An early day tonight, skipping the late night movie, and unfortunately a row of talkers in the last screening =( Looks like the crowds are really starting to come out as much of the evening for early and late shows involved long lines and rush lines.
AMNESTY (Albania, Greece)
A couple meet and develop a relationship while paying conjugal visits with their respective spouses. When an amnesty is granted and their spouses released, their routine changes, ending in something almost out of left field. Much of the film is focused on setting up who these characters are and how they are brought together. Very little of the film is after amnesty is granted, but it certainly plays a trigger role in the final act.
2/5 no more screenings
IN DARKNESS (Canada/Poland)
A small group of Jews hide in the sewer system of Lvov Poland during WWII, aided by sewer inspector Leopold Socha who initially helps them for the money and then out of his heart as he grows to know them. An intense drama of escape and survival as well as humanity where there's infighting as well as deciding what's right. This is a great film that shows yet another Jewish survival story, with the tunnels playing a giant role and strong acting.
**note the running time of this film is 145 minutes and not 85 minutes as listed in the program
4/5 plays Monday October 10th at 645pm, this is Poland's nomination for a foreign language Oscar.
INVASION OF ALIEN BIKINI (South Korea)
With my previous film running long, I finally got into this screening about 5-10 minutes late (missing the shorts as well), however, didn't seem to miss much as the introduction and set up was quick with our lead attempting to save our alien. A fun and stylish movie, this is the encounter of a not so great hero who saves a girl, only she's not a girl, there's an alien who's taken over her body and needing sperm. The conflict is based on Young gun's (the lead) vow of chastity and despite all of Monica's (alien) efforts, he would not give in until he thought she was dead. Packed with lots of laughter stemming from the awkward innocence and antics on screen, this could be a low budget cult hit.
3.75/5 plays Saturday October 8th at 1130pm
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (Hong Kong)
Johnnie To's latest film interweaves three stories about characters struggling to live and survive during the financial breakdown in Hong Kong when Greece announced its bankruptcy and then its bailout. Teresa (Denise Ho) is a financial advisor who is behind on her targets when the murder of her wealthy client leaves her with a wealth of possibilities. Panther (Lau Ching Wan) is a gangster who swears by loyalty, running around raising funds to bail his friend out and coming into money almost by luck. Cheung is a cop whose wife has much riding on a flat she just bought when the stock market crashed. This is a masterful piece about the effects of money - both good and bad, how once can't control the stock market. Its title provides a double meaning should you further analyze the three plots, for what is principle? Both an investment sum as well as a standard one should base their morals on. Hong Kong film fans will recognize a number of other familiar actors playing roles as well including Lo Hoi Pang and Myolie Wu.
3.75/5 plays Friday October 7th at 1030am
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