Change Your Image
byrontully2000
Reviews
L'accordeur (2010)
Clever, compelling
We here at Indie Friendlie.com watched this clever and captivating French- language, short film and really enjoyed it.
The premise: a piano tuner who pretends to be blind in order to win the sympathy of his clients and is doing well, until he witnesses a murder while on the job.
This short film needs to be a feature film, and bring the cast and crew along to the bigger project for the big screen, as performances and direction were clean and on point.
We are definitely looking forward to the next film from director Olivier Treiner.
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (2011)
Powerful, Intense
We here at Indie Friendlie.com watched this incredible documentary from director Lucy Walker with great anticipation, and we were not disappointed.
The film is heart-wrenching, difficult at times, but ultimately inspiring in its very intimate portraits of those whose lives were forever changed by the recent tsunami in Japan.
Lucy Walker also co-directed the documentary "Waste Land", which was shot in Brooklyn and Brazil over 3 years. "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" and "Waste Land" show her ability to capture incredibly personal moments of courage in a vast landscape of adversity. In Japan, she did this with survivors of the tsunami, and in Brazil she did it again with that country's most impoverished.
Awards and recognition for "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" are well-deserved. Definitely worth watching.
Dudamel: Let the Children Play (2010)
An Inspiring and Wonderful Film
We here at Indie Friendlie really love this compelling and informative film.
Gustavo Dudamel, music director for the LA Philharmonic, is a champion of Venezuela's "La Systema", the public music program that provides students with classical music instruments and instructions. What's more interesting is the fact that he's also a product of the now-global program.
This film, expertly shot and well-paced, is a joy to watch because it's not Dudamel who is the star of the film: it's the children.
These children, from the high rise apartment buildings in Tokyo to the drug-war ravaged villages of Colombia, find self-esteem and purpose in learning to play an instrument and be a part of an orchestra.
Don't worry that you don't know anything about classical music. Just listen to what "the dude" has to say, and watching the children come to life as a result of this remarkable program.
The Broken Moon (2010)
A powerful and timely film
We here at Indie Friendlie watch a lot of features, shorts, and documentaries. We really like "Broken Moon".
The film, as you probably know, is a documentary about the centuries-old Himalayan tribes and how climate change is impacting their way of life...and not for the better. We have made this film a pick-of-the-week and highly recommend it.
The filmmakers maintain their focus and show the incredibly difficult choices these proud and self-reliant people must make. Through no fault of their own, their way of life is being slowly, but permanently destroyed, and the toll it takes on them is tragic.
This is compelling filmmaking on a timely subject, and a reminder that we really are a global village: what we do here has an impact around the world.
Small Island (2009)
A fascinating story, great performances
We here at Indie Friendlie love this kind of feature film: literate, unexpected, and powerful.
We loved the talented ensemble of world-class actors playing original, well-drawn characters with lovely contradictions, making surprising but believable choices.
The film retains its balance as it weaves in and out of characters' lives, while never short-changing any of them.
We must say that Naomi Harris consistently gives powerful performances. See her also in "The First Grader".
Historically fascinating, personal, and top shelf.
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province (2009)
Tough Film to Watch, But Very Good
We here at Indie Friendlie really liked this film, even though it was difficult to watch at times.
The film follows the tragic deaths of children as a result of an earthquake in China. The real tragedy is that many of these fatalities were preventable.
The cultural and political forces which contributed to this injustice are fascinating, and sometimes mind-boggling to Westerners.
You'll get a rare glimpse into some of the harsher realities of Chinese culture, as well as empathize with the universal suffering all adults experience when they've lost a child.
A well-made film.
Pink Saris (2010)
Fascinating and entertaining
We here at Indie Friendlie watched "Pink Saris" and really enjoyed it. Yes, it's disturbing to see the poverty in this part of India, but the resilience of the people, especially the women, is remarkable and inspiring.
What we found surprising about this film is the entertainment value in watching a group of women (one woman, actually, and her posse) call out men who've been abusing their wives and/or daughters.
These women are fearless and I definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of the verbal tsunami that gets unleashed on these men.
We highly recommend this documentary and congratulate the filmmakers for tackling a tough, seemingly impossible, subject: how women continue to be treated in India.
Lions Among Men (2011)
An Incredible Short Film
Here at Indie Friendlie, we watch hundreds of documentaries, features, and short films before we recommend one. "Lions Among Men" is one of the most impressive short films we've seen.
Traci Hays' vision for this story--and it is a really great story--screams for a feature film version. The tale of a woman, disguised as a man and serving in the British Royal Navy in the 1800s, being shipwrecked and at odds with her commanding officer, is rich in potential for a full length film. Throwing in a West African captive and a slave-trader, and Traci's got fertile ground that would make Robert Louis Stevenson proud.
The cinematography and music are exactly what they should be for this genre. The casting, which can make or break a film of any length, are on target, and the performances are excellent. In short, everything a director should do to make a film compelling, Traci has done.