Random film talk: "Ginger e Fred(1986)", "Heat(1995)"

Hello!
I'll just talk about the two recent films I watched! yay.


Ginger e Fred (1986)
A 80's Federico Fellini film starring Giulietta Masina and Marcello Mastroianni about
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers??? What the hell, how can it get any more perfect? lol.
I would like to say this film was much more than I expected and Giulietta Masina was
absolutely adorable (as always) and Marcello Mastroianni was awessoommeee!! I've actually only
seem him in La Dolce Vita but damn, I really really love him now I've seen him in Ginger e Fred...
I thought this film was different from the other Federico Fellini's I've seen. It was... hmm, I don't know exactly, but more... more everyday, more subtle (I think lol). But it gave you the same bittersweet feeling that lingers after you watch the film. I loved this film, I thought it was so special.


Heat (1995)
I don't know why but this film took me so long to finish.. Anyway, this was an amazing amazing film. The ending, oh the ending was just --- I got goosebumps. No kidding. I could just give this film
five stars with only the ending. Holy holy shit. To be honest, there were aspects in this film I didn't quite understand (Like Vincent's wife, like seriously, what?) but the ending was just moving as hell so theres that! lol. Both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were amazi-zi-zing (of course) and I was just "Oh god oh god" when they were finally on the same screen.

So well, that's it for today! My watch next list is The good the bad and the ugly which I rented on friday and 8½ which was (very very luckily) the film of the day on Mubi.com yesterday :)

Blabbing about: Ivan's Childhood (1962)

Hello!



I'm not really sure how I came to this film, oh wait, I was searching for an anti-war film
and this came up. It looked the most interesting so I decided to give it a go and watch it.
(I really like films with a child as a main character. You could see the whole world through
the child's eyes.)

So lets the review begin!

Basic information:

Name of film: Ivan's Childhood (Russian: Ива́ново де́тство)

Director: Andrei Tarkovsky

Release year: 1962

Length: 95 minutes

Type of film: Drama, war, art-house

Basic plot: 

During World War Ⅱ, a 12 year old Ivan works as a spy on the eastern front (From IMDb)

Setting: 

The film is set during World War Ⅱ, on the eastern front (Well that's what it says on the "basic plot" haha)

Who was your favourite character and why?

Ivan, of course. how can someone not feel extremely extremely sad for him?

The dream sequences just make me cry. I also loved the Lieutenant and the Captain too.

Everyone was so kind. 

Did you feel any connection/sympathy towards any of the characters?

YES. Ivan, of course. I felt SO MUCH sympathy towards him. I just wanted to grab Ivan and drag him into this world and hug him and tell him that everything is okay...(Even though we can't really communicate lol) ...oh man.

What was your memorable/favourite scene and why?

I think that every scene from this film was memorable! But hmm... I would say all of Ivan's dream

sequences. UH, and that ending...oh god oh god. I just loved everything! I can't explain it all.

There were tons of memorable scenes, like when Ivan is in the car saying he doesn't want to get

sent to the school, the scene where Ivan and the Lieutenant talk and Ivan just starts to cry, the famous kissing scene...(But one of the thing I didn't quite understand was what was so significant about

the Masha? for example, I didn't really understand when she smiles at the forest... well, I'll get it someday I suppose.)

What was your most memorable/favourite quote and why?

There were heaps of memorable quotes in this film. I mean, pretty much every dialogue was memorable... 

Did this film remind of of any other films and why?

It reminded me of Wild Strawberries(1957), very surprisingly. I don't know why, but I kept

of remembering it while I was watching this film. Well, on Wikipedia it says:

"Famous filmmakers such as Ingmar Bergman, Sergei Parajanov and Krzysztof Kieślowski praised the film and cited it as an influence on their work"

So I guess I am actually making sense haha. And wow, it also says Ingmar Bergman said:

"My discovery of Tarkovsky's first film was like a miracle. Suddenly, I found myself standing at the door of a room the keys of which had, until then, never been given to me. It was a room I had always wanted to enter and where he was moving freely and fully at ease." 

(I really need to watch more Bergman films don't I?)

What do you think were the main themes/ideas of this film and why?

Definitely the brutality of war.... and it told me a lot about human relationships as well.

(The relationship between Ivan and Captain was just extremely heartwarming)

Did you enjoy the film? 

YES. It was much much more than I thought (And I did expect a lot!) 

I didn't think that it will haunt me this much. Ivan was just hanging in my head the whole day.

I really, really loved this film. This is definitely a film you have to watch at least once in your lifetime. I thought the acting was AMAZING, Ivan was just fantastic. 

(and the Lieutenant was so handsome!) 

This was such a flawless film. I thought it was as perfect as a film can ever be. 

I'm sure I would watch this film over and over again. It is definitely going on my "favorite films" list!

Ahh... I am completely in love with the director. I can't wait to watch more of his works and discover

many many amazing films. I am actually starting to get addicted to foreign cinema, which is great!

Bye bye!

Blabbing about: Shadows of forgotten ancestors(1965)

Hello!

I was on Mubi.com and this very interesting looking film was the film of the day.
I have never seen a Russian film before and was very interested so I gave it a go.

Well, I just realised that the language is actually in Ukrainian. Hmm...
so it's a Russian film but the language is in Ukrainian? So it's like how Leon: The Professional 
is a French film but the language is in English? Wait.. so how come it is a Russian film
if the story is set in Ukraine and the language is in Ukrainian... (god I sound so stupid haha)
Well anyway, lets get onto the review(well..more like just screenshots and a bit of what I thought)

1) Basic information:

Name of film: Shadows of forgotten ancestors (Тіні забутих предків)

Director: Sergei Parajanov

Release date: 1965

Length: 97 minutes

Type of film: Drama, Romance, Art house

2) Basic plot:

In a Carpathian village, Ivan falls in love with Marichka, the daughter of his father’s killer. When tragedy befalls her, his grief lasts months; finally he rejoins the colorful life around him, marrying Palagna.(From MUBI)

3) Setting:

The story is set in a Carpathian village in Ukraine and I'm not sure when this film is set but

It might be the time of release, the mid-60's?

OK, I'll skip question 4 to 6 just cause it's kind of hard to answer lol.

7) What was your memorable/favourite scene and why?

I thought that pretty much every scene was memorable... but I guess the MOST memorable

was that scene near the end when Ivan see's a ghost (?) of Marichka and you hear the two

singing. That scene still haunts me. Uh... so sad. That scene just makes my heart brake.

The costume, setting, music, everything was so new for me! I had completely no knowledge

about Ukraine so it was so awesome! Everything was just so beautiful.

I thought the directing was just amazing! It was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

(At the start when Ivan's brother gets killed was just took my breath away!)

It was just so unique. The use of the colour red was just amazing. Oh, and the awesome use

of the POV shots. I loved the shots taken from under the water.

8) What was your most memorable/favourite quote and why?

I don't even know if you call this a quote but this scene(with the quote lol).

UGH GOD THIS SCENE.

9) Did this film remind of of any other films and why?

Nope, not at all! I think this film is extremely independent and unique, it's a genre on it's own.

And well, I've never seen any other Russian or Ukrainian films so I can't really compare I guess.

10) What do you think were the main themes/ideas of this film and why?

Properbly just love and redemption. I personally thought of this film as more of a 

and admiring the beauty of the scenery film more than story. Well, I don't know.

I have no knowledge (as you can tell) and I'm pretty stupid so I don't understand a lot of aspects,

but I did enjoy it in my own way so thats that!

11) Did you enjoy the film? 

Yes I did! But it was very different from what I thought this film will be like.

I thought it was going to be more story based, like, by reading the synopsis I thought it

was going to be like a Romeo and Juliet melodrama love story (well.. I'm not too far off I suppose but) But it was more than that. As the film says at the start, It was, a "poetic drama".

This whole film was like a poem. 

Well, in conclusion, it was awesome getting to watch a Russian, Ukrainian language film

because I have never seen a Russian film or ever seen any films set in Ukraine.

It did really teach me a lot of things and I'm sure it widened my views on films! 

I really enjoyed this film, and it didn't bore me one bit, but I don't think it will be a film I will

continue on watching. I really have to thank MUBI for choosing this film to show to us because

I'm sure if it's not for them, I would have NEVER seen it or even knew about the existence haha.

You don't know how much I love film stills. Here are some more of the pretty scenes.
I hope MUBI will show more awesome films.

Well that's all for now folks! Bye bye!

Blabbing about: Teorema (1968)

Hello! 

As I have said previously, I signed up for this website called Mubi.com

Where you could watch all types of art house films online.

I can't really remember when but a few days ago the film of the day was

a film called "Teorema". I read synopsis the and was very interested (I mean, I have

never seen a film with a story like that before) and decided to give it ago.

1) Basic information:

Name of film: Teorema

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

Country: Italian

Release date: 1968

Length: 98 minutes

Type of film: Art house

2) Basic plot:

A wealthy family hosts a strange visitor. He seduces the maid, the son, the mother, the daughter, and finally the father, before leaving after a few days. After he’s gone, no one can continue living as before. Who was the visitor? Was he God?(From MUBI)

3) Setting:

The film is set somewhere in Italy and I'm pretty sure it is set at the time of release.

OK, since this is a art house film, the questions 4 to 8 do not really fit in

so I'll just skip them out and just talk about what I personally thought in general.

First of all, I thought that this was a very, very interesting film.

All I could pretty much say it that I found it very, very interesting (lol)

(Well it really was!) I actually didn't think that I would like it very much,

but surprisingly I really enjoyed watching "Teorema".

I thought this film was - uh, it is hard to explain. It was... strange but made sense.

Well, kind of. Maybe I'm too stupid to understand this. 

I thought the directing was wonderful and the scenes were extremely beautiful.

Oh man... while I was watching this film I felt so many things but now I am up to writing about

it I cannot think of anything to say.

I thought the combination of the close-ups of the faces and the long shots were just amazing.

And I don't know why but all the faces of the characters looked so.. raw, like, they were real. 

(You don't get much of that in Hollywood movies I have to say.)

I don't know how well known this film is (nor the director) and I knew absolutely nothing
about anything before watching this film, but I am very glad I watched it!
I am so happy I signed up for MUBI since if it wasn't for them, I don't think I would have
EVER watching Teorema in my whole life. Or even knew about the existence to be honest.
I really enjoyed Teorema, but I don't think I will watch any other films directed by
Pier Paolo Pasolini since they sound a bit extreme for my tastes lol.
But if there were some other film (I haven't done a lot of research yet) that I think will be
suitable for me, than I will definitely check it out :)
(uh, I just love finding new directors and looking for the next film to watch.
My goal is to watch every film directed by at least one director!)

 

Yes... I did take a lot of screen shots. Just cause. I just loved the (extreme) close-ups!
If I had to describe what this films was like , I'll say that this was a very quiet, tender but also passionate film. It was a very enjoyable experience watching this!

7) What was your memorable/favourite scene and why?

My most memorable scene was this scene:

This scene where the house maid is found floating up in mid air was very.... interesting.

(well if you look at it as a still it just looks like the woman had jumped up doesn't it.)

There were many many other memorable scenes in this film (for example when the

maid is buried in the sand and the ending when the father is running around naked)

8) What was your most memorable/favourite quote and why?

As the tagline for this film says: There are only 923 words spoken in "Teorema" - but it says everything!" (But I wonder if it is 923 Italian words or the translated english words?)

But I think one the most memorable quote for me was:

I don't know why, don't ask me. 

9) Did this film remind of of any other films and why?

Nope! Not at all lol. It didn't remind me of any other films.

I don't watch too many art house films and I hardly watch foreign films.

10) What do you think were the main themes/ideas of this film and why?

I have absolutely no idea!! This was one of the hardest films to understand.

But well, I'm sure everything had a meaning and is there for a purpose,

but it's an art house film, and it doesn't necessary have to make sense does it? 

11) Did you enjoy the film?

Yes I did very much! it was actually strange because I watched half of the film

before going to bed yesterday and had a dream about finishing the rest of the film haha.

While I was at school I just couldn't wait to go home and watch the rest.

This film was haunting me in class.

I did some research about the director (just now) and he sounds like a very very interesting man...
Everything about his life sounds like it is off a book or something.

Well anyway, I'll finish for now! Bye bye!

"You must have come here to destroy"

Blabbing about: Eyes without a face(1960)

I can't remember when I first knew about this film
but it was when I was browsing through some
random movie website and this film came up
as a recommendation.
It was in the Criterion Collection and I fell
in love with the DVD/Blu-ray cover at first sight.
It looked so mysterious and romantic....and
I search what the actual film was about and
Thought to myself "Oh man I can't watch this!".

The Criterion collection's cover that I saw.

I am extremely terrible with any kind of
gore/blood on screen (certainly not in real life either!)
And even thought this film is shot in black and white,
I thought I will have to watch it in 10 or so years time.
(I actually did think this.)

But... recently I came back to being interested in this
dark and thrilling looking film and decided to give it a go.
It haven't been 10 years but I thought that I can
handle a black and white 60's horror film now haha
(Oh man you think that I'm such a baby don't you?)

So here we go with my extra short review.

Warning: May contain spoilers!
This post will be very short by the way..

Les yeux sans visage (Eyes without a face) 1960

Horror/Drama

The first thing I want to say is that I thought

this film was nothing other then "Beautiful".

Oh man...uh...this film was extremely beautiful

and haunting.... The mixture (or should I say blend)

between the beautiful cinematography with the grotesque

scenes and the haunting images of the anguish and regret of

the characters...

I can't explain how perfect I thought this film was.

I'm too stupid! haha.

I love beautiful black and white horror films so much..

(Wait..this film isn't even supposed to be a horror isn't it?)

And.... What I also want to say is that I thought the

Poor daughter- Christiane was so beautiful..

(how many times do I need to use that word? lol)

I LOVED all her gowns so much and her hair too...

ugh...so amazing....

(What am I going on about? haha) And her "new face"

after the operation was very.. what is the word for it?

Believable? Like.. ugh.. I don't know what to say but

everything was amazing, full stop.

(I actually feel so ashamed and sad that I can cry

that all I can say about this amazing piece of art is 

this pile of garbage..I am so sorry!!!)

I can seriously stick a photo of her everywhere.

She is just so amazing......

(I love everything. Her hair, her gowns, her mask, her voice..)

Just her standing there in the screen makes the

whole atmosphere so painfully sad yet very beautiful.

I can go on about her forever! haha.

Oh, and yes, I thought that one of the things

that highlighted this film was- of course the father and

daughter relationship.

The father loved the daughter too much he

fell apart at the end...

And... the very famous "Operation scene" was 

very, very frighting.

My face was going "Oh my god...ahhhhh!!!"

Throughout the whole 5 minutes or so.

This film is over half a century old but it still

scares the hell out of me? wow...

(and...yes, even though this scene was very

grotesque it was still very-very beautiful.)

I thought the make up was amazing too!

(extremely believable. Uh, such artists.)

Overall, I loved this film very much...

I don't know how many times I have to use

the word "beautiful" but I just can't explain it 

in other words! (plus I have very poor vocabulary haha)

The characters,the music,the pretty gowns..everything

had such a quiet and haunting atmosphere.

I will definitely watch this film again but not right now,

I want to save it for later. I think that I will have

different option next time, and properly every time

I watch it.

So, I thought it was great watching a foreign film

and this is actually, very embarrassing but my second 

French film I have seen in my entire life.

(The first one is "Le chorus(2004)")

To be honest I didn't have any interest in French films

But this definitely changed my mind.

I think that I should look for another amazing,

Black and white(preferably horror again) French film sometime.

I think that I will enjoy a older classic then recent ones..

I shall stick another photo of beautiful Christiane

just for the sake of it haha-

I will never get bored of her.

"Smile. Not too much."