This doc tells the story of a little village whose life is about to be transformed. New factories are being built. They will harvest what is supposed to be the largest lithium field in the world. The exploitation threatens the old order. They will lose their current job. They get cellphones and their children will have to go to school instead of working in the mines. Watching the doc I always asked myself why is this supposed to be bad? Sure enough their'll be people who loose. Yet this is a big chance. In fact this project got started to improve the living conditions of the Indian population in Bolivia. It will also be vital for the energetic revolution towards renewable energies. The doc didn't bother to tell this side. It reminded me of Monty Pythons "The Life of Bryan" when the partisans ask: " Apart from sanitation, medicine, public order, (..) and roads, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
Reviews
7 Reviews
Amour
(2012)
A dividing but excellent movie
13 October 2012
Apparently Haneke managed to shoot another film that divides the audience. I do say I was surprised. After all this is a well made movie. In fact the quality of the craftsmanship behind this movie is astounding. It is classical in terms of every single shot would look great framed and hanged at a wall.
The story too is magnificent. The story of an elderly couple and their love is composed into the regular Hollywood formula for a 90 minute film however Hanaeke doesn't stop there. He tells the story to the bitter end. I guess this is unpleasant for many people but I do not see where Haneke would be as shocking and unpleasant as in his other movies. Instead you'll always feel sympathy for the protagonists.
There have been some rumors as this film would copy a last years film named "Volcano". I have not seen this movie and can not judge upon it. Nonetheless I daresay that this movie is a masterpiece and by far Hanekes best one.
The story too is magnificent. The story of an elderly couple and their love is composed into the regular Hollywood formula for a 90 minute film however Hanaeke doesn't stop there. He tells the story to the bitter end. I guess this is unpleasant for many people but I do not see where Haneke would be as shocking and unpleasant as in his other movies. Instead you'll always feel sympathy for the protagonists.
There have been some rumors as this film would copy a last years film named "Volcano". I have not seen this movie and can not judge upon it. Nonetheless I daresay that this movie is a masterpiece and by far Hanekes best one.
The Happening
(2008)
Hide! The Plants are attacking us ...
22 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Imagine you're in the Central Park, New York, and suddenly everybody stops moving. Calm - and then mass suicide. That's the beginning and the main scenario of The Happening. It spreads to a wide area at the northern east cost of the US. You'll accompany Elliot, his girl friend Alma, John, Elliots best friend, and his daughter fleeing out of that area. It quickly becomes clear, that it might be the plants, that (re)attack human beings.
This Movie is based on the red tide, a natural phenomenon caused by algae, that kills fish stocks all over the world. The difference is that it is not caused on algae but on trees, bushes and so on. And it is not sure whether that really is the reason for "the happening".
Due to Elliot is not the hero, who tries to fix it, this film is often a little bit boring. So you'll see him and the people he attempts to rescue traveling to an unaffected region, sometimes meeting other groups, that suddenly turn into brainwashed ones committing suicide.
That film is far not the best, but good enough to fill a pause. So it gets five stars.
This Movie is based on the red tide, a natural phenomenon caused by algae, that kills fish stocks all over the world. The difference is that it is not caused on algae but on trees, bushes and so on. And it is not sure whether that really is the reason for "the happening".
Due to Elliot is not the hero, who tries to fix it, this film is often a little bit boring. So you'll see him and the people he attempts to rescue traveling to an unaffected region, sometimes meeting other groups, that suddenly turn into brainwashed ones committing suicide.
That film is far not the best, but good enough to fill a pause. So it gets five stars.
Too Much Future
(2006)
A compelling film over the GDR's punk riot
20 June 2008
This is a great and creative documentary about punk in the GDR.
Although its concept is very simple - six former punk rockers talk about their lifes as well as short documentations - it constructs a complex and interesting story. It is about their riots and how they managed to stay so long unaffected by the totalitarian system. Through this, it shows you a broad account of punks' living conditions in the GDR via the lifes of members from the best bands.
The film itsself handles their personal lives and shows you their riots. It not only explains what they were fighting for - why they had too much future etc, but it also shows you their friendships and needs. By watching it, you'll be trapped between mercy,sympathy and laughter.
Overall this film is worth seeing twice, one time for completing your knowledge about the punk scene and a second time for the compelling characters.
Although its concept is very simple - six former punk rockers talk about their lifes as well as short documentations - it constructs a complex and interesting story. It is about their riots and how they managed to stay so long unaffected by the totalitarian system. Through this, it shows you a broad account of punks' living conditions in the GDR via the lifes of members from the best bands.
The film itsself handles their personal lives and shows you their riots. It not only explains what they were fighting for - why they had too much future etc, but it also shows you their friendships and needs. By watching it, you'll be trapped between mercy,sympathy and laughter.
Overall this film is worth seeing twice, one time for completing your knowledge about the punk scene and a second time for the compelling characters.
I Want You
(I) (1998)
Are you my prince, she asked
8 May 2008
It is about a boy, who doesn't speak but falls in love with an older girl. As it turns out, her father was murdered. Now her former boyfriend, who is released on parole, stalks her, but nevertheless rescues her from being raped. Fair enough. She is torn between him, the boy and some others, who try to have sex with her.
It is a quite strange but due to that fancy story. The film offers more than just the story, it also uses many different ways to talk to its audience. Listen carefully to the song texts. They might not be the best, but add a sometimes funny, sometimes bitter sphere. This bitterness is more than just a stylistic device, it is one of the central themes, as it deals with guilt and the desire of being loved.
See it, but be aware that it is a relatively cheap production, so don't await to much in this term.
It is a quite strange but due to that fancy story. The film offers more than just the story, it also uses many different ways to talk to its audience. Listen carefully to the song texts. They might not be the best, but add a sometimes funny, sometimes bitter sphere. This bitterness is more than just a stylistic device, it is one of the central themes, as it deals with guilt and the desire of being loved.
See it, but be aware that it is a relatively cheap production, so don't await to much in this term.
A good fundament that struggles with vapid realization
27 April 2008
It's a quite good movie, that tries to find it's own sight on the case of Jesse James; and furthermore restyling cowboy aesthetics. Thus it uses the usual stylistic devices, rearranging them in a lyrical manner.
But the film has several deficits. It often stays flat and the short narrators parenthesis back up what they shouldn't: unreflectedness. Regarding the length of the film it narrows the pleasure and brakes the proceed too much. Nethertheless it fulfills its purpose by giving additional info's and insight views. - Not a difficulty but a lag of the movie is that despite actors doing a solid job they could have been used much better.
Overall it's a good movie. Because of its lenght and its further not mentionable but many little lags, it is unfortunately not worth seeing it twice. But if you like the story of Jesse James and authentic re-editions, you should see it.
But the film has several deficits. It often stays flat and the short narrators parenthesis back up what they shouldn't: unreflectedness. Regarding the length of the film it narrows the pleasure and brakes the proceed too much. Nethertheless it fulfills its purpose by giving additional info's and insight views. - Not a difficulty but a lag of the movie is that despite actors doing a solid job they could have been used much better.
Overall it's a good movie. Because of its lenght and its further not mentionable but many little lags, it is unfortunately not worth seeing it twice. But if you like the story of Jesse James and authentic re-editions, you should see it.
Jakob the Liar
(1999)
Just a funny Jew
5 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
It is the story of a Jew, that stepped by accident in a complicated situation. Kept into one of the many German concentration camps, he got to know that front line comes closer. A Russian advance would mean to be restored to freedom. But knowing this he has to see how his companions and friends commit suicide. So he has the chance to stop it, telling them of the news. It is alluring but unmoral, cause he has to lie. Nobody would believe him the true story, so he fakes up a radio.
Jurek Becker created one of the most sensitive and heartbreaking plots for Holocaust films. Marcel Reich-Ranicki praised him for inventing the "principle radio". But this hollywoody holocaustic thingy can't deal the complexity. Jacob is presented as just a funny Jew, that loves his people. It does not deal with the problem of Jewish identity, which is one of the central themes. It even naively adopts stereotypes Nazis used. This adaption sacrifices density for simplicity and compatibility.
This Movie is just an entertaining film, an audience preferring a more deep and dense plot should look the GDR production, for which Jurek Becker himself made the screenplay and earned the first and only Oscar nomination an East German film ever got.
Jurek Becker created one of the most sensitive and heartbreaking plots for Holocaust films. Marcel Reich-Ranicki praised him for inventing the "principle radio". But this hollywoody holocaustic thingy can't deal the complexity. Jacob is presented as just a funny Jew, that loves his people. It does not deal with the problem of Jewish identity, which is one of the central themes. It even naively adopts stereotypes Nazis used. This adaption sacrifices density for simplicity and compatibility.
This Movie is just an entertaining film, an audience preferring a more deep and dense plot should look the GDR production, for which Jurek Becker himself made the screenplay and earned the first and only Oscar nomination an East German film ever got.
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