As the year staggers and teeters to a close, it is time for the movie buffs to drink a glass of masala buttermilk and compile year end lists. I didn't see that many 2015 releases, So I am offering a list of some very good foreign films that I saw this year. These films provided experiences I treasure.
1. Loft: Here is a gem from Belgium. One of the best mystery thrillers that I have seen recently. It meets my criteria of the "Best twist films". The film unfolds like a good puzzle about a murder and I am sure that you will not guess what really is happening. Yet, when they explain everything in the end, it comes as a surprise but it all makes perfect sense. Hallmark of a good whodunnit movie.
2. Omar: What do you need to make a good thriller film? Stars? Big budget? Explosions? Chases? Thumping music? No. All you need is a good story. Here is a stunning low budget film by Palestinian film-maker Hany Abu-Assad. I was waiting for this film as I had loved his previous film Paradise now which was about Suicide bombers.
Story takes place in the Israeli occupied places in West bank. Hero is a youngster who has his childhood friends and loves a girl, he also happens to be a freedom fighter/Terrorist. Film starts leisurely and then the tension starts building slowly. The last one hour is so gripping, suspenseful and tense. This is easily one of the best films in recent times.
Story takes place in the Israeli occupied places in West bank. Hero is a youngster who has his childhood friends and loves a girl, he also happens to be a freedom fighter/Terrorist. Film starts leisurely and then the tension starts building slowly. The last one hour is so gripping, suspenseful and tense. This is easily one of the best films in recent times.
3. Mother of mine: 70000 Finnish children were sent to Sweden during During world war II, this is the story of one such kid who has to leave his mother and stay with strangers. A mother and son type of emotional story. Very touching and captivating.
4. Halima's path: Those who liked "Incendies" which was about the horrors of the war in Lebanon will like this. A deeply moving portrayal of the heartbreaking consequences of Bosnian war, a very touching, human story of love,loss and discovery. Keep your kerchiefs ready.
5. Divided we fall: A terrific film from Czechoslovakia. What an amazing, virtually unknown, gem! It deals with a Czech family during the German occupation of World War II who hide a Jew in their home. The characters are fleshed out and portrayed in a way that is deeply involving.
6. Captain Abu Raed: This is a film from Jordan. It is the story of of an Airport janitor who picks a captain's hat from the trash bin one day and walks back home. Kids in the neighbourhood assume that he must be a captain, from there it becomes a character based drama on how his relationship with the kids changes.
Film has a distinctly middle eastern flavours. It sort of reminds you of the Iranian films of Majidi Majidi and Makmalbaf. It is a humanistic story about suffering, wisdom, forgiveness and sacrifice told in an endearing manner. The pace is is unhurried and leisurely. Slow pacing works nicely for the movie. It is a low budget film , it is simple and charmingly so.
Film has a distinctly middle eastern flavours. It sort of reminds you of the Iranian films of Majidi Majidi and Makmalbaf. It is a humanistic story about suffering, wisdom, forgiveness and sacrifice told in an endearing manner. The pace is is unhurried and leisurely. Slow pacing works nicely for the movie. It is a low budget film , it is simple and charmingly so.
7. Balzac and the Chinese seamstress: It is about two Chinese male teens sent to a remote Mountain village in China to be re-educated about Communism. It is a meditation on power of stories and books. It is about the magical quality of books to really bring your fantasy to things you will never see in real life.
8. Barfuss: This is a romantic comedy from Germany. Nice lighthearted fun. Story is a about a loser falling for a mentally ill girl. It has the right mix of emotions and gags to make it a good entertaining watch. An interesting and funny love story.
9. He loves me loves me not: A French thriller.It stars Audrey Tautou whose on screen image is that of a cutie, quirky, sweety pie(Mainly because of Amelie).
It starts as a love story but morphs into something else, I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it. It is told cleverly in a non-linear style. There are sufficient twists and turns in the series of events to keep the viewer intensely interested and wanting more.
It starts as a love story but morphs into something else, I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't seen it. It is told cleverly in a non-linear style. There are sufficient twists and turns in the series of events to keep the viewer intensely interested and wanting more.
10. The Raid 2: Berandal - Indonesian. Finally watched this sequel on which I was having a goni cheela(sack) full of expectations. Raid redemption had my adrenalin pumping like never before. Like in Ong Bak or Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films here also entire film was just an excuse to show the fighting skills of hero and other characters. What I had liked was the way the tension got escalated. Tension would keep mounting every 5 minutes. That way this film is quite different. This one actually tries to go the Infernal affairs/Departed way and tries to tell a story. So there are just 4-5 fights.
The last 2-3 fights were awesome and completely had me stunned. Good characters and some real bad-ass, stunningly choreographed and executed fights make it worthwhile.
The last 2-3 fights were awesome and completely had me stunned. Good characters and some real bad-ass, stunningly choreographed and executed fights make it worthwhile.
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