Film reviews: Dora, Au plus pres du soleil, Lamb, The man from U.N.C.L.E

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Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.

DORA ou les névroses sexuelles de nos parents ***1/2 (vo German)
A film from the Locarno film fest, this intriguing story is about Dora (the excellent Victoria Schulz), an 18-year old mentally-handicapped daughter of a couple who do not know what to do with her growing desire for carnal love. Swiss director Stina Werenfels has managed to make this difficult tale into one that is both delicate and sensual, as she weaves an emotional thriller out of the parents’ dilemma, Dora’s endless curiosity, and the ambiguous attentions of the man (Lars Eidinger) who becomes Dora’s obsession.

AU PLUS PRÈS DU SOLEIL ***1/2 (vo French)
A stunning girl who is a man-eater ends up in court with a lady judge (the always intense Sylvie Testud) who discovers a devastating truth about her. That fact begins to unravel the judge’s marriage, her professional objectivity and even her motherhood. This powerful film is beautifully conceived by French director Yves Angelo in a most French manner – discreet and matter-of-fact. This is reality gone haywire.

LAMB *** (vo Ethiopian)
This beautifully-filmed tale by Ethiopian director Yared Zeleke is about a 9-year old boy in his home country, estranged from his parents due to death and drought, who has as his closest ally a woolly brown lamb. This simple, touching story is universal in its aspects of loneliness, a desire to go home and the importance of family. It also illuminates the need to be unique in a society foreign to most of us, yet feels familiar in its rights-of-passage and contradictions. The music is exceptionally sublime.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Agents très spécieux) **
The one thing this latest franchise has going for it are the two gorgeous hunks, Henry Cavill (ex-Superman) as Napoleon Solo and Armie Hammer (who played the twins in The Social Network) as Ilya Kuryakin. Alike in their beauty, they are contrasting adversaries (Hammer does a fine Russian accent) with flair and cool. But for me the good news ended there, for the plot is forgettable and the girl – Alicia Vikander – seems a non- actress – just posing with those incredible eyelashes and trendy clothes. But then we are in the 60s, full of posturing and color, since this is based on the hit TV series from that era. Though it’s a Guy Ritchie film, it doesn’t feel like it for the yarn lacks his usual fierce swagger, pace and humor. But the crowds will love it for its fluff entertainment. And this is just the beginning…maybe the next one will have a better script.