Beautiful, moving film about the creator of Pippi Longstocking.
I highly recommend this movie.
Fascinating background into the Swedish culture, especially the influence of strict religiosity ... and its sometimes dark consequences.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Pope Joan
(2009)
Even if not true, it is a great story. "Se non é vero é ben trovato."
21 April 2020
The legend of Pope Johanna is controversial at best.
What is incontrovertible, however, is how this mythical figure has been capturing and igniting the imaginations of women -- and men -- in the West since at least the 13th century.
The thirst for respect, education, power, and responsibility amongst womenfolk is beautifully portrayed in this film.
Johanna Wokalek herself is beautiful and believable as Pope Johanna.
One is transported back both to the hard, merciless world of 9th century Europe with the recently Christianized, but still heavily pagan-influenced North and the Imperial grandeur of Christianized yet still very Roman Vatican.
A truly beautiful, educational, inspiring tale and cinematic portrayal.
Breathtaking from beginning to end.
P.S. I always find John Goodman a delight to watch!
The Help
(2011)
An honest, human view of both sides
21 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Moving, as honest as Hollywood can get, I guess. Graphic brutality of that time and place never directly seen; on the other hand, psycho-terror and oppression as glaring as the Death Camps.
Showing the humanity of both oppressor and oppressed, putting a blinding spotlight on the structural evil embodied in the post-slavery world of the deep South...yet it could be a representation of anyplace, anywhere where there is The Help and The Masters/Mistresses.
Focus is predominantly on the women-folk of both worlds.
I shall never forget that s-pecial chocolate pie!
Wow!
Phantom Thread
(2017)
Neuroses Plus
21 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Visually beautiful. Fascinating cinematography. The cars, the clothes, and the quaint 50's English countryside.
But ....
Hard to put my finger on it. Relationship between Woodcock, his dead Mother, his sister, Alma constantly threatens to shatter, as all of his previous liaisons had done, but in this one with the coy, plain waitress results in a final balancing out of neurotic needs in a dysfunctional, quasi sado-maso, yet happy ending for all involved.
Reminded my a bit of the Addams family.
Does this film represent anything resembling our lived realities?
Yes, perhaps, but not to this order of magnitude, and certainly not to this level of ultimate equanimous, mutually salutary acceptance. Perhaps this is what art is expected to do. It was so unsettling, in a way, got under my skin that perhaps a 7 would have been a fairer rating. In any case, I recommend seeing the film
Bohemian Rhapsody
(2018)
Simply moving.
17 November 2018
Having grown up with Queen's music, loving it, being transported by it, and later learning of Freddie's passing almost as an aside, it was wonderful to see this biopic of his development from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury and the humanity behind the image, the fragility, the search for love and family.
My wife and I were both brought to tears many times.
Don't listen to the critics...go and see it.
A Greek tragedy for our times.
Requiescat in Pace, Farrokh Bulsara.
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