“Karl Marx City” (Germany) Directed by Petra Epperlein & Michael Tucker Okay…if you start a film with a title card that states the images and sounds we are about to see were taken directly from Stasi (East German Secret Police) … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #14: “Karl Marx City” (Germany)
“The Last Laugh” (USA) Directed by Ferne Pearlstein “The Last Laugh” is a joyful, yet occasionally difficult, documentary that picks up in some ways where “The Aristocrats” left off…analyzing a very specific subset of humor in Western culture. However, in … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #13: “The Last Laugh” (USA)
“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki” (Finland) Directed by Juho Kuosmanen Finland is not known for a tradition of boxing films. I’m sure this is, in great part, due to the lack of international boxing champions or … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #12: “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki” (Finland)
“Paradise” (German/Russia) Directed by Andrey Konchalovsky So, as is the expectation for every iteration of the Chicago Film Fest, there exists a feature film about the Shoah (Holocaust for the uninitiated). Last year there was one such film by a … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #11: “Ray (Paradise)” (Germany/Russia)
“Strike A Pose” (USA) Directed by Ester Gold and Reijer Zwaan There are two types of bio-docs. The first has a certain filmcraft and style which illuminates the subject in a way that heightens the viewers’ emotions. The second simply … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #10: “Strike A Pose” (USA)
“Middle Man” (USA) Directed by Ned Crowley What a joy to see a wholly American film that is as wildly irreverent and dark as “Middle Men”. Made with mostly Chicago talent, this horrifyingly funny road movie, about a wannabe stand-up, … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #9: “Middle Man” (USA)
“The Teacher” (Czech Republic) Directed by Jan Hrebek Central and Eastern European films hold a soft spot in my heart. Their history, and its massive changes over the last three decades…and only three generations from a war that destroyed most … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #8: “The Teacher” (Czech Republic)
“Neruda” (Chile) Directed by Pablo Larrain Oh Pablo. You do know how to tell a story in the most prosaic…and bizarre ways! And this film can only be described as prosaic and bizarre. Let me see if I can describe … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #7: “Neruda” (Chile)
“The Confessions” (Italy) Directed by Roberto Ando Rarely has a movie of such big ideas been told in such a small way. This brilliant and sumptuously shot dark-comedy, tackles no less of an issue than worldwide income inequality and G8-induced … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #6: “The Confessions” (Italy)
“Ministry of Love” (Croatia) Directed by Pavo Marinkovic “Ministry of Love”, a post-Balkan War comedy from Croatia, is occasionally quite funny, poignant less often, and, alas, ultimately not terribly satisfying. Revolving around the adventures of a biologist turned governmental minister … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #5: “Ministry of Love” (Croatia)
The No Spoiler Critic 