German and German-language Films
Heart of Glass: metaphor for downfall of German and Western civilisation
Werner Herzog, “Heart of Glass” (1976) An 18th-century tale of a town dependent on its
German and German-language Films
Wings of Desire: lovely and gentle meditation on divided Berlin and nature of being
Wim Wenders, “Wings of Desire” (1987) A romantic fantasy about an angel who yearns to
Made in Dagenham: perky comedy-drama that’s a little shallow but enjoyable nevertheless
Nigel Cole, “Made in Dagenham”, BBC Films / UK Film Council (2010) Much in
Winter’s Bone: flimsy plot backgrounded by real poverty and catastrophic social problems
Debra Granik, “Winter’s Bone” (2010) Source: www.mirror.co.uk Meet Ree Dolly: she’s a 17-year-old girl caring
Ran: stock characters make this film merely good, not truly great
Akira Kurosawa, “Ran” (1985) “Ran” (“Chaos” or “Revolt”) was Kurosawa’s last attempt at creating and filming
Uncategorized
Nazi Literature in the Americas: Bolano novel could have been shorter and better
Robert Bolano, “Nazi Literature in the Americas” (translated from the Spanish by Chris Andrews), Picador,
French and French-language Films
La Fille du Rer: film of connections that doesn’t quite connect
Andre Techine, “La fille du RER (The Girl on the Train)”, Strand Releasing (2009) Not
French and French-language Films
Playtime: Tati celebrates human values but needed machine values to make it
Jacques Tati, “Playtime”, Madman Cinema / The AV Channel, DVD (1967) Source: www.lauradors.com
French and French-language Films
Belle de Jour: Bunuel turns a trashy soap opera plot into rich satire
Luis Buñuel, “Belle de Jour” (1967) It’s got a trashy premise – a rich doctor’s
Let Me In: Reeves “lets the right one in” to smother his version’s potential
Matt Reeves, “Let Me In”, Hammer Films / Overture Films (2010) Once upon a time