MEDEAS (Italy-Mexico-USA/97’/2013)

‘Captivating and daring’

Alienation, loneliness, desire and power all these terms have been wonderfully portrayed in Andrea Pallaoro’s film Medeas. The story is set in outskirts of Italy. Ennis is a farmer who is going through hard financial times. He is finding to keep peace with his work and with his family too. Disturbed by his wife’s relation, he goes through a very fierce emotional change.

 Exploring the journey of alienation of each member of the house, the film makes an impact with its hard hitting execution style. The cinematic expressions are very beautiful and the large landscapes just keep us into the frames. The film is strong and remains daring throughout the end with its issue. It certainly does ring your strings and makes a point. Andrea pallaoro’s debut feature is very promising and he certainly is a director to keep an eye on.

THE PLAGUE (Spain/85’/2013)

LA PLAGA

The film is quite straightforward in its approach about the plague and its resemblance to human lives. Directed by Neus Ballus, The Plague, is a story of people living in the outskirts of Barcelona. Lurie is wrestler who works at the fields after his practise for Raul a farmer. Maria is an old lady who is shifted to the nursing home where Rose is her attending nurse. Maribel is a prostitute who waits all day long nearby Raul’s farm for her clients. All the characters are facing tough situation in their lives. Their frustration increases when things don’t go as they planned.

The director, Neus, has managed very well to script the nature and human life together. The heat increasing in Barcelona which is affecting all is a strong symbolism of the increasing concerns of the residents. Due to the heat the plague in the farm has completey destroyed Raul’s one farm. He anxiously awaits rain. The film moves from frame to frame jumping from one character to another without any distraction, that’s the beauty of the director. The rain in the end brings rest and happiness to everyone. The film does leave all of us with a hope of new beginning.

THE GOLDEN CAGE (Mexico/102’/2013)

LA JAULA DE ARO

‘Subtle yet arresting’

It seems pretty easy for us to travel from here to a foreign country. If you think so, think again. It is not with the case of the Mexican film The Golden Cage, directed by Diego Quemada-Diez, the film is a journey of four teens, Juan, Sara, Samuel and Chauk, taking us throughout Guatemala and Mexico. The adventure which seems easy at the start later turns out to be a survival journey for the teens. Guatemala is a place with no future so the Jaun, sara and Samuel decide to leave for Los Angeles to live their dreams. They find Chauk on the way.

The film certainly exploits all the shades of a migrant. The director with a very clear vision delivers the story in layers. Whenever the story seems to be settling down, something disastrous happens. Samuel backs out of the journey at the very beginning when they all are caught by local police as immigrants. Rest three are used as cheap laborers in their journey ahead. Sara is kidnapped by a gang robbing the migrants. Juan and Chauk continue ahead, where to cross the next border they need to carry drugs. Throughout the journey Diego shows complete scenario of the political and economical condition of both the states as well as the migrants. The film does make a point and impact!

ANOTHER HOUSE (Canada/105’/2013)

L’AUTRE MAISON

Set in Canada, Another House, is a story of a father (Henri) suffering from Alzheimer’s and his two sons, Gabriel and Eric, who are taking care of him. Gabriel is a correspondent journalist for a press where as Eric is a pilot. Gabriel travels most of the time so Eric, the younger brother, has to bear the responsibility of their father.

The characters speak louder. Henri played by Marcel Sabourin is an extra ordinary performance. Directed by Mathieu Roy, the film speaks about the dilemma of the two brothers. Director has used a wonderful location to make the film. The scenic beauty calms you down. The film is all about relations and trying to figure out the possible solution. The remains realistic and does connect.

THE STRANGE LITTLE CAT (Germany/72’/2013)

‘The cat has noting much to do with the film’

DAS MERKWURDIGE KATZACHEN

Shot 99% inside a residential flat room, The Strange Little Cat is a tough film to get through. Director Ramon Zurcher speaks about a family living in the apartment in Germany. It seems a weekend when the whole family gathers and they are joined by few other relatives. There is not much of a story but the phase through which every family member is undergoing.

The strangeness is in the family members having less understanding with each other. Director Ramon surely knows camera, the framing is very tight which gives a feel of clog and congestion in every character. The brilliancy is in using the limited space to shoot. The acting seems natural but on some narrative ends looks artificial.

The music seems to be dominant, which certainly decides the power of the characters. The noise the machine produces is a metaphor cleverly used. The film is certainly difficult to average cinemagoers. A strong comment of the concept of nuclear family is portrayed. The films is not a piece of cake that can be gulped easily, it takes time to understand what the director says. On broader aspect, the film is meant for above average cinema fans who understand cinema in and out.

THE ROCKET (Australia-Laos-Thailand/96’/2013)

‘Mischievous and gripping’

Like the title, The Rocket, the film too is about it. Directed by Kim Mordaunt, the film shows the journey of a Thai family, as their land is going under dam construction’s affected area. Ahlo is Family’s youngest, a 10 year old energetic, mischievous and courageous boy. While evacuating the village, accidently Ahlo’s mother dies. Ahlo’s grandmother blames him for this and says he is a curse from birth according to their custom. But Ahlo’s father denies this and they continue the journey. In their replacement camp Ahlo meets a young orphan girl Kia aged 9 and her ‘Purple uncle’. Both gel up good and soon share a strong bonding.

The film is humorous but there’s ache hidden in every laugh, scenes such as - when the family along with the girl and her uncle hide to cross security check in a live bomb disposing truck and also when the two little innocent kids accidently pick up a grenade while playing. The performance of both the kids is amazingly extraordinary. They bring liveliness to the frames. The economical comment by the director is strong from very start of the film. The Thai community is exploited by foreign companies and the localites suffer. The film certainly leaves us with joy and rejoices in its final moments.

ILO ILO (Singapore/99’/2013)

‘old but still contemporary material’

Set in the late 90’s and revolving around the Asian financial crisis the film Ilo Ilo, certainly doesn't lets you go off. The simple yet intriguing build up between the newly arrived Filipino maid, Teressa, and Jiale, the only son (10-12 years) of the family, which is portrayed humorously. Directed by Anthony Chen, the film speaks about the problem of all the characters and ways they are trying to overcome it. How their work life is affecting their personal life.

The film makes you for wanting more feel after every frame. You are pushed to ask yourself, what’s next, before the frame ends. With a decent camera work and the presence of natural sound makes the film very natural. The performance of the young boy is brilliant. While watching the complete film, one gets so engrossed that we see the film from a neighbors perspective. It lacks the depth in the script in the middle of the script. But, it doesn't hamper the film as whole. The film is well made and to look for.