December 16, 2015 - "Nora's Will" (2010)

Nora's Will, 2010 (Original title: Five Days without Nora)
Director: Mariana Chenillo
Origin: Mexico
Languages: Spanish | Hebrew
Running time: 92 minutes

This award-winning black comedy follows the family of Nora (Silvia Mariscal), who carefully plans her suicide so that her assortment of estranged relatives, including ex-husband José (Fernando Luján), will have to celebrate Passover together and hopefully achieve a reconciliation. As José battles with unsympathetic cemeteries, a fractious rabbi and his devoted assistant, and his own son (Ari Brickman), he realizes how deeply he still loved Nora. (from Netflix.com)

Watch the trailer on Trailer Addict.

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Review of last week's film (Philomena, 4 stars)
Steven says: A good script and an excellent Judi Dench make this a worthwhile watch. It's not hard-hitting or heavy drama, but it is a story well told, and we have a dearth of those. "I didn't see that coming. Not in a million years."

December 9, 2015 - "Philomena" (2013)

Philomena, 2013

Director: Stephen Frears
Origin: UK | USA | France
Language: English
Running time: 98 min

Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual reference
U.S. box office: $37,707,719
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Clouds of Sils Maria", 4.5 stars)
Steven says: A second viewing solidified my rating for this film - an intricate script and probing issues combine with top-notch performances. This is a thinking film that grabs you by the senses.