FAVORITES: Antonia's Line, Central Station, and Tsotsi

FAVORITES for May & June:

Antonia's Line (Marleen Gorris, 1995)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Why is it a Favorite?
Who doesn't like a quirky movie about women and family? This one is so uplifting, too, because it celebrates the weird and non-traditional. I first saw this movie when I gave myself the goal of watching as many Oscar-winning foreign films as I could. I immediately bought the film after my first viewing. Don't believe the critics that claim this is an ultra-feminist film with an agenda. It isn't preachy, instead it celebrates individualism, independence, choice, and intelligence.

Central Station (Walter Salles, 1998)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Travel, Complex Relationships, Spirituality

Why is it a Favorite?
I have to include Central Station in my list of favorites because I believe this is the film that made me want to study film. I was taking a course in college called "Cultures in Transition" where we watched films from Russia, China, and Brazil and then discussed how the films reflected the changing societies of those nations. It was a favorite class and Brazil was my favorite unit. Central Station does something to me, it transfixes me with all the subtle dialogue, gorgeous photography, and documentary-like moments. Walter Salles is now one of my favorite directors. This film also made we want to study Coming of Age films. It is a powerful story because it feels real and gets at deep-seeded, hardly expressed emotions.

Tsotsi (Gavin Hood, 2005)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Gangster, Coming of Age, Poverty, Complex Relationships, Income Inequality, Philosophical

Why is it a Favorite?

I can't praise this film enough. Tsotsi is so much more than a Gangster film or a Coming of Age film. It is so much more than a film about the slums of South Africa. There is a philosophical thread (almost spiritual) in this story that weaves its way in and out of the plot, a main character that makes you ache with compassion, a setting that will bring tears to your eyes...the story stays with you for days. Of all the films I have seen (which is a ridiculous number) this is one that I always recommend everyone view. It's startling and harsh and gritty and disturbing but also so very poignant.

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Heathers

Heathers (Michael Lehmann, 1988)

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Rating: Q=5, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

High School, Thriller, Comedy, Coming of Age, Dark

Movies about high school always entertain me, mostly because my high school experience was nothing like what the movies and shows (e.g. Freaks & Geeks) displayed. I didn't experience the clique culture and certainly never felt pressure to be popular or cool. I guess I just lucked out, because I know it existed around me. But Heathers is more than your regular high school movie. This one is crazy. All the angst and negativity you might have felt toward those students that bullied you or made your experience hellish has been funneled into Veronica Sawyer. And things get interesting really quickly when she meets someone even more angry than herself. Tons of symbolism, weird moments, and a great soundtrack.

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The Long, Long Holiday

The Long, Long Holiday (Delphine Maury and Olivier Vinuesa, 2015)

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Rating: DSQ=10, SP=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale A=4, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

WWII, Animated, Family, Coming of Age

I truly truly enjoyed this animated series about WWII from the perspective of children in rural France. It's beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, with many tense moments handled very well since it is intended for a young audience. Though the war is the main thread of the series, coming of age is a stronger theme and narrative (how could it not be!?). Each episode focuses on friendship, loyalty, bravery, and intelligence and shows consequences of decisions and choices.

Netflix didn't let me what it in the original French language (grrr) but I imagine that voice-acting was superior to the English version. Still, a really fun show with important messages.

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Lion

Lion (Garth Davis, 2016)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Reunions, Complex Relationships, Tearjerker, Based on Real Events, Adoption, Philosophical

This film. I can't even begin to describe how this film made me feel. This story boils down all the essential human emotions in one place and, if you let it take you in, it truly leaves you feeling grateful for life and relationships. Lion is a story about determination and willpower as much as it is about the fragility of existence. It is about fate and how in one moment your whole life can change. It is about humility and sacrifice. Most importantly, I think, it is about hope.

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