- The Given Word (or O Pagador de Promessas)
A Brazilian film from 1962 that speaks of faith and faithfulness. When Zé’s most prized possession, his donkey, fell ill he made a promise to God to carry a cross on his back to Santa Barbara’ church in the state capital if the donkey recovers. We join this man as he enters the state capital, with his wife and the cross whose dimensions match the cross Christ carried to his crucifixion.
When they arrive at the church, it is closed and they must wait the night on the steps as they cannot afford a hotel and Zé will not leave his cross for anyone to steal until he keeps his word. The church is not best pleased that his promise was made to Candablé aka Yansan, a pagan deity whose analogue is Santa Barbara, and they are particularly annoyed as they believe he was trying to emulate Christ himself. Zé doesné understand the fuss as he was only trying to fulfil his promise quietly so he can return to his life but soon the police, local press and radio are involved. Even a local pimp tries to steal his wife.
- Earth
Based on Bapsi Sidhwa’s autobiography ”Cracking India,“ Deepa Mehta’s movie opens in Lahore, 1947, just before the independence of India and Pakistan. Our attention is focused on a close group of working-class friends of different religions (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Parsee) against the backdrop of the coming independence and the divisions it causes in the geography and the people.
The end credits (IIRC) refered to it also being based upon “Ice Candy Man,” if you are at all interested.
- In All Innocence (or En plein coeur)
A version of 1958’s “En cas de halheur,” this film shows why Virgine Ledoyen and Guillaume Cadet were chosen for The Beach as they manage to look gorgeous in their roles.
- The Filth and The Fury
Having been born after the true spirit of punk had been and gone, Julien Temple really seemed to capture the essence of what made the Sex Pistols great in this documentary. Britain needed a serious wake up call if it was ever going to get its Great back, and then punk happened.
- Honest
I expect I saw its final ever showing in Oxford (for a while anyway) and it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. So it didn’t evoke any real feelings of the Sixties but it managed to carry itself off reasonably well. The scenes concerned with “social realism” jarred horrbibly and the film might almost have worked without them.
Overall the film was fairly silly and showed that the Appletons may be able to do more than sing and get photographed for tabloids. One of the main reasons I didn’t hate the film was that it kept reminding me of better films.
- Claire Dolan
Two years in the wilderness after its silent reception at Cannes, Lodge Kerrigan’s film finally made it to Oxford. Set in New York City, it tells the tale of Claire Dolan, a woman who also happens to be a prostitute, played by Katrin Cartlidge. She is struggling to escape the debts she owes to Roland Cain (an evil Colm Meaney) who acts as her pimp.
The most memorable moment, the one you never forget is when Roland places his hand on Claire’s pregnant stomach when they accidentally meet up again at the end of the film. There is a feeling that this touch may transfer some quantity of pure evil to the unborn child.
- Heavy Metal
- A Winter’s Tale (or Conte d’hiver)
- A Summer’s Tale (or Conte d’été)
- Aliens
James Cameron’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s original was a film I had to jump at the chance to see on a big screen, especially in a late night performance.
- An Autumn Tale (or Conte d’automne)
- Sweet and Lowdown
Woody Allen shows that he can still create magic, especially when unencumbered by having to play a romantic lead as well as direct. Here we have a biopic of the fictional 1930’s jazz guitarist Emmet Ray, the second greatest guitarist of all time. His favourite hobbies include watching trains and shooting rats at the dump. He likes to share these hobbies much to the chagrin of his girlfriends. He doesn’t care too much about other people and faints at the sight (or even thought) of Django Reinhardt, his hero.
Sean Penn as Emmet Ray and Samantha Morton as the mute Hattie make the film work so well, particularly Samantha Morton.
- The Girl on the Bridge (or La fille sur le pont)
The start of the film with its interview of Vanessa Paradis’s character didn’t seem to make much sense when I saw it but the rest of the film was very good. The black and white photography and the haunting music, together with Daniel Auteuil as the knife-thrower in need of a new assistant made it all work.
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