'The Visitor' (2011)

This is a beautiful, touching film about a widower who discovers that 'illegal immigrants' are squatting in his city apartment after leaving it empty for a long time. I loved this film especially when the professor learns the drums. Highly recommended. 

The Sapphires

I finally watched this film this week. It's very good. Based on a true story about a group of Australian girls who toured Vietnam to entertain the troops. The relationships and family scenes are gold. The music is wonderful. I highly recommend this. Others do too, it won awards.

I was kind of amused (because I've never been thrilled  with how the US treats Australian film), but mostly offended at this article: The Age: Furore over 'sexist, racist' Sapphires DVD cover for US release. How can they get it so wrong?

 

The Burning Man

I love Australian Film. The Burning Man is set in Sydney and is about a chef. It took me a little while to follow the plot as it moved about between present and past. I liked it though. It all made sense in the end and there were some great Aussie actors in it, such as Rachel Griffiths, a favourite of mine.

It is a story about love, loss and grief. The protagonist is a chef and there was some reality there. It is a beautiful film in lots of ways and I enjoyed it.

August Rush

If you want to be totally transported by a modern fairytale, pick this. Sure it's a huge suspension of reality, but just the kind I love. The music connects the orphan with his talented musician parents, comparisons can be made to the Oliver Twist tale. I really enjoyed it.

I must also confess I find Jonathon Rhys Meyers quite attractive.
As with many films of this nature, critics weren't impressed, but viewers rated it higher.

A suspension of reality in the opposite direction to last night's movie. Balanced me out!

The Painted Veil

This film was the kind of love story you can believe, complete with human frailties and errors. I want to read all W.Somerset Maugham's books now. It was so beautiful. The setting was great. It was set in China. The political and historical background was interesting. I loved the scene where the Nationalist soldier was negotiating/interpreting with the local warlord. It was clever.

I read 'The Moon and Sixpence' a couple of years ago and found it so rich in it's characters and their transformations and I found this story to be similar. They are very authentic....touching, human and moving.

I recommend this film. I totally enjoyed it.