(no subject)

[swatkat]

LOOK AT ALL THE FEMSLASHY GOODNESS! I had been hoping to get something in for July 19th as well, but all I did in the past week was watch a zillion movies in the big film festival thing that was happening in town and my head, it spins!

See, I'm not what you would call a movie buff. I love vulgar, popular cinema and stay away (mostly) from incomprehensible art-y stuff ("Watch it for the cinematography!" "Uh, but what about the story?"). I don't care about film festivals. I do, however, have friends who are the very opposite - who care and who want me to want to care, which is why I ended up there in the first place ("How can we possibly go without you?" "This is blackmail!"), and I... am actually glad that I went.

Of the ones that we saw, my *favourite* has to be The Band's Visit (from Israel). I don't think I have words to express how much I loved this movie. It was smart, funny and bittersweet, and it talked about politics and people and dialogue, without actually saying them out loud, and that made it all the more poignant (and just plain awesome). Also, it was beautifully shot and the lead actress was incredibly hot.











After this one, we decided to catch all the other films from Israel as well, and so we saw Disengagement (excellent after the first thirty minutes, which were slightly confusing), Lemon Tree (awesome) and Yana's Friends (socute). I'm bummed that we missed Beaufort, because I remember roga mentioning it, but we are planning to get hold of it sometime soon.

Of the Indian movies we watched, my favourite has to be the yet-unrealeased Gulabi Talkies (in Kannada), which again left me speechless by the simplicity with which it handled something so *grim*. The protagonist's character simply bowled me away by her charm and her courage and the way she *smiled* through the entire thing and seriously, if you have access to Indian cinema (that is not Bollywood) and want to watch something brilliant, watch this. I cannot recommend it enough. I also enjoyed Kabootar, which will be out in September and is fairly mainstream, and if you enjoy angry young boys and raw energy and violence and tragedy, then this should be your thing.

A special mention goes to Whatever Lola Wants (from Morocco, but in English and featuring an American actress in the lead), because of the way it sails through the Bedchel test and the awesome slashiness between the lead and the gorgeous Lebanese actress playing Ismahan (I was *totally* slashing them in my head) and Hell's Ground (from Pakistan). We don't get to watch Pakistani cinema very often, so there's always a great deal of interest when Pakistani films hit the festival circuits. Since we had missed every other Pakistani film aired in the festival, we decided that we *had* to watch this, even though I'm not a fan of horror. And then there were MUTANT FLESH-EATING ZOMBIES and a TRANSSEXUAL BURQA-MAN WITH A BLOOD FETISH. *FLAILS* (For a more coherent review, read this; I disagree with the reviewer, however, that it 'tries' to be a spoof - the director only said that *afterwards* because there was so much laughter, in the initial talk he was all about the horror.)

Comments

[roga.livejournal.com]

That sounds like such an awesome week! And so much yay that you liked The Band's Visit! It is such a great movie (this (http://roga.livejournal.com/106269.html) is what I wrote when I watched it). I'm absolutely positive it would have been nominated for an Oscar if it hadn't had so much English in it - apparently you can't have more than 50% of the dialogues in English, and this had 52%. Sasson Gabai (the Band commander) was amazing, and Saleh Bakri is gorgeous, and my favorite scene was probably this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s8RF2Y2S6o), and the last scene. Man, I should watch it again.

And you saw so many others! Which make me ashamed not to have seen, but I'm taking your recs for them - Lemon Tree does indeed look great. I should see that too.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

It was awesome! *So* awesome! Sasson Gabai *was* brilliant. He made the movie, really. And ooh, the really cute actor who played Haled was walking around everywhere and he watched a movie with us!

What is that scene? The university computer refuses to let me watch youtube videos. :(

Lemon Tree is excellent. It could have been better paced, but the two lead actresses are brilliant, and the end packs a real punch.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Also, what was the song playing in the background when Haled helps the clueless guy comfort (and kiss) the gloomy girl and where can I get it?

[roga.livejournal.com]

Hee, that was the scene I'd linked to - specifically, the one where he tells him, in Arabic, what it feels like to love a woman, and Arabic has never sounded sexier to me than in that one moment. It's so cool that he was there for the festival! I had tears in my eyes when he made his acceptance speech at the Israeli Film awards for Best Supporting Actor. Sasson Gabai also won for Best Actor - naturally - and since he was performing in a play that night (Rain Man, where he was playing Dustin Hoffman's role) his ten-year-old son accepted the award for him with an adorable speech, and yeah. I'm totally full of love for these people.

The song is called Yesh Li Tzipor Ktana Balev (translated lyrics here (http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=yeshlitziporktanahbalev)), which means "I have a small bird in my heart". The original version was written and sung by Yagal Bashan, and the only clip I could find online is from the '70s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqbIMT5XBeo), but I'll keep my ears open - if I find a good version of it, or if they officially release the soundtrack, I'll let you know.

(Edited for typo, sigh.)

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

It was a wonderful scene, and the song made it all the more effective. He is so beautiful. Incidentally, he also came up to receive the award when the movie won the audience favourite award, but all he said was 'thank you'. *g*

I like this version!

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Kannada movie! I could watch it without subtitles! :)

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

*I* had to watch it with subtitles, because I don't get a word of Kannada (they all, um, sound the same to me). It's a WONDERFUL movie, and you should watch it once it's available.

[hihoplastic.livejournal.com]

The Band's Visit is one of my FAVORITE movies ever. Ronit Elkabetz!! I'm kind of in love with her. My dad calls her the "Israeli Lisa Edelstein." Apparently I'm predictable in my girlcrushes? Whatever. Wasn't it amazing?? I've also seen Ronit in a couple other things and she never disappoints. I highly recommend finding everything she's ever been in and drooling over it. ^^

I will have to look up some of the other movies you mentioned... they sound amazing. I'm very much like your friends - a sucker for artsy fartsy films with awesome cinematography and little plot. ;)

then there were MUTANT FLESH-EATING ZOMBIES and a TRANSSEXUAL BURQA-MAN WITH A BLOOD FETISH
Did Joss take part in this film? o.O

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

My dad calls her the "Israeli Lisa Edelstein."

You know, I kinda thought the same thing. She *is* gorgeous, and Saleh Bakri is simply adorable (even more so in person, since he SAT BESIDE US AND WATCHED A MOVIE), and I love this movie to itty bitty little pieces.

I hear you on the predictable... even her character did that loneliness thing so well, didn't she? *sigh*

I'm very much like your friends - a sucker for artsy fartsy films with awesome cinematography and little plot. ;)

I try. I really do. But I need *something* in the story to make me watch, *something* about the characters. Otherwise it's just a lot of incomprehensible pretty, and I don't really care about the 'craft'. *g*

Did Joss take part in this film? o.O

No, but he would probably love it. It was awesome, in a 'so bad it's good' kind of way.

[sk56.livejournal.com]

Didn't manage to see The Band's Visit when it was here, but did see big excerpts and it does indeed look great.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

It's great! It's highly recommended! *g*