01.07.09
Movie Review
I guess you could call this my foreign film review for the month. Nothing better to battle the winter sniffles than some good sleep, warm coffee or tea, soup, and a good movie to snuggle in with on the couch. Of course, happy, sweet pups are good to snuggle with, too, and I’ve had plenty of that as well.
The first movie is Das Leben der Anderen, in English it is “The Lives of Others.” Even J liked this one. Its a film about the GDR and its Stasi (German police) in East Germany and their spying techniques on local artists. Of course, its a little more detailed than that, but I won’t spoil it for you. Lets just say its about character, the effects of social milieus, and the price of morality in Communist Germany. Excellent movie. I might even watch it again.
The next movie that I just finished a few hours ago is Le Fils de l’epicier , translated “The Grocer’s Son.” This one is a French film about a man living in the city forced to return home to Provence after 10 years to work his father’s country grocery store. Oh, poor guy has to live in Provence. The store is not really a store but a traveling deli van that delivers goods to the elderly living way out in the country. The son is cranky and difficult to get a long with. He resents being home and his father, while at the same time is dealing with unrequited for a girlfriend. The trip home is a good way to prove his feelings, but ultimately ends up disastrous. There’s more to it, again. Family feuds, personal struggles and finding oneself. The background is beautiful and the scenes quaint. Makes me want to move to France and raise sheep. I, of course, loved the feisty old women and that everyone eats “tins of peas.” I may just eat them myself.
Next we have Hors de prix. This is another French film staring Audrey Tautou from such films as Le Fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain (Amelie, 2001) and my favorite Dirty, Pretty, Things. This one is a bit different than the above. It’s a cute romantic comedy; not exactly thought-provoking but it’s entertaining. Like I said, it’s a romantic comedy. ‘Nuff said.
Finally, I recommend Lars and the Real Girl. This one I watched last month, but I just can’t stop thinking about it. In fact I watched it twice in the same day. It’s about a small country town up north, probably Minnesota somewhere, and how they deal with Lars, an awkward chap who just doesn’t deal well with real people. It also stars some of my favorite actresses Emily Mortimer and Patricia Clarkson. All of the characters are wonderful in this movie. I highly recommend it.
I’ve been using all this movie time to work on my socks. I’m nearly done with the first one. They are of the toe-up variety. My first attempt at this “easier” sock pattern. Toe-up socks are a bit easier; it just takes a little while to decipher the directions. Once you get those down its a piece of cake, especially the heel since its exactly like the toe. I’d supply you with a picture, but J can’t find the camera.