Tagged: Understated
The Girl on the Bridge
Director: Patrice Leconte
Country: France
Release: 1999
A stylish black and white film, I feel like “The Girl on the Bridge” is a throw back to the French New Wave in style and tone. In the film, a man stops a girl from jumping off a bridge in Paris. We find out that the bridge is a location he frequents and where he searches for partners/ targets for his knife throwing act. The girl is depressed about her inability to say no to men and unrelenting bad luck, and seeks to end her misery. The knife thrower saves her from suicide and, in the deal, gets a new partner to perform with. As their relationship develops, the man gives the girl a new perspective, convincing her that she is actually extraordinarily lucky rather than ill-fated. As if proof of his theory, their work together in the act is a big success. They are booked non-stop and things seem to be going well for the pair, until the girl falls for a young, handsome and rich honeymooner, while performing on a cruise. The starry-eyed lovers disembark the cruise and run away together, abandoning his new wife and her partner. Apart, both the knife thrower and the girl fall on bad times, and it seems that together they are successful but separately they are not. However, fate is not done with them and their paths are destined to cross again. I found the movie to be cool and reserved in its treatment of the story and it did not evoke a strong response or sense of sympathy when times were bad. I was not overly emotionally engaged by the characters. But I was fascinated with them and their story. To me it is an interesting tale with odd and kooky characters, appealing performances, with an offbeat story-line told in a matter-of-fact manner, all presented in a stylish package.
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about The Girl on the Bridge!
Sweet Land
Director: Ali Selem
Country: USA
Release: 2005
“Sweet Land” is a tender and affectionate portrait of one immigrant couple in early 1900’s America. Olaf is a Norwegian who has been in the country for some time, and has homesteaded a farm in Minnesota. Shortly after WWI, he is joined by Inga who has come to be his wife, although they have never met and she does not speak English. Immediately they go to the preacher to be married. However, it comes to light that although she came here from Norway, Inga is actually an orphan of German nationality, and the preacher refuses to marry them unless she can obtain the proper papers. The county clerk similarly refuses to issue her papers. They base their refusals on the fact that Inga’s undocumented status does not allow them to verify her background or character – but the real reason is that America just finished a war against Germany and, frankly, she just is not one of “them”. At first Inga is sent to live with Olaf’s best friend and his wife. But with 9 children plus them in the house, privacy and sanity is at a minimum, and Inga quickly insinuates herself into Olaf’s house, forcing him to sleep in the barn. Despite a rocky start based on their awkward unfamiliarity with each other and differences in dispositions (she is too fun-loving and he is too serious), they spend the year in close companionship, striving hard together towards the common goals of working the land, keeping their farm afloat and gaining acceptance among their community. As they face the challenges of their life together (fairly ordinary and uneventful challenges for those times) a real bond and genuine love and affection grows between them. The movie is mostly set in the time of their first year together, but also jumps to the 1960’s at the time of Olaf’s death and interment, and then to 2004 at the time of Inga’s passing, when their grandson Lars is faced with the responsibility of deciding the disposition of the family farm. Viewers who like a lot of action in a movie may find this too slow. I think it would be a great story for young children who grew up in an internet, computer, cable TV, cell phone, ipod, ipad world – to see and know that less than 100 years ago, many people in this country worked so hard to farm the land by hand, without even a tractor to assist them; and did so happily and determinedly without complaint or reservation. “Sweet Land” is also a fine example of the kind of quiet, lyrical and unassuming movie option that independent filmmakers can provide as an interesting alternative to mainstream Hollywood offerings.
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about Sweet Land!
Monsieur Lazhar
* Director: Philippe Falardeau
* Country: Canada
* Release: 2011
* 
If you have been reading this blog, I think you might pick up on the fact that I really like a lot of contemporary French cinema – they have a way of making quiet, unpretentious stories into engrossing films without a lot of plot twists, gimmicks or special effects. Often they focus on stories about people and everyday life that gets elevated to poetry about the human condition. This is French Canadian set in Montreal, but unmistakably of that ilk. The story starts out with the dramatic premise about a teacher who kills herself while at work, and the effect on her young students. After that, nothing much sensational happens. The title character is an Algerian immigrant who takes over as teacher of the misfortunate class. He sees that the effect of the suicide is still apparent and varied on the kids and, despite the wishes of the administration and many of his colleagues, makes overt attempts to help the students deal with and come to terms with what happened. Along the way, a relationship of acceptance and mutual respect develops between teacher and students, and the film is a very affectionate portrayal of the ups and downs they experience as they adjust to each other, and of the bond that grows between them. Monsieur Lazhar has his own baggage that he brings to the situation and motivations for his interest in helping the children with their grief. It seems that maybe they are helping each other, for as much as he gives to his charges, it is clear he receives equally in kind. They help each other heal. Beyond the opening premise, nothing that dramatic happens story-wise, and there is no happy ever after where everyone is amazingly redeemed and the world is made right. Just life happens. People meet, their backgrounds and experiences shape the course of their interactions and mold the form of their relationship and in the end, they move on with their lives, and the world seems the same – but on some level, part of their lives big or small, is changed forever. I loved it!
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about Monsieur Lazhar!
Undertow
* 
Director: Javier Fuentes-León
Country: Columbia
Release: 2009
“Undertow” is a beautifully filmed story about one mans open capacity to love and the self-sacrificing, demanding nature of true valor. It is the bitter sweet account of Miguel, an affable, well-liked young man from a Peruvian fishing village whose wife is expecting their first child. Life is good in his scenic and serene seaside town. He is popular with his neighbors and coworkers and active in his church. He also is secretly having an affair with a handsome male artist who has taken up residence in the village, but who is shunned by the locals. Miguel really does love his wife but he also loves and cares for his clandestine lover. When his lover suddenly and mysteriously disappears, Miguel is distraught but cannot express his concern or sadness to anyone, and has to walk through his life as though nothing has happened. However, his silent grief is soon interrupted when he is visited by the ghost of his lover, who he discovers has drown and whose spirit cannot rest until his body is recovered from the sea and given a proper burial. When the artist’s body is eventually recovered, Miguel is confronted with the dilemma of whether or not to risk everything in order to step up to bury and pay respect to his friend and lover – even though it may ruin his marriage, his standing in the village and his chance at a real family. A sensitively handled and touching story of the exacting cost of courage and moral fortitude, love in the face of intolerance, and honor in the face of adversity. The performances are genuine, sincere and respectful and help to make the unusual scenario feel immediate and believable. The movie also reminds us that it is too easy to pass judgment on the choices of others until we are faced with the same unthinkable and dangerous options. I think it is a great movie.
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about Undertow!
The Return
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Country: Russia
Release: 2003
A laconic, minimally portrayed story of two young Russian boys, who grew up fatherless, and who have different and mixed reactions to the sudden return of their father after twelve years away. Andrei, the older son, is at first overjoyed at the fathers return, while the younger Ivan, whose only memory of a father is an old photo, is immediately wary of the man he views as a stranger, stubbornly withholding respect and affection. The father is harsh and brutal with his sons, which at first divides the brothers against each other in their reaction, but eventually unites them together against him. He takes the boys on a two day fishing trip which turns into a week long trek to some mysterious, remote island location where the emotions come to a head with unexpected consequences. The father appears to be cruel and unlovable, but maybe this is too easy a conclusion. Maybe it is because he is just as inexperienced and inept at being a father as the boys are at being sons, and perhaps his treatment of the boys is some misguided attempt at tough love. There are also many unanswered questions in the story, especially of why the father has taken them to this remote locale in the first place. I felt that there are implications of nefarious goings on, but maybe I am being deceived by the story into thinking that. If you are looking for narrative resolution, this movie does not provide that. On the other hand it does leave a lot of room for interpretation and speculation, and provides the viewer with plenty of food for thought.
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about The Return!
Plan B
Director: Marco Berger
Country: Argentina
Release: 2009
A very subtle movie, shot in a raw, realistic and unsophisticated looking style. The result is almost a documentary feel, with frequent long, quiet and uneventful scenes. At first, to me, this slow-paced style felt like it disrupted the flow of the narrative and took some getting used to. However, once I adjusted to the rhythm of the filming, I actually found it to be an effective technique for portraying this subtle story of friendship and love. In the movie, Bruno decides to befriend Pablo, the new lover of Bruno’s ex-girlfriend – who she dumped him for – in an attempt to sabotage the new relationship and win her back. Pablo, on the other hand, becomes friends with Bruno, unaware of his nefarious intentions. Despite that covert start, the two men actually find things in common and a compatibility between themselves. Somewhere along the line, Bruno and Pablo become genuinely close and inseparable friends. As their bond grows stronger, they both become aware of feelings that seem to go beyond mere friendship. Eventually they feel comfortable enough to discuss and confront those feelings with each other, and consequently they are faced with the question of whether or not to pursue them further or to just leave them alone. Unfortunately, their changing and conflicting opinions on that question not only results in no agreement or resolution, but even threatens to end the relationship completely. What I really like about this story is that it presents an unusual and thought-provoking view of this unusual turn of events. I like that the movie focuses on the importance of the emotional, rather than the sexual, aspects of attraction and love. It seems that I like this film more than other viewers and give it a much higher rating than most. Some viewers may not be able to adjust to the low-key pace, however if you do stick with it, I feel that there are rewards in regard to the films interesting perspective and offbeat approach to a taboo subject. Personally I found it to be a moving and interesting experience.
See Netflix’s rating or what other viewers have to say about Plan B:
Tom's NetFlix Picks 