Sweetgrass - Last Land Lambs or Raunchy Ranching

(Original review on new website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Film: Sweetgrass

Year: 2009

Director/s: Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor

Bonus: Q & A with Lucien Castaing-Taylor

Venue: Curzon, Renoir

Other Info:

http://www.curzoncinemas.com

http://www.Twitter.com/CurzonCinemas

Cast:

Sheep 1

Sheep 2

Sheep 3

Sheep 4

(& over 3000 sheep-extras!)

Non-Verbal-ly - All Verney-ly.

Officially out on Friday 22nd April but showing as part of Curzon's DocDays on this night, and complete with a Q & A with co-director, Lucien.

As always, I'll try to keep 'spoiling' to a minimum but I feel I have slightly more license or reason for doing so a little on this film. The reasons? Well, firstly it's a documentary with not much to jump off the screen to surprise you [that's not talking the movie down but simply a fact] and therefore much can be revealed without ruining things too much.

The second reason is simply because the director himself pre-empted us, the audience before the screening itself: Lucien told us that - perhaps thanking us for coming & putting up with it, because - the movie is approximately 2 hours and one of long & therefore slow [well, 'still' I guess would be a better description] shots...and is a film of practically non-verbalness.

But, verbally or written I shall take this chance to state that although the dialogue may be thin on the ground - I mean, this is a film about "Sheep" for god's sake! - when any talking does come our way it is rather amusing.

If there is was one thing I wanted to take away from this movie screening it would be paintings from the many shots of the sheep. It is pretty immense to see so many sheep juxtaposed onto the backgrounds like they are. So different from what we see every day. Around 3,000 sheep in some of these 'stills' - stills, you see because these filmed animals are moving in bulk across land and so it can appear that they're not moving at all. Just think life paintings, still-life pictures and perhaps Constable. If I was perhaps more cultured and knew much of Renoir's work I could make a witty comment on his work and the name of this venue.

Talking of sheep (because that's what this film is), although we, throughout our adult life are taught the common sense of not laughing at other peoples' mannerisms, we definitely make an exception here - well, these are not human. But...their sounds can be human-like, what with the varying baas they give out. You'll no doubt chuckle, along with the audience if such a sound tickles your funny bone. Listen out specifically for angry-sounding baas at an apt moment or two in this cinematic docu-piece.

("I'm NOT taking a leak")

Let's not forget a little bit of shearing, lambs being born and oven a man taking a 'piss' whilst chatting to his pal about a 'pistol' (or did he mean 'pisstol') ...hmmm words can not explain or express...

Well, that's almost it from me about Sheeping, Shearing and Soothing-Shots.

Facts & Figures from the Fantastic (director) Q & A:

[Although I could have called this section "On The 'Castaing' Couch"]

Lucien answered regarding the appeal for the film in the first place. One reason being his astoundment that not only would it takes many weeks to get from one area to the next, but that the last couple of weeks would be needed to scale the final hillside or mountain, call it what you will.

Lucien also explained:

* About the town, town-folk and that he had camera attached to his front during all the time but the folk (and sheep!) would be unsure if he was or was not filming.

*That he occasionally helped out..herding etc

*There was over 200 hours of footage to whittle down and edit to the couple of finished-product hours! This said, it was only really physically possible to look at approximately 120 or 130 hours of footage, out of the 200 or so.

*It was edited / cut by 20 min for USA TV

Other facts:

In the area which this film focuses on, a permit has to be obtained for grazing.

11 inches of rain per year.

The shooting of over 3,000 sheep [not that kind of ‘shooting’!] - Yes, although most of the film has 3,000 sheep in shot at any one time there were approximately 3,500 sheep in total.

In summary, a rather wonderful insight ranching ..Made more interesting by What we read at The End.

The End indeed. It was time to head 'baa-ck' home, go to bed and if necessary I was sure to be able to lay there counting sheep.

Sparrow - A Bird In The (sleight of) Hand

(Original review on new website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Film: Sparrow ( Man Jeuk / 文雀 )

Year: 2008

Director: Johnnie To

Venue: ICA, London

Further Info: http://www.ica.org.uk/

Cast:

Denis Babushkin

Kelly Lin

Kenneth Cheung

Lam Ka-tung

Law Wing-cheong

Lo Hoi-pang

Sergey Reusenko

Simon Yam

After a day of much stressing and debating I had made my mind up about at least one thing - to see Sparrow at the ICA. Why was I stressing, on this the first day of our 4 day Easter weekend? Nothing worth mentioning on here, except to say that I wasn't getting a Good Friday feeling.

Part of the cause of any stress would have surely been helped by a little tipple to relax and relieve myself. But a recent 7 weeks completely off alcohol had shown me that it is NOT a necessity in life, as relieving a power as it can have.

But, at the last minute I told myself, "Damn it, it's a holiday and the next best thing to taking a holiday was to do what I jolly well felt like" [Yes, I was also regretting not using holiday days and flying off somewhere - whilst now trying to enjoy beautifully hot & sunny England...without an alcoholic beverage].

A red wine it was to be - this being my alcohol of choice when having a drink in a picturehouse - and lo & behold one of the early scenes in this movie had the main male & female characters glugging red wine together. I had made the right choice...I would have been having a coffee otherwise or even a water.

Sparrow, after the wine scene continues with the beautiful music & filmwork that it had started with. This filmwork being as intriguing as you could possibly imagine. Was this imagery and music pointing to it being a comedy movie or even fairytale? The shots were also pretty misty and therefore a little mysterious (or perhaps that should be mistyrious? *wink wink*

I'm fully aware though, that Hong Kong can be foggy and a tad smoggy. Many people are aware of this fact but it was proven to me, definitely in the 'foggy' sense, in January of this year when I passed through it for a few days. But...I will add that's it mostly a very clean and pleasant city, or at least the parts I saw. Lovely culture and lovingly cultured.

Not giving the plot away, Sparrow is essentially about pickpocketing and is a subject which hasn't before been covered in such a beautiful way - from my cinema-going and movie-watching experience anyhow. And the relevance of a 'sparrow'? Well, for one it's a word for a pickpocket in Hong Kong.

It has such a magical but mysterious start to it, this movie, and we're treated to some lovely scenes. Look out for one involving an elevator and a balloon. Interesting / amusing.

And then there's a great staircase, or stairwell shot. Some shots, particularly the sleight of hand ones are well done and so 'sleight' that if you look away or blink you may miss them...as in fact I think I did on more than one occasion.

Any bizarre scenes, characters and/or comedy moments reminded me of many directors works, particularly David Lynch, Luc Besson and even a splash of The Wachowski Brothers.

Speaking of comedy, some of the moments are subtle, but mildly crippling. [There's a pun in there...especially for any Sparrow pre-viewees out there]

Topping off this unique movie experience is the inclusion of one of the greatest duels - perhaps even to be described as a grand standoff - ever put to celluloid.

With all the above taken into account it's maybe no wonder that the film was selected for the 58th Berlin Film Festival, and as such premiered worldwide during that festival (in 2008).

The whole picture could be described as a sleight of hand in film work and it shows what can be achieved by a genius director - a director [Johnnie To] who shot it over a period of three years, 2005 to 2008.

Indeed, be under no 'illusion', this sleight of hand motion picture is as 'magical' as seeing a sparrow close-up, if ever given the opportunity. But (nearly) all puns aside, to catch all the Sparrow's 'tricks' you could need eyes like a Hawk...

The Trip - A little review surrounding a little island.

(Original review on new website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Film: The Trip

Year: 2009

Director: Bae Chang-Ho

Venue: The Korean Cultural Centre, The Strand, London

Other Info:

Shown as a short season of films - in the lead up to the Royal Wedding - to promote the Korean island of Jeju.

Cast:

Park Joo-hee

Oh Yeong-sook

Kim Yu-mi

Park Sang-gyoo

(despite it's image, Jeju does not give you that 'sinking feeling')

Ironically, this night was the evening where it had finally dawned on me or hit home that I should have possibly taken an 11 day holiday....by just using 3 of my work holiday days. Actually, I already knew that I had the option but due to the indecisiveness of my nature, and the fact that I'd not planned much nothing went ahead. I even briefly considered Korea as a destination this time around. Oh well, at least it will be money saved, for now.

So. I found myself indoors on a lovely (hot...yes, in the UK!) evening, at the Korean Cultural Centre, London...again.

A technical hitch delayed the start [later revealed to be some kind of power-off somewhere]. We sat watching the "No Signal" wording slowly climbing the screen. Hey, if this sounds boring it wasn't, totally. Why not? As the wording was swapped sides of the screen..left to right ..half way up...

Test card... Almost there...

And we're off!

Except, it wasn't as dramatic start as I make out. It was a very mellow beginning to a film which ultimately felt like it had been made by the Jeju Tourist Board*. Jeju being Korean's much loved little island and also the reason for this film tonight. You see, Jeju has been nominated as one of the new “Seven Wonders Of The World”.

• Including various museums from this exotic island - one or two dedicated to well-known historical figures and ... yes ... Teddy Bears! (sweet though).

('not' the film's two main characters...)

A very different film to the previous week's offering at the KCC but interesting in other ways, even if at times it did feel like it was filmed by the same people who make soap operas - perhaps Korean ones, but I kept envisioning Australian ones, for my sins. [Asia-wise, I've witnessed Thai, Vietnamese and Philipino, Chinese & India ones - or at least snippets of, on one's travels].

I'm not, as you may know, one for giving away entire plots - but I will say that this movie is split into 3.

We have a couple of teenagers enjoying their time together on Jeju having caught a boat to the island. Do they like each other? Well, “perhaps one does and not the other?”, you question. Hmm, well...

In another part of the film, a girl who was previously abandoned by her mother longs to know more about her, if not actually find her. Does she? ...

Then we have a woman who is visiting Jeju and searching for her true self.

All 3 of these aspects are almost joined together with the idea of a road - perhaps a road on which we are all on, or on a path...a path which runs along the road. Well, that's one place you'd expect to find a path, isn't it? [insert sarcasm apology here]

The film has comedy, lovely music (mostly...and the kind I've come to expect from so many Korean films), good characters & actors and of course, exquisite shots of Jeju's scenery.

There's little else to say, except JeJu looks like a place for J(e)V(ee).

Review by JV.

Mini-Review taken from Twitter Timeline:

"The Trip" Tweview: Quaint, Quiet & Quintessentially Korean. 3 stories of Finding Love, Finding Family & Finding Yourself .

[slightly abridged but also many thanks to @KCCUK & @koreanfilmfest ;) ]

Further Korean Film & Cultural Info:-

(including details of how to win a trip to Jeju!)

www.kccuk.org.uk

http://koreanfilm.co.uk

www.Twitter.com/KCCUK

www.Twitter.com/KoreanFilmFest

"LITTLE WHITE LIES" - become Little Half Laughs or Little Clear Tears

(Original review on N E W website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Film: Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs)

Year: 2010

Director: Guillaume Canet

Venue: Tricycle Theatre/Cinema, London

Additional Information:

http://www.tricycle.co.uk

www.twitter.com/TricycleTheatre

A sleepy, warm-ish Saturday afternoon, fitting for a day at the beach - at least, a beach on film anyway.

Alright. This film was different from that which I expected - that's what happens when you intentionally/unintentionally have minimal trailer views, read zero news and nil reviews [one rhyme at a time, line by line, a poem I doth find)...On this occasion I only knew from what had been in the trailer.

This picture is perhaps a little long but this time is well-spent character building and whatever you do don't miss the beginning, if only due to one shot which I particularly loved - and I know others did too.

We're introduced to the characters, of course, and no matter how we're later introduced to any flaws they may have we still warm to each one of them. I dare you to take a disliking to any of this crowd.

Are they family or friends? Well, mostly friends. A little like the Paul T Anderson movie, Magnolia - but perhaps not as grandiose,- these characters are connected by one character. This said, it could be told that there are actually a couple of such characters whom the majority revolve around or seem bonded to. You see, when you've been friends with one another for a long time strong bonds are built within your immediate and extended circle.

(Funny / Serious)

The funniest guy is definitely François Cluzet. Although at first I wasn't sure if it was intentional comedy, but as the movie extends you will see - as did the audience whom I spent the 2.5 hours with - that it is intentional and more often than not it is subtle humour. Subtle humour that's capable of providing one with a belly laugh on occasion.

Now, if you've see the trailer or posters you will have noted that some of the film is based at sea, either in it or by it. Indeed, any shots in the sea - for example, on a motorboat - are pretty sublime in realism and colour. As is the summerhouse-come-dwelling - it really makes you feel like you're on holiday or at least makes you wish you were on one!

I won't elaborate, I don't like to but I will say that although this story is set in few locations it's the relationships of these many characters which keep you intrigued. This is exactly why I won't divulge further information on these people - there is far too much being revealed about themselves to mention, let alone know where to start.

One rather bizarre moment - or perhaps normal, considering these 'normal' beings - involves someone speaking to a jar of rice. Why? Again, I won't say - Well, I like to inject a little mystique into the intentional vagueness of my reviews. But I will say that if anyone ever caught me talking angrily to a jar of rice, I would turn back to the jar and exclaim "Now, look what you made me do - you made me look like an idiot!" This may make more sense when you see the film - or perhaps I've inserted words such as those as I've seen one too many movies over the years.

For the sake of a few points I mentally noted, there is also a musician who is involved with this family. Does he like rice? It doesn't matter... [that was my smart attempt at linking from one paragraph to another] ... There is, however a moment which I couldn't help thinking of, due to the words stated. There is a line along the lines (?) of "...since he rocked up..." 'Rocked Up'? Was that a reference to him being a musician? I felt it a very American thing to say although perhaps it was lost in the translation of the subtitles. Either way, how ironic.

When the aforementioned musician plays a song for those present you may get a little lost in the moment. So much so that you want to applaud him when he finishes - I know I did (Meaning...I know I did 'feel like' applauding, not 'I DID' applaud...that may be a step too far in the cinema, albeit not that out of place at the Tricycle Theatre cinema, for someone to clap at the screen;)

Whilst on a musical note, I simply must comment on this movie's soundtrack...one word...? Ok..."Wow"...! A mix of classic, well-known songs with some lesser-known tunes. I really left the film wanting to find and purchase the OST. [Incidentally, I searched on the world wide web but could not locate such a soundtrack, but I do hope there is one].

Add to this the fact that I weeped at a certain point of this film, I have to say it got me in every sense going - Life, the people we connect with and that its all over one day. Perhaps I'm very emotive or compassionate - the combination of certain scenes & music caused Little Clear Tears...and that's no Little White Lie.

Footnote: 3's & 5's

As we near the 5th month of 2011 I note that this is my 3rd* French Film of 2011, so far and I can honestly say that I'd give it more than 3 stars out of 5 and almost certainly give it 3 French kisses & a High 5.