INDIE TREASURES

A poetic Western in the Kurdistan like you've never seen before.

"Vampiros en la Havana" is the only cartoon I have rated mainly because it's like no other one.

Another treasure coming from Cuba ? No ! From Russia of course ! Kalatozov at his very best, paradoxically so free and so cuningly critical for this special order from the Sovietic Union about the Cuban revolution of 1959 ! Directed only 5 years after the revolution, it delivers both a precious and profound analysis as well as a poetic and true piece of art concerning the revolution that had just ocurred. A masterpiece of art and aesthetics, moreover a model of a political story ! A true propaganda film that turns out to be a subtle description of what has changed the country and the region for decades."

And from Russia as well.. Leto is to me the best film of 2018, certainly the best photography of the decade. I would definitely take on the direction of this film as its main feature, as Serebrennikov films so well, invents moments of magic, and has so much inventions that you can feel the soul of rock. Serebrennikov pays tribute to what rock and roll meant for his generation, what it inspired and what it felt to listen to this music in this oppressive atmosphere of Russia in the 80's.

Several scenes are to be remembered by the history of cinema in this auteur film from Norway, which mixes crude dialogs, daring direction, and a fantastic actress.

One of my favourite movie. The symbol of the perfect history movie, authentic, heartful, daring. Just imagine....Only 4 years after the independance, an Italian director is authorized to shoot in Algiers what represented the first blow to the independentists during the war of independance: the battle of Algiers. The events occur in 1957, and it will end up with a massive slaughter for the independentists but will remain a clear flame of resistance built to last and an undestructible hope that no one in the country (colonialists or native indigenous) could ignore. A masterpiece.

Indefinable and rare film of Solanas, bursting with emotions of a coming back on the heroe's land after the dictatorship in Argentina, combining political denunciation, surrealism, fantasy in a film that looks like a poem or a dream.

Perfect film adaption from Mario Camus to the novel of Miguel Delibes. Probably one of the best adaptation on screen ever. Camus makes a perfect depiction of the system of "haciendas" in Spain, making a tough critic to the conservative Franco's regime and the servitude of the poor class . I recall the perfect performance of the landlord, the servant and the disabled person. Spain countryside in the 60's, far away from any kind of civilisation, and far away from any social claim ! Terrifying but so authentic and true !

That's the other movie one should see about the Independance War in Algeria. This time you'll follow French military during their appauling campaign in the mountains (Aurès) and the non-sense that war will reveal to them. A genuine reproduction of what almost 1.5 million French conscripts of the army lived.

I do not recall any film which has a better photography than this one. An ode to travelling !

"Italia da vero !". A story that takes place in a train that goes through the whole country. Funny, witty, and with many cultural insights. I can't explain why it stil has less than 500 votes.

After 3 years, Shéhérazade has less than 2000 votes on IMDB (and probably not much more 6-10 or 15 years later). A proper scandal if you think that it is such a beautiful film (like I do). Shéhérazade is a rare film, powerful in its story, thanks to its characters that are so genuine. Poverty at its heart, poverty is described essentially, with no budget and a fantastic outcome.

Probably the best first scene ever:A lumberjack cutting a tree trunk at a few inches to his own toes in a basque competition that will give you the tokens ! Does it add anything to the merit of the director to say it was his first film ? All the Basque country, Julio Medem's world of fantasy and directing feats in one film. A must-see one indeed.

That one was a real crush when I saw it. It's both fresh and funny, classic and rare, emotional and realistic. It reminds us that very few things were tolerated under Castro's regime however, cinema has always had a lot of freedom of speech, and here is another example. A love story under very special conditions. The outcome can be seen as brave political denunciation. Definitely worth the watch.

Poetic, mysterious and beautiful movie which takes place in an unknown place of Colombia by its caraibean coast. No one has seen it, even in Colombia sometimes. It's a very independant, home made film...but it has poetry in the filming, the landscapes. I found it fantastic !

Poignant story, personaly expericenced by the actors-directors of this film. Original and full of emotions. Show it to your friends.

Another masterclass adaptation of Camilo José Cela's fantastic novel "La Colmena" by Mario Camus with a genuine depiction of Madrid in 1939.

Emmanuel Finkiel delivers a heartbreaking film about the waiting of the French famous writer Marguerite Duras. Fantastic actors in this film: Melanie Thierry above all of them of course, so unsettling and seductive, torned apart and brave, as well as Benoit Magimel with a deep twisted role of a cop you never end up to decipher. The beautiful reconstruction of the ocuppied Paris back in the early forties and the creative camera inventions the director resorted to during the film allowed to maintain the supense and comprehend the unexpected turns of the historical events. Melanie Thierry is just amazing (quite unfair not to give her the Cesar for that utterringly good performance), we suffer with her, and never abandon her pain (the real title in French means pain). A great adaptation on screen and a very emotional moment .