Delicatessen

France (1990)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro

Cast: Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus

A marvellously inventive black comedy about the anarchic future where the underground, vegetarian Troglodytes continually wage war against cannibalistic surface-dwellers. Louison, an ex-circus clown answers an ad for a handyman and comes to work for abutcher in exchange for board in the building, quite unaware that he is next on the menu. The butcher's daughter falls for him and enlists the aid of the Troglodytes to save Louison from her father and the building's meat-starved residents. Truly hilarious and eccentric, definitely a classic!

Rating: 8.0


La Double Vie de Veronique

Poland/France (1990)
Dir: K Kieslowski

Cast: Irene Jacob, Jerry Gudejko, Halina Gryglaszewska

A beautiful, captivating tale of two young women, French Veronique and her Polish counterpart Veronika who have never met, and yet identifically resemble each other. These women are both played by the radiant 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 poetic masterpiece.

Rating: 8.0


Dersu Uzala

Russia/Japan (1975)
Dir: Akila Kurosawa

Cast: Maxim Munzuk, Yuri Solomin

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.

Rating: 7.0


Drifting Clouds
(Kauas pilvet karkaavat)

Finland (1996)
Dir: Aki Kaurismaki

Cast: Kati Outinen, Kari Vaananen

A somewhat depressing Finnish tale of a married couple - she is chief waitress at a Helsinki restaurant and he drives a city tram. The restaurant's closure and industrial action results in the two of them losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet. An accurately-portrayed, inner-city tale shot in lurid, garish and flourescent colours reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting.

Rating: 6.0

Copyright ArtemisWorks 2002