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Reviews
In den Gängen (2018)
Secret lives of supermarkets
I have often wondered what happens in supermarkets at night. Who stocks the shelves? What happens to all the food that cannot be consumed? Who are all the people who work there to get things organized? Now I have my answer. And a beautiful one at that. Sometimes gut-wrenchingly sad. Sandra Hüller and Franz Rogowski are outstanding, and Peter Kurth is brilliant. So many emotions, so few words. And I never thought forklifts would engage me so much. Individual stories are stacked onto one another, creating a landscape that breathes with life. Much like the shelves. Somehow it all fits together. The drinks bottles, the coffee dispenser, the candy bars, and the freezer section - all have a role to play in the story. In the hands of Thomas Stuber the story takes on many twists and turns - much like the forklifts winding through the aisles. This has been one of the most surprising and satisfying films I've seen in a while. My supermarket visits will be a whole new experience from this point on.
God's Creatures (2022)
The sound and the fury of the waves
Each time I eat oysters and salmon from this time on, I will think of God's Creatures. And the stories of people bringing such creatures to our tables. The violence, sadness, trauma, resignation, and grief accompanying the ocean's bounty. A beautifully crafted film with wonderfully restrained performances by Emily Watson and Paul Mescal mesmerizes. And the unusual music is particularly moving. There are moments when the sound drums and oysters moving on conveyers mesh to create a pounding soundscape - my heart almost skipped a beat. The sea holds dark secrets, much like families. When those surface, things fall apart. So do families. Those are good days.
Saint Omer (2022)
Don't judge a book by its cover
The difference between passing judgement and serving justice is at the heart of this incredibly moving film. Laying open social issues surrounding isolation, education, assimilation, and culture, whilst taking them apart word by word is beautiful to watch. And extremely emotional to experience. With restraint and very few words, the story of two seemingly connected Senegalese women living in France cross roads with the mythical Medea in a tragic tale of loss. The actors are powerful and I found myself engrossed watching the film even more the second time around. This one is not for the faint hearted.
Ghahreman (2021)
So simple it's smart
You'd be right to be out of breath watching A Hero's protagonist Rahim (Amir Jadidi) scale the scaffolding in one of the opening scenes of the film. Wait till you get half way through - you'll still be out of breath with the twists and turns that a simple matter takes. And at the end, lest you think you can breathe a sigh of relief, it will be more of, "Here we go again." All this to say that life in modern Iran continues to confound and bureaucratic processes makes one question the value of morality. Asghar Farhadi's films make us look carefully at situations when we would rather be looking away. This is a wonderful commentary on the simplicity and complexity of society and life.
The Diplomat (2023)
Walk and talk like there's no tomorrow
Few shows qualify as truly binge-worthy. This is one of them. Keri Russell pulls off another fast-walking, fast-talking "diplomat" (after The Americans) and it was hard not to take a break between episodes. The chemistry between her and Rufus Sewell feels genuine and their ambitions and ego clashes make for incredible television. There's a real-world feel to the story and the characters, and with eerily similar world events unfolding around us, it was easy to quickly get drawn into the show. Watch the breakfast scenes - if that is not real love then I don't know what is. Secret services and politics make for strange bedfellows and there in lies the magic of this show.
Kleo (2022)
East Germany meets Kill Bill with a twist
Throw together Kill Bill, Killing Eve, the 80s, the 90s, rolled up blazers, techno space ships, a red suitcase, Jellla Haase, Dimitrij Schaad, and East Germany.
Mix it all up, shake it well, add some sunshine, palm trees, and over-the-top flame-throwing, and you come over to the other side of the Berlin Wall. With delight, excitement, entertainment and pure fun.
This is a wonderful retelling of parts of life in East Germany and some secrets that are just shy of being true. Maybe what you see is true. And maybe not. But then again when you're rolling with the punches with such mirth does it even matter?
To not watch this show is a mistake you must not make. Ignore Kleo at your own peril.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Booksmart (2019)
Teenagers and high school - It's complicated
What's not to love about this witty and tender portrayal of how complicated teenager life can be. High school can be rough and it's all about the business of getting into a college that's good for name-dropping. The film is smartly written, has some wonderfully fitting musical accompaniments, and is full of energy. Although some characters are a tad clichéd, that can be forgiven, given just how amazing the actors are. The art direction is good and I enjoyed the sets. Lisa Kudrow is fabulous in the few minutes she appears, and Beanie, Kaitlyn and Skyler are just darling. The ending is heart-warming. Left me teary-eyed.