December 10, 2014 - "Night Across the Street" (2012)

Night Across the Street, 2012
Director: Raoul Ruiz
Origin: Chile | France
Languages: Spanish | French
Running time: 110 min

A free-flowing contemplation on aging and death inspired by the stories of Hernán del Solar, director Raoul Ruiz's final film follows as elderly man who revisits moments of his youth as he awaits the stranger he believes will kill him. (from Netflix.com)

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

Review from Film Comment magazine.

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Review of last week's film ("Omar," 4 stars)
Steven says: The life of an Arab in and around the West Bank is full of paranoia. This intense film has the viewer second-guessing who is a collaborator and who is true to his or her cause. From the director of "Paradise Now", this film made me want to find out everything there is to know about life in the West Bank.

June 4, 2014 - "Gloria" (2012)

Gloria, 2012
Director: Sebastián Lelio
Origin: Chile | Spain
Languages: Spanish | English
Running time: 110 min

A middle-aged divorcée looking to fill the void in her life sees an opportunity for a permanent relationship when she meets a charming former naval officer. But baggage from the past may derail their romance. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for sexual content, some graphic nudity, drug use and language
U.S. box office: $2,106,556

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Zaytoun", 3 stars)
Steven says: One can never have enough reminders: people who are taught to hate each other can find common ground when see each other as people. Director Eran Riklis uses this theme often, and while it comes across as contrived in places in "Zaytoun", it still proves a powerful message.

September 18, 2013 - "No" (2012)

No, 2012
This is the last of three movies we will screen starring Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.
Director: Pablo Larrain
Origin: Chile
Language: Spanish
Running time: 118 min

In this engaging drama from Chile, Gael García Bernal portrays René Saavedra, a hot-shot ad executive who creates a controversial media campaign opposing military dictator Augusto Pinochet during the referendum on his presidency in 1988. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language
U.S. box office: $2,341,226
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 ("The Loneliest Planet", 3 stars)
Steven says: This film pits the fans of long, meticulous takes against those who prefer more dialogue and plot in their movies. The scenery is gorgeous, the scenes are artistic, and the tension is palpable. In the end, it's a film that dissects a relationship before and after a traumatic experience, asking the audience to be close-up spectators of the experience.