Magasiskola [The Falcons] (1970) -
From the director of
Dead Landscape! An indictment of Communism hidden in a simple story about falconers living in a Great Hungarian Plain. Falcons are majestic creatures, but they're held captive and trained to do exactly what's expected from them. A newcomer is quite eager to become a falconer himself, but quickly becomes disillusioned with falconry, which has its climax in a beautiful scene of him catching a wild falcon. Pretty photography of the steppes, wild life, landscapes...
黒い河 [Black River] (1956) -
Nakadai's vilest role I've seen! He plays an absolutely despicable son of a bitch who rapes, beats, abuses women, and does some legal trickery to deprive the poor of accommodation! It's a strong film by Masaki Kobayashi whose next effort will be his magnum opus
The Human Condition - a film that talks about people during war;
Black River talks about Japan after war - a poor, dilapidated country inhabited by damaged people. A great film, but hardly an uplifting one!
A Foreign Affair (1948) -
A minor Wilder, but such an entertaining film! I'm not too big on Dietrich, but she's good. So is Jean Arthur who's quite cute in this nerdy kind of way. I'm starting to really appreciatethe impeccable writing of these old, classic Hollywood films, too. Didn't find it particularly laugh out loud funny, but surely appreciated the witticisms. I guess I'll have to watch more Wilder flicks! Even his lesser films are soooo enjoyable!
Córki dancingu [The Lure] (2015) -
A decent Polish film with some solid visuals and popping music. A horror musical! The dichotomy between the prevalent hate for this film in Poland, and the unexpected love in the West (released in Criterion Collection - WTF?!) is intriguing. Those siren tails really reminded me of snake tails in
Green Snake, but surely two wan Slavs can't compete with Maggie and Joey - two absolutely stunning Chinese beauties. I wish the film was even crazier and more out there! I want a scene of those sirens and that aquarius slaughtering everybody to some pumping music, and then having a wild threesome while bathing in blood and guts! I... I mean... we want to be edgy, right? So let's be! In all seriousness, though, it's good such films are being made in Poland!
戒厳令 [Coup d'etat] (1973) -
Every time I watch a Yoshida I'm first convinced I'm watching the best-looking film ever, only to be reminded that I'd indeed seen a more visually stunning film, and it was also directed by Yoshida! I didn't find this one too interesting plotwise, but the cinematography is sooooooooooooo good.
অশনি সংকেত [Distant Thunder] (1973) -
Quite a touching, down-to-earth Ray film on the Great Bengal famine of 1943. It might be a little bit rough around the edges, but it surely makes up for it with the story and Ray's humanism!
A Dança dos Paroxismos (1929) -
A Portuguese take on French Impressionist Cinema - a direct tribute to Marcel L'Herbier! The camera is absolutely free in this, and it's a pleasure to see such unchained, experimental cinematography! The story is so poetic and fairy tale-ish, too.
Flicka och hyacinter [Girl with Hyacinths] (1950) -
Swedish Citizen Kane! Just as cold and objective as the Welles film, but the final twist is so much better and more subversive than the Rosebud one!
恐怖雞 [The Intruder] (1997) -
A solid CAT III offering that felt more like one of those bloody Korean thrillers than an actual Category III film. Produced by Johnnie To, which resulted in a little bit too polished and mainstream a look. You see, I prefer my CATs rough and dirty! Still, the story is engaging and not devoid of scuzz. I only wish it had more sleaze!
Mirage (1965) -
Absolutely delightful! Loved the mystery of it and C̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶G̶r̶a̶n̶t̶ Gregory Peck (thanks, @
mark f) character's struggle to find out who he is. Even the supporting characters are quite vivid and have some punch to them. They all have their own motivations. For example, the thugs want to get G̶r̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶ Peck not only because they've been paid to, but also because they want to retaliate for him beating them up earlier. The first two thirds of the film are absolutely perfect, so when the solution starts to slowly unfold, one can be nothing but disappointed. Not that there is anything particularly wrong with the denouement, but it only induced a "Oh, okay." reaction from me. Still, a really great film, and for what it's worth, I prefer it to most Hitchcock.
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933) -
A dubious soap opera romance, but the cinematography is ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS, and it successfully overshadows the shallowness of the story. I found the final bits of the film quite problematic, because:
WARNING: "The Bitter Tea of General Yen" spoilers below
1. He basically kidnapped her just to make her his (because he got bored with the Chinese girl) - just like the corny tagline says, in the end he lost, but at least he conquered the woman. That's all she was to him. A conquest.
2. She... well, she basically had erotic dreams about him back when she only knew him for not giving a flying damn if he ran over a boy, or not, because "in China human life has the least worth", or something, right when they're shooting people behind the window! But yeah, he was handsome, so sure. I don't mind her falling in love with him only on the basis of his good looks, but I do mind her actually begging for it (with the good ole Christian preaching reluctance just for show) just when you can clearly see he's not exactly a prince charming to put it lightly - and all of that even if you consider she wasn't aware of his ruse.
And yet the ending suggests a powerful love, and a great tear-worthy romance of the century.It's quite cool the characters are not perfect, but it's still bothersome how it was portrayed.
1. He basically kidnapped her just to make her his (because he got bored with the Chinese girl) - just like the corny tagline says, in the end he lost, but at least he conquered the woman. That's all she was to him. A conquest.
2. She... well, she basically had erotic dreams about him back when she only knew him for not giving a flying damn if he ran over a boy, or not, because "in China human life has the least worth", or something, right when they're shooting people behind the window! But yeah, he was handsome, so sure. I don't mind her falling in love with him only on the basis of his good looks, but I do mind her actually begging for it (with the good ole Christian preaching reluctance just for show) just when you can clearly see he's not exactly a prince charming to put it lightly - and all of that even if you consider she wasn't aware of his ruse.
And yet the ending suggests a powerful love, and a great tear-worthy romance of the century.It's quite cool the characters are not perfect, but it's still bothersome how it was portrayed.
I know they couldn't have cast an Asian actor as the lead, but it doesn't change the fact Asther looks really silly in yellow face - not to mention the ridiculous eyebrows! And the Fu Manchu reference during the dream scene was most unexpected and quite amusing if farsical! Kudos they at least cast a Japanese (albeit very Chinese-looking) lady instead of another yellow face!