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Reviews
Decision Before Dawn (1951)
Out of the Past
I am originally from Switzerland and my parents had told me about this film which was called: "Entscheidung im Morgengrauen". It was partially filmed in Switzerland and my mother played an extra in it. My mom and dad took Richard Basehart to a pub in Zurich's old town and had a great time together. So it was with pleasure that I could finally view it on AMC, what a treat after all these years to finally see this movie. I usually don't like war movies but this is a human story about the futility of war. I was just a child then but I remember it well. I can only recommend this superb film to everybody, especially at this time when more young and innocent men and women are killed, injured and maimed in the name of war. And for what !
A Rather English Marriage (1998)
moving drama
I caught this on our British Columbia Learning Channel (TLC) and what a gem it is. I have yet to see Finney in a bad movie and that is why I tuned in. Am I glad I did. This is a gem, never a false tone, the nuances, it is all there. It is so delicately handled, after all it touches on some difficult aspects of our human journey. The contrast between the two men is enormous but they overcome their difficulties in later years to form a strong friendship. When the movie ends, we remain with hope, hope for the human condition. I highly recommend it, turn down the lights and allow this film to seep into you. Savour each element, especially the "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller at the end, and compare it to the previous piece: Pennsylvannia 6000, also by Glenn Miller, which is quite different. But then we know why. Enjoy, you are in for a rare treat.
Falang: Behind Bangkok's Smile (2005)
Deeply Moving
I was deeply moved by this thoughtful and sensitive documentary about the life of a young girl in Bangkok. We have become a disposable society and in this story, we manage to dispose of people as well. It made me feel helpless and frustrated especially watching the portrayal of the European low life with his stupid grin. Most other documentaries about the sex trade in Thailand is sensationalized and glamourized. Not this one, it draws us in and shows us what really goes on behind the smile. I was hoping for a happy ending, for some goodness to come through, for some hope. I recommend this documentary to every one, it could even be shown in high schools. Maybe it will shame some people into not going to Bangkok to indulge in the sex trade and exploitations of these poor people.
The Jewel in the Crown (1984)
Superb reading
Saw the TV series first and then read all 4 books of the Raj Quartet. The books and the series are masterful and I have now purchased the DVD. The BBC and Masterpiece Theatre know how to present history. The actors are superb. I recommend the books and the series highly to anyone interested in history. What I found particularly interesting is the relationship between the Indians and the English Colonials and how the relationship changes over the course of the story which spans from 1939 - 1948 roughly. Paul Scott the author lived in India for a number of years and he fairly and painstakingly recreates the nuances, the feelings that flow between the occupier and occupied. It has been a pleasure to discover this series and the books. If you have not read them or seen the series, you are in for a great journey and treat.