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KyrKyr
"But there is no such a thing as foreign film is there?
Films speak a universal language, no matter their country of origin"
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Reviews
Betoniyö (2013)
A Meaningful Gem (My take on it)
The movie follows one day in the life of Simo, a fourteen year old teenager who lives with his anti-heroic mother and older brother, Ilkka. The one last day of freedom of his brother before he serve his prison sentence.
The two brothers go out at (concrete) night in Helsinki. Simo, with elastic and reciprocating character as a teenager, clearly mimicking his older brother and in a brief conversation between him, Ilkka turns vanity and pessimism of living into a philosophy through a story about scorpions as the only surviving specie in an upcoming apocalyptic day (talking about greedy mankind and nuclear threat) Later in the film Simo comes across with a photographer. The personification of joy and love in life on the face of a homosexual pervert photographer, symbolizes Simo's seeking of meaningful life on his youth but as it turns out his elastic mind is fundamentally infected (from his way of life) and he commits murder (turns down joy and hope) On his way home a taxi driver offers him a ride. The taxi driver is the mirror of himself as he sees his life passes before his eyes from the innocent youth (laughs) to his recent crime and he tries to escape from his "downfall" (open the door as the car keeps moving, maybe suicide)and himself says "don't never do that again" At the end he realizes the monster he became. "The scorpions are coming, the end is coming. If you still hope you will never be free. And if they have enough they stub themselves to death" A simple view on the lost innocence of a teenager, following philosophic and symbolic paths and how growing up in a problematic family can affect fundamentally the formation of his character and his presence or absence in a society. Meaningful, artistic and declaratory movie.
Soshite chichi ni naru (2013)
Thoughtful and thorough
The lives of two families in Japan are disturbed when they are informed that their sons who raise for 6 years, are not their biological children but they had switched in maternity after their birth.
The movie manage to approach various aspects of life in modern Japan as well as ethical issues of ecumenical range.
Issues such as social differences in the lives in modern city and in the suburbs, family ties and obligations, the alienation of the city, the family honor, the opposition on conservative perceptions, the matter of personal honor and pride, materialism (driven by the money) and the main issue of the film, as the protagonist wonders "can you really love a child without your blood?".
All these ethical issues are handled harmonically and fit coherently in this masterpiece in the hands of Hirokazu Koreeda who has proved with his previous works how deep he can reach the human soul with his own unique way and how he can transmit these feelings to the audience.
Hævnen (2010)
For a better world
After you watch this masterpiece you will realize that the English title of the film is more proper and it contains the whole meaning of the film and the thoughts which the film left you with.
We follow a mature kid, Christian, who recently lost his mother and he struggles to overcome the loss although he wants to look like he did. Parallel a doctor in Africa, Anton, separated with his wife in Denmark but he visits his two sons. A grown man maybe more innocent than a child and a model of the virtuous man.
We watch stunning the two stories as the time comes when the characters are pushed to their limits facing moral situations. There is the time where the two stories coming across. Anton realizes how much the evil has grown in this world and although he is a peaceable man, situations and people push him to his limits. From the other side Christian being detached and reactive with the people beside him, he realizes that he doesn't appreciates what he already has, the love of this people and that he was unable to deal with it.
A tremendous work of moral intensity and emotions by one of the greatest Danish directors, Susanne Bier and a great selection of actors that each one individually gives a great performance (impressed by the two kids performances and the mother's break out scene).
Although the director herself says that "the film is not a messaged film but only a kind of statement", I would say that I can detect that the film leave us with something. It teaches us that the real power is inside us and by realizing this we can all fight and hope for "In a Better World".