Category Archives: War

2000, Jewish Culture, Love Story, Military, Religious Theme, Suspense, Thought provoking, War

Time of Favor (2000)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

Both a political-psychological drama and a love story between a passionate woman and two best friends, this profound film addresses the tense relationship between the orthodox nationalists and the military on Israel’s West Bank.

By perusing the streamable offerings from Netflix, sometimes you can find a film you might otherwise have missed. “Time of Favor” is such a film. English subtitles are available for this Israeli film which offers some insight into the Israeli culture, especially the military and orthodox cultures. Menachem, his sad friend Pini, and Michal the girl that Pini loves are an attractive and well-played trio. Without taking sides, you can appreciate more the problems with life in Israel.

Noteworthy for me, if I understand correctly, is the honorable and chaste approach to courtship. Michal’s rabbi father wants to arrange a marriage between Michal and Pini. But Michal is not attracted to Pini and instead is interested in Menachem. Menachem does not want to hurt his rejected and angry friend Pini. In one scene Menachem and Michal find a secluded spot in which to talk. Instead of touching, they project hand shadows on the wall that do the touching.

You must take the culture as it is presented in order to enjoy this film. Wikipedia offers some more details.

1996, Abduction, Based on true facts, Bicycles, Book Review, British, Complicated, Conspiracy, Cynical, Daniel Silva, Ethical struggles, Flirting, Gangs, Gay theme, Gritty, International thriler, Love Story, Physical child abuse, Political Suspense, Sea Rescue, Sex Scenes, Small British village, Spy Theme, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, War, WWII

The Unlikely Spy (1996) [Book Review]

Leave a comment

Book Description:

In wartime,” Winston Churchill wrote, “truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” For Britain’s counterintelligence operations, this meant finding the unlikeliest agent imaginable-a history professor named Alfred Vicary, handpicked by Churchill himself to expose a highly dangerous, but unknown, traitor. The Nazis, however, have also chosen an unlikely agent: Catherine Blake, a beautiful widow of a war hero, a hospital volunteer-and a Nazi spy under direct orders from Hitler to uncover the Allied plans for D-Day…

Daniel Silva was a journalist and TV producer before he began his first novel “The Unlikely Spy” in 1994. This book was such a success that Silva left CNN in 1997 to pursue writing full-time. One of his more known series of books are those featuring the character Gabriel Allon.

Although Silva was born and raised in the U.S.A. (he was raised Catholic and converted to Judaism as an adult), in reading this novel you would swear he was British. We had just returned from visiting our daughter in London and it was an extra pleasure recognizing all the London streets, parks, and subway stops that figure in the plot.

Once you get used to the 20 or so characters that stay continually in the plot you may find this WW II spy novel a real page-turner. Besides the usual cloak and dagger details, the novel is saved from dryness by romances, personal ruminations, political one-upmanship, historical tidbits, and an essential focal point: an effort to prevent Berlin from knowing exactly where the allied invasion will be, i.e. Normandy.

Finally I stayed up late reading for three hours just to see how the final great chase after the clever Nazi spies ended.

1990, Anti-Semitism, Based on true facts, Could Be Hard To Watch, DO NOT MISS, Gay theme, German, Human spirit, Jewish Culture, Military, Nudity, Polish, Revenge, Russian, Sex Scenes, True Story, Violent, War, WWII

Europa Europa (1990)

Leave a comment

From Wikipedia:

Europa Europa is a 1990 film directed by Agnieszka Holland. Its original German title is Hitlerjunge Salomon, i.e. “Hitler Youth Salomon”. It is based on the 1989 autobiography of Solomon Perel, a German Jewish boy who escaped the Holocaust by masquerading not just as a non-Jew, but as an elite “Aryan” German. The film stars Marco Hofschneider and Julie Delpy; Perel appears briefly as himself in the finale. The film is an international co-production between CCC Film and companies in France and Poland.

Hopefully you will watch both this 2 hour film and also the 3 hour film Sunshine.
Whereas “Sunshine” is an epic showing the history of Hungarian Jews during several epochs, “Europa Europa” is a true story about one Jewish teenager’s survival in the confusing changes in political alignment in Germany, Poland, and Russia between Hitler and Stalin.

WARNING: Once again (as in “Sunshine”) there will be some ugly scenes. Once such scene shows what it was like in the Jewish ghetto during WWII when the Germans either starved the Jews, or killed them outright, or sent them to concentration camps.

If this were not an autobiography I would label it as fantasy or magic realism or some such departure from reality. Yupp, the teenager, had literally unbelievable good luck. However, he survived partly because in all his reincarnations he learned to speak not only German but also Polish and Russian. Of course, he was also very resourceful. Moreover, when faced with a moral choice, he chose survival.

Watching the indoctrination of the Nazi Youth into a violent anti-Semitism was a revelation.

Despite the story’s best efforts, I will personally never believe that the German people did not know what was happening to the Jews.

Coupled with “Sunshine” I would call this film a DO NOT MISS!

2012, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Biographical, Corny, Docudrama, Manic depression, Military, Politicians, Race Relations, Slavery, Steven Spielberg, True Story, War

Lincoln (2012)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln’s cabinet regarding the war and abolition.

As soon as the film started I knew this was directed by Steven Spielberg even though I hadn’t realized that before the film started. How could I possibly criticize the work of a great director? However, taking advantage of my American freedom of speech I cannot fail to notice that his films are: long (this one logs in at two hours and thirty minutes), grandiose, possibly long-winded, and wear their hearts on their sleeves (dare I say “corny”?).

Once you get past that first scene in which black union soldiers personally berate Lincoln for the U.S. military discrimination against black soldiers and then walk away reciting by heart Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (honestly, I am not joking), then you will begin to realize that this film concerns almost exclusively the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery.

Please read the rather long Wikipedia article which talks about Doris Kearns Goodwin and her wonderful book “Team of Rivals” which was the inspiration for the film. In fact you might want to read “Team of Rivals” which my wife Kathy read twice and still talks about. You might then appreciate more all those scenes of roundtable meetings with Lincoln talking to (arguing with ?, confronting ?) groups of importantly-dressed men. Lincoln cleverly surrounded himself with men who were not only his rivals but were adversaries with their other cabinet members. That is the point of “Team of Rivals”.

Listen to the language these politicians used. Although it may seem flowery, that is how educated people back then actually spoke. Words were important then as opposed to our current twitter-dumb manner of speaking.

At first I squirmed and then settled down to watch 2.5 hours that really zoomed by. As an capsule introduction to Lincoln and his times this film is worth watching.

2006, Arab Culture, Crude Talk, Dancing, Explicit sex, Flirting, Gay theme, Hebrew and Arabic, Jewish Culture, Love Story, Military, Nudity, Political statement, Race Relations, Suicide, Suspense, Violent, War, Wonderful acting

The Bubble (2006)

Leave a comment

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.

2002, Cooking and food, Crude Talk, Drama, Gay theme, Jewish Culture, Military, War

Yossi and Jagger (2002)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Two Israeli soldiers try to find solace from the constant grind of war in this moving romantic drama. While preparing for a daring moonlit ambush in the snowy mountains of Lebanon, company commander Yossi (Ohad Knoller) and his platoon leader, Jagger (Yehuda Levi), fall in love, carefully hiding their relationship from their comrades. But will the tragedy of war ultimately intrude upon the men’s clandestine affair?

In the New York Times appeared a discussion of the Israeli director Etan Fox and his work over the years which is best summarized with this quote from IMDB:

What is it like to be young in Israel, particularly in the “bubble” called Tel-Aviv? How can you be gay in this country, even in the macho Army named Tzahal? How can you fall in love in a tiny tension-filled country? Can you consider the Palestinians as friends rather than enemies? All these are questions raised by Eytan Fox’s films and TV films…

If you have not yet seen his Walk on Water then you have a treat coming.

If nothing else this film affords us a glimpse into the daily lives of Israeli soldiers. Moreover it avoids the usual gay film clichés. Nothing more than kisses occur on screen.

2011, Based on true facts, Disturbing Image, Drugs, Dysfunctional Lives, Military, Redemption, Religious Theme, Sadism, Suspense, True Story, Violent, War

Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Gerard Butler stars in this true-life story of Sam Childers, a drug dealer who turns his life around to become a spiritual warrior. His mission? Rescuing child soldiers in the Sudan from lives ruined by their forced participation in bloody conflict.

Before starting to watch this film I expected to watch part and then stop because Gerard Butler is not the star of the drama world. However, in portraying the real-life and still very active Sam Childers, Gerard Butler found for himself his perfect role. Granted the macho war scenes might be over the top Hollywood or (given the horrors inflicted on Ugandan and Sudan by the psychotic monster Joseph Kony who is at the present being hunted by UN forces) might just be what must really happen to protect the children. Butler convincingly lets his work bring him to a boiling cauldron of angry hate that nearly destroys his church, business, and family. His subsequent return to a more balanced approach to his even now continuing work is cleverly connected with the very first scene of the film (but no spoiler in this review!).

One other actor that you might recognize is Michael Shannon who plays Childers’ best friend Donnie. Shannon did an outstanding job in the film Take Shelter (2011).

Be sure to watch the closing credits because a side bar shows many photos of the real Sam Childers, his family, and his work in South Sudan.

2011, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, British, Corny, Feel Good For All, Horse story, Military, Orchestral Music, War

War Horse (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Adapted from a novel by Michael Morpurgo, this majestic World War I drama centers on Devon lad Albert and his steadfast horse, Joey, whose faithful bond cannot be shaken — even when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent off to France.

Initially I did not know who directed this film. But it does not take long to figure out: What director loves schmaltz? What director lingers a really long time on many of his shots? What director is one of the few remaining directors that use full, romantic, orchestral music (and that part I love!)? What director just does not know when to end the film? Answer: Steven the Spielberg. But at least he is consistent.

Kids will love this beginning-middle-end story where subtlety is not allowed. Who could fail to love a horse with a lion’s courageous heart? Who could fail to love a kid who stays out in a storm to plow his crippled fathers’ field? Who could fail to love a WWI battle scene in which a Brit and a German cooperate mid-battlefield to extricate our hero horse from his entanglement in barbed wire? Need I go on?

Let us honor the reuse of that unforgettable scene from “Gone With the Wind” in which the darkened human figures are outlined in silhouette against a blazing crimson sky.

Don’t forget to read British author Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel of the same name. Don’t forget to see the stage play version by Nick Stafford (which uses horse puppets) done in 2007.

Finally, ignore all my snobbish remarks because in fact I could not stop watching this beautifully filmed story.

2011, Based on true facts, German, Grim, Jewish Culture, Nudity, Polish, Sex Scenes, True Story, Violent, War

In Darknes (2011)

Leave a comment

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).

2011, Ancient Rome, Historical Fiction, Military, Revenge, Shakespeare, War

Coriolanus (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Actor Ralph Fiennes makes his directorial debut with this modern update of Shakespeare’s tale about the arrogant general who is banished by the republic he has protected at all costs, provoking him to ally with former foes and wreck a bloody revenge.

Purists may be displeased with this modern adaptation, but then there is no pleasing those literary Luddites. “Modern” here means current soldier’s uniforms and weapons. However, the text is a subset of the Shakespeare original. Sometimes an obsolete word has been changed to a word that we can understand. Nothing is lost from the essence of the story.

Vocal delivery is crisp for the most part. However, Gerard Butler is just not trained for Shakespeare. His delivery is not as clear as the other actors and he uses a soft Scottish accent, perhaps trying to be seem different as one of the Volces or Volscians.

Vanessa Redgrave, who plays Volumnia (the mother of Coriolanus), was 74 during the filming. Making no effort to disguise her age, she is soft-spoken but forceful.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote Coriolanus in 1607. Coriolanus, the character, has been called perverse as a brave general who so despised the common Roman that when called upon to be a Consul because of his heroic stance in battle, he joined the other side (the Volces). Possibly because of this unusual plot the play has never been as popular as his other plays.

Two hours of film intended for staunch Shakespeare fans.