While We're Young

So the next movie was the dreaded Dromedy - you know the one.  Starts off as a funny comedy, then tries to become a deep and meaningful serious drama to get its point across, but instead just results in a bit of a bore during the second half.  Neither me or my bestie are excited by the thought of a Ben Stiller movie, although he is one of the more watchable manboys.  We do like Naomi Watts though, so it seemed like an ok pick.

Ben and Naomi are a middle aged couple who find themselves questioning how they live when the become friends with a couple of free spirited twenty five year olds.  We did laugh at lots of the situations, we totally get the slide into getting old.  Me and my bestie creak when we get up, and are pleased when an evening out is over by 7pm. 

I came out thinking that the writers had a lot of good ideas at the beginning of the movie, and a lot of good jokes, but not a concrete believable story to hold the movie together.  Like a lot of recent movies, it just feels like a lot of skits strung together, some of which work, but some are just there for cheesy effect.  3/5

Girlhood

Mmmm I am beginning to have reservations about French films.  So many I have seen have been kind of bland and abrupt, they seem to have a certain sensibility that I don't get.  Some I have been tempted to leave half way through, but always stay hoping they will get better.  They do some comedies very well, but the dramas can be a bit hit or miss.

  Girlhood started off ok, I liked the tough girls from the neighbourhood they formed a good strong friendship, although I didn't like them being bullies and picking on other females.  The second half of the movie felt a big disjointed to me.  The main character seems to change without a lot of supporting story, it just seemed to switch in its tone, and tried to be gritty, but seemed to fail.  I get that life is tough on the streets in France, for a young woman without a lot of support, the choices must be limited.  2/5

Book Sculpture

I found this one on Google, a little old book sculpture from the Prague library.  I love the use of books, the reminder of what the building is for.  I do wonder though, if health and safety might outrule it here in NZ. 

Girl in the Dark - Anna Lyndsey

Anna is busy working at her desk job, when he finds a flash from her computer screen has caused her pain. She realises that she has a growing sensitivity to light, having to keep herself away from daylight, computer screens, television and most other light sources.  This restricts her to spending weeks and months lying in the dark in a light proofed room of her boyfriends house.

The book does jump around in time, in some parts she can't stand any light at all, and in the next part she is out at dusk walking the neighbourhood.  I found that a little distracting, but pushed through thinking how lucky she was to have a patient and supporting partner and family. 3/5

Iris

It seems the highlight of this film festival is the documentaries.  Iris is lets us meet 90 year old Iris Apfel, who has become a celebrity due to her unique fashion sense, particularly her addiction to wearing bold accessories.  This has resulted in museum shows, front pages of fashion magazines, articles, interviews, a movie and her own range of accessories selling out on the home shopping network.  With her trademark round circular glasses, an armful of bangles and bold designer clothing she is certainly no shy wallflower, but somehow I sensed a sadness, a little old lady who after rushing around from job to show, seemed tired and over it.

A fascinating watch - I think the whole audience enjoyed it immensely.  4/5

Our Little Sister

Our little sister is a gentle Japanese story about three older sisters, who after being left by their father and mother live alone in an old house, each living their own lives.  When they hear that their father has died, they attend his funeral, and meet their young half sister Suzu, who is 15 and living with her step mother. 

A sweet little film with a rather slow pace, it did make me want to go to Japan and eat pickles with the sisters.   They looked like they had a good time together.  3/5

Ex Machina

I guess a bit of burn out yesterday after 3 movies, so today just one was enough, and even though it was 4pm, it was still busy.  Ex Machina is a science fiction movie written and directed by Alex Garland who wrote The Beach. 

An employee wins the lottery to be taken to his bosses river side retreat to see the latest technology at work.  For a movie with only four main characters and not too much action it was interesting and clever, and you are never quite sure who knows what is going on.  I do like a movie that keeps you guessing.  4/5

Letter to the Lost - Iona Grey

Such a delight to pick up a book and be sucked into the story from the first page to the last, and to read a second world war love story that felt fresh and not stocked full of clichéd characters.  We meet Stella on the eve of her marriage to Charles, Jess who is escaping from her violent partner, Will disillusioned at work and lost in life.  When Jess finds a house to rest in she finds a pile of letters sent to Stella, and she begins to read about her great romance during the war.

Such a lovely book - I really did not want this one to end, and enjoyed it right through. 5/5

Peggy Guggenheim - Art Addict

So the last of todays film festivals viewing was another documentary - Peggy Guggenheim - Art Addict.  Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, her world changed when her father died on the Titanic when she was 13.  Left with a mother she didn't get along with she had a bit of a rough time, having a breakdown.  After working at a bookshop and meeting a variety of artists she decided that this would be her future.

So off to Paris in the wild twenties where she spend time with artists an authors having a wild old time.  Then over to London for a brief marriage, a couple of children and an art gallery trying to sell modern art, before turning it into a museum. 

When the war intervenes, she heads back to Paris to buy as much modern art as she can before it is destroyed as degenerate by the Germans.  Escaping to New York, she sets up another gallery championing new artists and displaying modern art not seen before. 

In her middle age, an autobiography describing her numerous lovers scandalises American society, so she decamps to Venice to start anew. 

What an amazing lady with such an interesting life, one that people wouldn't blink an eyelid at nowdays, but I am sure was much frowned upon fifty years ago.   Not sure that I liked a lot of the modern art - not quite my thing.  A worthy 4/5.

Phoenix

So every year at the International Film Festival there are always a few odd ones, but that makes the good ones seem almost better.  So this one seemed to have a slightly odd plot.

 Nelly has been released from the camps after the end of the war.  It starts off with her having to have plastic surgery after having  facial injuries.  Then she heads off to find her husband, who fails to recognise her.  He does suggest that she pose as his wife, so that he can procure the money from the bank from her deceased family. 

I didn't quite get how he didn't know it was her.  Her face may have been different, but people usually talk or walk the same way, and their mannerisms don't change.  I just didn't buy it.  And the warm cinema had me nodding off, so maybe I lost sight of some of the plot line.  2/5