25 September 2015
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.
LES DEUX AMIS ***1/2 (vo French)
Here is a film that creates an ambiance that is very French. There is a bohemian, Parisian lifestyle; two close friends who share everything; a stunningly gorgeous girl (Persian actress Golshifteh Farahani) who is a mystery; and a few days of dizzying sentiments.
Of course, as usual, it’s the woman who creates discord, with bits of love and excitement. Let’s not forget Eve and her apple…
This moody, stream-of-consciousness tale takes us into ambiguous territories…is love more important or friendship? Be responsible or live for the moment? Can one have it all? Young Louis Garrel has co-written, directed and acts in this excellent film reminiscent of Sagan’s books, some films of Truffaut or Lelouch, and with far better atmosphere and truths than his father’s cinema.
See it both for his nascent talent and the glorious beauty and art of Golshifteh. The music of Philippe Sarde doesn’t hurt either.
ÊTRE ET DEVENIR (Being and Becoming) **** (vo French, English, German)
Some key words to explain home education: love, confidence, liberty… Liberty, but not license; to show but not to teach; to let each child find his passion and progress at his own level.
This eye-opening documentary by Clara Bellar takes us from Brazil to France, England, Germany and the U.S. to meet parents who have decided not to put their children into formal schools. Not an easy task, but apparently an extremely worthwhile one, with quite amazing results. The children seem to turn into well-adjusted, talented adults. This is an important film – not to be missed!
EVEREST ***1/2
This is a WOW film, in 3D IMAX format and Hollywoodish in its bravado and stars, Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin. Yet its director is the Icelandic Baltasar Kormakur and most of the actors are Brits (Jason Clarke, Emma Watson, Keira Knightley), as well as the esteemed co-writers, William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy, with a powerful soundtrack by the Italian, Oscar-anointed composer Dario Marianelli.
Despite the hugeness of its subject – the highest mountain on earth – and the grand undertaking, Kormakur has managed to make this film, based on true events and characters from Jon Krakauer’s book, “Into Thin Air”, into an intense, human story. Taking place during a deadly blizzard on an ascent in 1996, it studies the addiction that conquering a mountain can be. And makes us feel as though we are up there, freezing with those brave and foolhardy souls. Quite an accomplishment, both technically and emotionally.
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
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