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Reviews
Auf der Kippe (1997)
the amazing story of people who live on and out of a waste dump
A documentary filmed with lots of sensitivity; it keeps surprising you as it unfolds the drama and the comedy of daily life in the "Dallas" trash village near Cluj, Romania. Extremely interesting! According to an activist architect that I know, who is engaged in a project similar to "Habitat for Humanity", there are millions of people living below the poverty line in Romania (28% to be precise). Out of these millions, about 2 million fall within the categories of "severe" and, worse, "extreme" poverty. Extreme poverty means a person subject to it can practically die in any given week of the year, the reasons ranging from exposure to weather, untreated illness, malnourishment, etc. This documentary movie's protagonists are relatively successful as they figured out a way to turn other people's trash into merchandise. In addition, the director actually paid them a daily wages for appearing in his movie, thus adding a surprising new source of revenue to the precarious economy. The self-proclaimed village is called "Dallas" by its inhabitants, you'll have to see the movie to learn why. Of note: other films by the same director are also excellent in their exploration of exotic Romania.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
lots of noise about nothing
Figure of Christ tributary to 19-century cheap litographs: hippie hairdo, all the rest. Opening scene - Christ praying in the Olive Garden, ray of light illuminates him, total sap. Figure of the Devil introduced - a nod towards teenagers, Goth rock band album covers and star trek. Costumes, torches, monumental noises generated by each slap the Hero receives from His tortioners - you got the whole Hollywood spectrum of Antiquity
Misunderstandings, from Ben Hur to Gladiator. I could go on and on. Bottom line: if you a) have been exposed to the Gospels, b) are a discerning movie goer and c) don't like your moral arm twisted, save your bucks and your evening. Reading the Bible and listening to some BBC news and having a modest dinner is going to be more informative about sacrifice, hope and humanity.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
is this all you've got, Quentin???
Tarantino resembles a politician that votes against his constituency once _their_ votes have put him in office. It is _us_ that praised him after the Shakespearian "Reservoir Dogs", after the sophisticated yet lively "Pulp Fiction".
Sadly, "Kill Bill" is just an extension of its own trailer. And its entirety is just a trailer for the Volume 2 (after all there's 8 bucks left in some of our pockets).
It's spectacular to watch but, from the soul's point of view, has no nutritional value.
This movie contains hundreds of winks to other movies, comic strips, cartoons and whole cultural genres. How would you like to talk to someone that is constantly winking?
To me it looks like the guy has nothing to say, just tries to cash in on his past (well- deserved) successes.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
endearing, human.
As a long time resident of Eastern Europe (born there) my two cents have to be a praise for the excellent cultural localization of the movie, a praise for the humor and sensitivity of the portrayed situations and characters. Great.
Cidade de Deus (2002)
Quite simply one of the best cinematography of all times
Tremendous. Beautifully shot and performed, original, dynamic, juicy and humorous. This stuff has to be true, it has the paradoxal quality of truth. Three hours of pleasure.