Looking back on this still-young century makes clear that 2007 was a major time for cinematic happenings — and, on the basis of this retrospective, one we’re not quite through with ten years on. One’s mind might quickly flash to a few big titles that will be represented, but it is the plurality of both festival and theatrical premieres that truly surprises: late works from old masters, debuts from filmmakers who’ve since become some of our most-respected artists, and mid-career turning points that didn’t necessarily announce themselves as such at the time. Join us as an assembled team, many of whom were coming of age that year, takes on their favorites.
“Amen” is the first word uttered in Silent Light — an appropriate and reverent punctuation to follow the glory that director Carlos Reygadas unveils in the film’s opening minutes. Beginning in a milky, celestial darkness that then...
“Amen” is the first word uttered in Silent Light — an appropriate and reverent punctuation to follow the glory that director Carlos Reygadas unveils in the film’s opening minutes. Beginning in a milky, celestial darkness that then...
- 4/25/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
What makes films about religion so interesting is the way some manage to tread a line between support and criticism, while some are vehemently anti-religion or pro-religion. When all is said and done, it’s up to the audience to decide whether or not the film (or the faith portrayed) is a respectful or perceptive study on faith and the dogmatic principles that may or may not surround it. Not every religious film is uplifting. In fact, there are plenty of non-religious films that do a better job of building viewers’ faith. But that’s another list for another time.
30. Beyond the Hills (2012)
Directed by Cristian Mingiu
Five years after his punishing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Christian Mingiu delivered an interesting look at a lifelong friendship formed at an orphanage. Beyond the Hills tells the story of two women, based on non-fiction novels by Tatiana Niculescu Bran: Alina (Cristina Flutur) has fled to Germany,...
30. Beyond the Hills (2012)
Directed by Cristian Mingiu
Five years after his punishing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Christian Mingiu delivered an interesting look at a lifelong friendship formed at an orphanage. Beyond the Hills tells the story of two women, based on non-fiction novels by Tatiana Niculescu Bran: Alina (Cristina Flutur) has fled to Germany,...
- 4/7/2014
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
DVD Playhouse—September 2009
By
Allen Gardner
The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend.
By
Allen Gardner
The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend.
- 9/26/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Chicago – Proving that its title is at least partially appropriate, “Silent Light” is loaded with torturous durations of quiet. The cinematographer shoots a landscape. A clock ticks and tocks. A family closes their eyes in prayer at the breakfast table. And for the first 10 minutes or so, you twist your face in bewilderment and wonder if writer-director Carlos Reygadas is playing an Andy Kaufman-esque prank on his audience, as if to say, “Go ahead. Stop watching. I dare you.”
DVD Rating: 4.5/5.0 Then a father breaks down in tears, dialogue starts trickling into the story, and it becomes clear that absolutely none of it was a joke. After a good half-hour, we understand that while the film’s characters are doing little and saying even less, their minds are always active to a strenuous degree. They dwell on their very painful problems, and thanks to the movie’s stubborn pacing,...
DVD Rating: 4.5/5.0 Then a father breaks down in tears, dialogue starts trickling into the story, and it becomes clear that absolutely none of it was a joke. After a good half-hour, we understand that while the film’s characters are doing little and saying even less, their minds are always active to a strenuous degree. They dwell on their very painful problems, and thanks to the movie’s stubborn pacing,...
- 9/16/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Starring: Elizabeth Fehr, Jacobo Klassen, Maria Pankratz
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Release Date: January 9, 2009
Running Time: 109 min
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
- - -
The birth of a new sunrise is the first shot of “Silent Light.” It is one of the film’s many shots that maintain a profound appreciation for nature. And what a revelatory scene it is. The camera dwells some minutes on the darkness of the sky save for a few stars, then slowly making its way down to concentrate on two crooked looking trees, their shapes the only thing evident in the overbearing darkness. Observing the trees for a couple of minutes something extraordinary happens. The slightest pigment of bright orange light can be seen forming between the two trees, far off on the horizon. The sun studiously blooms from a flicker of light to a light capable of benefitting the entire corn fields...
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Release Date: January 9, 2009
Running Time: 109 min
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
- - -
The birth of a new sunrise is the first shot of “Silent Light.” It is one of the film’s many shots that maintain a profound appreciation for nature. And what a revelatory scene it is. The camera dwells some minutes on the darkness of the sky save for a few stars, then slowly making its way down to concentrate on two crooked looking trees, their shapes the only thing evident in the overbearing darkness. Observing the trees for a couple of minutes something extraordinary happens. The slightest pigment of bright orange light can be seen forming between the two trees, far off on the horizon. The sun studiously blooms from a flicker of light to a light capable of benefitting the entire corn fields...
- 8/10/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Starring: Elizabeth Fehr, Jacobo Klassen, Maria Pankratz
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Release Date: January 9, 2009
Running Time: 109 min
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
- - -
The birth of a new sunrise is the first shot of “Silent Light.” It is one of the film’s many shots that maintain a profound appreciation for nature. And what a revelatory scene it is. The camera dwells some minutes on the darkness of the sky save for a few stars, then slowly making its way down to concentrate on two crooked looking trees, their shapes the only thing evident in the overbearing darkness. Observing the trees for a couple of minutes something extraordinary happens. The slightest pigment of bright orange light can be seen forming between the two trees, far off on the horizon. The sun studiously blooms from a flicker of light to a light capable of benefitting the entire corn fields...
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Release Date: January 9, 2009
Running Time: 109 min
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
- - -
The birth of a new sunrise is the first shot of “Silent Light.” It is one of the film’s many shots that maintain a profound appreciation for nature. And what a revelatory scene it is. The camera dwells some minutes on the darkness of the sky save for a few stars, then slowly making its way down to concentrate on two crooked looking trees, their shapes the only thing evident in the overbearing darkness. Observing the trees for a couple of minutes something extraordinary happens. The slightest pigment of bright orange light can be seen forming between the two trees, far off on the horizon. The sun studiously blooms from a flicker of light to a light capable of benefitting the entire corn fields...
- 8/10/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
When Sydney Pollack was making "Out of Africa" in 1985, he considered the problem of how to film Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in love scenes that were not explicit, yet were erotic. "When I have Streep and Redford together," he told me, "I don't want to see them strip naked and writhe around in bed together. The challenge was to find love scenes that would have emotion and passion and yet not violate a certain place where we want to see them. There are two really sensual love scenes. One of them is the undressing scene. I always like scenes like that. I think they're sexy. I tried to make a sort of passionate dance out of them undressing each other. The second scene consists of three absolutely terrific lines I took out of a screenplay that was written in 1973 when Nicholas Roeg was going to direct this project. It's only three lines,...
- 3/13/2009
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
Release Date: Jan. 9 (limited)
Writer/Director: Carlos Reygadas
Cinematographer: Alexis Zabe
Starring: Cornelio Wall, Maria Pankratz, Miriam Toews
Studio/Run Time: Film Forum, 108 mins.
Silent Light takes place in a Mexican Mennonite farm, but it’s not a religious movie. Its tale is in many ways the classic one of forbidden love, where dedicated husband Johan (Cornelio Wall) falls in love with another woman, Marianne (Maria Pankratz), which causes complications for both of them. The twist is that due to Johan’s devotion to both his wife Esther (Miriam Toews) and his faith he is also honest with her about the affair. This effectively rips apart the emotions of all three parties, but with Johan unwilling to stop himself there’s no end in sight.
Writer/Director: Carlos Reygadas
Cinematographer: Alexis Zabe
Starring: Cornelio Wall, Maria Pankratz, Miriam Toews
Studio/Run Time: Film Forum, 108 mins.
Silent Light takes place in a Mexican Mennonite farm, but it’s not a religious movie. Its tale is in many ways the classic one of forbidden love, where dedicated husband Johan (Cornelio Wall) falls in love with another woman, Marianne (Maria Pankratz), which causes complications for both of them. The twist is that due to Johan’s devotion to both his wife Esther (Miriam Toews) and his faith he is also honest with her about the affair. This effectively rips apart the emotions of all three parties, but with Johan unwilling to stop himself there’s no end in sight.
- 1/13/2009
- Pastemagazine.com
By Neil Pedley
There's a welcome change of pace this week, with nary a Nazi in sight. Character actors go to work both in front of and behind the camera, there's a white wedding, a black comedy and a bizarre love triangle in Plautdietsch just over the Mexican border.
"8 Films to Die For: After Dark Horrorfest 2009"
For one week only, nasty niche distributor After Dark Films terrorizes 300 screens across the country with their third annual "Horrorfest" showcase featuring a selection of eight indie horror films. This year's selection comprises of: "Autopsy," the Lena Headey-Richard Jenkins' thriller "The Broken," "The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations," "Dying Breed," "Perkins' 14," "Slaughter," the Korean frightfest "Voices," and "From Within," which Alison Willmore noted during its Tribeca premiere wasn't exactly for God-fearing types. Eight films to die for is what they say -- we'll settle for being made to perhaps feel a bit sick afterwards.
There's a welcome change of pace this week, with nary a Nazi in sight. Character actors go to work both in front of and behind the camera, there's a white wedding, a black comedy and a bizarre love triangle in Plautdietsch just over the Mexican border.
"8 Films to Die For: After Dark Horrorfest 2009"
For one week only, nasty niche distributor After Dark Films terrorizes 300 screens across the country with their third annual "Horrorfest" showcase featuring a selection of eight indie horror films. This year's selection comprises of: "Autopsy," the Lena Headey-Richard Jenkins' thriller "The Broken," "The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations," "Dying Breed," "Perkins' 14," "Slaughter," the Korean frightfest "Voices," and "From Within," which Alison Willmore noted during its Tribeca premiere wasn't exactly for God-fearing types. Eight films to die for is what they say -- we'll settle for being made to perhaps feel a bit sick afterwards.
- 1/5/2009
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
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