Category Archives: Foreign Language

Teddy Bear

From NetFlix:

Physically massive but shy and socially inept, a 38-year-old Danish bodybuilder longs to fall in love — but finds it impossible under the disapproving eye of his mother. Traveling to Thailand, he learns some unexpected lessons about life and love.

Imagine a 38-year-old giant bodybuilder who has yet to break away from his domineering and physically tiny white-haired shriveled old mother. She uses every trick in the book to keep him from becoming independent. Throughout this film I was rooting for this guy to escape and find a wife.

Here is a quote from IMDB about the actor Kim Kold:

Kim Kold is a former football (soccer) goalkeeper, who in 1993 at 27 years of age suffered a serious injury in his Achilles tendon. He was sent to the gym doing rehabilitation training. He took up an interest in bodybuilding and started competing in 1997. He won the Danish National Bodybuilding Championship in 2006.

In the film actors speak Danish and English. In fact their English is fluent and often without accent. They speak English when it is necessary to have a common language, for example in Thailand among [sex] tourists. But when Dennis (Kim Kold) speaks Danish it seems as if he is mumbling. In fact I could not even hear consonants. But there is a point here. Dennis is so shy and understated that he almost whispers throughout the film. Even when his clinging mother is her nastiest Dennis never raises his voice to her. More than that, he seems either afraid of her or is making a conscious effort to not offend her. Dennis is a kind, moral, gentle giant who has no idea how to break away and find a woman to love.

Enter a friend who has already found a wife in Thailand. He tells Dennis how to get to Thailand and whom to contact. Unfortunately, the contact is involved in sex tourism and introduces Dennis to several prostitutes. But Dennis is so decent and sincere that he walks away from that scene in disgust. Finally he finds a gym and fellow bodybuilders who recognize him and invite him to join them for a social evening. There he is introduced to the widow owner of the gym. And the rest is history once we get past certain difficulties, which means “mommy dearest”.

Kim Kold is certainly not an actor. But whoever directed him never missed a beat. Dennis behaves consistently and as you would expect him to behave throughout. He gives the impression that at 38 he is still a virgin. There is no sex in the film but there are scenes where we feel sorry and embarrassed for Dennis who flees from sexual advances on the part of several women.

Yes, Dennis is a good guy. And yet he tells lies to his mother from beginning to end. He speaks and looks at her sincerely and seems to be shamefully admonished by his mother and yet “lies like a rug”.

This quiet and slow film is not for everyone. Mostly it is about rooting for a well-meaning underdog.

2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2006)

From NetFlix:

Enjoy the best live-action and animated shorts from the 2006 Academy Awards, including the animated winner “The Danish Poet,” which follows the title character on an adventure into romance and inspiration. In addition to live-action winner “West Bank Story” — a Middle Eastern parody of West Side Story — this eclectic collection also includes nominees “Binta and the Great Idea,” “One Too Many,” “Helmer & Son,” “The Saviour” and “Maestro.”

This collection is a mixed bag. You can easily skip the shorts that you don’t want to see. I recommend the following:

  • West Bank Story
  • Maestro
  • The Passenger
  • Guide Dog
  • One Rat Short
  • Surviving the Rush

“West Bank Story”, “Guide Dog”, and “Surviving the Rush” are really funny.

Included are:

  • “West Bank Story” parody of “West Side Story” sung in English with some really funny sight gags. In fact, it is really a brilliant comedy made at the University of Southern California.
  • “The Saviour” tense encounter with traveling missionaries in white shirts and ties. (Australian)
  • “Binta and the Great Idea” filmed in Africa and spoken in French with subtitles.
  • “Éramos pocos” Spanish with subtitles. Mother abandons her husband and son who then bring their grandmother from a rest home back to their home.
  • “The Danish Poet” Animated cartoon made by Danes. Romantic tale involving Denmark and Norway.
  • “Maestro” This very clever robotic animation appears in other collections of short film. Quite unique.
  • “The Wraith of Cobble Hill” Play dough animation about life in a black ghetto.
  • “The Passenger” Robotic animation. Humorous horror tale about young man’s adventures while reading a book entitled “The Passenger”. No dialog.
  • “A Gentlemen’s Duel” Animation. Two men duel for the affections of a damsel. English dialog. Somewhat vulgar.
  • “Guide Dog” Animated. Very funny story of a dog who has terrible luck trying to be a guide dog.
  • “One Rat Short” Extremely clever photo animation about a rat and a bag of Cheez-its. No dialog.
  • “Surviving the Rush” Really funny live short about a movie theater manager trying to survive a really bad day. Vulgar and religiously irreverent.

Shorts: Vol 3 (2005)

From NetFlix:

Good things come in small packages, as evidenced by the 16 award winners showcased in this collection, which represents the best short films screened at Cannes, Sundance, Telluride, Tribeca and many other film festivals. This international collection includes Johan Brisinger’s “Passing Hearts Sweden,” Kathleen Na’s “L’Entretien,” Shawn Ku’s “Pretty Dead Girl” and many other superb shorts. Extras include extensive commentaries by the filmmakers.

These supposedly Award-Winning Film Festival Shorts are not very good, excepting for the poignant “Passing Hearts Sweden”. Instead try 2007 Shorts.

Shorts included are:

  • “Hyper” Oddly enough, concerns a really hyper young man. [Funny]
  • “Gowanus, Brooklyn” So slow I gave up watching.
  • “Passing Hearts Sweden” Slow, warm story about boy in 8th grade. Somewhat of a mystery until you understand the sadness behind the story. [Swedish with English subtitles]
  • “My Name is Yu Ming” Adventuresome Chinese student visits Dublin. He spent 6 months learning Irish only to discover that almost no one in Ireland understands Irish. [Mandarin with English subtitles]
  • “Seventeen” Grotesque depiction of young man who cannot find a sexual partner. Explicit sexual drawings. {Netherlands] [Drawn animation]
  • “Loose Ends” Two twenty something young men arguing about “Star Wars” [Norwegian with English subtitles]
  • “L’Entretien” Young man receives strange invitation to join the “Good Life”followed by a strange sequence of events. [French with English subtitles]
  • “Confection” Little girl has fantasies while holding onto a sweet from a bakery.
  • “Colorform” Little girl makes a mess with finger paints. Has a harp lesson with an Italian teacher. Throws spahetti at dinner. Etc.
  • “Date” Demanding girl friend changes her attitude.
  • “The Fridge” Tale of a mysterious refrigerator. [Greek with English subtitles]
  • “Clay Pride” The difficulty of being Clay in America. [Animated Play Dough]
  • “Pretty Dead Girl” Off-color hospital song and dance routing.
  • “Climactic Death of Dark Ninja” Kids in the woods.
  • “Archipelago” Acceptable short drama on a beach. [Spanish with English Subtitles]
  • “A Ninja Pays Half My Rent” Young man tries to get along with his new Ninja roommate.

The Bubble (2006)

From NetFlix:

When a young Israeli named Noam (Ohad Knoller) falls for a handsome Palestinian (Yousef “Joe” Sweid) he meets while working at a checkpoint in Tel Aviv, he recruits his roommates Yelli (Alon Friedman) and Lulu (Daniela Virtzer) to help find a way for the two to stay together. Director Eytan Fox’s poignant film offers a glimpse at life inside the tumultuous borders of Israel, where everyday people are constantly surrounded by conflict.

Two themes run concurrently throughout this film: The difficulty of being gay in the Arab world (Israel is very accepting) and the constant wearying and dangerous conflict between Jews And Arabs.

Previously I reviewed Yossi and Jagger which was written and directed by Etan Fox. Ohad Knoller who was the lead actor in that film is also the lead Jewish character in “The Bubble”. He again plays a Gay Jew who this time falls in love with a Gay Arab named Ashraf. Arab culture is strongly homophobic so that Ashraf’s life becomes not only difficult but dangerous. Much film footage is devoted to the perilous border crossing where several sad scenes are enacted.

Realize that the cast of characters are young adults and as such spend their time talking about romances and popular music. But the entire film rings true as it portrays the lives of young single (and mostly Gay) Jews most of whom are tired of and against the unending war.

WARNING: In the film Gays exchange much same-sex kissing. Additionally there is one explicit scene in which the two male leads engage in anal intercourse.

For Ashraf the situation seems hopeless (for further reasons as the film develops) and this hopelessness leads to a surprising but possible fitting conclusion. Comments welcome.

Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles.

Headhunters (2011)

From NetFlix:

Living way beyond his means, corporate recruiter Roger Brown steals rare artwork to maintain his lavish lifestyle. But when he plans to boost an especially valuable painting, he targets a man who has headhunting skills of a different variety.

Hold onto your seats because this plot twists and turns like an angry alligator. From one minute to the next you will be surprised by all the unexpected, and usually violent, events.

In Norwegian with subtitles, even though the actors are Norwegian, still there is a surprise in store. Just how the names of the actors are pronounced is beyond me. Aksel Hennie as Roger Brown and Synnøve Macody Lund as his drop-dead beautiful wife Diana were excellent actors that I have never seen before. However, I kept staring at Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who plays the villain Clas Greve and wondering where had I ever seen this Norwegian actor. Surprise … he played Jaime Lannister in the TV series “Game of Thrones” (which you should NOT miss!) where he seemed to speak perfect English.

Much of the plot has Roger Brown running for his life from one horrible experience to another. But his ingenuity is remarkable.

Expect an incredibly satisfying ending. But you have to also expect unending suspense.

A Separation (2011)

From NetFlix:

An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.

After watching this two hour in Persian with subtitles, you will probably be somewhat tired. Do not let the opening give you the impression that you will watching “talking heads”. However, the entire story is one headache after the other for every character. If that is life in Iran, be grateful you do not live there. It is, in fact, the progression of annoying details that got me so interested that even when I felt tired, I still had to finish the film to see if or how so many problems were resolved.

Possibly I got incorrect impressions. But as far as I could tell:

  • Differences between social classes are quite strong.
  • Whereas the upper class seems secular (possibly atheist), the lower classes are religious to the point of scrupulosity.
  • Everyone lies up to a point.
  • One’s honor is very important.
  • Iranians are very volatile.
  • Court justice is somewhat arbitrary.
  • Traffic is quite dense.
  • Life in Iran is a nightmare.

While not at all a feel-good film, as a slice of Iranian life it could be riveting.

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

From NetFlix:

When an Algerian immigrant seeking asylum in Montreal takes a position replacing an elementary school professor who committed suicide, he finds that his own secret, tragic background enables him to help the children with their loss.

As far as I am concerned, the major theme of this story is the cold adult-student separation enforced by teachers’ fear of being accused of something. You CANNOT hug a child student.

As you watch this quiet, thoughtful, well-acted film you will come to understand how this theme relates to the young woman who committed suicide and to the guilt felt by certain students.

Somewhat secondary as a theme is that life is just not fair. You must see the entire film to understand why I say that. This is NOT a feel-good film.

Relax as you watch this film in French with optional English subtitles. Nothing terrible happens. Expect to be charmed by the students’ interaction with Monsieur Lazhar and saddened by certain turn of events. Expect a wonderful, warm film.

Do Not Miss!

Bullhead (2011)

From NetFlix:

Tortured by his past and despairing of his stultifying present life, Belgian cattle farmer Jacky becomes entangled in a violent web of deceit involving local mobsters and determined policemen after he uses illegal growth hormones on his herd.

Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts is the perfect choice to play the sadly damaged character Jacky Vanmarsenille in this film spoken in Limburgish and French. His facial expressions capture Jacky’s shame, longing, loneliness, shyness, and rage. To say why he feels these emotions would be a major spoiler. Through a series of flashbacks you learn his past history. Expect some very violent scenes.

Although you may find all the crime details confusing, they really are not very original or important. Jacky is important along with those characters associated with his tragic life.

Much of the violence stems from traditional racial hatreds between the many distinct communities, each with its own language.

Bullhead was on the 2012 list of Best Foreign Language Film of the Year.

In retrospect, the ending chosen for the story is quite probably the only possible conclusion.

If you can accept the sadness, violence, and somewhat brutish characters,

DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

In Darknes (2011)

From NetFlix:

As Nazis overrun Warsaw, many of the city’s Jews hide out in sewers, where they encounter Leopold, an anti-Semitic sanitation worker. His prejudice reflects the rift between Poland’s Jews and Catholics in this film inspired by true events.

This true story of a Polish Christian man who protected a group of Polish Jews hiding in the sewers to escape the German massacre of Polish Jews is not easy to watch. Be sure to read the final explanatory screen shots which tell what happened in real life to the characters in the film.

Sometimes the day to day details of grubby survival seemed a bit tedious. But the intent is to show that under stress we can accommodate and life goes on.

Also evident was the extreme prejudice of Polish Catholics towards Jews. At several times a Catholic Pole is surprised to learn that Jesus was a Jew.

At one harrowing point in the film, just above a group of Jews in the sewer is a Catholic church in which children are receiving their first holy communion. At that point a heavy rain starts such that the sewers begin to fill and threaten the Jews with drowning.

To encourage you to watch a somewhat grim film, I promise you a happy ending for the Jews in hiding (thanks to the Germans evacuating to escape the Russians).

The Double Hour (2009)

From NetFlix:

In the wrong place at the wrong time, Sonia takes a bullet to the head during an art robbery. She survives, but later finds herself haunted by visions. Her mysterious past, meanwhile, comes to light under the watchful eye of a suspicious policeman.

Unfortunately the plot of this Italian film (with non-optional subtitles) is somewhat flawed. Sonia’s double life does not really work or even matter to the film except in some trivial details. For the following reasons this film might be worth viewing:

  • There are some surprise plot twists.
  • All the actors do a good job at their craft.
  • Ambivalence and an underlying sadness lend some urgency to the plot.
  • Listening to an easy Italian is fun.

Nothing special, but I enjoyed the film.