11 January 2019. By Neptune What a week…three completely different films…The first one about one of France’s finest writers, Edmond Rostand of the classic romance, “Cyrano de Bergerac”; the other a gentle, social comedy about a group of homeless women; and the last about a boxing family going back to the “Rocky” days. All worth […]
FILM: WELCOME TO MARWEN – how a WWII soldier creates a make-believe universe to cope with trauma
4 January 2019. By Neptune WELCOME TO MARWEN *** Based on the life of Mark Hogancamp, this completely bizarre but charming film is a mix of live actors and Barbie-type figures that pop up in our character’s gentle musings but also in his worst nightmares. For his psychological problems stem from his time as a […]
FILM: 4 films to miss and 1 to see
21 December 2018. By Neptune It seems this week is the official release of THE BOOKSHOP which I already reviewed a few weeks ago. Unfortunately it’s the only film I can recommend this week – the others are all missables, except for MARY POPPINS RETURNS which I hear is excellent, but I have not yet […]
FILM: SHOPLIFTERS – a Tokyo family that survives by shoplifting
14 December 2018. By Neptune SHOPLIFTERS (Une Affaire de Famille) **** There is a delicacy and sensitivity to the films of Japanese master director Hirokazu Kore-Eda that introduce us to a Japan which is often far from our preconceived ideas about that country. He usually deals with the importance of the family unit, portraying it […]
FILM: LETO – indy homage to two Russian rock/punk stars of 1980s Leningrad
7 December 2018. By Neptune LETO ***1/2 (vo Russian) This indy homage to two Russian rock/punk stars of 1980s Leningrad was quite a hit at the 2018 Cannes film festival. Ironically, its director Kiril Serebrennikov was one of two directors in the Palme d’Or lineup (the other being Jafar Panahi of Iran, with his film […]
FILM: BLAZE – the turbulent life of a legendary country singer
23 November 2018. By Neptune BLAZE ***1/2 The talented actor Ethan Hawke, who picked up an Excellence Award at this year’s Locarno film festival, has become an accomplished director and delves here into a biopic on the singular, turbulent life of the legendary (among aficionados), yet little-known Country singer/songwriter Blaze Foley. It’s a ballad, a […]
FILM: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – a must for Queen fans
2 November 2018. By Neptune Do not miss Geneva’s own International Film Festival – GIFF – running from 2 to 10 November 2018. Click here for more information. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY **1/2 This is obviously a must for fans of the band Queen and its charismatic, strutting singer, Freddie Mercury. A detailed musical biopic, it reveals […]
FILM: GIFF – Geneva’s own international film festival
Do not miss Geneva’s own International Film Festival – GIFF – running from November 2 -10. Its innovative director Emmanuel Cuenod and his team have put together an ambitious program of 164 works, including exciting films in competition, upcoming TV series, short films, digital and web novelties, moments for children and families, and important guests […]
FILM: PIG – a surreal comedy thriller from Iran
26 October 2018. By Neptune KHOOK (Pig) ***1/2 (vo Farsi) A surrealistic comedy/thriller out of Iran? Is that even possible? Well, it is for actor/director Mani Haghighi who has been breaking the cinematic rules of his country in his previous films such as the intriguing “Modest Reception” or “A Dragon Arrives!”. After having often mixed […]
FILM: CAPHARNAUM – an exceptional film about a Lebanese street kid – 4 stars
19 October 2018. By Neptune CAPHARNAUM **** (vo Arabic) Lebanon: a sweet, hard-working little boy (looking much smaller than his age) among far too many poor siblings; his dearest underaged sister bartered off in exchange for their miserable apartment; the strange world of a dilapidated amusement park; a scared African refugee who takes him into […]
