FILM OF THE WEEK
THE TASTE OF THINGS
This delicious film by the celebrated Vietnamese writer/director Tran Anh Hung (THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA and NORWEGEAN WOOD) is set in 1885 France. The story focuses on Eugenie (Juliette Binoche), the expert cook who has worked for the famous gourmet Dodin (Benoit Magimel) for the last 20 years. There is an immense respect between these two passionate lovers of gastronomy that also leads them to a romantic liaison. Eugenie prefers to stay independent rather than marry her paramour until Dodin decides to cook for her his signature dish the Pot-au-Feu (the film’s French title), which is a meat lovers’ dream- a slow cooked stew with chicken, bacon, and sausage…
Hung has deservedly won Best Director at last year’s Cannes Film Festival for this very French feast for the senses. The opening sequence is utterly mesmerising – the kitchen at the Dodin household is in full force and is led by the renowned Eugenie as they prepare a series of delicious dishes for a group of special guests. There is hardly any dialogue for about half an hour as the kitchen staff focus in delivering their piece di resistance to their luminary guests. The scene is utterly mesmerising and sets the tone of what’s to come most adequately. This is not just one of the best films about food, since probably BABETTE’S FEAST, but it is also a tender love story with spellbinding performances.
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE
Reinaldo Marcus Green follows his award-winning KING RICHARD with another true story. He celebrates the life and music of reggae legend Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) with this story which highlights his revolutionary music.
Kingsley Ben Adir inhabits the role of Bob Marley most effectively is this satisfactory film which comes alive particularly when he is performing the iconic songs. The most memorable scene is when Marley is listening to Ernest Gold’s Oscar winning soundtrack from the film EXODUS – he gets so excited and is immediately inspired to write his own “Exodus”, which soon becomes his most popular album.
Ben-Adir gets solid support from Lashana Lynch as his loyal wife Rita, who stands by his side like an old oak tree through thick and thin. The film covers only a small section of Marley’s life and meteoric rise to fame before his untimely death at the age of 36, but if you want to learn more about the legendary man visit Kevin McDonald’s 2012 documentary MARLEY. A real treat not just for Marley fans!
THE PROMISED LAND
Mads Mikkelsen is reunited with Nikolaj Arcel, the writer/director of A ROYAL AFFAIR, and delivers another towering performance. This powerful period drama is set in 1755 Denmark and follows the story of the impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelsen), who sets out to cultivate a barren heath against fierce opposition from the merciless Frederick de Schinkel, who works for the King…
It is an epic story about the land and the abuse of power superbly directed with strong production values. Mikkelsen is at the peak of his powers and delivers yet another magnetic performance.
GETTING IT BACK: THE STORY OF CYMANDE
Tim Mackenzie-Smith’s fascinating documentary resurrects the story of the groundbreaking Black British group called “Cymande”. Their innovative tunes and pulsating sounds changed the music history during the early seventies and beyond but mysteriously many people have never heard of “Cymande”.
The band was created in Balham and Brixton by Black musicians who came to the UK from the Caribbean as children, part of the Windrush generation. Smith celebrates this important part of history and the work of these unsung heroes who speak enthusiastically about their experiences during those fruitful days Smith has also uncovered some rare archive material, which perfectly complements this excellent documentary.
THE SEEDING
Barnaby Clay’s shocking thriller, which was premiered at Frightfest last summer, follows the story of Wyndham Stone (Scott Haze), a young adventurer whose hiking experience in a remote desert canyon turns into a nightmare…
Clay builds up the atmosphere most effectively and makes great use of the striking yet hostile environment. Haze is very effective as the vulnerable protagonist, who begins to regret deeply his decision to save some young boys from danger after he finds himself trapped in an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere.
PADRE PIO
Shia LaBeouf is a curious choice for the eponymous hero in Abel Ferrera’s latest film. The action takes place in Italy at the end of World War I at the time when the young soldiers are returning from the front to San Giovanni Rotondo, a land of poverty governed by the strict rules of the church. It is the eve of the first election in Italy when Padre Pio also arrives to a remote Capuchin monastery…
It is a fascinating subject not often seen on the big screen but sadly not as engaging as one would hope to. The dubbing is very off putting while LaBeouf big performance belongs to a different film altogether.
CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET
It has taken over twenty years for the eagerly awaited follow up to CHICKEN RUN, which was premiered at last October’s London Film Festival. Ginger (voice by Thandiwe Newton) finally gets her freedom after she manages to escape from Mrs Tweedy’s (Miranda Richardson) farm. Life is good on the island sanctuary until a new danger shows its ugly head…
A lot of the original cast including Imelda Staunton and Jane Horrocks lend their voices once again and the stop motion animation from Aardman is as innovative and groundbreaking as ever, but curiously the charm of the original is lost in this sequel. (Netflix)
PAST LIVES
Celine Song’s deceptively simple film is one of the most acclaimed of the year. It was screened at Sundance Film Festival London, where it won the Audience Award and has been a frontrunner for many awards including the forthcoming Oscars. She tells the story of Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two inseparable childhood friends whose friendship is challenged when Nora’s family leaves South Korea for a new life in America. Two decades later the old friends are reunited in New York for one week only…
Song is an accomplished playwright and inevitably she gives more emphasis to character development. She makes an impressive feature film debut and offers her actors strong, well-defined roles. Lee and Yoo are both stunning and they deliver heartbreaking performances. Do not miss if you haven’t seen it already!
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