Change Your Image
damian-hallbauer
Reviews
Lamb (2015)
I loved this.
Its hard to explain but i won't forget it.
It not as quite entertaining as Au Hazard Balthazar. Completely differnt meaning, but unforgetable and similarly profound ending but more subtle.
I dont know how it releates to "The Old Man and the Sea" but that fact that another reviewer mention that is quite a attribute to the film. For me, the ending did it for me. It hard to watch some art films, some people just can't because there want instant gratification nowadays. But i alwasy get to the end if i see the hints that i should go into a trance, and absorb the film, and im alwasy grateful and remember it for life.
Music brings us all together.
El Norte (1983)
Legendary, powerful, well-balanced and beautiful picture, must see
This film was curated to me by an online streaming service and I chose it because of the style of the poster art, and that it stood the test of over 30 years time, but in color. I had no idea how profound an effect it would have, maybe because a couple years ago I had reentered America after a long time abroad, and having experienced a sort of "reverse culture shock".
Each perfectly exposed frame in challenging lighting by late cinematographer James Glennon was a work of art in itself. The story behind the making of the film done on a shoestring budget, describes an adventure in itself, but the result seems as though it was done as effortlessly as if by group of people "on a roll" or just carried by some divine grace. Its in a political context but not at all unbalanced or with a partisan viewport. Realism, beauty, struggle, loyalty, bravery, cowardice, betrayal, sorrows, tragedy and raw power.
I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013)
artful horror, very strong film, in a series that carves out its own niche
We meet the lead working in a restaurant and identify with her struggle to break in making it in NY, for her it is as a model. We see a modest, down-to-earthy character, but it hard to imagine a young woman with more perfection in beauty. It is shown she is from the Midwest, and very capable with power tools. She does not scream eek at the sight a mouse but almost instinctively implements a clever mouse trap for the handyman in her apartment building. We know what will happen because of the structure of the film seriers, and so we and want to protect her, but already sense that she won't need anyone's help.
The brave and graphic rape scenes, reminiscent of french films in this sort of niche in a genre, like "Baise Moi", are very difficult to watch but we hang on knowing this is a revenge film, and revenge murder has to be morally justifiable so that we can route for the killer in a horror film. It really is quite a cinematic twist. One can say this series carves out its very own niche an is very cool.
The Eastern European setting uses antiquity as a tool for horror and terror. The first scene when she looks at the American Embassy and makes a decision not to go home was just very powerful for me, and drove me to write this review.
Watch this film if you can approach it with the mindset that this is an art film but one that can appeal to the deepest guts of people and not be generally ignored like art films, and if you can' stomach it then avoid it and don't complain about it. This is extreme, a sort of "Theater of Cruelty" that Antonin Artaud was doing in Paris in the 1930's, intending to wake our overprotected souls up. In spite of its exploitation it carries very strong feminist overtones.
Bali: Island of the Dogs
Brilliant, moving, and deeply introspective, and relevant today (2015),
This film is phenomenal , too bad its nearly impossible to find online.
The editing could be tweaked to modernize it, (some has a 70's feel, but hey the 70s were the best, right) but the sound and photography is moving and brilliant.
The juxtaposition of the ancient Wayang, or Indonesian puppet "movie" is compelling. I had never seen a dog in 2d wayang before.
The interviews are concise, and the footage of the dogs being "cleaned out" is very difficult to watch, for most people who love dogs.
It provides just a glimpse of ancient Balinese tradition and family structure, with the focus on the dog and this Rabies virus which has invaded the island, and what it means to have an island paradise that is distinct from the rest of the world.
The sad thing is that it is happening all over again in Bali. Although they are conducting free vaccinations, The governments official policy, or that of or at least some of the bosses, is to kill any dog that is roaming freely. Using strychnine as is shown in the films trailer on youtube. The dog dies by seizures, slowly choking on its vomit and exhausting itself , like an insect hit with bug spray.
Also , what is going on is a pogrom ( like the "Hotel Rwanda" of dogdom) , in which the citizens are encouraged to participate (given license to kill) , by disinformation that the dogs are filthy, carry disease , all have rabies and are not worth the risk to keep around.
And just last year they could sleep under the stars on the Kuta Beach.
Before, when the rabies did start to drop, the government's position was " Vaccinated dogs, especially street dogs, are our comrades in the fight against rabies. Every vaccinated dog is recruited into a virtual 'army against rabies.'"
but somehow he forgot, changed his mind, or the idea is too complex vs "kill them all!" , he acts the way the people want, and other powerful figures such as property developers
Also, you may want to Google "Kuta Marky" , you will see a tragic story there. Its interesting because the filmmaker Dr. Blair also has lost one eye during his adventures in the wilds of Indonesia. And see on Facebook Bali Animal Welfare Association for updates on situation.
I have had the pleasure to know two of these magical creatures. Having evolved naturally they have pointy eyes , perfect teeth, self grooming, gentles, but with long fangs of a wolf, amazing charm and athletic abilities , and a tremendous sociability. They maintain a somewhat looser bond with humans than a western breed as they can be self-sufficient, but they like to sleep in a house or bed rather than the street. They choose their owners like in the film "Red Dog", and after a while love and be loved just like a domestic dog.
And now , starting this year, they can't walk their own streets and beaches without risk of eating poison bait, being shot by a poison dart, or being clubbed and taken for dog meat. Many dog meat users believe the dog must be tortured for the meat to have the best effect, the theory, being that adrenaline is in the meat. The was proved to false, but even so, its is psychotic and an unconscionable betrayal of "mans best friend" .
Like all of the Blair films, this one makes you believe in magic. And Bali is a place where it still seems to exists, despite the 3 new Starbucks that went up last year. However the dark forces are on top and I can only hope the black dog of vengeance enters the stage and this injustice is stopped before rabies goes out of control, a paradise is lost, and a very unique land race of dog is gone.
A very moving and relevant film, please find and watch it, and then help with the cause to save the Bali Street Dog from extinction and torture