Villain - Virally Vended?

(Original review on new website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Film: Villain (Akunin / 悪人)

Year: 2010

Director: Lee Sang-il

Venue: ICA, London

Cast

Satoshi Tsumabuki

Eri Fukatsu

Akira Emoto

Masaki Okada

Kirin Kiki

Hikari Mitsushima

Running time: 140 minutes.

Distribution

Released & Distributed in the UK by Third Window Films - details here (and more at foot of review):

http://www.thirdwindowfilms.com

Other Info:

Preview Screening

Further Info:

The film is based on Shuichi Yoshida's crime noir novel of the same name.

I'm so glad I read minimal information about this. Now comes the tricky part... Relaying minimal information whilst explaining maximal details!

OK, there's this girl (Hikari Mitsushima) who, in between being in the insurance industry spends her time eating with her girlfriends (the Americanised expression... I don't mean she's a lesbian), falling in lust with men and probably purchasing the best designer-wear around. This is not labelling her a bad girl but just one of many almost happy-go-lucky youngsters of this modern world.

Hikari's character tells her friends that she's off to meet a guy and proceeds to do so. What follows is a brilliantly executed, but brief meeting of more than one of her male... errr... acquaintances, shall we say. [Not wanting to give away too much, one of these guys is played by Satoshi Tsumabuki] Well, accidents will happen and storylines do need to unfold.

It's fair to say that one of the guys is not best pleased, not only considering the circumstances but also because he's made quite an effort to meet. There is a great use of sound at this point in the movie.

Missy follows her heart and heads off with a seemingly well-to-do male. Smiles are all round, almost. I would say that they head off into the sunset but it's night time and therefore no sun to be seen.

A sleepy-ish town in the middle of nowhere and suddenly "there's been a murder" - these are the words you'd probably here if this were somewhere in England and a North-of-England detective were involved. This murder though, may not have actually occurred in the sleepy town but definitely somewhere almost as sleepy and far away from life or cities.

Who has committed this nasty deed? Could it be one of the young male leads? Or could they both be responsible in some way? The answers to these and other questions will be answered if you go and see this film, or of course read the book... Something I've not had a chance to do yet.

We soon have obviously distraught parents of the victim. Understandably, they blame one another for this event and at times blame themselves. This said, they know that someone else is literally to blame, ultimately.

A dating site is referred to on more than one occasion in this movie. Our main suspect puts such a site to use and meets a girl... A girl who's almost the opposite to Hikari's character. We could call her niaive and homely but that's not entirely true. More innocent could be more apt. What therefore follows is a play with us, the audience. We are played with in the form of us being presented with the situation of a sweet girl meeting a guy, whom we believe to be perhaps untrustworthy and capable of anything. A grinding juxtaposition giving us a "What Will Happen?" debacle. This is nothing new in films, but it's done brilliantly throughout the remaining longer segment of the movie.

In fact, there is an almost beautiful - but uncertain - love story which is put in front of us. Will they, won't they? Did he, didn't he? ('commit the murder')... And, is this really 'love' or just an escape from the reality of situations surrounding the main male lead?... It's definitely an escape for this new female 'love-interest', if only to take her away from the seemingly mundane life she has been living.

In between the latter relationship we are shown this male's family and pieces of his past. We are also displayed the detective's, the police's and the media's progress in solving the crime. There is, of course a flashback or two but done very well, compared with many others experienced in cinema.

Essentially, this film seems to move from a murder & whodunit [even if we have more than our fair share of suspicions] to an almost Romeo & Juliet situation... All the time, never really letting us know the male lead's intention. They seem like they shouldn't be together.

There is a real heart to this story, and not to mention such a great soundtrack, acting and sublime photography.

I suppose it's the love story which ultimately stole my heart. Do I mean crimes of the heart? Well, it is titled "Villain", so you decide.

Find this Trailer and other Minier [ok, that's not a real word, but...] Movies here at:

http://www.youtube.com/miniminimovie

"Villain Video":

[youtube=http://youtu.be/6s6ELkB1LXY]

Finally...

Film Footnote - "Virally Vended"

As promised above, further details of the distributor of Villain are indeed below. However, before you rush to clickety-click-away I'd like to use this space to mention the recent mindless riots experienced here in the UK. Did you know that these riots caused hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages and loss to our favourite independent film distributors? These are, essentially... Arrow Films, Artifical Eye, The BFI, Crabtree Films, Cine-Asia, Dogwoof Films, Exposure Cinema, Eureka, Kaleidoscope Films, Left Films, Masters of Cinema, Metrodome Films, New Wave Films, Peccadillo Pictures, Revolver Entertainment, Showbox Home Entertainment, Terracotta, Third Window Films and Warp Films.

So, with the latter in mind it is even more important to spread the word virally about these unfortunate vendors. On that note I leave you with these links... all which will, in some way assist in keeping such films to be distributed here in the so-called land of milk & honey.

http://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms

http://www.facebook.com/VillainTheMovie

http://www.Twitter.com/ThirdWindow

http://www.Twitter.com/VillainTheMovie

http://www.Twitter.com/AIDED_Film

Many thanks.

"SAWAKO DECIDES" - or perhaps it is really Sake Deciding

Original review on NEW website:

http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com

[Review Working Title: A Small Fish in a Small Pond]

Film: Sawako Decides (Kawa No Soko Kara Konnichiwa / 川の底からこんにちは)

Year: 2010

Director (& writer): Yuya Ishii

Venue: ICA, London

Cast:

Hikari Mitsushima

Masashi Endo

Kira Aihara

Ryo Iwamatsu

Kotaro Shiga

Running time: 112 minutes

Distribution

Released & Distributed in the UK by Third Window Films - details here (and more at foot of review):

Official Site: http://www.thirdwindowfilms.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ThirdWindow

Other Info:

Winner at 53rd Blue Ribbon Awards (Best Director)

Winner at Fantasia Film Festival (Best Film; Best Actress)

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to describe the humour in this picture... Sometimes deadpan, dry, subtle and slapstick - but each type really works!

There is even sentimentality, alcoholism & death. Death... In a Japanese movie? Never...

Anyway, I'll remove my sarcastic head for a second or two and describe the film as best I can, spoilers aside.

A girl, Sawako (Hikari Mitsushima) is seen, having a medical procedure of some kind. Sawako, it evolves is not too bright and takes whatever life throws at her. We witness this at the beginning in her love life & her working life.

The first real comedy moments are at her workplace, where it would seem that not much work is actually undertaken and at times it's 'dull'... This is confirmed by a character or two even using that word - to great comedy effect.

Sawako is also receiving mysterious - to us - phonecalls. It's pretty obvious that this is from someone who is, or at some point was close to her. Is it an ex, family member or perhaps even a company trying to persuade her to come to work with her...? At this point, we do not know... so why should you?! ;)

The latest love (or just-for-company) interest of Sawako's brings further comedy to the story. I will just say that one of the two drinks beer a lot and the other knits clothes, whilst caring for the environment. You may be surprised which one does what, or of course... not.

Sawako, her male companion & her colleagues are not the only human beings bringing humour to this film. Another major (but tiny - literally) character is a young child. Funny, cute & to boot played by a great little actress.

Our female lead must, almost suddenly head of out-of-town in the form of an emergency of the health kind.

In doing so, she becomes a kind of 'fish' out of water. Yes, pun intended... And you'll get this pun when you see the movie.

You see, not only must Sawako get used to her new surroundings in this out-of-town place but also it means that (yet another) job must commence. A different type of work and more demanding. Is this for Sawako? Perhaps she really has no choice.

Does she adapt well, after being a fish out of water? I believe she does a little and becomes a baby 'duck' out of water, by this I mean that she, in some small way does indeed adapt but not fully at first.

Incidentally, there is moment where a duck is shown slowly bobbing it's head under the water and out again. The motion is repeated a couple of times. This reminded me of an earlier scene where Sawako is in a bath and her head is seen to splash out of the water. This said, she's not the kind to do any ‘ducking’ & diving - no, she's not known for being a risk-taker.

A fish out of water? A non-risk taker? So, how does she truly adapt? Let's put it this way... Sometimes family, and reasons linked to a 'happy home' make one try to adapt more.

Up to this point I've not mentioned much about her family, and that is essentially because they are unknown to us at the start of the film. I will say now that one member is sick, whilst another is your almost typical, whilst comedic slightly-perverted-come-randy uncle.

This family of Sawako's is not only connected by blood but also by that other life-force [for many people], alcohol. Drinking can make for an easy laugh in a movie, but here it works well and subtly. It features so much so that I wasn't sure if it was medicinal fluids stored in a featured intravenous drip, or in fact alcohol! Are they drinking beer? Are they drinking the Japanese drink, sake? If the alcohol indeed plays a part in Sawako’s life choices, chances or fate, perhaps it should be renamed “Sake Decides’.

A note on Hikari Mitsushima and her deservedly revered acting displayed in this movie. I'm no guru in all what is Japanese, nor on every film Hikari has been in but this is surely the most dress-downed that we've seen her, if not the most dowdy.

Throw in some larger than life colleagues, employee hatred & a humorous workplace anthem and you have the perfect recipe for a reason to check out this film sometime soon. If undecided before, now I hope the decision of whether to see this film has been made.

Find this Trailer and other Minier [ok, that's not a real word, but...] Movies here:

http://www.youtube.com/miniminimovie

"Small Sawako":

[youtube=http://youtu.be/kwnJpZtGhYM]

Finally...

Film Footnote - "For Sawako's Sake"

Links to Third Window Film (& similar distributors) are listed again below. However, before you rush to clickety-click-away I'd like to use this space to mention the recent mindless riots experienced here in the UK. Did you know that these riots caused hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages and loss to our favourite independent film distributors? These are, essentially... Arrow Films, Artifical Eye, The BFI, Crabtree Films, Cine-Asia, Dogwoof Films, Exposure Cinema, Eureka, Kaleidoscope Films, Left Films, Masters of Cinema, Metrodome Films, New Wave Films, Peccadillo Pictures, Revolver Entertainment, Showbox Home Entertainment, Terracotta, Third Window Films and Warp Films.

So, with the latter in mind it is even more important to spread the word virally about these unfortunate vendors. On that note I leave you with these links... all which will, in some way assist in keeping such films to be distributed here in the so-called land of milk & honey.

http://www.thirdwindowfilms.com

http://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms

http://www.Twitter.com/ThirdWindow

http://www.Twitter.com/AIDED_Film

Many thanks.

"Salt of Life" - Peppered with Laughter

Original review on new website: http://www.MiniMiniMovie.com)

Italian Man's Best Friend

Film: SALT OF LIFE (Gianni e le Donne)

UK Release Date: 12th August 2011

Year: 2011

Director: G

Bonus: Q & A with director / co-writer / actor Gianni Di Gregorio

Venue: Curzon, Mayfair

Cast:

Gianni Di Gregorio

Valeria de Franciscis Bendoni

Alfonso Santagata

Elisabetta Piccolomini

Valeria Cavalli

Alyn Prandi

Kristina Cepraga

Michelangelo Ciminale

Teresa Di Gregorio

Lilia Silvi

Gabriella Sborgi

Laura Squizzato

Silvia Squizzato

Further Info:

UK PREMIERE

Distributed by Artificial Eye

Official Site: http://www.artificial-eye.com

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ArtificialEye

This Is No Asterix

I had a decision. A film or a farewell meal for a friend. I must add that this friend was having many a farewell do and this was almost 'just another one'.

It turned out though, that after half-cancelling my acquired place at this Premiere screening I could now in fact attend both the movie and the meal.

It was going to be tight but I knew I could do both of the events. So, I proceeded to head to the Curzon, Mayfair. It was now a case of a Cancelled and Re-Claimed prize... Indeed, would a seat be there with my name on it, or not? It was there... In fact, I was ultimately informed that I could sit anywhere inside the auditorium.

"Seen it... Seen it... Seen it..."

But until such time, I was seated in the bar and reception area of this fine establishment. I was a tad excited to see such a movie - but one I knew little about. Whilst there I witnessed many an Italian person arrive [obviously], as well as English and a fidgety old woman who appeared to have lost something. Or her mind... Bless her.

I can't say that the staff behind the bar were stupid, or clever but I'm sure I heard one of the guys tell a customer that "Salt Of Life" is an animated film. Really? Solely based on the animated poster? Silly man, although perhaps I'm also that man, as I believed him! [So much so that when the film later begun I thought it was perhaps going to transition away from live action to animation - This would then be in line both with it's movie poster and a film still, or two I'd seen previously on the Curzon website: http://www.curzoncinemas.com]

Ultimately, I placed myself in the front row of what is, incidentally the best Curzon screen I've experienced. However, this was too close really - Especially for some of the early shaky camera work. Of course, it was also great to be fully immersed in the proceedings.

A Salty Reception

This being the UK Premiere & Preview, director Gianni Di Gregorio introduced the film and explained, with the aid of a translator that he made it at a certain age when he realised women had stopped looking at him.

Without further a do, and spoiling as little as possible I'll describe this movie to you.

Here we have a middle aged man and a much older woman, clearly his mother. They appear to be speaking with a lawyer or more so probably an executor [that's the pronounciation as in law not in executing in the form of killing!]

It's clear from early on that this man is a little low and frustrated at this time in his life. Is this all there is? Whatever happened? Where has gone his ability to attract - or even attempt to attract - women? Has it dwindled so much that some kind of analogy to a motor or mechanical part is required here? Yes. This is later, and more than once reflected in such a broken down vehicle. It's fair to say that this vehicle keeps having the same problem. Hmmm...

My Kind O' Party...

So, what does a guy do in such a pickle? He surely doesn't want to become 'just one the many' old guys out there, doing the same old thing, day after day. Such a character is shown which could demonstrate this monotonousness - this character is a guy who has trousers & hat which match in colour... And so matches his dog! [In colour, I mean... It's not a trousers-and-hat-wearing dog! Come on, this film is lighthearted enough but not over the top!]

Dogs feature semi-heavily in this movie... And I'm in no way meaning the derogitory word for women (or men to come to think of it). No. We see a few different breeds of our four-legged friends. A great example of two such pets is shown not long into the story. Our protagonist is seen walking more than one such pet - much to the amusement of one girl seated behind me.

Our hero is naturally facing a midlife or latelife crisis. This is reflected greatly in many scenes, whether looking in the mirror, chatting to his best male friend, spending time with his much-demanding mother or taking a walk almost alongside a load of young female joggers.

A Walk In The Park... Or A Jog...

Cherries are used in a great filmic way. Are these suggesting popping someone's cherry, cherry-picking a fruit of his own choice, or simply indicating that he is not taking a second bite of the cherry? [...like so many other men at his age, either in the movie or in real life...]

Indeed, had this film been made a couple of decades ago it could have been named "Men on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"...!

"What about the women?", I hear you cry. Apart from some lovely females, including twins, a party-loving youngster, and a practising soprano we have the oldies. Although, one or two of the old women in the movie could be said to resemble men, except with a tad too much make-up. Surely not just my opinion here?

Love Thy Neighbourhood...?

And what kind of modern film would this be without the mention or hint of Viagra? In fact, an almost too-brilliant-to-be-considered-coincidental moment comes along, giving a knew meaning to someone who has got 'the horn'.

Sex. Drugs. Drugs? Yes. Drugs (both sexual and recreational), a pixies tune & gambling all feature half-heavily in this sublime picture. As do images [and memories, in my case anyway] of Rome.

Just when you wonder how the film will end, and as it approaches it's modest and moderately lengthed run time, it hits you like a beautiful thunderbolt of euphoric lightning.

Up-Staged At Q & A? I Wouldn't Know... This Was Before The Film, Not After...

I couldn't stay for the Q & A [I later heard it was wonderful] with the Italian director-slash-writer-slash-star.

So, Goodbye it was to this Salty Italian classic and onwards to say Farewell to a friend (leaving for Shanghai) over a Salty Chinese meal.

Find this trailer and other Minier [ok, that's not a real word, but...] Movies here at:

http://www.youtube.com/miniminimovie

...:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/DXb0YqOxgLE]