Persepolis - a powerful animated parody

This film came highly recommended by a friend, and although animation doesn’t usually attract me I went along. And by God, I’m glad I did. Persepolis is the autobiographical account of the Iranian born Marjane Satrapi; a tale of ordinary growing pains and young adulthood set against a politically charged climate in Iran.

Early on Marjane’s parents explain to her how the Shah came to power (allegedly aided by the UK and US in pursuit of oil) and the political message is clear yet easily digestible. Daughter to politically active parents in a divided community she develops strong beliefs and questions those around her; encouraged and inspired by her formidable grandmother among others. The child becomes a teenager with a strong rebellious character and the courage of her convictions – railing against the regime, wearing Iron Maiden t-shirts and questioning the oppression of women.

After trouble at school her family send her to Europe for her own protection. In Vienna she struggles to fit in or to find her place in normal society, carrying with her the guilt of knowing what her friends and family suffer at home. Her experiences of familiar issues such as going away and coming home, relationship with her parents, first love and standing up for what you believe in are magnified by the exterior issues of cultural misogyny, war, a divided community and an oppressive regime.

Marjane’s story is told with the brutal truth that animation allows, at times hilariously funny and at others deadly serious – like life itself. Somehow the characters and events feel more real than if they were played by flesh and blood actors, perhaps in the way that reading a book can evoke a more tangible experience than watching a film?

I found much to relate to within the film; Marjane portrays herself as a fallible human being, likeable in her combination of vulnerability and strength. What a fantastic way to bring the story of Iran alive for those of us on the outside – a real insight and an elevating experience. Parody is indeed a powerful weapon.

My favourite so far...

8/10


Subscribe to Auckland Film Festival 2008 by Email

Munyurangabo - a long slow look at Rwanda

It’s a tough life being a film-maker. You want to get a point across, to make something with artistic merit, to express yourself – but you also have to keep your audience happy and entertained. And when many of us have grown up watching films with Spielbergesque happy endings – we like to leave the cinema with a smile on our face. But it demeans some subjects to treat them like this.

Don’t expect any happy endings in Munyurangabo, don’t even expect it to be softened by romance (Blood Diamond) or inspirational aid workers (The Last King of Scotland). Munyurangabo is about the lasting impact of the Rwandan genocide on her people – both Tutsis and Hutus.

Director Lee Isaac Chung was inspired to make the film after working at an aid camp in Rwanda, and I suspect he wanted us to take a long slow look at a situation he would have lived with daily. We watch uncomfortably long stills and slow paced dialogue. At times it feels like a reel of documentary that hasn’t been edited yet. The lack of action and simple plot give us plenty of time to dwell on the unsaid. What the film doesn’t say is more powerful than what it does.

But I don’t believe you can call long slow shots intrinsically poignant – for me none of the characters were likeable enough for me to really care about them personally – instead I felt that familiar hopeless feeling that arises when I contemplate Africa, combined with pity.

Watch out for the poet who delivers the only hope in the film in his poem in Kinyarwanda (Rwandan language).

Both I and the person next to me left slightly confused by the ending – not sure what we had seen in the final moments, or what the meaning was. It could have been one of two things in my mind – either with a message to deliver. Maybe it was supposed to be ambiguous – or maybe I missed the point.


Subscribe to Auckland Film Festival 2008 by Email

In Bruges - black comedy with Irish wit

I walked in the Civic theatre on Queen Street last night wondering if I’d be out of place in hoody and trainers, which have seen better days, I might add. The independent travellers’ wardrobe doesn’t quite extend anything I’d normally associate with a trip to the theatre, however I felt quite at home amongst the varied crowd. Glancing around the theatre bar before the screening there were as many bottles of Monteiths lager being downed as champagne and cocktails – I settled somewhere in the middle for a glass of average (tasting not price) Cabernet Sauvignon from Nelson.

In Bruges is Martin McDougall’s directorial debut – from the synopsis I’d expected black humour and that’s exactly what we got. At first I was uncomfortable with Colin Farrell’s simple but charming Irish scallywag – in the same way I was with George Clooney in ‘O Brother where art thou’ - I’m not sure the film needed a big name like Farrell – who comes with so many preconceptions lingering from past characters.

Farrell’s scallywag Ray and his partner/ mentor Ken (Brendon Gleeson) are sent to Bruges to hide out after Ray performs a hit in London. The younger Ray is bored and unappreciative of the cultural delights Bruges has to offer two crooks trying to lie low – whilst Ken is happy taking in cathedrals, going on canal boat cruises and visiting museums.

Farrell (and the storyline) soon perks up when he meets the love interest, Natalie (Elizabeth Berrington). WARNING SPOILER FOLLOWS. The plot really gets going when Ken (Brendon Gleeson) is asked to take out his protege by the humorously psychotic Harry, played by Ralf Fiennes (think Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast). The humour is light and fluffy and the dark moments either shocking or poignant. The early comic moments felt whimsical but once we see the darker side to the characters and events, it seems to balance out to produce a bittersweet ride.

Bruges (the city) was beautiful and the directing elevated this magnificently – plenty of canals and cobbled streets. I was organising a stag weekend in Bruges earlier this year but opted for Glasgow instead after declaring Bruges too dull. This was a common theme in the film - played out by Farrell’s character as the bored schoolboy being dragged around the cultural sights. Both the city, and Belgium, come in for a bit of light-hearted ribbing – ‘Bruge is such a nice place it’s a shame it isn’t somewhere nicer, but then if it was somewhere nice and not in Belgium everyone would go there and it wouldn’t be so nice’ (Harry, quoted from memory so apologies if slightly inaccurate).

The story comes full circle and as you feel it coming together you urge it on as it completes with perfect beauty. I walked out of the theatre feeling tall and mean. Why do gangster flicks always make me feel like this? My English Home Counties accent moves 50 miles east towards London’s East-end and my gait entertains a swagger.

Fans of Sexy Beast, The Business, The Departed, Layer Cake, Lock, Stock etc will like this film. My favourite line? ‘I’m not staying here with two scabby whores and a racist dwarf’ – you’ll see what I mean.

Subscribe to Auckland Film Festival 2008 by Email

Opening Night: Apron Strings

Tonight sees the official opening of the Film Festival with the world premiere of Apron Strings, picked (I assume) because of the weight of the subject and relevance to New Zealand – concerning as it does the stories of two New Zealand families from contrasting backgrounds – one ‘anglo’ and the other Sikh. The sort of contemporary fare familiar to us Brits – in the ilk of The Buddha of Suburbia, and Bend it Like Beckham and very relevant in New Zealand now. I'll be curious to read the feedback and reviews from anyone that watches the film as the internet is fairly barren at the moment - even IMDB!

My own viewing starts tommorrow with ‘In Bruges’ a British Gangster flick set in Belgium. According to the Festival brochure playwright Martin McDonagh brings a 'black Irish wit to a post-Pulp Fiction genre' - who could resist that?

I'll be posting my review tommorrow...


Subscribe to Auckland Film Festival 2008 by Email

Auckland International Film Festival

Friday 11th July 2008 will see the start of the Auckland International Film Festival, started in Wellington in 1972 screening 7 films to provide some variety to Wellingtonians it now takes place annually across New Zealand towns and screens hundreeds of films for hundreds of thousands of New Zealand moviegoers.

The programme this year is enough to make anyone vaguely interested in film step out into the wet windy streets for a trip to the cinema. For anyone seriously interested in film (like me) its enough to cancel work and any other responsibilities/ activites for a fortnight in order to take in as many of the films as possible.

In an attempt to justify this indulgent behaviour (and because I've been too lazy to find a commission) I'll be using this blog to share with you my highlights of the festival, including reviews and commentry from the stalls (not literally). I'll be watching 10 films (at the very reasonable price of $100) and, Gonzo style, will do nothing else but live and sleep film. Other than 2.5 hrs cleaning the hostel each day for my bed and board. Times are hard.

This year's programme boasts nearly 200 films from around the world, including winners from the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals. My early pick is 'Mongol' - about (who else?) Genghis Khan and his rampage across a third of the globe with his brutal, savage horde. I'm looking forward to the vastness of the landscape and to see if Director and co-writer Sergi Bedrov manages, or indeed tries, to portray Khan as a human being.

More later. For now if you want to see the programme of films see the official website.

Subscribe to this blog by email or RSS to stay up to date my reviews and commentary.

All comments, feedback and criticism are welcomed...

To read my personal blog click here.

Subscribe to Auckland Film Festival 2008 by Email