Musta Jaa (Berlinale review)

Posted on February 13, 2008 by E
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Essentially a tale of marital infidelity Mustaa Jaa (Black Ice) is the story of the betrayed woman taking it upon herself to find the other woman in her husband’s life. As with the first movie I watched at the Berlinale, this one begins with nudity. A mature couple, in bed, enjoying a pre-birthday party roll in the sack. We are made intimately familiar with Saara (Outi Mäenpää), the main character in the film, by watching her writhe in bed in the throes of passion. Moments later we are shown how she deals with learning that she has been cheated upon when she discovers a half-used pack of condoms in her husband’s guitar case. She makes a scene at the birthday party that follows, but because this is not Bollywood, the scene is remarkably free of accusatory screaming and tears.
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Tropa de Elite (Berlinale review)

Posted on February 12, 2008 by E
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Cidade de Deus is probably the most famous Brazilian film in recent memory. The frenetic-editing, the high-energy score, the camerawork that made the film look like it was always filmed on the (literal) run…and the high-peril lives of the people that lived in the notorious favela called Cidade de Deus (City of God), all added up to the reintroduction of Brazilian cinema in the world’s eyes.
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Berlinale Bound

Posted on February 2, 2008 by E
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This is a test of the travel webcasting system. :)
No really, this is to see whether it’s actually possible to produce any words of value when one is overwhelmed by the glitz and glamour of a major film festival.
More news as it develops.

keep looking »