Disgrace (2008)

A tremendously powerful and original film that tackles South Africa's culture of violence. The Australian-made movie is based on a South African novel by J M Coetzee which makes me want to seek out this guy's work. A professor loses his status in the academic world because of some blatant abuses of his position. He seeks refuge at his daughter's ranch in rural South Africa only to be faced with a culture of violence he is not able to so easily accept as his own indiscretions. The biggest revelation of this film is its treatment of rape and how it is understood so differently in the Eastern Cape.

The Christians (1977)

 One of my recent interests has been church history. A long standing passion of mine is Christian theology, which is illuminated by church history. Documentarian Bamber Gascoigne produced this 13-part made-for-TV series on the history of Christians. Stylistically, it is marked by the era in which it is made (the 1970s), but the era also impacts the approach that Gascoigne takes in presenting the Christians. In recent decades we have seen the emergence of a rather vocal Christian right in the United States, a steep decline in the practice of Christianity in Europe, and the renewed popularity of atheism and interest in other world religions. This has led to Christianity being looked down upon by the popular culture (I just heard a man singing on the radio about how Christianity makes no sense to him, so he's picking hell - yes, it is ironic). When Gascoigne makes this 11 hour documentary, Christianity is still has a strong western presence and it is treated with respect.

The series begins in first century Jerusalem and follows the gradual geographic, cultural, political, and theological iterations over the next 20 centuries. Mr. Gascoigne narrates throughout and does a remarkable job presenting each major change in Christian culture by highlighting both the remnant architectural and artistic features from each era and the denominational representations from those changes (ie. the Amish are portrayed when speaking about Anabaptist history or Guatemalan Catholics are portrayed to show the colonial missions in Central and South America).

Because of its length, the series ensures that adequate depth is allocated since the breadth of the story is so great.

I highly rate this intricate telling of Christians' story. I would gladly watch the series several more times.

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Nollywood Babylon (2008)

The makers of this documentary display a two pronged story pairing the burgeoning low budget high profit film industry in Nigeria with the prosperity gospel being preached in Nigerian mega churches. It is a fascinating look at what are often one dimensional issues.

We learn of how the video industry started and it's relationship to animist witchcraft and then we follow it is being used to promote Charismatic Christian values such as how to get rich and famous by making movies.

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Throw Down Your Heart (2008)

Bela Fleck is an American banjo virtuoso. He travels to Uganda, Tanzania, Gambia, Senegal, and Mali in search of the roots of the banjo. What he finds is a remarkably similar style to what bluegrass is in North America. Fleck records songs with local celebrity musicians and with entire villages producing a beautiful fusion of sound.

The music is certainly the best part of the film. The other part is how it reveals an affluent American's reaction to Africa and Fleck is caught a little bit in the headlights as he is struck by poverty, simplicity and contentment.

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Cairo Time (2009)

This drama tells the story of a woman who while stuck in Cairo as her husband is caught up in a UN mission in Palestine, inadvertently develops an intimate relationship with a kind Egyptian man. The emotional tension throughout the film is palpable and thoroughly believable as these two lonely people share their lives over several days.

Some solid acting from two tremendous veterans.

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Babies (2010)

Documentary film maker Thomas Balmès films and juxtaposes the lives of four babies during their first year of life. The babies grow in the diverse environs of San Francisco, Tokyo, Mongolia and Namibia. With all the obvious diversity, it's a blast to see how the babies are so similar developmentally and so happy in their world.

What is really interesting though is how the babies are cared for by their moms. Two of the babies live in the poor world and the other two live in privilege. The question posed to me is "Which ones will have a healthier view of the the world, life and others?"

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District 9 (2009)

This is such a bold, imaginative, and well made film that it is difficult to know where to begin. Peter Jackson gave this kid director a shot at making whatever he wanted and District 9 is the result. Thanks Peter Jackson!

Twenty years ago an alien ship descended upon Johannesburg, South Africa. Inside were thousands of languishing aliens who became refugees that settled in districts surrounding the city. The prawns (as they are soon called) and humans don't get along super well, but they coexist as long as they stay in their own areas. When a corporation is given the task of caring for the space refugees, a resettlement program is put into effect and all hell breaks loose.

What is absolutely stunning about this film is that it is a perfect alien movie, a perfect study on apartheid, and a perfect comedy. It is shot as a combination documentary about the events mixed with live action as it follows the adventures of Wikus van der Merwe, a supervisor at the corporation. 

Just fantastic!

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11'09''01 - September 11 (2002)

This is a collection of eleven films of 11 minutes 9 seconds 1 frame each all on the subject of the terrorist attacks of 11.9.01 in NYC. Each film is from a different country and by a different director.

This film really deserves 11 reviews, but I'll highlight all the shorts here:

The British one is my favorite - a documentary of a Chilean immigrant who also remembers another September 11, one where the United States was the aggressor in Chile. Burkina Faso and Iran emphasize the innocence of children and the amazing waste of money used in warfare when there are so many other needs. Mexico forces us to use our sense of hearing and gives us sounds from the actual attack - truly horrifying against a black backdrop with infrequent frames of people falling from the towers. India retells a heartrending story of Pakistani immigrants in NYC. Israel contrasts the attacks with its daily struggle against terrorism, while Bosnia Herzegovina also contrasts the memorial of the recent deaths with the 9/11 attacks. France and United States show that good can come out of such tragedy. Japan tells an odd moral tale about holy wars. Egypt gives supernatural perspective on terrorism.

Having all of these perspectives are truly a treasure.

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Bamako (2006)

Viewers are transported to Bamako, the capital city of Mali, a havenot nation in north Africa. 

The setting is a domestic outdoor courtyard where people are establishing an international tribunal to try the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for crimes against Africa. The judges and magistrates are in full gowns under the sun and chairs have been set up as they would be in court complete with jury and audience.

Testimonies come from all sorts of people - professors and writers, elderly and young - and in all sorts of ways, the most striking in poetry and song. It's clear from the start that the WB and IMF are guilty and the film doesn't shy away from this. The WB and IMF have little defense. 

It is a little difficult to watch Bamako because it cuts from the trial to set up to people just hanging out to a club at night in its attempt to give a rounded view of Africa and the injustices it endures. There isn't a clear story arc either and the main characters disappear frequently giving up the screen to new ones. However, the film is important and unique and deserves attention.

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Darwin's Nightmare (2004)

This brilliantly edited and investigated documentary comes to us from a European filmmaker telling the hellish story of Tanzanians.

From the shores of Lake Victoria, on of the greatest fresh water lakes in the world, we receive the account of those languishing from the fishing trade as thousands of crates of frozen Nile perch are flown north to Europe every day. We get the angles on ecology, arms dealing, AIDS, street kids, prostitution, unemployment, famine, violence, etc. All of this from what should be one of the most prosperous areas in Africa.

The film is shot in digital video, but no matter. The content is powerful and the emotion desperate.

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Indigènes (2006)

Algerian men served under French command during World War II only to be unfairly treated and then discarded by the army they served.

The film follows a band of Muslim North Africans who display bravery in their fight to liberate an occupied France. As their French comrades are given home leave every few months, they don't return once during their 2 years of service. They are placed on the front lines with little support. When Algeria gains its independence from their tyrannous colonizer, the soldiers' pensions are cut off. We watch injustice after injustice on the screen, but the Algerians display grace and fortitude throughout.

While the story is tremendously important and the acting is superb, the film does lack momentum. There is the constant tension you would expect from this story, but it doesn't build very much through the story.

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L'Avocat de la Terreur (2007)

Jacques Vergès is a French trial lawyer who has defended some of the world's most notorious political terrorists. Terror's Advocate chronicles his life and presents the question "Are terrorists ever freedom fighters?"

While Vergès is presented in a sometimes heroic light, especially in his early career defending Algerian bombers, it is clear the filmmaker has chosen to vilify him in the end. Vergès worked for Barbie, the Butcher of Lyons, and some of the most despicable African dictators. He was also chums with Pol Pot. 

The film is fascinating, if only for the telling of the unstable history France has had dealing with the recourse of colonialism.

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Naked Lunch (1991)

David Cronenberg spins this surreal tale beginning in the real and stable world of a modest and honest exterminator. When the powder he uses is discovered to have narcotic qualities, we slip into a drug induced world of spying, literature, sordid sex and murder.

It's hard to measure what a viewer can gather from such a unique film. Certainly, layers of humanity are exposed when drugs are involved, but at a rather high cost. The acting is compelling and you can sense that everything has a hint of reality.

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. . . And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986)

This is one of Louis Malle's collected documentaries in the Criterion Collection. The title is of course taken from the U.S. Declaration of Independence and implies the American Dream. Malle takes us on an 80-minute tour around the U.S. where we meet immigrants of all kinds. Why would people put themselves through such a hard life in the U.S. where bigotry and injustice are so prevalent? The answer is clear: unfettered opportunities and the freedom to decide what course your life will take.

A couple very poignant moments are a conversation between a Mexican illegal immigrant and an immigration officer who is deporting him and then interviews with El Salvador's General Samosa's son who live in Florida. 

This is a very striking film.

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Raja (2003)

An orphaned young woman with a checkered past begins work as a gardener for a benevolent Frenchman in Morocco. She is seeking love and stability. He is seeking sex. It becomes a dramatic and painful game to see if one will offer what the other desires as they interchange dialogue in broken French and Arabic.

The film certainly has merit as a study in human behaviour and how cultures and classes clash. Prepare to be befuddled as it may be difficult to understand all the nuances in the film. There is plenty of tension however to keep you locked into the story and the characters.

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Casablanca (1942)

I find this film to be tremendous for two reasons: it's moral stance and it's historical significance.

Declared by many to be the greatest love story of all time, we don't see the lovers succumbing to their carnal desires, but rather to the will to honour each other. This is very admirable - and rare. Bogart and Bergman show cause for true love, though some today would say they are protecting an archaic understanding of marriage.

The fact that this film was made just after the United States had officially entered World War II makes this a war document in and of itself. No one knew how much longer the war would go on nor who would ultimately win. The Germans are clearly depticted as the bad guys, but not nearly as callous as they are in future films. It is more an issue of nationalism during the making of the film - which is superbly depicted in the bar scene where the French overwhelm the Germans in song.

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Rendition (2007)

The realm of ethics is brought to the forefront in this chilling rendition of the War on Terror.

An Egyptian born American is captured by the CIA when he disembarks from a plane. No one is notified as he is whisked off to a non-descript north African nation where he is subsequently questioned - with extreme prejudice. His wife begins her search for him in D.C. and runs into dead ends.

There are several sub-plots: the politicians in Washington, the family of the captor, the interrogation in Africa, the police chief's daughter in Africa and her fundamentalist boyfriend. I feel the film tries to teach too much about the perils of torture rather than making a compelling case against it with a very personal story. In essence it takes every argument for and against and turns it into a character.

The film does bring an important issue to light and there are some notable performances, especially by Omar Metwally who outshines the star studded cast.

Truth: When we go into the business of justice without the blindfold, justice becomes the victim.

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Casino Royale (2006)

A new Bond, a new attitude towards the ladies. This spy movie gets a little bit more personal and a little less gadgety. I found the introduction to the new Bond quite interesting. It actually implies that the old MI6 007 spy died and this new James Bond took his place with a license to kill.

Mr. Bond tracks terrorist money in this more subdued thriller. First he propels an incredible foot chase in Madagascar. Then he foils an airport bombing in Florida. Finally he goes to the poker tables in Montenegro to win money that would otherwise be won by terrorist investor Le Chiffre.

Without looking too hard for a moral or message, as the film isn't really made to present one, I found that the it was trying to identify more with current audiences - a more sensitive Bond, bound by duty, but still a gentleman - rather than maintain the Bond image. Still, the ladies are voluptuous. The cars are fast and sleek. The lines are loaded with double-entendre. In the end, it's still a Bond movie at heart.

Truth: Even James Bond has a vulnerable layer deep down.

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Lord of War (2005)

I didn't expect this to be based on a real life, but I'm grateful that it was. From the little that I knew about gunrunning, I assumed that there would be enough true stuff out there to make a film about rather than going all XXX on the subject.

The protagonist is a naturalized American from Ukraine who comes into the business of trading arms somewhat by accident. We follow his rise to riches, concern for secrecy, and amoral transactions primarily in west Africa. There is little to suggest that he feels bad for what he does and we hear again and again his excuses for doing what he does: equipping warlords with effective killing tools.

The effects and locations were quite awe-inspiring, particularly the timelapse where a jet is taken completely apart over night. Though most of the film was certainly shot on sets, they did a great job of outside locations making us believe that we were in Lebanon, Ukraine, Liberia, or the Atlantic Ocean.

There is plenty of gratuitous nudity and violence, which I presume the film makers believed would bring more of an audience to this film (of such an important subject). I thought the nudity could have been tamed down substantially as it wasn't core to communicating the story.

I truly appreciated that there was no moralising. It is an obviously black and white issue (at least to me): we should stop manufacturing so many weapons and we should track the ones that exist. The film focuses more on the mechanics of the trade rather than telling us how bad it is. It's a smart film.

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Croupier (1998)

Clive Owen has made his mark as a superb actor in recent films such as Closer and Children of Men, but I think his ability was just as sure back iin 1998 with this film. I honestly did not sense any of his other characters in this one - a calculating and blank croupier.

We follow a reluctant card dealer back into a casino in London. He wants more than all else to be a writer, but wants his book to have depth and not simply a pay check. He claims that he does not gamble and, in the traditional sense, he does not. He only goes for sure things; things that when received, will not demand any thing of himself in return.

The writing is witty. The actors are not all that glamorous, but they are sharp. There are great turns in the story and we are never sure of results or clashes.

What shook me more than anything in the film is Owen's character's lack of emotion. That alone revealed more than a tone of "taker" but also a truth. When we don't give, we don't feel - and that includes guilt or joy.

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