Well, I guess I'll join everybody in sharing some of the ones that didn't make it from my list...
#24. A LATE QUARTET
(2012, Zilberman)
"For us, it means that playing for so long without pause, our instruments must in time go out of tune, each in its own quite different way. It's a mess. What are we supposed to do? Stop? or struggle, to continuously adjust to each other up to the end, even if we are out of tune? I don't know."
A film about the inner struggles of a string quartet comprised of middle aged musicians? (BOOORIIIIING!) Surely one might think so, only that it's not; at least for me. I saw this a couple of years ago to complete one of my challenges. The main draw for me was Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays the second violin from the quartet, but you also get Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and the underseen Mark Ivanir as the other members, and they're all great as the film follows the internal conflicts that come to the surface when one of them is diagnosed with an illness. The result is a very mature and finely acted film about professional jealousy, aging, and life regrets.
#23. MARLINA THE MURDERER IN FOUR ACTS
(2017, Sourya)
"Women, you all love playing victim."
A couple of pages back, @
pahaK brought up the surge of Indonesian horror lately, but the surge seems to be in Indonesian cinema in general; or at least that's what I can get from this gorgeously shot, meditative film. It follows the struggles of a woman in trying to find justice after being robbed and assaulted by a gang. Directed by Moulin Surya, the film puts forward the impotence of the character in handling her situation, as well as the differences in gender politics in the country and within law enforcement, while also playing as a bit of a road film/revenge thriller. The film is a hell of a slow burn, but it works damn well since the film has been stuck with me since I saw it a couple of years ago.
#22. THE LUNCHBOX
(2013, Batra)
"Somwhere I read that the wrong train can lead you to the right station..."
This is one I think I brought up in a previous countdown, but it has become a personal favorite and one that I often recommend, based in just how touching and lovely it is. The film follows two people (Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur) that get involved in an endearing note exchange through a mistake with Mumbai's lunch delivery system. I love how, even though its kinda marketed as a romcom, it takes a more introspective look into relationships and age. Both leads are wonderful, and the film is just one that makes me smile.
Seen:
72/95