![]() review Jim Jarmusch's experimental exploration of the encounters of five taxi drivers during a single night of cab driving in Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Paris and Helsinki. Sometimes eccentric, funny, gross and somewhat melancholy - this is a somewhat inconsequential study of human nature. Artemis' Rating: * * * |
Night On Earth
(US/Fr/It/Fin 1992) English/French/Italian/Finnish dir. Jim Jarmusch cast: Winona Ryder, Matti Pellonpaa, Beatrice Dalle, Roberto Benigni, Gena Rowlands, Issach de Bankole, Paolo Bonacelli, Giancarlo Eposito |
![]() review A beautiful, captivating tale of two young women, French Veronique and her Polish counterpark Veronika who have never met, and yet identically resemble each other. These women are played by the radiant Irene Jacob, who is a delight to watch as Veronika and Veronique lead strangely parallel lifestyles with a cosmic interconnection that is never quite explained. With brilliant cinematography and a riveting performance by Jacob, this is a true artistic masterpiece. Artemis' Rating: * * * * * |
La Double Vie de Veronique
(Pol/Fr 1991) French/Polish dir: K. Kieslowski cast: Irene Jacob, Jerry Gudejko, Halina Gryglaszewska |
review A touching tale of friendship between two unlikely friends. A Russian army captain and surveyor is sent out to map the remotest regions of Siberia. He meets an Asiatic hunter, Dersu Uzala and the two become fast friends, the latter using his vast knowledge of the tiagra to enable them to survive in the harsh environment. A touching movie about friendship and loss. Artemis' Rating: * * * * |
Dersu Uzala
(Rus/Jap 1975) Russian dir: Akila Kurosawa cast: Maxim Munzuk, Yuri Solomin |
review A slight but charming movie about a young servant girl through years of servitude at a prominent Saigon household. Debussy's thoughtful piano works serve as the moody, romantic backdrop to this ruminative movie. Artemis' Rating: * * * |
The Scent of Green Papaya
(L'odeur de la Papaye Verte) (Vietnam/Fr 1994) Vietnamese dir: Tran Anh Hung cast: Tran Nu, Yen-Khe, Lu Man San, Truong Thi Loc |
![]() review An avant-garde acting troupe are hired to inject new life into the annual Passion Play at the famous Basilica in Montreal.The cast throw themselves into the project with gusto and produce their own somewhat unconventional interpretation of the cruxifixion. However, the life of the charismatic lead actor develops an allegorical similarity to that of Christ, with ultimately and inevitably tragic consequences. Artemis' Rating: * * * + 1/2 |
Jesus de Montreal
(Canada 1989) French dir: Denys Arcand cast: Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening, Reny Gerard, Johanne-Marie Tremblay |
review 21-year old Isa (Bouchez) drifts around Lille selling religious cards for a living when she meets seamstress Marie (Regnier), who is temporarily putting up in the flat of a dead woman and her comatose daughter. This marvellous piece of cinema verite traces their rapidly budding friendship to its bitter end. Isa becomes obsessed with the comatose teenager's diaries and Marie's involvement with a womanising, seedy nightclub owner puts the strain on the women's friendship. Outstandingly natural performances from the cast. Artemis' Rating: * * * + 1/2 |
La Vie Revee des Anges (The Dream Life of Angels) (Fr 1998) French dir: Erick Zonca cast: Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Regnier, Gregoire Colin |