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gerrym42
Reviews
La question humaine (2007)
A Painful film to watch
This film led me on a journey, not one I would have willingly taken but in the end I was glad I stayed on board. It was painful, it was a little long but the acting, the filming and the message made it a positive experience for me.
Anyone who is looking for a "Feel Good" movie, don't watch La Question Humaine (Why did they have to change the title for the anglophone market?) A recent visit in Hiroshima was a similar experience. I felt very distressed at the end of the visit, but I was glad I hadn't ducked out.
I think this film has something to say for all Europeans. For me it's a stark reminder of why the EU was launched and why we still need it more than ever.
Permis d'aimer (2005)
Another enjoyable French TV film
A gentle study of the conflicts that arrive for a family with North African roots settled in France. Fejria Deliba is charming as a beautiful widow who treads on many sensitive toes when she embarks on a romance with a 'Frenchman' at a time when her 20 year old daughter is on the point of marriage to a 'good prospect' in the local community.
For me, another very enjoyable french TV film that finished far too quickly. The French seem to be able to produce TV films on a very limited budget but which are frequently far more rewarding to watch than the multi million dollar outpourings from LA
I watched it on TV5 (FBS) with teletext subtitles in French which greatly helped my understanding.
Sideways (2004)
Stye Ways would have been a better title
We watched the DVD version of this film and were so disappointed after reading such good reviews. The two "heroes" behaved like pigs, endlessly eating and drinking and seducing the poor bitches who waited on tables to keep a roof over their heads.
All films tell 2 stories, the plot plus a bit about the society that produced the film. One of the heroes is a full time English teacher at high school yet not only does he regard himself as a failure, he is so badly paid he steals from his widowed mother's savings which he locates in her draw of underwear. There is no implied criticism of this in the film. Worse, he is shown as repeatedly drinking and driving, driving after having drunk several bottles of wine. Once again this criminal activity receives the seal of approval - just a bit of lovable fun. People like this guy kill and maim other peoples loved ones, that's not lovable fun for those involved. These two aspects of the film depressed me. But worse still, I couldn't help thinking, "So this is the most civilised country in the world, this is supposed to be the ideal that we should all be working towards???" No thanks.