Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Maysoon Pachachi
Bruce says: “RETURN TO THE LAND OF WONDERS is a documentary about what is going on in Iraq today. The filmmaker’s father is Adnan Pachachi who has lived in exile for 35 years. He is one of the key people
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Rating: 3.6
Director: Jessica Yu
Bruce says: “Henry Darger (1892-1973, pronounced Darjur) became the darling of the outsider art world about a decade or so ago. The film begins with a query, ‘Am I a real enemy of the cross or a sorry Saint?’ This
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Ye Lou
Starring: Tôru Nakamura | Ye Liu | Yuanzheng Feng | Ziyi Zhang
Bruce says: “Costume dramas are not my favorite genre especially ones such as PURPLE BUTTERFLY that have the look and feel of a Banana Republic ad. That may sound a bit harsh, but I have serious reservations as to whether
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Starring: Ali Suliman | Ashraf Barhom | Hiam Abbass | Kais Nashef | Lubna Azabal
Bruce says: “This simple story is about two Palestinian childhood friends who decide to become suicide bombers. The story may be simple but the issues are not. For over thirty years terrorism has been a major issue in Israel. Israel
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Péter Gárdos
Starring: Judit Németh | Lajos Bertók | Sándor Csányi
Bruce says: “Based on three short stories by Ervin Lázár, THE PORCELAIN DOLL consists of three distinct vignettes related thematically. Director Péter Gárdos, who also wrote the screenplay, draws on Hungarian history and culture to tell his tales. ‘Hungary,’ as
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.375
Director: Todd Solondz
Starring: Debra Monk | Ellen Barkin | Jennifer Jason Leigh | Matthew Faber | Richard Masur | Sharon Wilkins
Hilary says: “Not quite as aggressively offensive as HAPPINESS or STORYTELLING, but overall PALINDROMES is one unpleasant viewing experience.” 1 cat Rick says: “Oh for crying out loud, why is it that so few people seem to like PALINDROMES?!
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Keren Yedaya
Starring: Dana Ivgy | Meshar Cohen | Ronit Elkabetz
Bruce says: “What happens when the child is forced to care for the parent? After all, that is what eventually happens to most of us. The tables turn. We tend to our aging parents, then in turn, our children care
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Rating: 2 cats
Director: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Hye-jeong Kang | Ji-tae Yu | Min-sik Choi
Thom says: “I’m really quite curious why this film has been so lauded. With Quentin Tarentino having long established the hatred and insidiousness of the ‘revenge’ film, this had the dubious distinction of trying to go one step further. This
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.9
Director: Andrew Horn
Chris says: “Whenever I write a music review, I usually end up drawing clever/lazy comparisons to other artists, but I honestly wouldn’t know where to begin with Klaus Nomi. A beguiling figure in New York’s new wave scene in the
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Campbell Scott
Starring: Amy Brenneman | J.D. Garfield | J.K. Simmons | Joan Allen | Sam Elliott | Valentina de Angelis
Michael says: “The solo directorial effort by actor Campbell Scott (he co-directed BIG NIGHT) is a meditation on place, looking at the mystical, transformative powers of New Mexico through a quiet, quirky family drama. Eleven-year-old Bo plans her getaway from
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