billf-9 Reviews

In a Savage Land (1999)

Covering too much

[1 February 2001]

Let's see, we start off with gender issues, spousal domination, economic exploitation, colonialism, church oppression, scientific oppression through cultural arrogance and nationalism. Although, engaging and great to watch the film just tries to cover too much and winds up just giving superficial attention to all these issues.

I always have trouble with films that have an attractive lead actress, who has her hair pulled back and wears glasses when she's supposed to be dowdy or a-sexual. The different transformations of Maya Strang were a bit hard to take and the sequence where she goes native was over the top.

I would have liked better character development and a stronger focus. That said, the film was not a waste of time and Ms Strang is actor to watch.

Opname (1979)

A Special Film

[10/10 · 27 December 2000]

It would appear that I saw this film 18 years ago! It was at the Toronto Festival of Festivals and I only saw it once, but I found it to be a deeply moving and honest film. It has stayed with me all these years.

The film was well crafted and beautifully acted (Marja Kok was incredible - she said so much with just the movement of a hand.) The story could have been just another disease of the week film - the main character dying of cancer. It spoke so deeply to me about life and about being a man and of bonding; without falling into that manipulative trap that these films often do. A very special film indeed.

The Princess and the Warrior (2000)

A Truly Exciting Follow-up

[9/10 · 15 September 2000]

This is a masterful film. Exciting to watch. What might have been pretentious under some one else's direction: technical cleverness, a multitude of story threads becomes captivating and engaging in the hands of a wonderful director