From NetFlix:

When his father (Tuncel Kurtiz) accidentally kills a prostitute
(Nursel Koese), Nejat (Baki Davrak) seeks out the woman’s 27-year-old
daughter, Ayten (Nurgul Yesilcay), to make amends. Nejat focuses his
search in Turkey, but Ayten, part of a closely scrutinized activist
group , has already fled to Germany. Lives intersect in unexpected ways
in writer-director Fatih Akin’s multilayered drama, which won Best
Screenplay at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

Because the film’s philosophy is that most people are forgiving and loving, I have classified this film as “Feel-good but not for children”. I am learning from my Spanish (Joaquín) and Italian (Vincenzo) teachers that we Americans are much more prudish than other countries. I was taken aback when two of the women characters fell in love with one another. Joaquín says the gay culture is taken for granted in Mexico City. At any rate, not for children.

When the dialog is not English (i.e. German or Turkish) there are subtitles. The action takes place in Germany (Bremen ?) and Istanbul. I enjoyed getting a view of narrow German streets, and what Istanbul looks like.

As with all these films that intermingle several stories, the coincidences can sometimes seem forced. I agonized over the ending which leaves unresolved a discovery that the characters must make. If this were a Hollywood film, that discovery would be made and the violins would play. I nearly flipped when the final screen credits rolled without the resolution I was dying to see.

The film is slower than a Hollywood romp. But it held my attention.

From NetFlix:

Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank), a young widow living in New
York, has just lost her beloved husband Gerry (Gerard Butler)
to a brain tumor. Inconsolable, Holly finds that Gerry left
for her a series of letters to help cope with the grief. As
months pass, Holly discovers new messages from Gerry encouraging
her to go on living. And while Holly’s friends fear the letters
will mire her in the past, they, in fact, give her strength
for the future.

Even my date (she of the picky picky movie tastes) loved this movie as she sat silently weeping toward the end. Do not be put off by the argument that starts the film. It actually relates to the rest of the film. The ensemble of Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Kathy Bates, and Harry Connick Jr. works well. The plot is very tightly constructed (and calls for some suspension of disbelief). At certain points the film comes perilously close to a B movie (but who doesn’t enjoy a little sentimentality ?) The scenes of Ireland were so beautiful that I really must visit Ireland before I die. The sex scenes were so genuinely loving (and discrete) that I would probably recommend it for teenagers.

From NetFlix:

Looking to earn some cash — and to get out from under the
thumb of his domineering mother (Laura Linney) — shy teen
Ben Marshall ( Rupert Grint) goes to work as an assistant to a
tetchy retired actress (Julie Walters). But what begins as a
simple summer job soon turns into a life-changing experience
for young Ben. Nicholas Farrell plays Linney’s henpecked spouse
in this affecting coming-of-age drama from director Jeremy Brock.

I can’t even remember how I stumbled upon this small gem of
a movie. Laura Linney plays to perfection an evil religious hypocrite.
Rupert Grint captures “downbeaten teenager” like no one else.
Even Kathy loved this movie (and that’s saying something).

It’s a definite feel-good with some strong language from gritty
Julie Walters.