Mariposas Verdes (2017)

I like it ( against its obvious sins )

Against large unrealism, I like it very much. The motif - the themes explored, indeed, not so smart but decent with some indulgence of viewer. I like it for the posters with Albert Einstein , Beatles and Julio Cortazar ( loving Rayuela ).

Indeed, strong temptation to be critic about Mariposas Verdes, including for politic side. But the fist of themes, from buying, teachers addicted by rules and using them for revenge, homosexual romance and manipulation of homophob father by principal, human rights, divorced parent interested by material prosperity of child, rape and blackmail of overweight student by her mate, suicid and the fresh reactions of teens , like the final are motives to see it not so sever and appreciated the reasonable acting, the generous intentions of director.

F1H1B (2024)

gray routine

A young Indian man in United States. Working, dreaming to cinama career, hoping helping his family, accepting, with resignation, the routine of every new day.

Desiring a larger life , like in childhood, fascinating being by the films on screen of theater.

And being full conscient about the limitations of his situation.

Beautiful acting, provocative final and high realism making this short film more than portrait of immigrant. It is a story recognizing in it many from us , in a job working as a kind of cage , limitated, far by youth plans and dreams. And this makes special F1H1B as a personal story sketch, precise crafted, for the fair performance of Vishv Gupta. Some melancholia, some reflection kick.

Foreigners Only (2023)

to obtain an apartment

More than good short horror, tool of a powerful message about Bangladesh social reality.

A tannery worker searches an apartment. The landlords refuse him for the poor aspect, obvious skin desease but, in special, because the rent is only for foreigners. His profesion suggests to poor man a solution to solve this problem. A naked form of discrimination in farmacy offers the occasion to put the solution in fact.

And it works , unfortunately, more than well, being the way to obtain not only the key of apartment but the interest, maybe affection to, of his ex girlfriend.

Exactly the social message matters and it is served by story and image, not ignoring performance, in inspired manner.

Portrait of Fear (2024)

beautiful crafted

A young woman regrets the death of her sister. In night, frontb to the photo of beloved lost , she exprims, in some measure, the wish to see her again.

And the desire tends become reality, from the door to the chair and sounds in wall.

The encounter is not late but it is very different by expectations of young woman , representing more a trap from maleficent presence who seems transform in captive the soul of sister.

Beautiful short film, from sound to acting and image , some well used predactibility of story, impecable crafted thrill .

And the cold - dark final, expected, indeed, but inspired in each detail of it.

Bean Feasa (2022)

a boy must be saved

A young farmacist meets a friend who looks for help, for her young boy, from the mother of farmacist.

The daughter has tensioned relation with her mom, healer, accusing her by de death ogf her father. But the events of cure are so intense than she discovers the dark truth, her contribution to a ritual of exorcism becoming essential for save the boy grace radical measure.

An Irish film, about Irish mythology, in Irish language being the dialogue.

Beautiful crafted atmosphere, interesting performances, fair dose of realism in the heart ofsupernatural story. Not last, wise exploration of an old world and the nice transformation of skeptical young woman.

The Fabelmans (2022)

admirable at whole

I wanted to see this film without know the motif. Not publicity, not director were the reasons. But a return to the pure freedom of childhood, intense life of teenager period, the fire of passion of youth.

And, indeed, for this reasons, it is a masterpiece.

The second essential virtue is the performance. And the fine craft of storz and the image of antisemitism expressions and the confession of bully. And, sure, the final is just great in each detail.

A confession, no doubts, honest, direct and usefull for audience especially as reflection of him.

A very personal Steven Spielberg . And magnificent craft for each character .

So, just great.

The Last Vigil (2024)

Ryan

A college student discovers, in presumed Easter Eve, a letter. Everyone has gone away. He is the last man on earth. And its guardian, admiring and protecting its beauty.

Sure, exists an alternative and he maz be with the other. But the hope of the writer of letter is Ryan option were to remain.

It is a poetic sketch, no doubts. But one admirable crafted for remind to audience small, significant things. Difficult to not appreciate it as a sort of manifesto, tender, seductive, delicate, to see , in real way, the near reality and appreciate the life.

I admitt, I like it very much as one of beautiful stories about essential seed of happiness.

Taste in Music (2023)

man against keyboard

A cosmic storm. A music producer in a cabin, alone. The effect ofstorm on musical instrument , reminding old fashion B horrors of 50 s.

A dark comedy with a lot of blood, a carnivore keyboard , a hammer and crowned not exactly by happy end - but nice for reference to the brave knight of fairy tales.

Seductive acting, good thrill, some smiles and a story difficult to be great but working as decent joke. And , sure, portrait of a surviver - if the hammers are more powerful- .

The good point - the hand eated by keyboard. The not the most inspired - maybe predactibility. But delicious for fans of genre for chain of cliches.

Oddities (2023)

few significant virtues

The basic joy proposed by this film is to see, again, Adrienne Barbeau offering her admirable performance as owner of antiques shop, knowing about her clients more than thez imagine, being less vulnerable than two thieves hope be.

And creating for her dolls collection , not so impressive than can be, new aquisitions.

The second good point is the shop itself for the few pieces discovered by camera. Not the last, a good point is the object desired by thieves couple - a mirror. Not last, the powerful conection between husband and wife and, sure, the terrible punishment against the young couple.

In short, well crafted horror.

Conclave (2024)

beautiful. it is only matters fact

To write too much about this film seems unfair . You admire the cast and each performance , Ralph Fiennes offering new beautiful demonstration of his art.

You appreciate the details, clothes, atmosphere. But, not being admirer of the books of Richard Harris, I feel some scenes/ situations forced or just fake at whole.

Sure, progressive tendency - not so surprising.

Sure, coruption, dark secrets, intense fight for power. Not pretty original. But the inspired presence ( and performance of Isabella Rosellini ) or the effort to discover the truth of cardinal Lawrence are good points.

Strange, bizarre, pure eccentric ( unrealistic at whole ) is the medical problem of cardinal Benitez reminding a sort of version of pope Joan.

But it is a beautiful film and this real matters.

Dans le noir (2023)

becoming free

The imigration is a generous subject and this is proved by this short film, reflecting the life of a zoung Guinean man in France. The support , not free at whole, of a Senegalese dandy, the work in a restaurant, where he is appreciated and the memories about a friend dzing in effort to cross the mediteranean sea are motives for assume the life bz his forces , leaving from paris and defining his free life.

Not exactlz another storz about a guy looking for better life but a smart exploration of survive in a radical different world. Familiar details, not new scenes . But the final remains full hopefull.

Mère de ma mère (2023)

Djenaba

Djenaba is a 12 years old girl preocuped to be the guardian angel of her instable emotional mother. The addiction bz her boyfriend, who only use her offers to young girl occasion to cook , to invite in town and have some nice moments with her mom, to opose to the man who abuses her mother , to be near her .

The first virtue - the realism of story.

The second good point - the beautiful performances, especially young Roya Bacar. A sad story about new status in family of a child and her maturity, contested by adults, asumed in total manner by the girl.

The gift of film - to inspire reflection about ordinary aspect from near reality.

Avant-Garde (2021)

a poor Mexican sculpture

It reminds the series gendarm with Louis de Funes. In same measure, it uses the Franco- German tensions in a teenager manner.

A German art specialist will expose a sculpture at a French exhibition. But , at the border, a young custom agent, vigilent, bored, not so clever becomes more than suspicious about sculpture. Sure, easy to see it as reference to Brancusi at American border. He calls his boss, not more inteligent. And the poor sculpture, examined too drastic, has a not brilliant fate.

Sure, easy irony about French antipathz or about their bureaucracy or about the not very smart agents of custom.

But the performances are the axis of this short film inspiring some smiles.

Un Week-end (2023)

melancholia

A ten years old boy has the chance to be with his father, less known, two days. A time difficult for both but recreating a significant connection grace to a Captain America shield to the game with paddles on beach.

A great short film for its high dose of realism and for honest perspective about a relation unique at whole.

Beautiful, in profound sense, it is a good remind about real significant things. Nice performances, well crafted atmosphere, smart touch of melancholia, defined, especially , by the some predictable end.

Interesting exploration of a relation escaping to definitions ; fair image of its lights and shadows.

Treizor (2023)

the poor Antoine

A man preocuped by the obsession of his son for the number 13. The schrink listen, writes, draw. And formulates questions for so preocuped father , more enthusiastic than reasonable measure.

But the son, who becomes a sort of lab rat for both men express not so pleasant feelings. Ignored, with some sadic touch by medic, with inconscience by his old man.

The end seems pretty dramatic.

Sure, round irony about a schrink victim of routine and indifference about his clients , becoming a sort of caricaturist and a father who , with naif intentions, hopes to cure his boy from his 13 children. The repetition of number is the axis of story, like the cruel tres ( very ) used by medic against vulnerable young man.

In some measure, good remind of Ion Luca Caragiale s Momente or only touch of Cehov.

Fraîche (2022)

in subway, violent reaction

A mature lady, hostess of literary radio show. After show, in subway, she has a very violent reaction to the offer of a young woman to give her seat. At home , some clues become pretty clear for the fury reaction , from the preocupation of husband for steps of flamenco to the son who is in very - very short visit to his parents, pressed by more important tasks.

Three source of beauty in the case of this short film:

• the realism of situation ;
• the performance of Tcheky Karyo and Pascale Arbillot;
• the image of routine;

• the presence of part of us being far to be calm after a job day , in this case a text about oldness having the potential to be not so pleasant for a not so young lady;
• the loneliness ;
• the interrupt of her thoughts and the feeling of proposition of young woman as a sort of insult , irony, cruel blague .

L'attente (2022)

becoming parent

Fot Celine, the birth of child of her wife is a thing absolutely neew, strange, provocative , perceived with enough supperficiality. Starting with the amusement about a young couple in case who the pregnancy of lady is obstacle for free movements, like the pains, it ends with the status of witness to the birth of girl of Jeanne.

Theoretic , the talk with two men , in same situation like her , expecting the birth of child changes something in her perspective. But her immaturity is difficult to be modified, the picture of her wife, like the joy to take a break reflecting this.

In essence, the way to become parents of a lesbian couple. In practic, the perception of the change of status, reflected by the dialogue with the two men and the traits of the new beginning.

The Vice (2024)

the too late

A religious film , for cross, for image of death more familiar as devil, the judgment who seems contrary of expected one and the fire of end, reminding, so well, the Hell.

But it is only a portrait of consequences, easy ignored, of our life style. Nothing complicated, nothing new . Only a sort of useful remind , precious for details , for image and for acting , Akil Wingate and Dave Lee proposing inspired exploration of their characters.

A short film about a lonely venerable man, refugied in alcohol,Christian believer , living with memory of a terrible car accident.

And the too late for him.

The precious detail, for me, the picture of of Lillian Gish.

The First Omen (2024)

reasonable

When you discovers Charles Dance and Bill Nighy on poster of film, what als can will matter ?

When the promiss of story of Damien birth is promised, why you ignore it ?

The basic measure is to have moderate expectation about this film. Because jackal, too long introduction, the resurrected priest for warn the young mother, the touch of lesbianism ,the not so surprising twist, the sister and the promise of a series . But it is decent and the photo of Gregory Peck, like the name of boy are good points for not indifferents about Omen series, like me.

Difficult, part not fair, to reproche too much to The First Omen. It has nice to spectacular special effects, few lovely scenes and a coherent story- indeed, not the real expected one. The dessapointment, in my case, it is a horror like many others from last decades , less, with few tea spoon indulgence the old fashion Omen.

Le Coffre (2023)

a demon hunter. her succubus

Who can resist to the charme of Firmine Richard ? In this short film, she is just great as demon hunter , with bad luck of gay fantasies of her son and an taser used not proper.

A nice short comedy about the curiosity, naivety and passion for Bruce Lee ( and maybe not only ) , the contain of a car truck in a deserted parking lot, a mother too actif and a venerable man seducing a young lady .

Nice crafted, subtle challenge to viewer for define his...fantasies, a paranormal short film or , better, a seductive portrait of connection between a venerable lady and her adult son , provocative, amusing, pretty crazy.

La charge mentale (2023)

to be man

A phone conversation between Celine and her mother is source of high tension for Denis- his virility is contested by his mother in law , then about his friends. A marriage race seems proper solution to proof than he is a real man.

But it is not so simple, against hard training and the nice feelings for his wife.

The sketch of win speech is discovered by Celine who decides to participate to contest and help, in pretty original manner, her husband.

A charming French comedy about love, the perspective of others about a couple and the way to define the manhood as expression of couple life. In short, touching and just seductive kick to reflection, especially grace to final and inspired acting.

Mavi Magara (2024)

interesting crafted story

The basic virtue is the construction of story. And, sure, the beginning of romance, the promisse of retirement , the blue cave as symbol and the smart use of ambiguity.

Not ignoring the acting.

A love story like so many others. The nice intention to give to it a personal touch and a not dessapointed result , the crumbs of fairy tale of relation between marine officer and his future wife , archeologist, looking just fine, especially for the way of hero to truth and the meetings with the significant people of his past.

Not memorable but, obvious, more than nice.

And, in essence, this is the most significant thing defining it.

Omen IV: The Awakening (1991)

decent

Obviois noble intentions for sequel series and a decent result offering confirmation than, with Omen III all was said.

Nothing special repeated situations, characters and some cliches , a girl and her dark story, parents in delicate situations, not real thrill or tension but , after you know the first parts or series, difficult to discover surprises.

I liked the young nun and her scrupules about girl. I liked the presence ( and performance ) of Michael Lerner and Don S. Davis.

And, indeed, my expectations were not very high about this film. I appreciated the effort to craft a coherent story and the little girl work. And , I suppose, this matters in real sense.

So, decent.

The Final Conflict (1981)

the last part

It was the first film of Sam Neill cinematographyc career who I saw. And , like in case of previews parts , I was impressed.

After decades, the main good point remains the performances, Lisa Harrow proposing a fair, well nuanced portrait of her characters and Sam Neill being , against some mannierism, the expected adult Damien.

The problem are the monks who must kill the Antichrist and the use of diggers.

Interesting - the pray of Damien in what seems his real father chapel and the speech to his people.

Compassion for poor foxes and appreciation for use of cultural references . The last part - this is its status and this makes useless the comparation with previews parts.

Milk (2018)

in late night

A barefoot teenager in kitchen for some milk. Near window , his mother . Her words , the sounds from a room, the apparition of a creature with baby in arms, the change of color of milk and a sort of test.

Beautiful performance of Cameron Brodeur, inspired cinematography, fair dose of realism and familiar ingredients of horror.

A film admirable crafted , this is the simple definition for Milk, the expression of face of son being axis of level to discover a mysterious reality who transforms him in part of it.

A film about relation mother - son, about apparences and truth and about night as frame to radical changes.