yiuclaudia Reviews

The Secrets (2007)

Wonderful experience

[9/10 · 11 April 2010]

I just LOVE this film.

The story is heart-wrenching and Naomi's brave character just won me over completely. Ania Bukstein is simply brilliant. And so is Michal Shtamler. I never expected a film about the Jewish faith can be so liberal (though more conventional thoughts are also included). This is the first time I ever watch films by Avi Nesher and certainly I will keep my eye open for future productions by the same director. Even a small step, hopefully this film will also help to eliminate discrimination in areas where orthodox views are still dominant. Hats off for a great director and wonderful cast. The music inside is hauntingly beautiful too.

The Milk of Sorrow (2009)

A Beautiful film

[9/10 · 25 March 2010]

I was so touched by this film, which is obviously a low budget production. It proves that you do not need a multi-billion budget to make a good movie. I think only women can understand fully the pain and the fear the heroine had to go through. I wonder if they produce a sound track for the movie. The songs by the heroine and that sonata adopted by the pianist were beautiful. Solier is a great actress and her facial features, well, what can I say, is not the kind of glamour you find on screens. She has character, reflecting her heritage. I immediately take a liking of her from the first few scenes.I It is disturbing to find people snubbing such a beautiful movie but I guess everyone to his/her tase.

Sorekara (1985)

A beautiful film

[9/10 · 5 April 2009]

To really appreciate the film. you have to understand the mentality of the Japanese, especially the Japanese society during the early 20th century. That is very different from the western way of doing, or even thinking things. The subtle messages and the hyper-sensitive (not really the exact word I would like but cannot think of any other at the moment) hit me with full impact and I was glued to the screen for the 134 minutes of it. It is a sad story, as most of the novels by the same author are. But that does not make it any less entertaining. I wish Japan can produce films like this more often. The recent output (apart from "Departure" which is excellent, are more often than not, disappointing.

Aimee & Jaguar (1999)

A great movie I would never forgive myself for not watching...

[10/10 · 22 October 2008]

I watched it tonight and I would certainly count it a loss if I missed watching it. It is simply brilliant! The acting, the story, the passion. I just could not stop crying, and this was over and over again. We knew the lovers were doomed but the courage and the love they felt for each other made us wish, no matter how unrealistic, that some miracle would happen, that somehow, they could be saved. Of course, this was not going to be so. Still, Felice was just bewitching, not because of her being so sexy, but because she was so much alive. Wow! I bought the DVD. I am not going to lend it to anyone, just in case they never return it to me. Wow!

Lie with Me (2005)

Simply great

[8/10 · 29 April 2008]

I was drawn to it from the start. It was so provocative, like the scene when Leila was tempting David in the children's playground and she touched herself at one end of the tube, exposing one of her breasts to the view of the guy. It is even more erotic when David did not jump to the temptation on the spot. The game of chase and provocation and evasion was so exciting. I also realized that Leila let her top stay on her torso most of the time, well, at least more often than not, and to me, it is even more arousing than getting out of all her clothes. Even the clothes were in the game of hide and seek. I just love the kind of girl as Leila, being so sure of herself and what she wants to get and being frank about it. Great movie! and a living proof that a good movie does not need billions of dollars to make.

Circle of Iron (1978)

This is fun

[7/10 · 1 July 2007]

I watched this on DVD and all in all, it is fun. The scene of Erica Cree being crucified at the top of a dune is really unforgettable. too bad she doesn't seem to be very successful in her acting career.

The film also includes some oriental philosophy but they do not go really deep enough. For example, the comment by the hero that it was really by his hands that crucifed Tara (the girl played by Erica) was some kind of enlightenment but that did not address to the reason why she had to be sacrified. After all she was requested by the hero and her husband and consented her to offer herself for the night.

And when everything was settled, the ultimate prize was a mirror at which one could look at oneself. Well, that is OK but one cannot help but to ask why all these troubles (and loss of life).