Reviews

Even though I was never a big fan of Blood, Sweat, And Tears (BST) this movie did capture my attention.

In the 1970s they went on a tour of what was then Yugoslavia, Romania, and Poland (Warsaw). They had different degrees of success in each country. And it was the first time a Rock band went on tour behind the Iron Curtain. They did cause a turmoil in some places. I can only imagine what the reception of the Stones would have been like!!! The audience and government found BST a little bit too much, what would they have thought of Mick and the gang!

BST was against the Vietnam War - and had similar "left-wing" positions. But after the tour, they had the effrontery to say that the West and U. S. were still far more liberal and tolerant than these Iron Curtain countries. This brought them criticism from the left (like "Rolling Stone" magazine) who called them pawns of the State Department, the CIA... - and they were still criticized by the conservatives for their anti-Vietnam war stance. So they became the enemy of many disparate groups.

The political parts of the documentary were of interest, but all the praise of BST as being the best rock group since the Beatles was hyperbolic and over the top. It made the documentary overly long.

There is just so much talking that goes on and on and on. Our main character is having a writer's block and wants to make a film.

She (the writer) meets up with old and new friends, and they chat endlessly, with little being accomplished.

The initial setting is in bookstore cafe - then she goes to a lookout in a skyscraper where she meets with a film director, after they wander in a park where they meet an actress. There are a few subdued insults now and then. With the actress she goes to have lunch - and after they return to the bookstore. The actress gets drunk. Towards the end there is a screening of the writer's film of which we see and know nothing. That's about it.

We are taken on an intense trek through this family's many ups and downs.

Their son is sent to juvenile prison and he becomes the pariah - more so for the father, who almost denies his son's existence. The son has also made his young girlfriend pregnant - and she comes to live with them. So there are many complications that are all intertwined.

When the son is released from prison he is slowly pulled backed into his previous lifestyle. He is unable to resist.

All this is done in a very nuanced way. There are no heroes here, and all are portrayed as vulnerable human beings. Just people who struggle on life's path. The ending does have resolution.

This was pleasant to watch. Don't think too much about the plot - there are loop-holes (like how did Susie manage to kidnap Jesse??!!)

All the characters are a good fit, with lots of comedic moments. It's a movie that got better as it went along, with good twists and turns.

The music was also apt - very Hitchcockian. Susie is very endearing - and so are most of the other characters, like her friends, the police, professors. Co-workers at the fast-food joint... It never takes itself too seriously, with even the tense moments in the basement being rather tongue-in-cheek.

Definitely worth a watch!

Great coming-of-age story.

It covers so many themes and does it so well! A perfect performance by Abby Ryder Fortson in the lead role.

It covers school cliques (from a girl's perspective), menstrual period, puberty changes, religious indoctrination, adjusting to a new school. All kinds of stuff about growing up! The role of grand-parents - and conflict with your own parents. Probably quite true to life.

The whole process of fitting in (or not) and the meaning of friendship. It does take you on a turbulent roller-coaster - and it's never dull, with some funny scenes sprinkled in!

The young girl is searching for the truth. A wonderful film for all ages.

There is some strange stuff going on here - it gets psychedelic. The cinematography at times is wonderful. And EO goes everywhere without rhyme or reason - in tunnels, forests with wolves, bridges by waterfalls.

There is not much cohesion. It's all very elusive. There is a strange scene with Isabelle Huppert breaking dishes. There is an extremely violent and shocking scene which serves no purpose. The makers of this film wanted to add a sense of disequilibrium and they succeeded very well. Why they did so is a mystery.

Prepare yourself prior to watching. It's kind of a shock and awe, with EO gazing haplessly on.

One of the few documentaries that gives a view of life of Germans living in Nazi Germany.

There are interviews with several individuals. Many acknowledge their past - and some are in denial or minimize the atrocities that occurred.

There is an interesting interview with a group of women who at first claimed not to know of a nearby concentration camp - but the more they spoke, the more it became apparent that they knew everything - the starvation and the brutality - and the deaths.

This film demonstrates that many Germans knew of the atrocities and racism of their regime - they saw it in their cities, villages, and on their railroads.

This is a powerful film and gripping from beginning to end.

Obviously, some of those interviewed wanted to make a final confession.