination bills. Wait, I could pay with a card 10 years ago – now I use my phone for that. You see? Oh and no need to worry about burning my hands while drinking hot tea/coffee in a thin glass… I still remember those – nightmare. If you have no idea what I’m referring to, you must see today’s film. Just one last comment – Ilona Ostrowska as Zosia together with her film grandma Danuta Szaflarska are a wonderful female tandem, which makes me miss my own grandma and the days we spent together. By the way, this film is dedicated to the director’s father, Jan Machulski, who died shortly before the premiere and whom you can spot for a second or two in the film if you have a good eye.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Everyone can be Tarantino. “Once Upon a Time in Uganda” (2021)

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directed by Cathryne Czubek & Hugo Perez
© 2021 Blue Finch Films. All Rights Reserved.

I’m sure that most of you reading this post know who Tarantino is. But do you know who Isaac Nabwana is? Ha! You should. Imagine Tarantino was born in Africa and had waaaaay less money for his fake blood and other gadgets, yet a lot of motivation and creativity. That’s Isaac. He’s an Ugandan filmmaker, who created his own Hollywood – Wakaliwood (Home of da Best of da Best Movies!), as the village he’s living and working in is called Wakaliga. The film I’m recommending today is a documentary about Isaac and his passion. One day, Alan Hofmanis, a film freak from the US, comes to Uganda to join Isaac as he’s fascinated by the man’s work. They start cooperating and Alan is the guy who helps the world find out about this Ugandan Tarantino’s productions. There’s no point of me explaining exactly what’s going on in the documentary as it’s incredibly fun to watch, so I don’t wish to spoil anything. Yet, I’d like to express my fascination about Isaac and the idea of promoting him. In my eyes, this man is a wonderful proof that cinema is for everyone. Personally, I started this blog some years ago because I was a bit frustrated that there’s a visible division between film critics and ordinary people watching films. This is my opinion, you may disagree, but I believe most film critics write to other critics, as ordinary viewers wouldn’t understand a word of their often overly intellectual reviews. And that’s unfair, because people feel discouraged to watch ambitious or difficult productions as they wouldn’t get them or perhaps they are too stupid etc. Which is obviously not true. I believe every person may take something from every kind of film, no matter what background they are coming from. So here I am, trying to be this bridge between the closed community of film critics and people who wish to discover cinema. That is why today’s documentary warmed my heart so much! Isaac keeps making films despite not having huge budgets, best technologies or advanced skills (although I am amazed seeing some of his works, honestly). He loves cinema, he loves making it and he loves providing entertainment to people. And people love him for that. Simple. You don’t have to be a rich American film producer to make cinema matters. Quite the opposite, I feel like we keep forgetting what cinema is for and we focus too much on technologies and politics. In the meantime, Isaac from Wakaliga in Uganda runs Wakaliwood, where he makes hilarious and exciting films for everyone. And that’s just beautiful! So please, watch the documentary about him and don’t forget to see his productions, which you can find on his YouTube channel.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Children are a crushing responsibility. “The Lost Daughter” (2021)

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directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
© 2021 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I was struggling for a bit whether I should recommend this film or not. Because it is a very interesting production, a wonderful debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal as a director and I know how much it speaks to people, especially women, according to numerous comments and reviews on the Internet. However, my personal background made me watch this film in a different way than most of you may do and for the whole time I just couldn’t sympathise or connect anyhow with the main character. After a longer reflection I’ve realised that even if I read this production differently than most people, it doesn’t mean it was anyhow bad. Quite the opposite, it’s not common for filmmakers to wake up my deep feelings and make me think about my past. And Maggie did that, so I’d like to recommend her directorial debut with certainty. The story is about Leda (Olivia Colman), a middle-aged woman who’s spending holidays alone in Greece. There, she gets involved in an unusual situation, because another woman has lost her daughter and it’s Leda who finds the child. The mother, Nina (Dakota Johnson), is extremely thankful and starting from this moment the two ladies get to know each other, as they feel unique connection. Nina is a young mother who’s struggling a lot with her new role and Leda seems to know exactly what she’s going through. I don’t want to spoil more because I actually liked how the story develops, so I wish you to enjoy it as well. However, I need to say that I was about to rate this film lower. I absolutely understand what the purpose of this production was and I appreciate Maggie for dealing with the topic. But if you personally know the case from the other perspective, this production either hurts or irritates. I do support all women and I don’t want to judge them for their sometimes radical decisions, yet in each story there’s a child who loses the most and it seems like adults, both men and women, forget about it. So my last comment on this would be: please, make children when you’re actually ready for them. Those are not toys, those are not your little gnomes who will be there for your entertainment. Those are human beings for whom you’re responsible for their whole life in fact. Still, trying to be objective, it’s a wonderful picture of women in our society. Both Olivia and Dakota are shining bright, couldn’t imagine a better tandem in this case. Besides, the ending is very mysterious and open. I was reading some interpretations and… I don’t feel any of them. Sorry not sorry. I have my own version and I wish to keep it for myself. Please, find time to see this title and create your ending of this story.

My rating: 7/10
S.

If I asked you who we are, what would you say? “We Are Moluccans” (“Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku”, 2014)

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directed by Angga Dwimas Sasongko
© 2014 Visinema Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s watch a bit of Asian cinema, shall we? Today I’d like to recommend you an Indonesian production, which actually surprised me. I had a chance to see it during one festival last year and when I read that it’s about boys playing football, I was… I wasn’t the most encouraged, let’s put it this way. But the film has very nice ratings and reviews, so I decided to see it. And here I am, recommending this story to you as I think it’s totally not about football. Oh and it’s 2,5h long… but before you stop reading and keep searching for something else, stay with me a bit longer and find out what’s going on in this production. I’m taking you to very exotic islands, the Moluccas, which are a part of the eastern Indonesia. The film takes place there in 1999 where two religious groups started a huge conflict and even kill each other because of the differences. And then we meet Sani (Chicco Jerikho), a taxi driver, who cannot stand that there are also children involved in the fights. In order to make them focus on something else, he starts a football team. This way, the youngsters will be busy playing instead of joining others in the conflict. What’s interesting, Sani invites boys from both groups, which makes it even more difficult for him to create a united team. As I said, I totally didn’t feel like starting this film, but in the end, it’s not about football. It’s about trying to find common goals for us to avoid all sorts of conflicts. And especially, among children. Adults are stupid, they keep fighting about everything, let’s face it. But why do we have to destroy those little humans’ childhood and make or let them join us? You want to hurt another human being because your god is better than his? Feel free to play this ridiculous game, but don’t you dare involve children, who just follow you and wish for your appreciation. I was incredibly moved, especially since this film is based on a true story. We honestly need more people like Sani, who will try to give hope, education, support and a chance for a decent childhood for those young humans. Wonderful film that will stay with me for a long time and I hope that you’ve managed to read my whole recommendation and soon you’ll become the film’s fan as well. Peace!

My rating: 7/10
S.