Lotus-3 Reviews

An Unquiet Grave (2020)

Nothing new

[5/10 · 15 October 2020]

Twins + movie = creepy. (Goodnight Mommy, The Shining, etc) One twin dies = bad news for the remaining one, who will end up switching in some form with the dead one (Everybody has a Plan, etc). And, it's super handy they happen to be identical twins, so no one will notice.

Standard recipe for creepy movie Start with: Many night scenes, Add: the extended silence right before something freaky happens, Mix with: "I don't think we should be doing this", Remove anyone except immediate family, Gently toss in a graveyard, and it can feed the masses.

No extra sprinkles on top in this film, unless you count a migrating headstone.

M (I) (2007)

A most memorable film, even if I've forgotten the details

[10/10 · 11 October 2020]

I saw this film at TIFF in 2007 and hadn't been able to find anything about it till now. All I could recall is loving it, loving the "not sure what's doing on, but will just go with it", the cinematography, lighting, pace, and characters. This is exactly my kind of film., and unfortunately one that more people should see but won't. The previous reviews are on target. Find this film, watch it, tell others! It's brilliant.

Darkness (2019)

More questions than answers

[6/10 · 11 October 2020]

And some not so great editing.. Listening to a q&a with the director, seems her focus was on the empowerment of women (the last subtitle reads, to all girls who resist), and the play of light and dark. The girls were often shown in their white nightgowns, so we know who the light is. This could have gone so far as to an "all men are evil", but with Stella befriending the kids on the outside, thankfully that wasn't part of the theme. Actually, did the father need to be part of the story at all? Stella's character had enough emotional conflicts, brave to go outside, brave to take chances, wanting to connect with others her age, greedy and selfish to experience life outside and lie to her siblings, but also loving towards them, then jealous of them...

The editing/continuity was really off on an important scene, or the result of the scene.. the blood splatter on the kitchen wall wasn't even close to the results of mom being stabbed. Was there even any blood on the wall during that? Nope.

The cinematography was good, the lighting and weird set design and props added to the mystery. It is noted that was purposely done so the viewer would have no concept of what time/year it was.

The father character still bugs me. I understand the need for a male figure in the house, but It could have been a brother instead. With the father, the "loving" his daughters a little too much is present and as we find out late in the film, did happen. So, who's story should we be focusing on? The father's story and back story are complex, disturbing, and unclear. There is no explanation for any of the events that happen, so theres a lot to either guess or just let slide. At least with Stella's actions, you get a sense of what is going on with her.

Questions that I have, but don't even matter: How long have the girls been inside? Why doesn't Stella ask questions about the sun to people she meets outside? Did no one ever visit the house? Was there no one outside that wondered what happened to the family? And, of course, how did Stella go from being stabbed and bleeding to rescuing the others and climbing the staircase to the attic with no additional blood on her nightgown?

The White Crow (2018)

Neuryev, the early years

[6/10 · 31 March 2019]

I just saw this film today at a TIFF Secret Movie event, so I had no idea going in what the subject was. I am not familiar with a lot of ballet history, but did know of Nureyev, and didn't mind learning more. l agree with some of the other reviewers about the timeline confusion, which also confuses the location. While the film stops at his defection in 1961, there was obviously many more years left of his life. The flashbacks to his childhood were a few too many, or just plain left me asking, why is this flashback important? Why did his father bring him hunting and, did he just leave him at the campfire on purpose? Did something happen to the father? Did I miss something? But, damn that young boy was stunningly adorable!

What the other reviewers haven't mentioned ( I don't remember seeing mention of), was Ralph Fiennes portraying Nureyev's mentor, Alexander Pushkin. And that he speaks good Russian well. am always thrilled when a film is subtitled, instead of characters who don't speak english, are speaking english. The english that was spoken was in situations where the Russian person and the French person did not understand each others language. So they both defaulted to english.

This is a film about a dancer, and the dancing was extreme. Was it more about Neuryev, the man, or Nureyev the dancer? If you cast an actor who can't dance, how is the dancing believable? Oleg Ivenko is a professional dancer, and the film could not have been made without one. Is there an actor we know of who is also a professional dancer to the level of Neuryev? No, so Ivenko was cast, never having acted before. I thought he did quite well, better than some "actual" actors in other films I've seen. As in "Girl", the dancing was almost a character in itself, and deserved to be presented by an actual dancer.

Regarding other reviewers wrath at the "straightwashing" of the film...I Hadn't considered Nureyev's sexuality at all, as I don't assume all male ballet dancers are gay. I was actually a bit appalled at the relationship he has with Pushkin's wife. Again, the film is about the dancer, and touches on many things, in only 2 hours. There could be 100 films about Nureyev, each focussing on a different aspect of his life, his personality, his work as a choreographer, his passion for art, his temper, his family, and his sexuality......

What The White Crow focuses on, is Neuryev's early life to his defection to the west. Other items to note about the film: Liam Neesen is an executive producer, it is adapted from a biography by Julie Kavanagh, and scenes were actually filmed inside the Hermitage (which apparently just does not happen).

Green Book (2018)

Greatful to have seen this

[9/10 · 18 September 2018]

I saw this at the premier at TIFF and was thrilled to learn the story is about a real friendship. This is not a typical road movie, or buddy film. Given the lead actors, I knew it would be something special, and it is. Entertaining, funny in parts, hard to accept in others - as a white american who wasn't around in the 1960's, the racism was mind boggling and I couldn't help but feel shame. Green Book has so many layers - family, culture, honesty, dignity, genius, respect, acceptance, stereotypes, racism, music, class, friendship, and fried chicken. Whatever your views, race, or age - this film is not 'preachy', but you should appreciate an honest portrayal of a difficult time & place in history. I'll use the term an "unlikely friendship", but knowing the two men were real makes it fantastic. I'm so grateful to have learned about them and their lives. I only wish there had been a Q&A afterward.