myriamlenys Reviews

Seven Days to Noon (1950)

Comes with a terrifying premise

[9/10 · 6 June 2024]

In which a scientist working in a top-secret research facility steals one of the newest weapons and threatens to use it unless his demands are met.

"Seven days to noon" is quite a good movie about the increasingly desperate manhunt for a scientist gone rogue. The movie, which is painted on a vast canvas, contains various scenes depicting a mass evacuation of London. For a 1950's British audience these scenes must have cut very close to the bone, causing thousands upon thousands to remember how they had to leave behind houses, possessions and even much-beloved pets. But even foreign viewers living anno 2024 are likely to think "There but for the grace of God", since a similar scenario could unfold in real life in any of the great cities of the world, be it London, Antwerp or Turin.

Well-directed, well-written and well-acted, "Seven days to noon" radiates an unsettling plausibility. Probably one of the most frightening elements of all is the fact that the fugitive scientist looks and sounds so normal, so average. He is just one ageing, mild-mannered gentleman among a multitude of ageing, mild-mannered gentlemen. Such a person might be everywhere - or nowhere.

Mind you, the policing and intelligence work shown in the movie leave something to be desired. At one point a lady steps forward in order to state, truthfully, that she gave shelter to the fugitive without realizing his identity or intent. As a result of her kind invitation the man had spent the night, quite chastely, sleeping on a spare sofa. The lady is thanked for her statement and sent home. Why does nobody organize a long-term stakeout of the building in question ? Surely there was every chance that the man might choose to return to the premises ?

Le secret des Flamands (1974)

Historical series resulting from international cooperation

[8/10 · 4 June 2024]

Young Antonello, a painter's apprentice, is fond of his teacher, who has always treated him with kindness. After a surprise meeting with an unusually accomplished painting, both men realize that artists in far-away Flanders have developed a revolutionary new technique. Gripped by a burning desire to pierce the secret behind the new technique, the teacher leaves his native Italy in order to undertake the perilous journey north. Antonello too travels to Bruges, as the protégé of a rich and willful young girl...

"Le Secret des Flamands" is a historical series resulting from a cooperation between various European countries. One of the countries was my native Belgium. This explains the beautiful images of cities such as Bruges and Ghent. (Many people call Bruges the Venice of the north, but here in Belgium we tend to think of Venice as the Bruges of the south.) The plot, which offers up a mix of romance, intrigue and murder, is set in a time period when the Flemish Primitives were the envy of the world. A number of the characters are based on real-life people, such as the celebrated painter Petrus Christus.

A recurrent theme is the way in which transcendent beauty can translate into money and thence into crime. Here, the development of a new painting technique gives rise to a variety of evils such as industrial espionage, murder, seduction and state-sanctioned violence.

The series was quite popular in its time. Even nowadays it's got its charms, such as a sweet medieval ballad theme and a luminous Isabelle Adjani, in one of her first roles. Moreover, the various creators of the series did not treat their intended audience as if it were composed of knuckle-dragging yahoos. We, the public, are supposed to possess at least some knowledge of art and history ; we are also supposed to possess a healthy attention span and an ability to read between the lines. Or, to put it another way, we're being treated like civilized adults.

Still worth a watch, although the plot is somewhat too dependent on lucky coincidences.

L'inspecteur aime la bagarre (1957)

A mix of espionage and boozing

[5/10 · 4 June 2024]

As a Belgian I like to watch (and review) movies that possess some kind of link to my mother country. So on to "L'inspecteur aime la bagarre", part of which is set in France and part of which is set in Belgium.

I'd like to say that "L'inspecteur" is a jewel for the ages, but it isn't. It isn't even a particularly good movie.

To begin with the positive : "L'inspecteur" boasts a lively, energetic performance by the male lead actor, who plays a dual role. The movie is also sure to appeal to those viewers who like scenes (including stunts and races) involving vintage cars, ships and airplanes.

Unfortunately the intrigue is very thin. The plot deals with a weak-willed man who has fallen in with a dangerous and traitorous gang. When the water becomes too hot for him, he reaches out to his twin brother, who turns out to be an unusually successful combination of top police detective and secret agent. The brother bests the villains and restores the family honor, mainly through manly fisticuffs. The action moves from France to Belgium and back, because both countries lie next to each other anyway. The end.

Those of us with a nasty, suspicious mind might suspect some under-the-table deal with producers or distributors of strong alcohol. That's because many of the characters drink like fishes. After a while it feels like watching the "Before" part from a "Before and after" warning about the dangers of liver damage. ("Yes, Reginald thought nothing of downing half a bottle of scotch a day. He drank while blackmailing, he drank while plotting, he drank while throwing victims out of moving cars, he drank while accompanying his wife to the opera. A week before turning forty he found a hard lump in his abdomen - but by then it was already too late. Don't make the same mistake as Reginald, avoid the opera.")

By way of final remark I'd like to point out that there's an element of involuntary humor creeping in. According to the movie, the flawed, weak-willed brother was raised in France, while the strong, courageous, nearly invincible brother was raised in Belgium. Now I've always loved Belgian cuisine, but this is the first time I've seen anyone suggest that a steady diet of endive salad, mussels with fries and beef tongue in madeira sauce turns a lad into a stout-hearted superman. Or perhaps it were the Brussels waffles that did the trick ?

Alien Trespass (2009)

All dressed up and nowhere to go

[4/10 · 3 June 2024]

Both a spoof and a homage, "Alien trespass" models itself on the great horror and science fiction movies of the 1950's. (Or perhaps 1950's and 1960's, I'm not going to quarrel about a year here or there.) The tale is also set in that time period. Where the visuals are concerned, "Alien trespass" scores very high indeed. The art direction, costume design, set design etcetera all deserve praise. The 1950's era springs back into colorful life, complete with diners, police cars and teenagers making out in lovers' lane. Remember girls, no ring means no zing !

However, the story and screenplay aren't all that good, especially when it comes to picking up the underlying themes of the predecessor movies. Many of the originals worked - one way or another - because they tapped into contemporary societal fears, such as the fear of nuclear warfare, the fear of advancing Communism or the fear of awakening something really nasty while exploring the solar system. No such luck with "Alien trespass", which is all about pleasing surfaces. For a pastiche, the work is also noticeably short on wit and humor.

The best thing one can say about the movie is that it looks great and that it is vaguely, mildly entertaining, in a placid way.

A sad waste of a charming and competent cast that deserved better material.

Split Second (1953)

suspenseful crime movie

[8/10 · 2 June 2024]

In "Split second", a pair of convicts escape from prison, aided by an outside accomplice. Increasingly determined and desperate, they travel ever deeper into danger, disregarding warnings about an imminent nuclear test. Unfortunately for all concerned, they drag along a number of random innocents.

As you can see from the description above, "Split second" boasts the ticking clock motif to end all ticking clock motifs, for what can top an atomic blast ? It's a suspenseful crime movie/hostage drama where the stakes are very high indeed. Much of the movie's power derives from the well-thought-out characterizations. The individuals caught up in the escape and the subsequent hostage taking feel like distinct personalities with their own needs and priorities. Stephen McNally gives an electric performance as the remorseless chief villain. (The man's explanation about the long-time damages inflicted by war is quite interesting.)

Although not all of the characters act despicably, the movie seems to take a dim view of humanity as a whole, pointing out that homo sap exports violence wherever he goes. Human beings bash each other's brains out in big cities, in small towns, in abandoned mining settlements and even in the middle of deserts. And what to think of those who develop fearsome machines just by sitting behind a desk and working out calculations on a piece of paper ?

The ending may be too artificial, but it certainly delivers a titanic bang. However, knowing what we know now it is hard to imagine the lucky survivors walking away unscathed from all this. It is dangerous to find oneself so close to an actual detonation, just like it is dangerous to find oneself so close to the detonation's roiling aftermath. Thus arises a tragic question. Which would be best - to die in a blazing inferno in a matter of minutes, or to die after years of battling cancer and leukemia ?

Foil Arms and Hog: Swines (2022)

outstanding live comedy show

[9/10 · 1 June 2024]

In which the popular Irish trio known as "Foil Arms and Hog" performs sketches in front of a live (and lively) audience. This is yet another successful show in a growing series. The interaction with the audience is great and the craic is impressive, conjuring up visions of a happy night at the pub joking around with friends, downing stout and devouring meat pies.

Other viewers and reviewers may pick their own favorites, but me, I'm rather fond of the luggage handlers sketch. Certainly the theory developed in the sketch would explain a lot, although many people will probably stick to their belief that airport facilities are haunted by poltergeists of unusual viciousness. I've also got a weak spot for the mother-son song, in which a sweet old dear is beside herself with fear at the thought that her son might get - o horror of horrors ! - a life of his own.

In short, a very funny and likeable show. Recommended.

The Walls Came Tumbling Down (1946)

the bloody hunt for a fabled treasure

[7/10 · 1 June 2024]

In a rectory a terrible discovery is made : a priest is found hanging from the rafters, in an apparent suicide. A long-time friend, a reporter, is convinced that the priest did not kill himself. While investigating the case, he uncovers a strange tale about bibles containing clues to a great fortune...

"The walls came tumbling down" is a mystery thriller in which the reporter protagonist functions pretty much like a private detective. Along the way the reporter meets with a variety of disquieting or grotesque villains, such as a male/female couple of pseudo-preachers well-equipped with revolvers. The plot is ingenious and convoluted, though not very plausible. Still, the movie does offer a number of clever finds and sharp-tongued quips.

Perceptively, "The walls came tumbling down" states that human beings can commit terrible crimes over works of surpassing beauty, faith and wisdom. Imagine, say, a supremely gifted painter who pours his heart out in a work of staggering genius ; it's only a matter of time before some sharp operators resort to theft, fraud and worse in order to lay their hands on the painting in question.

One of the minor characters is a bishop. Had the bishop told everybody right at the beginning just what the priest had been worried about, the case might have been solved in half of the time. Maybe the good man was thinking of the economic needs of cinema owners, who depend not only on the sale of tickets but also on the sale of icecream, lemonade and popcorn.

The attentive viewer will notice how the reporter protagonist, at one point, opens up the grave of a complete stranger. He doesn't seem to have any kind of official permit or permission, he just disturbs the grave off his own bat. Now I've heard people describe the USA as the land of infinite possibilities, but.

Amnesia (2004)

Unsatisfying thriller/drama in two parts

[4/10 · 20 May 2024]

"Amnesia" develops two main storylines. The first storyline deals with a police detective who loses his bearings after his wife leaves him. In between drinking, pining and suffering nightmares he still finds time to peruse "missing persons" notices. As a result of the last activity he starts focusing on an enigmatic man with amnesia. Enter the second storyline, which deals with a shipyard owner married to a tenderly devoted wife. The shipyard owner goes through life as an individual without a memory and - stranger still - without a past. So where did he come from ?

Viewed separately, each storyline is promising and intriguing. Taken in conjunction, however, the two storylines compete for the viewer's attention. Eventually they strangle and stunt each other like rival trees planted in the same small garden. The result is a confused mess.

Somewhere within the mess there's a terrifying theme to be found about a father who, like Saturn, devours his own offspring. Sadly the theme is not made full use of.

The poor actors do their best, but even they can't salvage this strange hodgepodge.

By way of final remark I'd like to point out that "Amnesia" overflows with police officers behaving badly, even towards their own. It's a veritable cornucopia of imprudent, counterproductive, unprofessional, unethical and/or illegal behavior. In case you, dear reader, happen to teach subjects like criminal law, deontology, police ethics and the like : clutch "Amnesia" to your bosom, it will provide you with a goldmine of "Never ever do this" cases.

The Ghost Goes West (1935)

Fresh and charming comedy

[8/10 · 16 May 2024]

The fearsome leader of a Scottish clan dies happy in the expectation that his son and heir will wipe out an insult and cover the family in glory. Sadly, the said son is far too frivolous to distinguish himself in battle. Upon dying in a less than gallant way he gets cursed : instead of rejoining his ancestors, he needs to walk his native castle as a ghost until he finds a way of erasing the shame. Centuries pass...

"The ghost goes west" shines through its merry charm. Although it deals with topics like the ghost of a disgraced nobleman it is funny and light rather than scary. Much of the plot functions as a hilarious sendup of the twentieth-century alliance between impoverished European aristocrats on the one hand and moneyed American businessmen on the other. Both parties gain something in the process - the Europeans get cash, the Americans get cultural prestige plus a sense of history - but the results can be weird to the point of surrealism, such as the sudden appearance of a Baroque monastery in the middle of Idaho. Here, a full-blown Medieval castle is dismantled and carted off to the USA, complete with bricks, wall-hangings, paintings... and ghost.

The performances sparkle like champagne. Robert Donat, in particular, delivers an excellent performance in a dual role, playing both the disgraced ghost and a modern-day castle-owner. In both incarnations he is VERY easy on the eyes. (Some outstanding male costume design here, too.)

You Lie So Deep, My Love (1975 TV Movie)

Solid made-for-television thriller

[7/10 · 13 May 2024]

A man lives in clover after having married a rich heiress. Since his wife is not only wealthy but beautiful and caring too, he should feel pretty content. However, a craving for risk and extravagance has led him into the bed of an ambitious mistress. None of this bodes well...

"You lie so deep, my love" is a suspenseful made-for-television thriller. In my humble the movie serves its purpose well enough, mainly thanks to the considerable on-screen chemistry between the lead actor and the lead actress. The movie also contains one of the great "Boy, was my face red !" moments in thriller history.

However, it needed something extra in order to become not just good but great. That something extra could have been an additional plot twist or an additional layer of misdirection.

The movie's ending suggests that poetic justice has been done and that we, the viewers, should all go home satisfied. It neglects to mention that the poor soul last seen telephoning emergency services might have to do a lot of explaining to the police. ("So you're involved with not one but two violent deaths ? And you had good reason to resent BOTH of the deceased ? Yes, yes, by all means, do take another cup of coffee - this is going to be a long night.")

I've Lived Before (1956)

Is there such a thing as reincarnation ?

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

After years of blameless service, an experienced pilot almost crashes his plane. His explanation - if it is an explanation - consists of stating that he was thrown back into World War I, trying to avoid enemy aircraft. This causes A LOT of problems, given that the pilot is far too young to have participated in that war...

In "I've lived before" a bemused pilot tries to find out what's happened to him. During his quest he meets with mostly well-meaning people who try to support, analyze or contradict his theories. On the whole it's a well-made movie, although it suffers from being too talky. Part of the information could have been provided through other, more visual means. Don't tell us, show us - show us a gaggle of badly shaken passengers stumbling through an airport hall, show us a psychiatrist's filing cabinet overflowing with case histories, show us a trembling hand stroking an old engagement dress.

Admirably, the movie does not work up to an overly happy "now let's all hug each other" ending. Both the characters and the viewers are left to ponder a great mystery, on a tone of bittersweet reflection.

Acting-wise, the laurel crown goes to Ann Harding, as a dignified older lady remaining true to the memory of her one great love.

Fun note : at one point, a psychiatrist remarks that there is no lack of patients who think they're Alexander the Great reborn. The imdb database contains at least one fantasy/action movie, namely "The swordsman" from 1992, that deals with a protagonist who may or may not be Alexander redivivus.

La grande embrouille (1990 TV Movie)

Gangster comedy from France

[5/10 · 8 May 2024]

For a long time now, Laurent Baudouin has been committing small-scale hold-ups on local banks. He shares the proceeds with his devoted wife, who does not hesitate to point out that she needs more money in order to counteract the rising cost of living. While trying to commit yet another hold-up, Baudouin runs into two young gangsters who are targeting the same bank...

"La grande embrouille" is a French comedy featuring an ageing Jean Lefebvre, a veteran actor with many credits to his name. Here he plays the role of an experienced bank-robber, grown wise and grey in his profession, who suddenly finds himself taken hostage by two rank amateurs. Although Lefebvre is pretty funny as the unflappable voice of reason, even he can't save the movie from mediocrity.

The two young gangsters seem to have no recognizable personalities apart from being a) rash, b) bumbling and c) malleable, which is rather a pity since the viewer spends a lot of time in their presence. By the same token these characters don't seem to have an agenda outside of a desire to get rich the quick way. More imaginative writing might have turned the men into the political champions of some bizarre cause, such as the independence of Limoges or the interdiction of maths lessons in schools. The movie's ending isn't all that credible either, especially where the deal with the female reporter is concerned.

Still, the "money to burn" find deserves at least some stars. A total of five stars seems about right for a movie that's sure to flee from your memory in a few weeks.

Champagne for Caesar (1950)

agreeable comedy about quiz shows

[7/10 · 8 May 2024]

In "Champagne for Caesar", an eccentric middle-aged man of redoubtable intelligence participates in a quiz show, driven by a grudge against the show's sponsor. It's a pleasantly watchable comedy that contains a number of quotable lines. Much of the satire is aimed at topics like advertising, business culture, corporate sponsorship of entertainment shows, etcetera. "Champagne for Caesar" also has fun playing around with some age-old tropes regarding cold-hearted seductresses.

With regard to acting the show is stolen by a very funny Vincent Price, who plays an unpleasant businessman prone to insulting random bystanders.

Still, I thought that the movie dragged a bit ; it could easily have lost a quarter of an hour. Moreover, it is difficult to believe that the protagonist (our middle-aged contestant) should find it difficult to obtain a job. Many colleges, libraries and scientific institutes all over the country would have counted themselves lucky to hire such a rare pearl.

Viewers who liked the movie can take a look at a French comedy called "Cent francs par seconde" (1952). It's sadly neglected on imdb, so...

Urbex Sessions (2015 TV Movie)

An introduction to the Belgian "urbex" phenomenon

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

My native country of Belgium is, for good and for evil, host to a wide range of abandoned buildings. Wallonia, for instance, boasts many reminders of an extensive industrial and mining past. Many of the said buildings just stand there decaying, whereas, in a more just or well-ordered society, they might have been demolished, converted towards another function or turned into museums. Still, there are those among us who are not insensitive to the charm of ruins. Belgium has its abandoned and decaying buildings but it also has its "urban explorers". In fact we've got so many urban explorers that they've split up in various factions and subgroups.

"Urbex sessions" is a French-language documentary that lifts the veil on some of the urban exploration going on in the southern part of the country. It's a pleasantly watchable introduction to the activities of those people who like to potter around in abandoned buildings, for instance in order to take photographs, organize artistic happenings or perform sports such as parkour. The documentary also highlights some of the buildings involved. Unsurprisingly, many of the places being shown would make ideal settings for thriller, science fiction or horror movies.

The various interests being discussed in "Urbex sessions" seem innocent enough, but it needs to be said that there is another side to the coin. Some so-called explorers delight in activities like vandalism, theft and sabotage. Still others just want the kick of doing something forbidden or illegal.

But even the people who only want to take a nice picture of a tree growing through a roof run considerable risks to life and limb. While watching the documentary I asked myself whether the various makers shouldn't have included more warnings about the said risks. (By now there have been a number of serious accidents in real life.) Still, it's possible that these additional warnings might have piqued the interest of a certain type of aficionado. I leave the matter to the professional psychologists among us...

Viewers responsive to the weird beauty of decay can take a look at the remarkable "Paradis de rouille" series. (Wrote a short review there too.)

Dead Gorgeous (2002 TV Movie)

A mix of black comedy and mystery thriller

[8/10 · 2 May 2024]

This review will include some spoilers, so readers beware...

The last movie I reviewed, "Mortal thoughts", dealt with subjects like female friendship, doomed marriages and deadly violence. People who believe in "contrast and compare" can do worse than organize a double bill featuring the said movie in combination with "Dead gorgeous". "Dead gorgeous", which was based on a novel by the prolific Peter Lovesey, uses many of the same ingredients but is quite different in style and feel.

"Dead gorgeous" is a well-made period piece that's as polished and sinister as a dragon's egg. Set in the dour post-war period, it deals with two ex-colleagues who meet up again and compare notes about their respective husbands. When it turns out that they're both unhappy in their marriages - though for different reasons - lethal plots arise.

The work can be read as a darkly perceptive comment on the disappointment felt by many women who grew as persons during World War II and, afterwards, had to return to highly conventional lives. No more codebreaking or nighttime dances with glamorous heroes for you, dear - here, try this crossword instead.

The movie is well-acted, with both lead actresses creating intriguing individuals. It is also well-plotted and twisty, moving into unpredictable directions. On the whole the blend between the mundane, the funny and the grisly works out well. Fine costumes help establish a good sense of time and place.

Still, there was one plot development that surprised me. In the movie, one of the two protagonists discovers that her husband is financially supporting a long-time mistress. I expected the mistress to pop up at some time - for instance in order to testify, to claim a share of the inheritance or to indulge in a bit of genteel blackmail - but no, she disappeared from the story. I'm not sure that real-life paramours would bow out so gracefully.

Viewers who'd like to see more of Peter Lovesey's work should watch the delectable "Sergeant Cribb" series. It's a treat for both history and mystery lovers.

Mortal Thoughts (1991)

Ingenious thriller steeped in misdirection and sleight of hand

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

A woman is being interviewed by the police, in a special interrogation room. As she recalls a number of recent events, a horrifying picture starts to emerge. The woman's testimony concerns her female friend and colleague, whose marriage to a local man was doomed from the start...

"Mortal thoughts" is a good thriller, notable mainly for its fine performances and for its clever, tightly-plotted intrigue. The lion's share of the story unfolds through flashbacks, what with a witness talking about blood-soaked events and two police detectives dissecting her testimony. Gradually the viewers are forced to make their way through a maze of theories, truths, half-truths and lies.

The movie includes a certain crime that, from a narrative point of view, gets treated pretty much like a footnote. Given that the crime consists of premeditated murder, it might have received a bit more attention.

As a thriller, "Mortal thoughts" is drenched in liberal amounts of misdirection and sleight of hand. Perhaps surprisingly, there's much about the emotional heart of the movie that rings true. For instance, the confused, panicked muddle following a lethal confrontation is quite credible. The depiction of the socio-cultural background feels accurate too.

Watching the movie it is hard not to ponder an enduring question : why do some reasonably intelligent women choose to marry dangerous jerks ? Are we dealing with people who find the excitingly brutal too, too brutally exciting ? Or are there other psychological mechanisms at work ?

La grande lessive (!) (1968)

A cautionary satire that has only grown in relevance

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

Now that the fair nation of France is avidly watching television, millions of children stay up past their bedtime. In Paris a few devoted teachers have grown tired of the sight of sleeping pupils. Armed with canisters full of a special compound, they traipse over the rooftops à la Santa Claus in order to sabotage TV antennas. It's a perilous enterprise but then, what hero would shy away from a just fight ?

A highly topical comedy, "La grande lessive" denounced the way television stole both the heart and the energy of the young. The movie was made in 1968 and nowadays the problem has become even more toxic, due to the appearance of gadgets like laptops and smartphones. Indeed, many professional teachers will pine for the days when they just had to compete with television.

"La grande lessive" is quite amusing, with an engaging story, interesting characters and funny jokes. (Mind you, I'm not sure that the character of the sex-obsessed dentist has aged all that well.) The satire has a genuine bite, depicting a whole nation clinging to its television set like an addict to his fix. And just like addicts, the television viewers respond very badly to the prospect of going without. For instance, when the screens turn blank all over an apartment block, a panicked mob drags a repairman out of his shop, whether he wants the job or not.

Comedy highlight : the seasoned streetwalker moving on to a higher level.

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1976)

good animation movie from Belgium

[8/10 · 24 April 2024]

By accident, a young knight and his mischievous friend discover a flute with magical properties. Simply by playing the flute the player can compel other people to dance. It sounds like fun, but then the instrument ends up in the hands of an ambitious thief...

"La flûte à six schtroumpfs" (AKA The Smurfs and the magic flute) introduced considerable swathes of Europe to the Smurfs, a kindly race of tiny blue-skinned men. Originally meant as supporting characters in the knight-and-friend series, the Smurfs caught the attention of the public and became more famous than the supposed protagonists. "La flûte à six schtroumpfs" is aimed at children, coming with a straightforward plot, easily understandable characters and catchy tunes. (The music, by the way, is quite good - note the name of the composer !) The tone is upbeat and good-natured. Even the villains aren't all that scary. Adults can stave off boredom by learning the songs and organizing family singalongs.

The movie has a cosy, handmade feel that testifies to a loving devotion to the craft.

As a proud Belgian I can only smurf : smurf that smurf and treat your offspring to some simple, happy, age-appropriate entertainment.

Der dritte Handschuh (1967– )

the one with the canary bird clue

[8/10 · 23 April 2024]

A middle-aged man disappears, while carrying a fortune belonging to his employers. The fugitive's daughter, a pretty twenty-something hairdresser, tells the police she's just as amazed as everybody else. The police commissioner investigating the case is convinced she's holding something back...

"Der dritte Handschuh" comes to us courtesy of West-Germany. It's a crime thriller / police procedural in two parts, filmed in black-and-white. The plot is quite clever, containing at least one piece of genius misdirection. While not the funniest work around, "Der dritte Handschuh" does offer some touches of humor, for instance with regard to the clues. (Here's one for the Zen Buddhists among us : what is the sound of a dead bird singing ?)

The chief villain is interesting : a seemingly unremarkable, colorless man who wants to grab a great deal of money in order to provide himself with luxury, independence and freedom.

Real-life policemen might want to watch "Der dritte Handschuh" carefully. Although this was not its intention, it does show the dangers involved in providing inadequate police protection for vulnerable key witnesses.

Backtrack (I) (2015)

Notable mainly for its beautiful performances

[6/10 · 22 April 2024]

Having lost his young daughter in an accident, a psychiatrist wanders around in a daze of confusion and guilt. Strange incidents involving his patients seem to indicate that he has strayed into a borderland where the living and the dead meet and mingle...

Perceptively, "Backtrack" points out that it is often the most decent and loving of parents who feel the greatest guilt over the loss of a child. (If only I had looked her way ! If only I had prepared breakfast ten minutes earlier ! If only I had made her wear a yellow jacket ! If only I hadn't moved to Boston !) Meanwhile parents who've really got cause to reproach themselves tend to walk around whistling.

Unfortunately "Backtrack" is not the most original horror or psychological thriller movie ever made. Comparisons with "The sixth sense" will be near-inevitable, given that both movies occupy a lot of the same territory. Still, "Backtrack" is worth a watch, especially where the second half is concerned. (The movie improves as it goes along.)

Me, I liked the movie mainly for its beautifully sensitive performances. Adrien Brody in particular impressed as a bereaved father crushed by grief.

How to Be Really Bad (2018)

Light-hearted entertainment meant for a teenage audience

[7/10 · 18 April 2024]

For a long time Lilith has been wanting to prove her mettle to her father, who is the Devil himself. As part of a deal she can visit the earth, where she is supposed to entice a soul into sin. Lilith soon discovers that the said soul belongs to a kind and well-meaning girl from a kind and well-meaning family. Indeed, the family is so wholesome that the pater familias (a farmer and greengrocer) sings happy little songs to his vegetables...

"Meine teuflisch gute Freundin" is a blend of comedy and fairytale. Although it is aimed at a teenage audience, treating problems such as obtaining a high school diploma, fitting in with the crowd and falling in love for the first time, it can be watched with pleasure by adults too. There are some good jokes to enjoy and the performances are charming, especially by the two young protagonists.

It's a bit of a pity that the resolution feels so bland, given that a more adventurous approach might have led up to a gloriously chaotic finale.

This is not the movie to watch for those interested in a complex examination of the warring impulses to be found in the human soul - but what the heck, light-hearted fun can be welcome too.

Artémis, le temple perdu (2023)

All about the Amarynthos dig

[9/10 · 18 April 2024]

This interesting documentary deals with a joint Swiss-Greek team of archaeologists digging up a major site, namely a vast sanctuary dedicated to Artemis. It had been known for centuries that there was an Artemis temple to be found somewhere in the neighborhood, but pinpointing the exact location was the devil's own work. After a long search the site was finally discovered, in one of the triumphant successes of modern archaeology. Still, it took additional decades in which to convince the scientific community, to obtain the necessary permits and to negotiate with the local landowners.

"Artémis, le temple perdu" follows the various archaeologists around while they discuss their project, their work methods and their finds. (Note the deeply-moved pleasure with which each new advance is greeted. We should all be as lucky in our jobs.) Animation segments depict the temple as it must have looked in its heyday, complete with processional roads and sacred festivals.

The story of the temple's eventual downfall is a useful reminder of the fleeting nature of religions. Once upon a time multitudes trembled before the might of their tutelary goddess, building a temple of finest marble. For a long time the area resounded with music, poetry, vows - and in a less romantic register, with the bellows of animals to be slaughtered. Later generations were to drag away the building material in order to erect walls, houses and Christian churches.

Much recommended to all those interested in the history of the Western world and in Classical Greek civilization.

What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969)

Beware of genteel ladies who garden

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

A new widow is quite disappointed to learn that her husband left her only a few personal effects. Determined to keep up appearances she turns to killing for profit. The respective victims disappear into her garden. But after a while people begin to ask questions...

"What ever happened to aunt Alice ?" is an enjoyable thriller, notable mainly for the battle of wits between the anti-heroine protagonist and her female nemesis. The said battle of wits allows two fine actresses - Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon - to draw sparks off each other. (One gets the impression they had a lot of fun in the process.)

The movie's characterizations are not a model of subtle, understated nuance. Still, they deliver an impressively nasty villainess who's willing to walk over corpses in order to safeguard a well-off existence complete with servants and cocktail hours. When it comes to making a buck anything goes, from cadging free samples over stealing Bibles to committing premeditated murder. Eventually the character will discover, ironically enough, that she had been neglecting a major source of income right under her nose - but enough said, I won't spoil the final reveal for you.

There's an interesting motif about growing trees in the middle of a near-desert. It made me think of the famous line about April being the cruellest month.

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1975 TV Movie)

heart-wrenching drama about a World War II catastrophe

[9/10 · 13 April 2024]

"It's a lovely day tomorrow" is a dramatization of a real-life catastrophe, to wit the 1943 Bethnal Green tube disaster. It is a respectful dramatization, in the sense that it examines the disaster without exploiting it. There's no cheap sensationalism to be found here, only a careful, sensitive recreation of events. Made with great attention to details concerning clothing, music, social habits and the like, "It's a lovely day tomorrow" rings deeply, painfully true.

The movie begins with a London family losing its house due to German bombing. The family moves in with the old grandmother, who is kind though set in her ways. This new neighborhood too suffers badly, what with the poor inhabitants getting frightened out of their wits by frequent air raids and alarms. The opening up of the Bethnal Green tube facilities seems to answer the neighborhood's prayers for a large, deep and well-equipped shelter, but a terrible danger lies in wait. Eventually many members of this close-knit community will find not safety, but death.

In my humble opinion "It's a lovely day tomorrow" should be made into required viewing for all people tasked with designing, maintaining and managing access facilities to large-scale public structures. But most of all the movie should be made into required viewing for all pundits and politicians foolish enough to speak about war with jolly optimism. Here, one sees an example of the true price to be paid during wartime : scores and scores of civilians, many of them women and children, who die of suffocation amidst a gargantuan tangle of limbs.

For a long time the Bethnal Green tragedy did not get a lot of official recognition, probably as a result of wartime secrecy prolonging itself through the decades. Recently a simple but moving monument has been erected. Called "Stairway to heaven", it perpetuates the names of the deceased.

In the Palm of Your Hand (1951)

spellbinding

[9/10 · 10 April 2024]

A fraudulent clairvoyant called Professor Karin makes his living through various dishonest schemes. Much of his information comes to him courtesy of his female accomplice, who works in a beauty parlor humming with gossip. When Karin learns that a prodigiously rich man has died, he looks for a way to turn the situation to his advantage, for instance by putting the screws on the new widow...

"En la palma de tu mano" is an outstanding noir made in Mexico. The movie tells a tale about a scoundrel getting dragged ever deeper into a whirlpool of lust, deceit and greed. The various twists are cunning and the final one deserves cinematic immortality.

Our fake clairvoyant makes for an interesting protagonist. As a complex individual - some fine acting here, by the way - he is capable not only of blackmail, but also of generous kindness. It will make his eventual downfall amidst guilt and shame all the more terrible.

The Mexican origin of the movie delivers a nice change in terms of cultural background and aesthetic sensibilities. Still, it is remarkable how much the theatrical panoply of "soothsayers", "mediums" and "clairvoyants" looks alike, all over the world. It's also remarkable how little this panoply has changed over the decades.

Fun note : I hail from the northern half of Belgium and in this part of the world "Karin" is a girl's name, just like its equivalents "Karina" or "Carine".