FILM OF THE WEEK
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
This daring film marks the impressive directorial debut of Kristen Stewart, who turns Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir into a poetic and visual exploration of childhood trauma. Lidia (Imogen Poots) is still haunted by her childhood memories of violence and abuse but manages to turn her life around after she enters competitive swimming. She loves water and having sex with different partners and is also ready to experiment with drugs and alcohol which inevitably lead her into a spiral descent into hell. Still, she manages to get back and find her cathartic moments through her writing…
Stewart proves to be a great visionary director and touches many forbidden parts that many filmmakers would run a mile away from. Imogan Poots delivers a fearlessly commanding performance and carries the entire film almost singlehandedly. It is also good to see Thora Birch playing Lidia’s friend Claudia, in one of her best roles since her glory days in AMERICAN BEAUTY. Jim Belushi offers solid support as Ken Casey another horrid and thinly sketched male in Lidia’s life.
It may be too long, and it is hard going at times, but overall, it is a worthwhile experience and Kirsten proves that she is as compelling behind the camera as in front of it.
100 NIGHTS OF HERO
Writer/director Julia Jackman’s imaginative tale was the Closing Night Film at last October’s London Film Festival. Her screenplay is based on Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel and is inspired by the Arabian Nights legendary tales of “One Thousand and One Nights”.
It is an inventive take on multiple stories and its narrative is focused on female friendship, loyalty, seduction and the secret League of Story Tellers. The action follows the story of Cherry (Maika Monroe), a newly wed bride whose arrogant husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) leaves her alone for a hundred days to test her fidelity. But during this time she develops a loving relationship and an unbending bond with her maid Hero (Emma Corrin)…
The first half of the film with its extraordinary designs and costumes recall the early work of Derek Jarman, before the action develops into a passionate erotic fantasy in a strong patriarchal society. Corrin and Monroe are both excellent and share a seductive chemistry. The most original film currently on release.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR
Max Keegan’s superbly photographed documentary is set in the French Pyrenees and follows the story of an old shepherd who has been caring for his flock most of his life until recent times when brown bears have become an increasing danger to his animals. He is at his wits end and is now struggling to find a successor. Meanwhile, a teenage boy becomes obsessed with tracking the bears…
Keegan spent a couple of years following his subjects on this magnificent landscape and highlights the division amongst a small community where traditions are on the brink of extinction.
It is enlightening and thought provoking and is very much worth seeing on the big screen not just for its stunning cinematography.
THE LOST BUS
Paul Greegrass brings urgency and authenticity to this intense story inspired by true events. The action follows the story of Kevin McKay (Matthew McCaughey), a school bus driver caught in the middle of a blazing inferno that threatens to burn everything around the Paradise town and its beautiful forest in California. His assignment is to bring to safety 22 children together with their caring teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera)…
The visual effects are out of this world and it is hardly surprising that its team is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual effects. Greengrass’ signature hand held camera is put to great use in this exciting drama. McCaughey and Ferrera work hard to save the children but finally they lack the necessary chemistry to make this worthy project more compelling.
GHOSTS OF ALDERNEY: HITLER’S ISLAND SLAVES
Andrew Johnstone’s essential documentary follows the research of visual artist Piers Secunda, who recently spent five years gathering stories from slave labourers sent to Alderney by Hitler after he invaded the tiny Channel Island in 1941. Hitler’s plan was to build a fortress by slaves from all over Nazi Europe and stand against an allied attack…
Surprisingly this brutal story of occupation and torture is little known but thankfully Secunda’s research and Johnstone’s illuminating film will bring it to light.
PRISONER 951
This compelling four-part television series follows the story of British/Iranian citizen Nazarin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is arrested at Tehran’s airport and is kept in prison for six years. She is a journalist and is accused of spying without any evidence. Her loving husband Richard (Joseph Fiennes) begins his own battle against the authorities for her release but his biggest obstacle is Boris Johnson during his ghastly reign as Foreign Minister. His arrogant and ignorant statements about Nazarin’s situation makes matters even worse.
A powerful series intelligently produced and scripted not to be missed! (BBC iPlayer)
Any feedback is welcome: georgesavvides@hotmail.co.uk