The Lost Scene ★★★½
DRAMA (2020)
Directed by: Zhang Yimou
Performers: Yi Zhang, Haosun Liu, Wei Fan
Chinese master filmmaker Zhang Yimou («Hero») presents a film that went through a grueling process and was most likely censored before it found its way to theaters. Nevertheless, it is a highly commendable film, offering political commentary while also centering on a deeply human story. In Maoist China during the Cultural Revolution, a man imprisoned in a labor camp escapes with a single goal: to attend the latest movie screenings, where his only daughter—whom he hasn’t seen in years—is appearing. However, when an orphaned girl steals that very reel, everything gets complicated, and an entire village springs into action to save the precious moving images.
A love letter to cinema, akin to Tornatore’s *Cinema Paradiso*, a bold commentary on the country’s political history, yet at times an artistic masterpiece, Yimou’s film charms without resorting to grand gestures or complexity. The film reels, traveling on the precarious seat of a motorcycle, are awaited almost as «manna from heaven» by the destitute villagers. Among them is the elegant and respected «Mr. Cinema,» the only one who knows how to operate the projectors and bring the magic of cinema to life. On the other hand, the film’s two peculiar heroes—the fugitive and the girl—will try everything in their power to achieve their goals, while at the same time forging an unexpected friendship between them.
Thor: Love and Thunder ★★½
FANTASY (2022)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale
Taika Waititi, the versatile and highly popular filmmaker in Hollywood circles, continues the Marvel hero’s wild adventures right where he left off in the (admittedly successful) «Thor: Ragnarok.» Thor (Chris Hemsworth) continues to carefree roam the galaxy, dispensing justice with his all-powerful hammer. However, when the evil Gorr (Christian Bale), known as the God Butcher, sets out to exterminate all the gods, things get serious and the hero springs into action. He is aided by the Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), his faithful companion, Korg, but (unexpectedly) also his ex-girlfriend, Jane (Natalie Portman), who has been transformed into a female version of himself.
Waititi follows the same humorous formula that set the previous film apart from the Marvel style, but here he takes it a step further. The jokes linger a bit longer, the comic «madness» is amplified, and many scenes serve no other purpose than to make the audience laugh—and to a certain extent, they succeed. In a film with such a strong action element, however, the coexistence of action and comedy isn’t always harmonious. Especially when the comedy isn’t very clever and simply descends into slapstick…
Madeline Collins' Secret ★★½
THRILLER (2022)
Directed by: Antoine Barro
Performers: Virginie Efira, Kim Gutierrez
Antoine Barro’s French thriller stands out both for its well-crafted plot and its exceptional lead actress. Virginie Efira plays a translator who leads two lives simultaneously, with two families in different countries. That is, of course, until secrets and lies begin to close in on her for good, at which point the cascade of revelations begins. At some point, however, we too will realize that the story holds more than meets the eye. Barro casts a female character in a role usually played by male protagonists, and this alone adds another dimension to the story; Virgini Efira, for her part, fully embodies the role, portraying its various facets—silences and outbursts—in a convincing and unpretentious manner.
A Knife in the Water ★★★★
DRAMA (1962)
Directed by Roman Polanski
Performers: Leon Niemczyk, Yolanda Umeka
Roman Polanski’s first—and only—Polish film is being re-released in new, digitally restored copies. Andrzej and Krystyna, a wealthy couple, set out for a sail on their yacht. On the way, however, they meet a handsome young student, whom Andrzej, without much thought, invites to join them. Rivalry between the two men flares up on board the sailboat, with unpredictable consequences for the rest of the trip. Polanski handles his camera like a veteran within the confined space of the sailboat, managing to capture all the tension, the sensuality, and the delicate balances of the love triangle. At the same time, he makes subtle yet incisive class-based commentary, without ever straying from his constant psychoanalytic observation of the characters.
My God, what have we done to you? 3 ★★
COMEDY (2021)
Directed by: Philippe de Sovéron
Cast: Christian Clavier, Chantal Lobi
One of the most successful European comedies of the past decade is getting a second sequel—and an anniversary edition, no less. Claude and Marie are getting ready to celebrate forty years of marriage, and their four daughters are determined to throw a party, inviting their in-laws as well, who arrive from all corners of the globe. As expected, this multicultural mix will once again prove explosive, as cultures and customs clash within the home. The tried-and-true formula that «cooked up» the genuinely inventive jokes of the first film has now lost much of its spark, resulting in a film that, despite a few enjoyable moments, largely runs on autopilot.
