July 29, 2015 - "Shun Li and the Poet" (2011)

Shun Li and the Poet, 2011
Director: Andrea Segre
Origin: Italy | France
Languages: Italian | Mandarin
Running time: 98 min

An unlikely friendship forms in a Venetian pub between a Chinese immigrant working as a bartender and a transplanted Yugoslavian known as The Poet. But the local fishermen who like to drink there aren't nearly as accepting of their differences. (from Netflix.com)

Watch the trailer on YouTube.

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Review of last week's film ("The Strange Little Cat", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: Strange, indeed, if all the human characters represent the title's cat. The plot stays at the fringe while everyday life is front and center. Astutely observed, this film challenges the notion of what a film can and should be.

July 22, 2015 - "The Strange Little Cat" (2014)

The Strange Little Cat, 2014
Director: Ramon Zürcher
Origin: Germany
Language: German
Running time: 72 min

In this quirky drama, three generations of a middle-class clan gather in a Berlin flat during the course of a day. A series of unspectacular moments, as the family cat comes and goes, sheds light on the world of a typical family. (from Netflix.com)

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Mommy", 4 stars)
Steven says: What is normal, and what will help you feel it? Family tragedies, mental health issues, and everyday life combine in this highly intense film about coping with loss and finding yourself amidst the grief. This film pops with great performances and creative film-making.

July 15, 2015 - "Mommy" (2014)

Mommy, 2014

Director: Xavier Dolan
Origin: Canada
Languages: French | English
Running time: 139 min

Diane Després is a flamboyant middle-aged widow and mother to Steve, an adolescent with severe emotional and behavioral problems. As Diane struggles with Steve's radical mood swings, she begins receiving help from a solicitous new neighbor. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language throughout, sexual references and some violence
U.S. box office: $3,492,754
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Dear White People", 4 stars)
Steven says: Gather some friends and watch this film and then talk about the issues afterward. "It's complicated" just about sums it up. From four perspectives, it addresses a variety of topics that just may help you see racial attitudes differently.

July 8, 2015 - "Dear White People" (2014)

Dear White People, 2014
Director: Justin Simien
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 108 min

A satire that follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular 'African American' themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in 'post-racial' America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language, sexual content and drug use
U.S. box office: $4,404,154
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Lilting", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: A first-time director/screenwriter does a fine job navigating two disparate lives affected by the death of a man they both love. While the characters turn to translation to complete their verbal communication, we learn how much emotion and non-verbal cues are even more important.