THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS

LA VOZ DE LOS SILENCIADOS

‘Silently effective’

The film is based on true events. The Voice of the Voiceless, directed by Maximon Monihan, like its title tells the story of a teen girl, Olga, who is deaf and brought to New York in fake scholarship to a school from Guatemala. But New York doesn’t appears the way she imagined, she has to sell ‘I am deaf’ trinkets and generate 100$ a day to avoid the harsh punishment. The film with almost no dialogues and only actions is shot around New York.

It is a film which strikes subtly with the issue raised. It makes us feel pity on Olga to see the trauma through which she is going, a never ending nightmare. But on another note she is also trying to enjoy life by spending extra money by saving when she gets more than 100$. The film talks about a whole racket of such physically challenged kids who have to do this in order to survive.

There is nothing much from the cinematography aspect and the music too sounds okay. Director, Maximon, makes it very clear that the film is all about the girl, her imaginations and desires of a better life like any other citizen. Again, the film just arrests you with its end and makes you feel for Olga, the girl. 

THE JAPANESE DOG (Romania/85’/2013)

‘Pleasant’

Been a victim of natural disaster, have came across someone who has seen a flood and lost their close ones? Well, The Japanese Dog, directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, is a story of an old man and his village, which went through a flood in Romania outskirts, taking away everything from them. The old man, Costache (Victor Rebengiuc), is a very strong person who hides his sorrows and does his work alone without expecting or accepting sympathy from anyone for free. Things chance when his son Ticu with his Japanese wife and Costache's grandson arrives for a couple of days.

Well acted by Victor Rebengiuc, the story majorly revolves around him. We only get to see the soft side, the joyous side, when his grandson arrives. The film’s narrative is fine. It is pleasant and humorous at times. Good use of the location, which gives the film a fine look. Other than this, the film certainly lacks a depth, being a good, simple, plain story and fine acting by Victor Rebengiuc it has nothing much to offer.

FOR THOSE IN PERIL (UK/93’/2013)

‘There’s hope’

 Ever got bullied, criticized or alienated by someone in your life? Well, Aaron (George Mackay) playing the role of a young guy, in this film For Those in Peril, goes through all sorts of odd things in his entire life. Being a Scottish village of fishermen’s, he with other five guys, including his brother Michael, go on fishing. They meet a disastrous accident in which only Aaron survives and of which he doesn’t remember anything.

Aaron is ill treated by the villagers and his only hopes are his mother and Michael’s girlfriend. They support him. Slowly Aaron starts believing that Michael is alive and goes in deep sea to kill the sea monster and rescue his brother. In all this alienation he recollects his childhood memories and starts building a world around it.

Director Paul Wright’s debut is promising. The concept of hope after a lot of grief and sorrow has been finessed properly. Exploring a local story of a sea monster engulfing all the people from village and a hero fighting back the monster rescues everyone is told through sensuous visuals. The irony in the end of stirs up the mind and makes us feel hopeful in a way.

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.