Week 28 in film

Had better film weeks...

Bitter Moon (Roman Polanski, 1992)
Controversial. Roman Polanski. Could have been quite something. Especially from this director I expected at least something surprising, shocking or insightful. This film is about the super decent Hugh Grant who meets a disabled guy sharing his history which his much younger sensual wife, played by Emanuelle Seigner, Polanski's wife in real life. Most of the film tells this story, which is way way too boring for its controversial (S&M, sexual dominance) content. Dull and forgettable.  3/10


Pieta (Kim Ki Duk, 2012)
As usual, not a lot of dialogue in this latest Kim Ki Duk film. Combined with the depressing surroundings in which our protagonist terrorizes his victims as a loan shark matches the film's mood. Never felt comfortable watching this. Of course something changes when his mom arrives at the scene but somehow I couldn't care anymore. I didn't like the main character, didn't like the film. Not very bad, but this director can do so much better. 5/10

Irréversible (Gaspar Noé, 2003)
Finally I had the 'nerve' to watch this. The dvd cover warned me for extreme and realistic violence. To be honest I wasn't that shocked. The infamous rape scene is uncomfortable but doesn't reach the desired effect the director is after, at least from how I interpret this film. Some of the disorientating camera movements combined with a haunting sound design along the first scenes were effective but this effect is lost at the end of this picture.  6/10

Now You See Me (Louis Leterrier, 2013)
A movie about magicians is begging for a plot twist. This is not even a surprise nowadays. But is this a reason to make it so ridiculous? Had an ok 'Ocean's eleven' like start but slowly went downhill and not only became very improbable it also felt forced. Proves once more how hard it is to write a proper original ending. Yes, failed to do so.  4.5/10


The Notebook (Nick Cassavetes, 2004)
I guess this film can be considered classic in a way, so I decided to watch it. Not as special as I was hoping for. End of the day not much more than a standard poor boy meets rich girl story. Seen it all before. With all I mean both plot and narrative (flashback). Nevertheless pretty amusing.  5.5/10

Hwal (Kim Ki Duk, 2005)

Asia produces a lot of movies that are getting more and more popular in our western filmworld. One of best known movie-countries for us is probably South Korea. Director Kim Ki Duk stole my heart after I saw his Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring and Bin-Jip (3-Iron). Of course I want to watch all of his movies (I am a cinephile…) and today it was Hwal or the Bow.

Like many great movies this picture deserves its credit for the feeling and mood it gives you as a viewer (for me this is something where Ki Duk always succeeded so far). The director is not shy of showing us some of his trademarks again which are, in this case, minimal dialogue and a story on a single isolated location.

In Hwal the location is a fishing boat owned by an older man around 60. His only company a 16 year old beautiful girl who he will marry the day she turns 17. The boat serves as a fishing location for visitors, some of them are talking about the rumours that the girl went missing when she was 6 and her parents are still looking for her. The old man, equipped with bow and arrow, is very protective of his fiancée and fires warning shots towards anyone who shows an interest in the young girl. The old man also predicts the future of his guests if they request, he does this with a very odd and dangerous ritual. After this the little girl whispers something in the man’s ear after which he tells his guests their future. Apart from this ritual the two main characters are not talking at all.

When a younger guy visits the boat, the isolated girl fancies him instantly and the two seem to fall in love. Of course he is chased off the boat at first by the old man, resulting in alienation from the girl towards her future husband. But can the love between the two young people be stopped by the old man eventually?

The story about this somewhat unconventional love triangle begs for at least some dialogue from either the old man or his fiancée but Ki Duk manages to tell his story without and this is exactly the strength and talent of this director. The imagery and colouring is beautiful as usual and the director shows again how to tell his story with minimal text but optimal acting performances and directing. The final act of the movie is bizarre on the one hand but I have to admit it gave me goosebumps, merely because of an awesome soundtrack.

Not as good as his earlier mentioned masterpiece Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring but again a great film from the Korean master of cinematic poetry. Poëcinema if you wish.

8/10