Emrouz [Today] (2014)

Drugi naslovi: Today

Slo naslov: -  

Država: Iran

Leto: 2014

Dolžina: 88' ,  Imdb

Žanri: Drama  

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Reza Mirkarimi

Scenarij: Reza Mirkarimi, Shadmehr Rastin

Igrajo: Parviz Parastui, Soheila Golestani, Shabnam Moghadami, Roozbeh Hesari

[ENG]

A Tehran taxi driver becomes the impromptu protector of a desperate young pregnant woman after he rushes her to hospital, in this delicate, deceptively small-scale drama from award-winning Iranian director Reza Mirkarimi.

In Iranian cinema's classic tradition of character-driven, deceptively small-scale drama, award-winning director Reza Mirkarimi's Today chronicles a brief but stirring encounter between two strangers.

In the middle of a bustling Tehran afternoon, as taxi driver Youness (Parviz Parastui) quietly ends his shift, he is accosted by a desperate new fare: a frantic young woman named Sedigheh (Soheila Golestani, in a delicate debut performance), begging to be taken to the hospital. A man of few words, Youness retains his stoic composure despite the young woman's visible distress. Upon their arrival at the hospital he reluctantly escorts her inside in the absence of accompanying family members. As personal secrets are revealed throughout the night, his silent compassion and Sedigheh's timid dependence will entwine.

Intimate and understated, Today is a profound testament to the enduring power of empathy and fellow feeling in an increasingly cruel and prejudicial world. With a pair of absorbing performances, Parastui and Golestani draw the viewer gradually in, painting a highly sympathetic portrait of suffering in the context of a seemingly uncaring environment. Mirkarimi structures his narrative with a balanced, emotional rhythm, slowly and skilfully disclosing his characters' backstories as he observes them with the objectivity for which contemporary Iranian filmmaking is renowned. Today is a magnificent example of the power of film, suffused with the deeply penetrating insight of a compassionate and exceptionally talented filmmaker. (Review by Dimitri Eipides, TIFF.net)

Director’s Statement

I wanted to make a film about people who help others without knowing them and whose anonymity remains once help has been rendered; an anonymity which also exists for the cinema audience. Such a dimension is built on a minimum of dialogue, as speech is often a source of misunderstanding. Saint-Exupéry feared war, but for me it’s my society’s moral crisis I fear the most. If  Night Flight‘s pilot ever became a taxi driver in Tehran’s megapolis, would he be able to remain silent confronted by all the slings and arrows of an exasperated society? Would he be able to take a pretty little flower to his world of solitude?

Ocena

Last Cab to Darwin (2015)

Slo naslov: - 

Država: Avstralija

Leto: 2015

Dolžina: 123',  Imdb

Žanri: Komedija, Drama, Romantični    

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Jeremy Sims

Scenarij: Jeremy Sims, Reg Cribb

Igrajo: Michael Caton, Jacki Weaver, Ningali Lawford, Mark Coles Smith, Emma Hamilton

[ENG]

Story

Rex drives a cab and has never left Broken Hill in his life. When he discovers he doesn't have long to live, he decides to drive across the heart of the country to Darwin, where he's heard he will be able to die on his own terms; but along the way he discovers that before you can end your life you've got to live it, and to live it you've got to learn to share it...

***********************************

The topic of euthanasia guides Last Cab to Darwin’s road trip across Australia, as a terminally ill taxi driver seeks to end his life. Adapting the play of the same name, actor-turned-writer/director Jeremy Sims balances sentiment, wry comedy and debate as he immerses audiences in a sensitive story. Jacki Weaver is the film’s biggest name outside its country of origin, where it premiered at the Sydney Film Festival; however a tender turn could see veteran performer Michael Caton follow her into the broader spotlight. (Sarah Ward, Screendaily)

Festivals, awards

• 2015, Sydney FF 
• 2015, Toronto, Contemporary World Cinema
• 2015, Busan, World Cinema
• 2015, 8 Australian Acadamy Award nominations

Ocena

Anomalisa (2015)

Slo naslov: - 

Država: ZDA

Leto: 2015

Dolžina: 90',  Imdb

Žanri: Animirani, Kodeija, Drama   

Slo recenzija: Filmoljub

Režija: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman

Scenarij: Charlie Kaufman

Igrajo: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan

[SLO]

/.../Prav to muči Michaela Stona (glas David Thewlis), družinskega očeta in moža, avtorja priročnika za samopomoč ter poslovnega specialista za delo s strankami, ki se leta 2005 za eno noč prijavi v hotelu Fregoli v Cincinnatiju, kjer naj bi imel naslednji dan strokovno predavanje pred občinstom. V resnici se za ljudi ne zmeni in mu jih ni pretirano mar, saj je preveč osredotočen nase ter svojo čudaško percepcijo: vsi drugi ljudje — razen pričesk in oblačil — imajo namreč enak obraz in zvenijo domala identično (glas Tom Noonan), bodisi moški, ženske ali otroci. Verižni kadilec Michael v hotelski sobi pripravlja svoj govor, konzumira pijače iz minibara in razmišlja o tem, da bi poklical nekdanje dekle izpred desetih let, ki živi v tistem mestu. Po neuspelem zmenku v hotelu po naključju naleti na gostjo, ki takoj pritegne njegovo pozornost, saj ima edina čisto svoj, ženstven glas (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Kljub temu, da ni prav brihtna, čedna in izobražena, ima nekaj kil odveč in brazgotino nad očesom, ga ženska nedoumljivo pritegne s svojo unikatnostjo. Izkaže se, da je tam službeno, prav zaradi njegove predstavitve. Lisa je preprosto "drugačna" od vseh: gre za nekakšno anomalijo. /.../Filmoljub

[ENG]

From the mind of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) comes Anomalisa, a tender, touching and achingly funny black comedy - filmed entirely in breathtaking stop motion animation.

Michael Stone, a husband, father and successful motivational speaker, is crippled by the mundanity of his life. On a business trip to a customer service convention in Cincinnati, he checks into his hotel and prepares to once more go through the motions. But this time a chance meeting with Lisa, an unassuming baked goods sales rep, throws the dullness into disarray and Michael feels he may have just met someone who can make a change...

Smart, humorously absurd and bracingly humane, Anomalisa is a technically stunning work of animation, beautifully orchestrated by co-director Duke Johnson and scored by Carter Burwell (Carol, In Bruges, Fargo). Drawing brilliant performances from David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tom Noonan, it sees Charlie Kaufman at his daring, dazzling best.

[RT Critics Consensus]

Anomalisa marks another brilliant and utterly distinctive highlight in Charlie Kaufman's filmography, and a thought-provoking treat for fans of introspective cinema.

Ocena

     

Hui guang zoumingqu [Exit] (2014)

Angleški naslov: Exit

Slo naslov: - 

Država: Tajvan

Leto: 2014

Dolžina: 94 ',  Imdb

Žanri: Drama   

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Hsiang Chienn

Scenarij: Hsiang Chienn

Igrajo: Shiang-chyi Chen, Ming-hsiang Tung, Ming Hwa Bai, May Hong

[ENG]

Storyline

Ling (Chen), a Taiwanese woman in her forties has just lost her job in a garment factory. She spends most of her time taking care of her hospital-bound mother- in-law. Her absent husband, working in Mainland China, never returns her calls and her rebellious teenage daughter pays no attention to her. Frustrated and weary, Ling is unexpectedly diagnosed with early-onset menopause after noticing her periods have stopped. Desperate to escape her mundane life, she becomes aware of an injured man with bandaged eyes in the hospital bed opposite her mother-in-law. Her increasingly intimate interactions with this stranger promise to rekindle Ling's dormant desire, leading to a series of out-of-character episodes. Flashed with moments of black humour, EXIT is a genuine portrait of a woman trapped between two generations, struggling between tradition and modern society.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's minimal dialogue throughout Exit's sombre saga of female alienation, with composition and mood articulating Ling's complicated surge of feelings, whilst the haunting murmur of a distant tango alludes to her mounting sexual desire. On top of this Hsiang's humid palette gives this claustrophobic portrait of urban living an airless quality, and as the narrative progresses the film becomes increasingly difficult to watch; like witnessing a mirage of a fragile life sliding silently through the cracks of society. Whilst themes of beauty, body image and sexual liberation fester like mildew, suffocating this stifling drama, Exit also aims to highlights China's tightening grip on Taiwan. A series of unanswered calls and the general absence of Ling's husband lingers menacingly in the background as a metaphor for China's rising economic prowess and subsequent disruptive effect on the fabric of Taiwan's working-class communities. However, it's ultimately Chen's nuanced and devastatingly poignant performance that lifts this slow burning study of gender inequality and female repression into a new stratosphere of filmmaking. (Patrick Gamble, CineVue)

Festivals

• 2014, Locarno International Film Festival 
• 2014, Vancouver International Film Festival 
• 2014, Busan International Film Festival 
• 2014, BFI London Film Festival

Ocena

Druid Peak (2014)

Slo naslov: - 

Država: ZDA

Leto: 2014

Dolžina: 111' ,  Imdb

Žanri: Drama   

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Marni Zelnick

Scenarij: Marni Zelnick

Igrajo: Spencer Treat Clark, Andrew Wilson, Rachel Korine, Lanna Joffrey, Rebecca L. Baldwin

[ENG]

Set against the backdrop of the wolf reintroduction program in Yellowstone National Park, Druid Peak is a coming of age story about a troubled teenage boy who finds a home tracking wolves in the wild lands of the Wyoming.

Sixteen year-old Owen isn’t just rebellious– he’s a bully with a mean streak. Growing up in coal country West Virginia, he struggles against the claustrophobia of small town life, lashing out against school and family. But when his actions lead to the death of a friend, Owen is sent to live with his estranged father, Everett, a biologist on Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction program.

lone-wolfAt first, Owen wants no part of this new life. Then he comes face to face with a Canadian grey wolf. The creature’s deep, penetrating gaze startles him, stirring something long dead inside his own self. Sensing the first signs of change in his son, Everett encourages Owen to collect some basic data about the wolf he saw and its family pack– the Druid Peak pack. Owen’s small assignment grows into a passion and his own life becomes deeply tied to the Druid Peak wolves and their struggle for survival. When a change in government policy threatens the animals, Owen must decide how far he will go to protect the wolves, his father and the place he has finally come to call home. A coming of age story with a conservation twist, Druid Peak is a film about the human soul’s need for wild things, and the challenges of holding onto them. (Via Official Site)

Ocena

Christmas, Again (2014)

Slo naslov: - 

Država: ZDA

Leto: 2014

Dolžina: 80',  Imdb

Žanri: Drama, Romantični   

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Charles Poekel

Scenarij: Charles Poekel

Igrajo: Kentucker Audley, Hannah Gross, Jason Shelton, Andrea Suarez Paz

[ENG]

For a fifth consecutive December, a heartbroken Noel returns to New York City to work the night shift at a sidewalk Christmas tree lot. Devoid of any holiday spirit, he struggles to stay awake during the long, chilly nights in his trailer, while the daytime traffic keeps him from getting any real rest. As he slowly spirals into despair, he comes to the aid of a mysterious young woman in the park. Her warming presence, matched with some colorful customers, help rescue him from self-destruction.

As Yuletide offerings go, Charles Poekel’s “Christmas, Again” might as well be called “It’s a So-So Life” — a downbeat but never outright depressing reminder that the holidays tend to look a lot less jolly from the vantage of those peddling Christmas cheer. Whereas David Sedaris made the same point with considerably more wit in “The Santaland Diaries,” this quiet, observational portrait of a taciturn young Christmas tree salesman stuck spending another December camping out on the streets of New York offers modest, VOD-scale pleasures, but is probably best viewed in the warmer months as the curious indie-movie anthropology study that it is. (Peter Debruge, Variety)

Ocena

A Perfect Day (2015)

Slo naslov: Popoln dan 

Država: Španija

Leto: 2015

Dolžina: 106',  Imdb

Žanri: Drama   

Slo recenzija: Mladina, Filmstart

Režija: Fernando León de Aranoa

Scenarij: Paula Farias, Fernando León de Aranoa, Diego Farias

Igrajo: Benicio Del Toro, Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko, Melanie Thierry, Fedja Štukan, Eldar Rešidović, Frank Feys

SLO

[Zgodba]

Leta 1995, nekje na Balkanu. Skupina humanitarnih delavcev skuša iz vodnjaka sredi vojnega območja odstraniti truplo. Če bo kontaminiralo vodnjak, bodo tamkajšnji prebivalci ostali brez pitne vode. Toda preprosta naloga se kmalu sprevrže v nemogočo misijo. Tisti, ki rešujejo humanitarno krizo, so vendar samo ljudje. Sophie je novinka in bi rada pomagala. Mambrú (Benicio del Toro) je videl preveč in si želi domov. Katja si je nekoč želela Mambrúja. Damir si želi, da bi bilo vojne konec. B (Tim Robbins) pa ne ve, kaj pravzaprav hoče. Humor, drama, čustva, rutina, nevarnost in upanje. Vse to je del popolnega dne.

Popoln dan je zgrajen kot babuška, znotraj vojnega filma skriva film ceste, v njem komedijo in znotraj te dramo. Njegov edini žanr je življenje samo. (Vir: kinodvor.org)

[Zanimivosti]

Film španskega režiserja Fernanda Leóna de Aranoe se je uvrstil med deseterico nominirancev za nagrado LUX 2015, ki jo podeljuje Evropski parlament. Igralec Benicio del Toro je film Popoln dan letošnjega avgusta predstavil na 21. mednarodnem filmskem festivalu v Sarajevu, kjer so oskarjevcu podelili nagrado častno srce Sarajeva za izjemen prispevek k filmski umetnosti.

[Iz prve roke]

»To je film o ljudeh, ki imajo težavno nalogo vnašati red v kaos. Film, ki prikazuje njihov vsakdanji trud, da bi znotraj ene vojne bili drugo: proti nesmiselnosti in obupu. Proti neizmerni želji po vrnitvi domov. Film o humanitarnih delavcih. Kot oni se tudi film distancira s pomočjo humorja: najbolj duhovite pripombe, najbolj drzna in divja, najbolj skrajna komedija se pogosto zgodi sredi tragedije. Saj ni nikjer na svetu bolj nepogrešljiva. /…/

Film se odvija v goratem svetu, nekakšnem mikrokozmosu, kjer najdete vse udeležence vojne: vojake, civiliste, modre čelade, novinarje … In tu imamo majhno skupino humanitarcev, ki skušajo odstraniti truplo iz vodnjaka. Tja je bilo odvrženo, da bi zastrupilo vodo – primitivna, a še kako učinkovita oblika biološkega vojskovanja. Na videz majhna težava. Toda prva žrtev vojne je vedno zdrav razum. In morda se zato ves čas vozijo sem in tja po ozkih gorskih stezah kot v blodnjaku, v iskanju izhoda, ki ga morda sploh ni. /…/

Po zaslugi svojih filmov sem imel pogosto priložnost snemati humanitarne delavce v vojnih conah. Prvič februarja 1995, med vojno v Bosni. Nazaj smo prinesli na desetine posnetkov in le peščico besed, s katerimi smo se navadili opisovati vojno: zmeda, nesmisel, babilonski stolp, labirint, nezmožnost. Pred nekaj leti sem snemal dokumentarni film z Zdravniki brez meja v severni Ugandi. V nekem približku bara, ki smo ga našli 15 kilometrov od sudanske meje, sem med pitjem toplega piva 'Nile Special' prvič slišal za roman Dejarse llover Paule Farias, o katerem je ravno pripovedoval varnostni vodja naše misije. Paula je zdravnica in koordinatorica Zdravnikov brez meja, pa tudi pisateljica. Ljudem pomaga na oba načina. Prevzela me je preprostost njene zgodbe in njena globina. Govori namreč o krutosti vojne, toda to počne s smislom za humor. Na straneh njenega romana in v svojih lastnih spominih na tisti neprepustni gorski labirint Balkana, ki sem ga prečkal pred dvajsetimi leti, sem našel zamisel za ta film.«  - Fernando León de Aranoa, režiser in scenarist

ENG

[Story]

It's just another day on the job for a band of badass war zone rescue workers as they defy death and confront war's absurdities. The setting is 1995, "somewhere in the Balkans." Over the course of 24 breathless hours, Mambrú (Benicio del Toro), leads his team of humanitarians-including hard-bitten, wisecracking veteran B (Tim Robbins) and new recruit Sophie (Melanie Thierry)-as they deal with a most unexpected crisis, layers of bureaucratic red tape, and the reappearance of Mambrú's old flame (Olga Kurylenko). Through it all, the group handles the less-than-glamorous realities of life in a combat zone the only way they know how: with selfless bravery and a healthy dose of irreverent humor.

[RT Critics Consensus]

Aid workers get their due in A Perfect Day, which is just different and well-acted enough to overcome its logy pace and narrative clichés.

Ocena

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Slo naslov: Vojna zvezd: Sila se prebuja 

Država: ZDA

Leto: 2015

Dolžina: 135' ,  Imdb

Žanri: Akcija, Avantura, Fantazijski   

Slo recenzija: Mladina, RTV SLO MMC, Delo

Režija: J.J. Abrams

Scenarij: Lawrence Kasdan, J.J. Abrams 

Igrajo: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac

[SLO]

Režiser vizualnih spektaklov Misija: nemogoče 3, Zvezdne steze in Super 8 predstavlja nadaljevanje kultne vesoljske pustolovščine, v galaksiji daleč, daleč stran, 30 let po Jedijevi vrnitvi. Po zmagi vitezov Sile nad zlobnimi Sithi se vojni kaos v galaksiji počasi umirja, toda v temačnih sencah se prebuja nova nevarnost. Nepredvidljiva usoda združi poti nekdanjega vojaka imperija Finna, iznajdljive odpadnice Rey in pogumnega uporniškega pilota Poeja v boju proti izmuzljivemu sovražniku. Ko postane jasno, da je težko priborjeni mir znova ogrožen, morajo na pomoč priskočiti izkušeni bojevniki, na čelu z neuničljivim kapitanom Hanom Solom in njegovim kosmatim pomočnikom Chewbaccom. (Vir: Kolosej)

[ENG]

30 years after the defeat of Darth Vader and the Empire, Rey, a scavenger from the planet Jakku, finds a BB-8 droid that knows the whereabouts of the long lost Luke Skywalker. Rey, as well as a rogue stormtrooper and two smugglers, are thrown into the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the daunting legions of the First Order.

[RT Critics Consensus]

Packed with action and populated by both familiar faces and fresh blood, The Force Awakens successfully recalls the series' former glory while injecting it with renewed energy.

Ocena

Domácí péce [Home Care] (2015)

Drugi naslovi: Home Care

Slo naslov: Oskrba na domu

Država: Češka, Slovaška

Leto: 2015

Dolžina: 92',  Imdb

Žanri: Drama, Komedija  

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Slávek Horák

Scenarij: Slávek Horák

Igrajo: Alena Mihulová, Bolek Polívka, Tatiana Vilhelmová, Zuzana Krónerová, Sara Venclovská

[SLO]

Slávek Horák se značilno češko - lahkotno, zabavno, a tudi nadvse iskreno - spoprime z najtežjimi človeškimi vprašanji.

Predana patronažna sestra Vlasta živi za svojega moža, hčerko in svoje paciente. Vsako jutro zvrne šilce slivovke ter polna radosti in optimizma odhiti k svojim strankam. Zdi se, da ni stvari, ki bi jo spravila iz tira. Potem pa se nekega dne vse spremeni in ne le Vlasta, pač pa tudi vsi okoli nje se bodo morali navaditi na dejstvo, da je zdaj ona tista, ki potrebuje pomoč ... (Vir: LIFFe)

"Veliko sem razmišljal o temi, ki bi bila vredna mojega celovečernega prvenca. Umaknil sem se v osamo ter poiskal mir in tišino za pisanje scenarija v hiši svojih staršev, vendar me je moja zgovorna mati neprestano motila z neskončnimi, bizarnimi službenimi prigodami. Bila je medicinska sestra, skrbela je za bolnike na domu, pri tej oskrbi pa spoznaš cel kup zanimivih ljudi. Danes se zdi samoumevno, vendar je minilo precej časa, preden sem spoznal, da imam najboljšo temo že vse življenje tik pred nosom - lik moje matere." (Slávek Horák)

[ENG]

Adopting a typically Czech perspective, an easygoing, amusing, yet totally honest style, Slávek Horák addresses the most difficult of human issues.

Dedicated home-care nurse Vlasta lives for her husband, her daughter and her patients. This abstemious woman who radiates joy begins each day with a drop of plum brandy, and not even the whims of her clients can wipe that sweet smile off her face. One ordinary day ends differently from all the others, however, and not only Vlasta but everyone around her is going to have to get used to the fact that she's the one who's going to need looking after. (Via LIFFe)

"I was thinking a lot about what theme would be worthy of my feature debut. I retreated into seclusion and headed to my parents' place in the countryside to get some peace and quiet while writing, but my talkative mother kept disturbing me with her never-ending, bizarre stories from work. She was working as a nurse, doing home care, and one meets an array of interesting people there. You see it now, but it took me a while to realise that the best idea was right there in front of me my whole life - in the character of my mother." (Slávek Horák)

Ocena

Güeros (2014)

Slo naslov: - 

Država: Mehika

Leto: 2014

Dolžina: 106',  Imdb

Žanri: Komedija, Drama    

Slo recenzija: -

Režija: Alonso Ruizpalacios 

Scenarij: Alonso Ruizpalacios, Gibrán Portela

Igrajo: Tenoch Huerta, Sebastián Aguirre, Ilse Salas, Leonardo Ortizgris, Raúl Briones

[ENG]

Ever since the National University strike broke out, Sombra and Santos have been living in angst-ridden limbo. Education-less, motionless, purposeless, and unsure of what the strike will bring, they begin to look for strange ways to kill time. But their idiosyncratic routine is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Tomas, Sombra's kid brother. Unable to fit in amongst these older slackers, Tomas discovers that unsung Mexican folk-rock hero Epigmenio Cruz has been hospitalized somewhere in the city. Tomas convinces Sombra and Santos they must track him down in order to pay their final respects on his deathbed. But what they thought would be a simple trip to find their childhood idol, soon becomes a voyage of self-discovery across Mexico City's invisible frontiers. (C) Kino

[RT Critics Consensus]

A striking effort that synthesizes disparate influences with inventive flair, Güeros marks a bold step forward for modern Mexican cinema.

[Festivals, Awards]

• Winner of 5 Ariel Awards (Mexico's Academy Awards) 
• Best First Feature, Berlin International Film Festival 2014 
• Grand Jury Prize, Mumbai International Film Festival 2014 
• Best Cinematography Award, Tribeca Film Festival 2014 
• Special Jury Mention (Best New Narrative Director), Tribeca Film Festival 2014 
• FIPRESCI Prize, Jerusalem Film Festival 2014 
• Festival Youth Award, San Sebastian Film Festival 2014 
• Horizontes Latinos Award, San Sebastian Film Festival 2014 

Ocena