30 December 2016. THE FOUNDER ***1/2 Everyone knows the McDonald’s name, the mass-produced, fast food hamburgers that have conquered the world, for better or for worse. The original idea came from two McDonald brothers in California who were proud of their innovative success. That was in the mid-1950s, and it was like a “symphony in hamburger […]
Film: Sing – a jubilant animation film – 4 stars
23 December 2016. SING **** Oh, what a joyous movie! We are truly lucky this holiday season to have such delightful films to cheer us up and forget the cold and frenzy of the Christmas rush. Go, and forget for a couple of hours all the miseries we see on the daily news. In this jubilant […]
Film: Alone in Berlin, a German mechanic leaves postcards around the city to undermine nazis
ALONE IN BERLIN ***1/2 The first image of this riveting film is a powerful anti-war message – a closeup of the innocent face of a young soldier – shot dead in battle during WWII. No blood, no mutilation, just a beautiful face of youth, cut down in its bloom. German or French – no matter […]
Film: Sully, the pilot who landed safely in the Hudson river
2 December 2016. SULLY ***1/2 Remember the day in February 2009 when you heard about “the miracle on the Hudson”? About the pilot who safely landed a huge airliner in the Hudson river in Manhattan, with no casualties?! Well, that was Captain Chesley Sullenberger, a quiet, modest man with 42 years of flying experience, who became […]
Film: a racist fellow travels through France with a French/Arab rapper
TOUR DE FRANCE ***1/2 (vo French) There is no doubt that Gérard Depardieu is what the French call a “monstre sacré” – probably Frances’s greatest actor. He can portray anything and make it more than authentic. One could say he is the French Marlon Brando, both artistically and privately – superlative in one field, troubled […]
Film: a young Russian dancer who leaves for France
18 November 2016. POLINA – DANSER SA VIE *** (vo Russian, French) A young girl takes up ballet at the prestigious Bolshoi in Moscow, reluctantly at first, then with growing ardor thanks to a charismatic teacher. The mood is very Russian – grueling work, little gratification, dedicated parents. Polina perseveres, gets a chance to go to […]
Film: The man who knew infinity – a poor indian genius who went to Cambridge
11 November 2016. THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY **** Traditional, poverty-stricken India in the early 20th century. A self-taught, mathematical genius who manages to be noticed and is finally invited by a renowned British scholar to Cambridge. The glorious history and halls of the hallowed university. Grey, cold England during WWI. A deep, mutual friendship and […]
Geneva international film festival Tous Ecrans: 4 – 12 November.
For you cinephiles out there, don’t miss the 9 days of the Tous Ecrans film fest which specializes in all forms of moving pictures from TV series, internet films and digital works to the large screen. This year’s offering is especially rich, featuring the latest works of such renowned film makers as Jim Jarmusch, Wim […]
Film: Snowden – based on true events
4 November 2016. SNOWDEN *** Multiple Oscar-winning writer, producer and director Oliver Stone has always searched for the soul and guilt of America in his many controversial films such as “JFK”; “Born on the Fourth of July”, “Platoon”, “Nixon”, “Natural Born Killers” and “Wall Street”. He manifests his love for his country by showing all its […]
Film: Immersive biopic about the famous French conservationist Jacques Cousteau
21 October 2016. L’ODYSSÉE **** (vo French) In a film that is both grandiose and personal, Jérôme Salle has created a touching and deeply immersive biopic about the famous French conservationist, Commandant Jacques Cousteau, his family and his heritage. The man was not an angel – but who is? He may have preferred one son to […]
