Tag: biography

When I was eight… “Enid” (2009)

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directed by James Hawes
© 2009 Carnival Films. All Rights Reserved.

There are those people who can mask in an incredible way and Enid Blyton was one of them. She was a writer known for her fantastic children’s books. The woman was able to create characters and stories that made little humans listen carefully with eyes wide open and big smiles on their faces. She really brought a lot of joy to many and promoted literature among the youngest. However, her personal life and herself were way more complicated than the cute characters in the books. When she was yet a child, she had a difficult relation with her mother who didn’t care much about little Enid. The only support could be found in her father, but he decided to leave them for another woman, so Enid felt neglected by both of her parents. Perhaps due to such miserable childhood the woman decided to dedicate her life to writing for children. Her first book was titled “Child Whispers” and it was a collection of poems. And I bet back then, she didn’t have a clue she would become one of the most important writers in the history of children’s literature. I don’t want to spoil too much, because a lot is presented in the film, but what I found fascinating was Enid’s relation with her own children and husband. You’ll see yourselves, but there’s some paradox there, which may be the result of her childhood traumas. Even though at first I saw her as a grumpy and arogant lady, I realised that it’s just her mask and deep inside she wants to share inspirational stories and good lessons with children. Her personal life is a complicated case, so you might reflect on that for a long time. In this film, the role of Enid is played by Helena Bonham Carter, who’s always marvellous and I’m a big fan, but I also think the producers made a great choice here. The actress was able to create this character, which is full of paradoxes, and yet make it look coherent. Also, this film reminded me how little we might know about another person just by some random facts. I didn’t grow up in England and I wasn’t reading her books, but I knew the character of Noddy because of the cartoon adaptation. And it’s quite strange to me to be learning about the actual author’s struggles. To sum up, I’d say it’s an educational biography, which may also make you feel slightly uncomfortable instead of nostalgic. See yourselves.

My rating: 6/10
S.

This is awfully good. “Another Way” (“Egymásra nézve”, 1982)

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directed by Károly Makk
© 1982 Mafilm Dialog Filmstudio. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, we’ve lost a wonderful actress – Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak. Perhaps most of my readers don’t recognise this name because she didn’t have a chance to become known worldwide, but it’s a story I’ll get back to later in this post. She was a Polish actress who played both in films and theatre plays. Once, I had a chance to see her on stage and I consider myself lucky. In fact, I was about to see her in another theatre play this month, but it’s cancelled, due to obvious reasons… It’s terrifying how one day you may be just fine, having plans and such, and then… poof. However, in order to pay my respect to Jadwiga and also introduce you to her as an actress, I’d like to recommend you this Hungarian film. Yes, a Hungarian film with Polish actresses. How come? We’ll get to that as well. First, let me tell you about the plot. We’re moving back to the 50s, right after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Two women, Éva and Lívia (Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak & Grażyna Szapołowska), meet at a newspaper editorial office. Lívia has been working there for some time and she’s also an officer’s wife. Éva is a new employee and she’s very much against the current political situation in the country. As you can guess, the story focuses on the revolution and the life of Hungarians at that time from the perspective of journalists, but not only… In fact, it’s also the first Eastern-European film that presents the topic of a female homosexual relation. Like I said, Lívia is married to a man, but there’s some special chemistry between her and Éva, so the women start experimenting with their feelings. And the rest is for you to see yourselves. Let’s answer some questions, shall we? First – why two Polish actresses played Hungarian women in a Hungarian film? Apparently, no Hungarian actress was willing to play a role of a woman experiencing with her sexuality in such direction. But also, the director himself wasn’t interested in engaging any local actresses. Back to Poland, Jadwiga had to deal with some consequences after playing in this film. The authorities even dismissed the director of the theatre where Jadwiga was working, which resulted in many actors losing their jobs, including Jadwiga. However, she was praised for her role in Cannes and by many homosexual women back then. And now the answer to the next question – why wasn’t she known more abroad? After “Another Way” she received numerous offers from foreign producers, but the institution that was managing the contacts between Polish actors and any companies abroad kept all those offers in secret. All that because our authorities were disgusted by her performance and didn’t want her to benefit from it. If only Jadwiga had been born a bit later and played in such film today, she would be an icon recognised by many. That is why I hope you’ll decide to see this film and learn about her. She deserves appreciation, even after all these years. Rest in peace, Jadźka (that’s how the actress liked being called according to the people who worked with her).

My rating: 7/10
S.

Let’s just say I was testing the bounds of reality. “The Doors” (1991)

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directed by Oliver Stone
© 1991 Tri-Star Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

When the actors you remember from your childhood leave us, it makes their passing quite specific. Because I feel like it was yesterday – I was at my grandma’s place, having lunch and watching some American action film with Val Kilmer – still young, still very much alive. And suddenly, the man is gone and so are the good memories. Today, I’d like to share one important film, which was Val Kilmer’s important role, but also an interesting production, which I was not supposed to like. Why? Well… It’s a biographical drama about Jim Morrison (played by Val Kilmer), the lead vocalist of The Doors. To my younger readers – it’s a very popular rock band from the 60/70s, and I bet you must have heard their songs somewhere, because they are still appreciated worldwide. Personally, I’m a big fan of rock and heavy music, but… I’ve never liked listening to The Doors. To me their music was too strange and somehow unpleasant. And I guess it’s mostly because of the way their lead singer sang. So why the hell am I recommending you this film? Well, because I can separate my opinion about the band and my opinion about the film as a piece of art. And I do believe it’s a good production. I’ll start with Val Kilmer – he really was a fantastic choice for the role. Not only he looks very similar to Jim Morrison, but he put a lot of effort and hard work into creating his character on screen. He spent a lot of time practising Morrison’s way of speaking and singing, and even the actual band couldn’t recognise which recording was sang by Morrison and which by Kilmer. So in the film you can listen to the actor singing several songs and, in my opinion, it’s really difficult not to take it as the original version. Many critics were against the way Morrison had been presented in the film, but I believe his character wasn’t far from the truth. I know that sometimes it’s hard to accept the dark side of our idols, but the fact is that Morrison was a rebel, an artist, a musician, but also a person with incredible addiction problems. And that is why I appreciate how Oliver Stone, the director, decided to present his story. The whole film shows Morrison’s reality in a pretty accurate way. The camera is floating, the frame is often crooked, which made me feel as if I was in a trance after taking some not very legal substances. It’s amazing that because of the techniques used in the film I forgot how little I enjoy The Doors music and in the end I realised that the film is actually of good quality. Impressive job, Mr. Stone. Anyway, no matter if you’re a fan of The Doors or not, I recommend you to see Val Kilmer in this unique role. Especially today. May he rest in peace.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Your songs are like an oil painting at the dentist’s office. “A Complete Unknown” (2024)

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directed by James Mangold
© 2024 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Are you ready for Oscars 2025? I don’t expect too much cheering, because last year hasn’t been anyhow mind-blowing when it comes to cinema. I’ll definitely watch the ceremony, because I like all the dramas and awkward situations that may appear, but I’m not really that excited about this year’s nominees. There are several good films, indeed, but I feel like none of them left me truly speechless… at least not the ones nominated for the Best Picture. However, let’s focus on positives and one of them is “A Complete Unknown” by James Mangold. I was postponing watching it because I’m actually not a big fan of Bob Dylan. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike him – I do appreciate him as a musician and some of his songs, but my music heart is definitely more into hard rock and such. So watching a film about a musician you haven’t really followed much in your life doesn’t sound tempting, does it? But trust me, it’s worth checking out for sure. If you like Bob Dylan’s music, then you’ll be thrilled because this film is basically one big music video, which to me was quite pleasant. Thanks to so many songs included, I could actually dive into Dylan’s world. Still, the most important reason to watch this biopic is Timothée Chalamet, playing the main role. When this young man appeared in cinema, I wasn’t so sure about him, but with each performance he proves what a talented bastard he is. I cannot say Bob Dylan is my favourite role of Timothée, but considering all the nominees, I do believe he deserves to be awarded. I compared some parts of the film with some recordings of Dylan and I guess Mangold couldn’t have found a better man to do this job. Besides, according to my research, Timothée not only sang in the film, but also played the instruments (guitar, harmonica), which is impressive to me. I believe it’s really thanks to this young actor that we may appreciate the film so much. I’m not sure what true Bob Dylan’s fans might say about such biopic, but as a rather neutral person in this matter I enjoyed it very much and I felt somehow welcomed in this story. Maybe it’s thanks to Dylan’s relaxing music, maybe it’s thanks to the director, maybe it’s thanks to the main actor – maybe all of those and even more. Generally, I give a thumb up and wish the film crew all the best during the upcoming ceremony.

My rating: 7/10
S.

This trip is a hard swallow for my pride. “The Straight Story” (1999)

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directed by David Lynch
© 1999 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

There must be a post about this man on my blog, so here we go. Perhaps I’ll surprise you, but I’ve never been a fan of David Lynch’s films. I know, you’re probably gasping in disrespect. Light a cigarette and keep reading. Lynch was an incredible individual, whom I adored deeply as a person. His way of perceiving life and art was similar to mine, so his death impacted me as well. However, his filmmaking style never convinced me, because I was often missing the point of certain decisions he’d made as a director. So my ratings of his productions would probably start WWIII – and since I’m a rather peaceful person, I’m not going to do it (not yet, at least). Still, Lynch was a talented bastard and there’s this one film that proves it to me. He slowed his very complex mind down and created a rather universal picture, which I appreciate. If you haven’t been Lynch’s style fan either, please give “The Straight Story” a try. It’s actually based on a real story of Alvin Straight (played by Richard Farnsworth), a man in his 70s, who finds out that his brother has had a stroke. The brothers haven’t seen each other in years due to some argument. However, knowing the condition Henry (Alvin’s brother) is in, he decides to visit him and once again sit together and gaze up at the stars. Before you reach out for tissues, let me add an important piece of information. Alvin doesn’t have a driving license, so he has to travel 240 miles (over 380 km) on his lawnmower. Yes, a lawnmower. Yes, it’s based on a true story. As you might be guessing, the man has a bunch of adventures on the way and meets some more or less interesting people. And the ending… well, it’s for you to see, but the ending that Lynch chose was magnificent. After watching this film, I understood that I love Lynch as a director, because technically he’s marvellous, I just don’t get his style. And what? Let’s agree to disagree! I encourage you to see his films and find out whether his mind was your cup of tea or not. And in the meantime, let’s appreciate this man’s sense of humour and the impact he’s had on the world’s cinema. Cheers, Mr. Lynch! You’re an icon.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I’m an emotional man, I often follow my heart. “Ibelin” (2024)

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directed by Benjamin Ree
© 2024 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I haven’t been touched by a documentary that much in a while. In my whole life I’ve always been very empathic and supportive, so the reality of people with different disabilities is pretty known by me, even though I’m not one of them. I’ve been volunteering and working with people with special needs and everyday I admire their strength and motivation to keep going. Remember that ad with Duracell Bunnies? This is how I see people struggling with any serious health issues – they are those bunnies. Powerful and always going forward. So when I found out there’s a documentary about some inspiring young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I had to watch it immediately. DMD, shortly speaking because I’m no doctor, is a disease that makes a person’s muscles slowly weaken and disappear. At first, they lose weight and have troubles walking, but then it even leads to breathing problems. Unfortunately, as you might be guessing, life expectancy is not high in this case. Today’s documentary tells the story of Mats Steen who fought hard, yet the disease finally took him away from us when he was at the age of 25. The older he was getting, the less he could actually go out and do what his peers could do. Therefore, he found some comfort in the online world, and most specifically in his favourite game World of Warcraft. For those who have very little knowledge about games (like me) – it’s an online multiplayer game, where you can create your own avatar and interact with other people’s avatars as well. In the same game you can also explore landscapes, do some quests and generally experience another version of life. Or like Mats – experience the only life he had. He had a wonderful and loving family, there’s no doubt about that, but the disease made him a prisoner in his own body. After his death, the family wanted to inform people online about this fact, so they logged into Mats blog and wrote a post. What happened next is truly moving. Lots of people who were reading his blog and played with him were writing e-mails to the family describing what a great person Mats was. The character he played in WoW was named Ibelin Redmoore and many players were grateful for his company. Not only he was helping them in some quests, but he also supported them like a real friend. They could talk to him, share their problems, ask for advice. A lot of people who interacted with Mats were introverts with difficulties in real life, so finding someone who understands them in the game was truly therapeutic. He also united many people and helped them find long-term friendships. And all that was kept in secret from his family, so imagine their reaction when they find out about Mats’ second life and how incredible it was. As I said at the beginning, I was absolutely moved by this documentary and I recommend you all to see it. Rest in peace, Mats Ibelin Steen.

My rating: 8/10
S.

My voice is the conductor of my life. “I am: Celine Dion” (2024)

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directed by Irene Taylor
© 2024 Amazon MGM Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Before watching this documentary, when I heard of Celine Dion, I had some flashbacks from my childhood. I loved dancing to her hits in the living room not understanding a word. Especially “I’m Alive”, I remember that song playing quite often in our house. But then, who doesn’t remember “My Heart Will Go On” and Kate and Leo falling in love on “Titanic”? And don’t tell me you don’t remember that iconic scene where Bridget Jones is having a bad day and she’s singing “All by Myself” in her pyjamas? What I knew about Celine was that she’s a great singer with several hits and her voice can be easily recognised because of its uniqueness. After watching the documentary, I also see an ordinary woman, who’s trying hard not to give up on everything. Like in every biography we may learn a bit about Celine’s personal life, so for example we learn about her family – by the way, you know that she has 13 siblings? 13! I mean, she points out that her mother was a true superhero, but I guess we don’t even have to doubt that. Next, we also learn about her husband, who sadly passed away in 2016, and her 3 children, which also shows us a little bit more of her non-celebrity life. But, as you might be guessing, the main topic of the film is Celine’s struggle with health issues. In 2022, she announced that she’d been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, which is a neurological disease. You don’t have to read much about it because all the basics are well-explained in the film. In fact, the symptoms are also visible. At the beginning, you’re warned that there are scenes that may be difficult for you to watch and I didn’t really understand that warning until that one scene… you will know which one if you decide to see the documentary. I don’t want to spoil it and even if I wanted, I wouldn’t know how. That scene is indeed difficult. The other parts where Celine shows how the disease affects her singing and she tries hard to sing with tears in her eyes – that’s sad to watch, but manageable. However, THAT scene petrified me. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t look away although it was painful to watch. At some point I just realised I have tears on my cheeks, but it was after I “woke up” from that trance. I’m not writing this to scare you, but to make it clear that it’s a film about a woman fighting a horrible disease. Still, I didn’t feel like Celine was wallowing in self-pity. She hates this disease very much because it’s taken her biggest passion away, but she’s not in the film to make us feel sorry for her. In my opinion, she needed to show her current life out of respect towards her fans. Celine mentions how much she cares about the people who attend her shows and cancelling last minute or not performing well is not acceptable for her. So she wanted to be honest with us, present her everyday life, and ask for our understanding and support. I’m hoping for all the best for her, because she’s a brave and strong woman with a wonderful personality – I actually adore her sassy humour and her sensitivity towards everything and everyone around. Keep being you, Celine, because you’re a true gem.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Lucha truly libre. “Cassandro” (2023)

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directed by Roger Ross Williams
© 2023 Amazon MGM Studios. All Rights Reserved.

I see Gael García Bernal, I press play to watch whatever he’s in. Ever since “Amores perros” (known in English as “Love’s a Bitch”) I’m a big fan of Gael’s acting. In today’s film, he plays the role of Saúl Armendáriz, a wrestler from the 80s. He’s living a rather simple life and shares it with his mother only. The man doesn’t hide the fact that he’s homosexual and his mother is very much supportive, which is something that amazed me in their relation. You know, very often when we get stories about LGBT+ people, they often have this one thing in common – lack of acceptance from their family. Indeed, Saúl’s father is not present in his life, but the fact that his mom is there and she shows her unconditional love is something adorable. Back to Saúl – he takes part in lucha libre matches – which is basically wrestling in masks. The wrestlers protect their identity by covering their faces, so the audience don’t really know that it’s Saúl hiding behind that mask. Since the man isn’t very confident, he always participates in matches as the one who’s about to lose. Yeah, everything is well planned before the match even starts, which isn’t really surprising. One day, Saúl meets Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), a trainer, who sees a lot of potential in the man and encourages him to get rid of his wrestling label. Inspired by her, Saúl begins his journey to become an exótico – so shortly speaking a drag wrestler. Do people fully accept exóticos? Nah. Do they want to see an exótico win? Also nah. But who cares? If that’s how you feel, go ahead and do your thing Saúl! Or should I say Cassandro, because that’s the wrestling name he’s about to use from now on. This film is based on a true story, so obviously there are some fictional elements, but generally I think it’s a decent biographical drama. One thing that I wouldn’t change is where Saúl got his wrestling name from. In the film it’s said that it’s inspired by an actress that his mother loved. However, the truth is a bit more complex, yet way more consistent with the character of Saúl. Apparently, the name Cassandro comes from honouring a brothel owner that was also financially supporting poor people. And tell me that’s not a better story to share! Anyway, as a person who doesn’t understand wrestling and generally this kind of activities, I enjoyed the whole film. Maybe I’m not being objective because Gael is starring in it, but I believe that it’s a comforting story of a man that chose to express himself and found his own peace. And that’s what I wish you all.

My rating: 7/10
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.

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.