June 3, 2015 - "Force Majeure" (2014)

Force Majeure, 2014
Director: Ruben Östlund
Origin: Sweden | France | Norway | Denmark
Languages: Swedish | English | French | Norwegian
Running time: 120 min

At a ski resort in the Alps, the sudden and terrifying approach of an avalanche opens a deep fissure in the lives of a vacationing Swedish family when the patriarch flees to save himself instead of protecting his wife and children. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some language and brief nudity
U.S. box office: $1,358,561

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of the previous screening (Gabrielle, 3 stars)Steve says: An interesting look into the lives of developmentally challenged adults, from obstacles to creative outlets, as well as their family dynamics.

March 25, 2015 - "We Are the Best!" (2013)

We Are the Best!, 2013
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Origin: Sweden | Denmark
Language: Swedish
Running time: 102 minutes

Inspired by a graphic novel, this coming-of-age charmer set in 1980s Stockholm follows a trio of 13-year-old misfits who refuse to believe punk is dead, forming a band in spite of their collective lack of musicianship. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $180,222
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("A Way of Life", 3 stars)
Steven says: This bleak film doesn't give one much hope for the impoverished in Wales. I wanted to like the main character, but it was an uphill battle to find her redeeming qualities. It was a good film, but not uplifting in the least.

September 4, 2013 - "Mammoth" (2009) featuring Bernal

Mammoth, 2009

This is the first of three movies we will screen starring Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.

Director: Lukas Moodysson
Origin: Sweden | Denmark | Germany
Languages: English | Tagalog | Thai
Running time: 125 min

Lukas Moodysson writes and directs this drama centered on three intersecting stories, one of a traveling New Yorker named Leo (Gael García Bernal), another of his surgeon wife, Ellen (Michelle Williams), and also the children of their Filipino nanny, Gloria (Marife Necesito), in the Philippines. A series of dramatic events unfolds after Leo visits Thailand, causing everyone to reexamine their priorities. Sophie Nyweide co-stars (from Netflix.com).

U.S. box office: $8,530
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

Read Bernal's entry on Wikipedia.

Read a story about Bernal from 2009 in the Telegraph.

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Review of last week's film (Barfi!, 3 stars)
Steven says: Barfi! combines the physical comedy of silent era films with modern story telling, with varying degrees of success. Endearing at times, it comes close to running off the tracks (using the train theme from the movie) in places. It would be a fun game to have audience members identify movies from the last 100 years that inspired different scenes of the film.

October 31, 2012 - "The Seventh Seal" (1957)

The Seventh Seal, 1957
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Origin: Sweden
Languages: Swedish | Latin
Running time: 96 min

Exhausted and disillusioned, a medieval knight makes the journey home after years of combat in the Crusades. But when the black-robed figure of Death confronts him, the knight challenges him to a game of chess. (from Netflix.com)

Watch the trailer on YouTube.


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Review of last week's film ("Tyrannosaur", 3 stars)
Steven says: With no subtitles, it was difficult to follow parts of the story line because the main character had such a thick accent. But the acting in general was so good, we often didn't need dialogue to figure out what we were supposed to know. All the characters were presented with conflicts that pushed them to their breaking points. Some broke; others didn't. It was fascinating and surprising to see how each progressed and revealed their violent sides. Are we all capable of violence? Why are some more prone to it than others? And how do we move past that inclination to lead better lives? No answers here, but you will find provocative suggestions.