1193. I, Daniel Blake

I, Daniel Blake
2016
Directed by Ken Loach

I think Americans, okay, me, tend to romanticize the healthcare or welfare systems of other Western countries like the U.K. This film does a good job of demonstrating that bureaucracies are a nightmare no matter where you go. 

Daniel Blake is a 59-year-old joiner who recently suffered a heart attack. His cardiologist has deemed him unfit to work, but the government has denied him Employment and Support Allowance. He applies for an appeal, but is thwarted at every turn by the bureaucratic process. At the same time, he meets single mother Katie, who is also being overlooked by the system.

The entire point of this film seems to be to take a swipe at the state, and the movie did a good job of showcasing how intentionally frustrating the process is for people seeking help from the government. Daniel Blake was an easy person to connect with, and I enjoyed watching his relationship with Katie.

It wasn't the most subtle film, but parts of the movie were really powerful and rewarding. Not a film I'll forget anytime soon.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Shot in chronological order.

What happens to Kate at the food bank happened to a real woman in Glasgow that Paul Laverty, the scriptwriter, met.

1192. Nostalgia de la luz

Nostalgia de la luz
Nostalgia for the Light
2010
Directed by Patricio Guzman

I realized it's time to get South America involved in our world tour of sadness. Surprisingly, this wasn't actually as depressing as I thought it would be. Even if it did talk about Chilean concentration camps.

Nostalgia for the Light opens with the narrator, Patricio Guzman, describing his love of astronomy. I wasn't aware of this, but apparently Chile is a huge draw to astronomers, because of its clear skies. Guzman explores the idea that astronomy is a way of understanding the past, then shifts gears to discuss Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship and the lives lost during his regime.

I'll be honest, I didn't follow all of the connections Guzman was making between astronomy and what happened on the Earth That Was, but I did find his ideas intriguing. Astronomer Gaspar Galaz in particular blew my mind with what he was saying, how there is no present because of the millionths of a second light takes to travel and be processed.

Obviously, the visuals of this film were stunning, and made me want to go camping and stargazing again. Maybe one day.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest deserts in the world.

1191. The Draughtsman's Contract

The Draughtsman's Contract
1982
Directed by Peter Greenaway

Ugh, how many more of these Peter Greenaway are going to creep up on this List? By now I've become quite accustomed to the formula. For the most part, this sticks to the formula, with the added bonus of wigs.

Mr. Neville is an arrogant young artist with all the charms of a Samuel Richardson villain. He is contracted by Virginia Herbert to produce a series of landscape drawings of her country house while her husband is away. Part of the contract involves performing sexual favors for Mr. Neville. Those scenes feel very rape-y, but I guess she agreed to it? Anyway, Mr. Neville rubs some of the inhabitants of the house the wrong way, while others are intrigued by his wiggy ways.

I still don't know what to make of his Greenaway. His characters never seem real to me. Of course, certain parts of the films distracted me from what was going on, since the visuals are so ridiculous. And I really don't know what accent they were going for either.

If you were to insist on watching a Peter Greenaway film, first I would get you a cold glass of water and some time to calm down. Then I would probably recommend The Pillow Book over this. But it beats The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Greenaway created the drawings seen in the movie.

1190. Amour

Amour
2012
Directed by Michael Haneke 

And we're back. If you could call the previous two entries a reprieve for the constant barrage of sadness (could you?), we are fully back on the saddle with this one. Most of us dream of finding a soulmate and growing old with someone...well, this is what happens after that.

The film starts with firefighters finding the corpse of a woman in bed after her neighbors complain about the smell. We then flashback to several months before the opening scene. Elderly couple Anne and Georges enjoy a piano performance from one of Anne's former students, Alexandre. Shortly after that, Anne suffers a debilitating stroke and Georges becomes her slightly reluctant caretaker. Naturally, this causes a strain to their relationship.

I am sure this is triggering for many people, whether you are or have been in the care of somebody else, or whether you have had to watch a loved one suffer. I am currently recovering from surgery and depending on my loved one's to take care of me. And, of course, your worst fear when you're completely dependent on somebody else is that they secretly resent it. 

So thanks Amour, for sharing your story with me.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Michael Haneke told his cast to avoid sentimentality at all costs.

The pigeon scene was shot 12 times.

1189. Far From Heaven

Far From Heaven
2002
Directed by Todd Haynes

I am still on a significant amount of post surgery drugs, which my doctor says will make me feel I've had a few beers. Maybe that is not the best time to tackle melodramas, as they seem extra...bizarre.

In 1957, Cathy is a homemaker married to Frank Whitaker, a successful executive, and they seemingly have the perfect family. Of course, things are not quite as harmonious as they appear. Cathy discovers that Frank is secretly gay, and they decide to try conversion therapy (all the eye rolls in the land). At the same time, Cathy's Black gardener, Raymond, catches her eye.

All I could think about when I was watching this was the film All That Heavens Allows, another List movie that is clearly being paid homage to by this movie. That's fine, I guess, but the melodrama style is not something I really connect with. I'll admit though, it was very well done here, from the camera angles to the lighting.

Of course, the 50s were terrible in a lot of ways, and I like the idea of de-romanticizing that era. I also really liked the actors involved. But it's just a little silly, and I can't tell if that's intentional or not.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Julianne Moore's pregnancy was hidden throughout filming.

The role of Frank Whitaker was written for James Gandolfini, but he was too busy filming the Sopranos.

1188. Aileen Wuornos: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer

Aileen Wuornos: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer
2003
Directed by Nick Broomfield

I've been complaining about the depressing movies on the List lately, so here's something to shake things up. This is a follow up to a previous List movie, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer. But it actually feels much more like a horror movie. I didn't want to go to sleep after looking into Aileen's eyes for so long.

The documentary examines Aileen's mental state closer to the date of execution, and listening to her insane ramblings was truly disturbing. The film also features parts of a hearing where Nick Broomfield himself was required to give testimony, over the unflattering portrayal of Aileen's lawyer in The Selling of a Serial Killer. Aileen's counsel hoped to prove she was unfairly represented, but Aileen is eager to be executed and doesn't want to be saved. 

Aileen's relationship with Nick Broomfield, the director of the documentary is pretty fascinating. It's almost like a Clarisse/Hannibal dynamic. It probably doesn't come as a shock to anybody (pun intended) that I am against the death penalty.  I think it's disgusting and exploitative, and the fact that Aileen passes three psychiatric tests on the day of her execution is proof of this.

An absorbing documentary. I would love to meet Nick Broomfield in real life.

              
RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Received limited release, several weeks after Monster came out.

1187. Capernaum

Capernaum
2018
Directed by Nadine Labaki 

Well, if anybody was feeling too happy from movies about terminal illness and World War II atrocities, here's a film to bring you back down to Earth again. I have to find the most cheerful remaining title on the List to watch next, which right now looks like Aileen: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer.

Zain is a 12 year old living in the slums of Beirut, struggling to support his many siblings by whatever means he can. At the beginning of the film, he is serving a five-year prison sentence for stabbing someone. Zain decides to sure his parents for being born, and the film flashes back to what lead up to Zain's current predicament. 

This is a very moving film, obviously designed to tug on your heartstrings and make you want to adopt every baby ever born. The main actor does a brilliant job of appearing like a man in a 12 year old's body, simply because his experiences have aged him so much. This is probably because the main actor had a really rough life as well. 

Visually, this film was also very impressive. I loved when Zain was walking through the park. It felt like he was reflecting on what childhood might have been for him, if he had been given one. This film is full of powerful moments like that, that will keep you reaching for the tissues or cyanide pills, depending on your mood that day.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The boy who stars as Zain is actually a Syrian refugee.

Capernaum is a village in the Bible that is condemned by Jesus for refusing to repent for its sins, even when he performed miracles there. 

The first cut of the movie was 12 hours long.

Highest grossing Middle Eastern film of all time.

1186. Les Invasions Barbares

Les Invasions Barbares
The Barbarian Invasions
2003

Directed by Denys Arcand

I didn't realize at first that this movie is a sequel to The Decline of the American Empire. The characters are in a much different place, so it's not necessary to watch The Decline to understand what's going on. It's been awhile since I saw The Decline, but I was once again captivated by the dialogue and characters in this story.

17 years after the events of the first movie, Sebastien is alerted by his mother that his father Remy is ill with terminal cancer. Despite having deeply rooted issues with his father, Sebastien is determined to give him the highest level of care. When he learns that heroin will keep his father out of pain more than morphine, he finds a dealer to keep him supplied with the drug. Meanwhile, Remy is reunited with his intellectual friends who come to visit, and they discuss the current state of the planet.

I always think it is fascinating to hear a foreigner's opinion on U.S. History or Politics, and for me the best part of the movie was the conversations. The story was very moving, and naturally, depressing as hell. But I still managed to feel hopeful by the end.

The best movie we have had for awhile.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

First sequel to win Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.

1185. Come and See

Come and See

1985
Directed by Elem Klimov

Just when I think we are finished with the wartime atrocity films, another one crops up. I keep going back on forth on whether it's important to watch these movies, or if you should just protect your mental health and abstain from experiencing such disturbing images. If you have any thoughts about the issue, let me know in the comments!

In 1943, Flyora and his friend dig in trenches, looking for abandoned rifles. They plan to join the Soviet partisan forces to fight the Germans. The following day, Flyora is drafted by the Soviets and he becomes a low ranking militiaman. One day, Flyora is ordered to remain behind at camp while the rest of the troops move out. As he weeps, he meets a girl in a forest who is working as a nurse. Their camp is attacked, and bad things continue to happen.

I suppose this film is effective in what it set out to do, which is to shock its audience and disturb the living daylights out of us. It's truthful to what war is, so naturally I wished I hadn't watched it. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody I care about.

Not going to lie, I closed my eyes for some parts. Hey, after this last year, I do what I have to. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Live ammunition was used in the film.

Filmed in chronological order.

Final film of Elem Klimov. Apparently, he was so stressed about the movie's subject matter that his hair turned grey during filming.

1184. La Captive

La Captive
The Captive
2000
Directed by Chantal Akerman

I didn't realize at first that this film was loosely based off of Proust's La Prisonniere, the fifth volume in In Search of Lost Time. Once I got a sense of the film's meandering tone, its source material became more obvious. I like reading Proust, but he's not an author whose works can be adapted into film easily. 

Simon lives with his grandmother and girlfriend. He is extremely abusive and controlling towards his girlfriend, and follows her on a daily basis to see where she is going. He also insists on having sex with her while she feigns sleep, because we weren't convinced he was weird enough already. I don't recall that being in the book. Anyway, Simon decides they can't go on like this and takes his girlfriend to her aunt's house. But the conversation they have en route makes him rethink a few things.

So that was a slog to get through. I felt like most of the movie consisted of two people in a car not speaking. That's an exaggeration of course, but there were a lot of stretches where nothing happened. That's true to the book, but the music of Proust's language gets you through those sections. 

Pretty much a bore that most people will get through their entire lives never hearing about. I envy those people.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Selected by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2000.

1183. The Pillow Book

The Pillow Book
1996
Directed by Peter Greenaway

So I wasn't exactly hankering for another Peter Greenaway film after The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. He put some images in my head that I can't get out and I wasn't eager for him to implant new ones. Well, he isn't quite as disturbing here, but he still left some mental scars.

Nagiko is a Japanese model living in Hong Kong. She has a fetish for being written on, and is hoping to find a lover who is good at sex and calligraphy. Enter Ewan McGregor, who plays Jerome, the lover of a publisher Nagiko hopes will distribute her work. She discovers that Jerome's penmanship isn't half bad. They begin a relationship that ends in a very Greenaway-ish way.

I like the idea of this film, that it is based on an ancient diary written by Sei Shonagon about her time in court. I would much rather watch a more faithful adaptation, but them's the breaks. Visually, the film was stunning, particularly the parts with naked Ewan McGregor. But I never really connect to Greenaway films. All of his characters seem rather aimless, and meet fairly disgusting ends.

Not the worst movie on the List lately, but still skippable. 50 more to go!

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Much of the movie is in Japanese, and some of the English subtitles are intentionally incorrect.

U2 was slated to be involved with the film's soundtrack, but the idea fell through.

1182. Rosetta

Rosetta
1999
Directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Just one more movie before we hit the prestigious "50 movies left" milestone. It's satisfying to still feel like I am accomplishing something, even when I am immobile and the movie sucks.

Rosetta is desperate to secure a job to support herself and her alcoholic mother. This requires throwing many tantrums and betraying friendships, all without the presence of a proper score. 

So I guess this isn't the most thorough summary, but the main character annoyed me so much that I don't feel like going into further detail than that. I kind of admire the film for making no effort to make Rosetta likable; it reminded of Fish Tank in that way. This makes the social stratification more prominent. But that didn't make it easy or fun to watch. 

Not terribly offensive, but not very memorable either.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Rosetta did not actually inspire "Rosetta's Law"; it was already a law when the film was made.

1181. In the Loop

In the Loop
2009
Directed by Armando Iannucci

I thought I'd seen this before, probably to satisfy a British craving, but I wasn't certain. I put it on and realized I had seen it, but it was definitely worthy of a rewatch.

Simon Foster, the Minister for International Development, makes the fairly sizable snafu of saying that "war is unforeseeable" on a BBC Radio program. This causes ripples through the American and British operatives' offices, all of whom are attempting to prevent international disasters.

This is the kind of British humor I love: dark, cutting, and sarcastic. The kind of British humor I don't like is whatever the hell they were trying to do in Local Hero. The rapid fire dialogue was very entertaining, even as they were dealing with a serious situation. It was like a less ballsy version of Four Lions.

I really like the actors in this film as well, which includes James Gandolfini and Tom Hollander. A really welcome addition in the midst of a lot of dreck from the List.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The first cut of the movie was 4.5 hours long.

The word "fuck" is uttered 135 times.

1180. Sombre

Sombre
1998
Directed by Philippe Grandrieux

Yet another movie that would have made a great Halloween entry, but I thought I had drained every horror film from the List already. I had never heard of Sombre before, and kind of wish I never did.

Jean is a serial killer who follows the Tour de France, killing many prostitutes along the way. He meets a woman who naturally, falls in love with him, unaware of the true monster he is within. Why is this such a common narrative? 

Some of the editing choices of this movie were very strange, and even nauseating at times, with such a shaky camera. Well, I am recovering from surgery so pretty much everything is nauseating, including writing this review. But I still think this movie was sloppily put together.

I don't feel like this brought anything new to the table, and it's definitely skippable.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Winner of the C.I.C.A.E. Award - Special Mention at the Locarno International Film Festival.

1179. The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street
2013

Directed by Martin Scorsese

It seems every few years there is a movie that men generally love and women generally hate. Your Deadpools, Animal Houses, and Fight Clubs. Worse still, the young men then believe they are exactly like the main characters in those things and put it in their dating profile. This is one of those movies, and I am sure there are many Jordan Belfort references floating around the dating-sphere.

Belfort rises and Belfort falls. Really, all of these Wall Street stories are the same, no matter how many monologues you assign the main character. It's actually a very familiar trajectory for Martin Scorsese, who I feel lets his hair down a little with this movie. 

Like most Scorsese films, it is very prolonged, testosterone-fueled event. Everybody gives outstanding performances so I wasn't bored exactly, but it feels like a story that's been told before, just with more drugs and nudity.

I think this is actually the final Scorsese movie on the List, which makes 13 total across editions. I thought for sure The Irishman would be included in the update, but the Listmakers do provide small mercies sometimes.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The actors snorted crushed B vitamins for the cocaine scenes, which eventually gave Jonah Hill bronchitis.

The majority of the movie was improvised.

The real Jordan Belfort appears in the final scene.

1178. Little Women

Little Women
2019
Directed by Greta Gerwig

I have a love/hate relationship with this story. I really care about the characters, but I have a hard time forgiving them for the choices they make. The entire story breaks my heart and I don't want to revisit the tale as often as Hollywood wants to. Once again, another adaptation of the novel devastated me, which I guess means I liked it?

Jo March wants to be a writer, but the years after the Civil War didn't exactly encourage female artistry. Her older sister Meg dreams of having a family, and her younger sister Amy wants to be a painter in Paris. And her other sister, Beth, is content to just be "desperately good" and play the piano. They befriend their neighbor Laurie, who falls for Jo.

This is such a familiar story, at least to me, so I really liked that this movie laid out the plot in a rather unconventional way, i.e. non chronologically. It seemed to challenge the notion that women were always able to maintain a demure, sometimes reluctantly demure, presence in the company of men. 

Some might feel that the feminism aspects were forced in, but I, shockingly, admired the addition. It felt truer to Louisa May Alcott's real life, truer, at least, than the cloying sentimentalism found in the novel (which was probably only added to please publishers). 

Still, I will never get over the Jo and Laurie romance. 

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Emma Watson took over the role of Meg March from Emma Stone.

Florence Pugh finished filming Midsommar a few days before she started filming this movie.

1177. Local Hero

Local Hero
1983
Directed by Bill Forsyth

This is another movie that is tasked with the arduous job of distracting me from pain. Poor devil, it wasn't quite up to the mission. 

"Mac" MacIntyre is recruited by his boss to acquire the village of Ferness in the Scottish Highlands for Knox Oil and Gas, mostly because his name sounds Scottish. This involves traveling to the village and getting to know the locals, including a marine researcher named Marina. Mac becomes conflicted about turning the quaint, peaceful village into a refinery. 

So like I said, I was pretty uncomfortable watching this, which might influence my opinion a bit. Then again, Hero did the trick of distracting me from my pain, so maybe that's a good litmus test for movies. I found it to be a fairly typical story, without enough colorful characters to make it feel different.

The humor of English comedies doesn't always translate and I think that may be the case here with the comedic aspects of the film. Oh well, the other movies have been good lately.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Filmed in the style of old English Ealing comedies.

Featured a cast of mostly unknown Scottish actors.

1176. Ying xiong

Ying xiong
Hero

2002
Directed by Zhang Yimou

I want to thank this film for getting me through the previous night, as I was in a great deal of pain yesterday. This movie really helped distract me, and was great way to pass the time as I waited for my medication to kick in. Between the sword fights and the many plot twists, I was almost able to get my mind off it for awhile

Hero takes place during the Warring States Period in Ancient China. Nameless, a Qin prefect, arrives at the Qin capital to meet with the King. The King has a rule that no visitors are allowed within 100 paces of him. Nameless claims to have killed three assassins that have made attempts on the King's life: Long Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword. Nameless tells his version of events, then the King tells his version of events. Sorry, it's difficult to summarize this one without giving too much away.

Visually, this movie is stunning and I wasn't surprised to learn that this was the most expensive Chinese film ever made. The care that went into the aesthetics of each scene was unbelievable. The fight scenes felt more like ballet performances. I also love the structure of the movie, and how it kept you guessing throughout its entire length.

Highly recommended for anybody that loves film, even if wuxia films aren't typically your thing.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Quentin Tarantino helped get this movie released in America.

The Qin empire preferred the color black, even for their horses.

1175. The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence
1993
Directed by Martin Scorsese

12 Martin Scorsese movies and counting. At least here, he is once again doing something wildly different, by adapting an early twentieth century novel. I guess this is his Barry Lyndon. Well, I happen to adore Edith Wharton, so I was very excited about this one.

Newland Archer, a lawyer and a gentleman, is head over heads in love with May Welland, a beautiful and naive young woman who is well-respected in New York society. That is, until he meets her cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Ellen has caused quite a stir, having come back to America after a disastrous marriage to a Polish count. May and Newland assist the Countess in reintegrating into New York society. Newland becomes increasingly turned off by May's innocence and lack of opinions in comparison to the more worldly Countess.

I usually feel like Daniel Day-Lewis is sucking all the air out of a room, but the character of Newland Archer allowed him to give a more subtle performance that really impressed me. I really love this story, I feel it's a classic tale of an older man trying to mold a young woman, then getting bored by his creation. 

This won't appeal to everybody due to its melodrama, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The glove scene was particularly...memorable.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

This is the first Scorsese film to get a PG rating.

Winona Ryder wrote a book report on the novel in ninth grade.

Scorsese cameos as the photographer at a wedding.

1174. Leviafan

Leviafan
Leviathan
2014
Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev

I actively seek depressing Russian novels in the winter time. I guess I choose to lean into the whole Seasonal Active Disorder thing. This fits the bill perfectly as the Russian Book of Job.

The crooked mayor of Pribrezhny attempts to expropriate the land on which Kolya's house is built. Kolya has a depressed wife and an equally miserable teenaged son. Kolya enlists his friend Dima, a lawyer from Moscow, to help him try to fight the expropriation. But Dima's arrival just adds more tragedy to Kolya's life.

So obviously, watching this man suffer wasn't fun, but he was such a tool that by the end, I didn't feel so sorry for him. I am not sure I really got much out of the experience of watching. Yes, life is often a depressing onslaught of tragedies. I am sure some meaning can be extracted from the misery, but I wasn't up to mining today.

Entirely skippable, unless you need a cure for excessive happiness.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The actors chose to drink for real in the scenes with drinking.

The film was criticized by the Russian Ministry of Culture for its portrayal of Russians.

1173. Maunsoon Vaiding

Maunsoon Vaiding
Monsoon Wedding
2001
Directed by Mira Nair

I haven't had much fun with the List's entries recently and this seemed like a good cure. Unlike most wedding movies, this one wasn't filled with wacky misunderstandings, but rather genuine human connections. I was moved. Metaphorically, of course, as I still can't leave my bed.

Lalit and Pimmi Verma have arranged a marriage for their daughter Aditi, because women being controlled is the theme of this blog lately. Because it's an Indian wedding, the entire extended family comes to celebrate. This introduces some interesting subplots, with the most compelling being the relationship between Aditi's cousin, Ria, and her uncle Tej.

I think a large reason that I liked this movie was the acting. The various family dynamics felt convincing, and the pain they felt seemed very real. I also really enjoyed watching the clash of modernism and traditionalism, and how the characters dealt with their struggles. The cinematography was also excellent. The riotous displays of color and music were welcome after the dreary entries I've experienced lately.

I wouldn't call it an unmissable movie, but it's the most fun I've had watching a film in awhile.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

A large chunk of original footage was destroyed by an airport X-Ray machine and had to be reshot.

Shot in about 40 days.

1172. Moolaade

Moolaade
2004
Directed by Ousmane Sembène

So we continue our recent salute to the most depressing topics on Earth with "Moolaade." What can I say, these are the movies I can find online for free.

Moolaade is set in a village in Burkina Faso. One of the village women, Colie, is married to a man with two other wives. Her daughter, Amasatou, is expected to undergo female circumcision to prepare for marriage. Colie opposes this barbaric practice and the villagers lose their minds. 

Obviously, this wasn't an easy watch. It's absolutely insane how much control the male characters try to exert over their many wives. It's interesting watching this right after Osama. Both films feature men trying desperately to dominate the other sex, by any means necessary. It makes me feel very helpless, but I guess some hope can be gleaned from this movie.

I might try to find a lighter watch for next time, although I think we are past that stage on the List.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

"Moolaade" means "magical protection."

1171. Osama

Osama
2003

Directed by Siddiq Barmak

So I actually wrote a post for Osama already that somehow got erased. Oh, what a post it was. I assure you, you would have been impressed. Unfortunately, that ancient curse I invoked in December is probably still in effect, and the post has passed on. I'll try to recreate it as best as I can, but you can't capture lightning twice.

Osama is set in Afghanistan, under the Taliban regime. Under Taliban law, women must wear burqas and cannot work outside the home. This is a problem for anybody with a brain, but especially for an unnamed young girl, who only has her grandmother and mother to support her. The family becomes increasingly desperate and decides to dress the girl up as a boy, Osama, so that he/she can get a job. This ploy works fairly well, until Osama is drafted into a madrasa, a military training school for boys.

I couldn't help comparing this film to Wadjda, although Wadjda was much more hopeful and personal. This is a fairly upsetting watch, although it is interesting for what it is. This is the first Afghani movie released after the fall of the Taliban. It's fascinating that the very first one would be so bold and fearless. 

So one of those movies you "should" watch, but probably won't enjoy.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

All the actors in the film were amateurs from the city of Kabul.

The director deliberately went through the scenes after filming and removed the more hopeful parts, just to make me sad.

1170. Bād mā rā khāhad bord

Bād mā rā khāhad bord
The Wind Will Carry Us
1999
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami

I was eager for a "slice of life" movie, which I tend to like, and was excited about checking this title out. It seemed like it was going to be an Iranian version of City Slickers. Unfortunately for me, the humor here didn't really translate.

Behzad, Keyvan, Ali, and Jahan are journalists intent on documenting the mourning rituals of a small Kurdish village. They pose as production engineers in an attempt to blend in better with the villagers. Much to their surprise, the old lady who was supposed to be the subject of the rituals keeps kickin', forcing them to remain in town and appreciate the lifestyle of the villagers.

It's often difficult for humor to survive crossing cultural lines, so I don't hold it against this film that the comedic aspects weren't really apparent to me. I felt a lot of this movie consisted of Behzad yelling on the phone. That's not to say I didn't enjoy certain scenes of the film, like when he connected with a local boy in the village. But for the most part, I was clock watching.

It was a nice ending though.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The title is a reference to a poem by Forough Farrokhzad, a famous Iranian poet.

1169. Fat Girl

Fat Girl
2001
Directed by Catherine Breillat

There is nothing more awkward that teens losing their virginity. I cringed my way through the movie, right up until the end. That ending, of course, elicited a different reaction.

Anais and Elena are sisters and fight about typical sister things, like copying and clothes. I don't think I have ever fought with my sister about clothes, but in movies it's always the staple of sisterhood. Anyway, Anais is ready to lose her virginity, and Elena is intent on keeping hers. Elena's pushy boyfriend, Fernando, proves that men will say just about anything to get a woman (or, in this case, girl) into bed. Neither one of their sexual agendas turn out as planned.

Catherine Breillat was clearly trying to shock us, and she certainly succeeded. It's a movie that I will have to ponder and I'm not altogether happy that I watched it. For some reason, the title A Ma Souer has been translated to Fat Girl. This is odd, because it almost seems like Elena is the character we are supposed to sympathize with, while the eponymous Fat Girl just watches from the side. Of course, this changes at the end of the film.

It's easy to watch this entire movie with a cynical eye, but the main characters' innocence in certain situations is genuinely moving. Personally, I hated the ending, but it didn't stop me from liking the rest of the film. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Anais Reboux's mother lied to her about the dog dying in order to get her to cry for a scene. 

The slap scene took 13 takes.

1168. The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland
2006
Directed by Kevin MacDonald

My phone plan recently allowed me to get HBO Max for free, which is a dream come true for a person recovering from the worst surgeries of one's life. They have a good selection of non List movies I can enjoy. They also have a handful of movies from my remaining titles on the List that I can check off. The one I was most eager to see was The Last King of Scotland. 

The film tells the fictional story of Nicholas Garrigan, a Scottish doctor who travels to Uganda, partly to help people, and partly because he is desperate for an adventure. He witnesses Uganda's new president speaking, and sincerely believes that Idi Amin will be good for the country. He treats Amin after a minor car accident, and is appointed as Amin's personal physician. Slowly, he realizes exactly what he signed up for.

It's amazing how often complete psychopaths obtain power. In hindsight, it always seems incredible that people would allow it to happen. Here, we get to see exactly how a good person can ignore all the red flags until it's too late and fall under the spell of a crazed despot. I'm not sure if this film has been criticized as yet another Black story being told through the eyes of a white man, but I think an outsider perspective works here.

And of course, props must be given to Forrest Whitaker, who gave an amazing performance. He had great chemistry with the similarly talented James McAvoy. Anyone who wants to learn more about world history, or wants to see McAvoy's butt, will really enjoy this movie.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Forest Whitaker stayed in character as Idi Amin when they weren't filming. How else would he get his Oscar?

Idi Amin declared himself King of Scotland in the 70s.

1167. Nebraska

Nebraska
2013
Directed by Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne movies are always comforting to me, and I could use the warm, cinematic hug right now. This was probably my least favorite Payne movie we've seen so far, but because it's Payne, it's still pretty good. 

Woody Grant is desperately trying to get to Lincoln, Nebraska. He believes he has won a million dollar sweepstakes prize, and has to collect it in person, and he doesn't trust the mail with that kind of money. His long suffering son, David, realizes its a scam, but decides to help Woody get to Lincoln anyway, as Woody's increasing confusion makes it difficult to bond.

I usually fall in love with the characters of a Payne film within five minutes of starting the movie. Unfortunately, that didn't really happen here. I don't know what it was. Maybe I had a hard time taking Will Forte seriously, having seen him as a silly character in so many other things. Payne specializes in dark humor, but I had a hard time locating the humor in this situation. Of course, that might be because I am in a great deal of pain. But it's easier to blame it on Bruce Dern's crankiness.

I always like how Payne characters make attempts to improve their lives in really small ways. The theme was similar here, but I didn't feel for the characters that much. Oh well, thankfully, I have many more Payne movies I haven't seen.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Payne wanted to make this movie for years, but was only able to make it happen after the success of The Descendants. 

First Payne movie where he didn't write the script.

1166. Victoria

Victoria
2015
Directed by Sebastian Schipper

My recent surgery has kicked my ass, but I had drafts saved, so I've been publishing things past Amanda wrote. Current Amanda is not doing so great. My surgery led to a hematoma, which resulted in an ambulance ride, emergency surgery, and a wound that looks like a dragon's bite. Now there's the grueling recovery period, where there is nothing to do but watch movies and complain about them.

Victoria is a Spanish woman who has moved to Berlin. She doesn't speak German, but is able to connect to some city folk with English. She leaves a club one night and meets four young men who have been denied entry to the club. She agrees to go for a walk with them in the city. Clearly, her mom never made her read the Gift of Fear in middle school, and she hasn't been properly terrified for life. Anyway, Victoria gets caught up in the gang's plans for the night, and it doesn't involve taking her out for ice cream.

Out of the three single take movies we've seen on this List (the other two being Russian Ark and Birdman), this is probably my second favorite. I feel like directors choose this route as some sort of personal challenge, or else they realize their story is so shaky they need some sort of gimmick to make it worthwhile. Personally, I couldn't care less if you cut away from a shot, so long as the story is interesting. I wasn't really into this plot, I thought Victoria was a fairly inaccessible character who made strange choices that the audience wouldn't ever consider. I wanted to learn more about her, but the format of the movie kind of prohibited that.

I'll need a better movie than this to distract from pain, so hopefully something really engaging comes up soon.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Shot in one long continuous shot. They got it right the third time.

1165. La Pianiste

La Pianiste
The Piano Teacher
2001
Directed by Michael Haneke

I read the book The Piano Teacher a couple of years ago. I plucked it off the shelf at a library because I thought it was going to be the novel version of The Piano. Oops.

Erika Kohut is a piano professor at a Vienna music conservatory. She lives with her domineering elderly mother, and is about as repressed as the day is long. She meets Walter Klemmer, a new student of the conservatory who is clearly attracted to her. However, her terms for having a sexual relationship with him are a little...unconventional.

The book was even stranger, but the director does a good job of capturing Erika's repression. This is not an easy novel to adapt to a movie, and Haneke, psycho that he is, does a good job of it. Of course, the characters are hardly what you would call relatable, so I have a little trouble connecting with the thing. Still, it never gets boring.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Isabelle Huppert played all her piano scenes herself.

Huppert's last scene required 52 takes.

1164. Fish Tank

Fish Tank
2009
Directed by Andrea Arnold

This movie reminds me of the previous List entry, An Education. Both films feature young women on the brink of maturity, whose lives are shaped by older men. But both movies feature very different classes, and you can see how Mia is limited in ways that Jenny Mellor was not.

Mia is a volatile teenager who dreams of being a hip hop dancer. Her verbally abusive mother starts dating Conor (Michal Fassbender) and Mia becomes (quite understandably) infatuated with him.

At first, I wondered if the dancing was really bad as a stylistic choice, sort of like in The Favourite. But now I think it's an aversion of the trope where the protagonist has a clear way out of their situation through their talent. It's also a way for Conor to groom and manipulate Mia. 

Mia is a hard character to like, but for some reason I connected with her. I guess Kate Jarvis had no acting experience before this, but she balanced Mia's roughness and vulnerability really well.  I really enjoyed this, and not just because of my growing crush on Fassbender.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The movie was filmed chronologically, and none of the actors knew what would happen to their characters more than a week in advance.

Katie Jarvis was offered the role after the casting director witnessed her having a fight with her boyfriend at a train station.