I saw this documentary at the Helsinki Docpoint Festival and was surprised by its way to captivate. I had very little knowledge of the situation in Congo or its history, and enjoyed this trip through history and today. I also have to commend the people filming while bullets were flying overhead!
Reviews
4 Reviews
The Poetess
(2017)
Bravery of a Poetess
5 February 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this personal look into this lovely Saudi poetess who, with simple words, caused a huge uproar and showed extreme bravery in a culture where women should not be seen nor heard. In addition to the actual contest, this documentary reviews the short history of the area, a look into the religion through the eyes of a regular mother and a tiny glimpse into the lives of women in the country.
Motherland
(I) (2017)
A warmhearted look into a dire situation
5 February 2018
I saw this documentary at the Docpoint Festival in Helsinki. It offered a non-intrusive look into giving birth in the Philippines and how a maternity clinic handles its huge volumes of customers. The humour of the staff, support between the mothers and the way simple things could make a huge difference made this a heartwarming experience. But without forgetting a reality check into what the lives of these mothers will be like after leaving the clinic. A real eye-opener.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
(2016)
Family Business
10 November 2016
Saw this at the Night Visions festival in Helsinki, November 2016. What I expected was a lighthearted, "father and son as morticians" kind of movie. What I got was a movie that chilled even my horror movie veteran soul to the bone.
To explain too much about this movie would spoil it, so I will not go into details. But the director succeeds wonderfully in first creating a comfortable atmosphere, introducing a small cast of characters and setting the scene, and then masterfully starts upping the discomfort levels of the situation, until you are sitting at the edge of your seat, biting your nails. Like in Øvredal's former movie, Troll Hunter, what you cannot see can be a million times more disconcerting than what is in plain sight. Although here he uses both..
Great characters, great atmosphere, an overall great experience. Even if at times I wished for it to end already, just because I couldn't quite bear all the anxiety. I hope this comes to Finland proper, so others can see it too! Quite possibly the best horror film I have seen this year.
To explain too much about this movie would spoil it, so I will not go into details. But the director succeeds wonderfully in first creating a comfortable atmosphere, introducing a small cast of characters and setting the scene, and then masterfully starts upping the discomfort levels of the situation, until you are sitting at the edge of your seat, biting your nails. Like in Øvredal's former movie, Troll Hunter, what you cannot see can be a million times more disconcerting than what is in plain sight. Although here he uses both..
Great characters, great atmosphere, an overall great experience. Even if at times I wished for it to end already, just because I couldn't quite bear all the anxiety. I hope this comes to Finland proper, so others can see it too! Quite possibly the best horror film I have seen this year.
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