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Reviews
Wildflowers (1999)
Overall a good film, but there's something missing
Wildflowers was a film with a simple but moving story. The characters made sense - they were eccentric but down to earth and convincing and the dialogue was realistic and engaging at the same time. Cally and Sabine are wonderfully acted and their relationship is truly fascinating to watch. The peripheral characters, too (Cally's friends and some of the commune members), were great to watch - they had their own personalities and some good lines. One of the best features of the film was definitely the camerawork - stunning shots of Pacific scenery and really evocative lighting in the scenes with people.
However, the movie did get slow at times - don't expect anything truly exciting. And maybe it's just me, but there did seem to be some plot holes that never resolved themselves; i found myself wondering "how does Cally know so-and-so?" and "how did she get from point A to point B?" sometimes. Also, I would have liked to find out more about Cally's past, what life on the commune was like, and other details about the characters that were never revealed. That would have given the events a lot more context.
Overall, "Wildflowers" was thought-provoking and simply a good film to watch. If you concentrate on what is is rather than what it could have been, I predict you'll love it.
Chutney Popcorn (1999)
Fun and dramatic at the same time
What really stands out about Chutney Popcorn is the sense of humor that persists through an emotional plot, and this gives it a good degree of realism. Even as the family is falling apart, one can still laugh at their quirks. Life, and the funny moments that define it, goes on for these people. The humor transforms this film from the overdone melodrama it could have been into a sweet and convincing story.
The realistic quality of this film is what makes it so wonderful, in my opinion. The characters are really genuine human beings who talk like real people instead of actors with a script. There aren't any gaping plot holes or implausible events. There's plenty of lesbian humor that you don't have to be part of the gay culture to understand, and the family's Indian heritage has its parallels in any family's cultural background. The camerawork, acting, everything pretty much makes the film down to earth and real. The movie was a bit slow at times (the plot isn't really conducive to a lot of action) but it held my attention.
If you're a fan of movies about people and family, go see this! Expect more character-based humor than slapstick - it's not so much a comedy as a story that happens to have funny moments. Check this movie out, it's a lot of fun.