I’m home again after two wonderful weeks with Reino’s family in Finland and Sweden. My next distraction and project will be buying a house.
While I was gone, I was able to see several contemporary movies. Here are a few mini reviews.
A Separation (2011)
Directed by Ashgabat Farhadi
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
I had a long flight, did not take the headphones, then felt like a movie. The perfect one turned out to be Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” (2011). I had seen it before and enjoyed it all over again reading the subtitles. This is an outstanding film in which a Westernized couple split when they both get visas to leave Iran and the husband feels obligated to stay and care for his senile elderly father. After the divorce the wife wants is denied the intricate plot has many twists and turns. Highly recommended.
Tar (2022)
Directed by Todd Field
This features Cate Blanchett as a renowned but extremely narcissistic and spiteful conductor who ruins her life and that of those around her. It’s one of those movies that hides the ball from the audience constantly. Got several Oscar nominations. It was not for me though.
Fallen Leaves (2023)
Directed by Aki Kaurismaki
I saw Aki Kaurismaki’s latest film, “Fallen Leaves” (2023) on the big screen. As usual it’s a story about underdogs living on the margins of society. A man and a woman gradually and very tentatively get together to the blare of a radio announcing atrocities in Ukraine, rock music, and old Finnish songs. The director manages to make clean Helsinki look like a vast post-industrial wasteland. But these images are always exquisitely framed and punctuated by spots of saturated colors. The humor is wry and very deadpan. I laughed a lot. The film won the Jury Prize at Cannes. Recommended.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Directed by Bryan Singer
I picked this biopic about Freddy Mercury for my return trip. I love Freddy Mercury and all I could think about how I would have been happier to watch Mercury perform the songs. I have to admit I wasn’t paying 100% attention.
