Private Romeo

USA, 2011, dir. Alan Brown, ***

The story of Hamlet, told in a military school with only young male recruits. Yes, Hamlet is played by a guy. The dialogues are Shakespeare English, so you need to pay attention all throughout. Visuals are simple but striking. 

Paradise : Faith

Paradies: Glaube, Austria, 2012, dir. Ulrich Seidl ****

The second part of Ulrich Seidl’s « Paradise » trilogy. This time, a woman obssessed with religion, spends her days knocking on doors of strangers and preaching  the word of God. Her obsession goes too far since she whips herself at night and seems to have sexual emotions repressed. When his Muslim husband comes back home to her, things get even more bizarre.  Full of controversial and awkward scenes (a specialty by Seidl), this is a must-see.

The Servant

 1963, UK, dir. Joseph Losey, ***

Black Out

The Netherlands, 2012, dir. Arne Toonen, ***
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013

Cannibal Vegetarian

Croatia, 2012, Dir. Branko Schmidt, *
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013

Szamanka

Poland, Switzerland, France, 1996, dir. Andrzej Zulawski, *
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013

VHS 2

USA, 2013, dir: Adam Wingard, Eduardo Sánchez, Simon Barrett, Gregg Hale, Gareth Evans, Timo Tjahjanto, Jason Eisener, ****
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013

Lesson of the Evil

Aku no Kyōten, Japan, 2012, dir. Takashi Miike, **
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013

Animals

Spain, 2011, dir. Marcal Fores, ***
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2013
Pol is a seemingly normal teenager with a family, homework, and a stuffed, English-speaking bear named Deerhoof. All is going well until a new classmate, Icari, arrives in school; despite the warnings of his friends, Pol is drawn inexorably into the dark world into which Icari promises to lead him, and Pol’s fragile balance starts to come undone. A beautifully photographed, tender and original look at teenage angst, Animals brilliantly succeeds in recreating the charged atmosphere of young lives who fear every decision might be irrevocable. Source: http://www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/animals

JCVD

Belgium, 2008, dir. Mabrouk El Mechri  ***

Beyond the Hills

 După dealuri, Romania, 2012, dir. Cristian Mongiu, ***

A look into the secluded life in a monastery in Romania. It is also the story of two girls who used to have a romantic relationship. When one of them decides to live in the monastery, she changes her perspective on love life and when her friends come to visit, nothing is the same anymore between them. However, there is a twist at the end of the story, and in a very unexpected way.

Room 237

 USA, 2012, dir. Rodney Ascher, ***

The over-analysis of this cult classic brought to the extreme. For sure there is stuff you will learn about it. Makes you want to watch "The Shining" again, maybe a couple of times, in order to decipher the apparent secrets that are hidden in it.

Paradise: Love

 Paradies: Liebe, 2012, Austria, dir. Ulrich Seidl, ****
The first part of Ulrich Seidl’s trilogy. A middle-age woman travels to Africa in search of a local sexual partner. She has both good and bad experiences, fun times and depressing moments.  A crude and striking look into human desires.

Side Effects

 2013, USA, dir. Steven Soderbergh, ****

Yossi

Israel, 2010, dir. Eytan Fox, ***

The sequel to Yossi & Jagger.

The Hunt

 Jagten, 2012, Denmark, dir. Thomas Vinterberg, ***

Goodbye, Dragon Inn

 

Taiwan, 2003, dir. Tsai Ming-liang, **

The Great Gatsby

USA, 2013, dir. Baz Fuhrmann, ***

 Chile, 2012, dir. Pablo Larrain, ****

The third and last part in Larrain's trilogy about Chile's dictatorship in the 70's and 80's.

Night Drive

2010, South Africa, dir. Justin Head ***