Movie Reviews

These are reviews of the films featured in the International Film week-Karnataka,2006.

L'enfant (The child) :

Release:2005

Genre: Truimph of human spirit

Links: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0456396/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053168/


A day in the life of kind of videography-shaky camera,abrupt cuts following the protogonist, filmed similar to 'Man bites dog'(1993). Full credit to the directors a.k.a writers Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Luc Dardenne for an alluring story.

Jérémie Renier as Bruno has portrayed the dispassionate small-time crook to brilliant detail. One of the best performances I have seen. The story begins with the couple's child being carried to his daddy (busy at work ;)) by Sonia, the mother . Sonia (Déborah François) is thrilled to have a baby. Bruno is reluctantly happy. On a baby stroll before it's official christianing, the father sells the baby only to find his wife faint at the news.

The reminder of the film sees the reformation (so it seems) of the crook after failing miserably at an attempted theft. A movie which closely parallels Bresson's "Pickpocket"

Rating: 4/5


Les Invasions barbares(The barbarian invasions):

Release:2003

Genre: Existensialist,Drama

Links: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338135/

The movie is about a man in his sixties on his death bed.He has been a hedonist all his life;has bedded many a women in their prime (features candid confessions about their sex lives) only to have ended his marraige. Both his kids brought up by their mother,are settled in life now.The son,a successful financial consulatant based in london, has contempt for his father but turns up on receiving a call from his mother about the news.

The movie focusses on the father-son relationship and on a higher level a life of decadence which may be interpreted as 'The barbarian invasions'.Also shown is aloofness of relationships.For example, the mother of a junkie regrets not having been with her when she needed.Raises questions of existentialism.

A good watch.Only that esoteric mentions of historical events in the movie annoyed me.


Rating: 3.5/5