flor_payita Reviews

Those Three (2007)

Those three and the snow

[10/10 · 19 April 2008]

This story takes place in a most unwelcoming environment- the deserted, freezing mountains of northern Iran, where three deserters of the army decide that they can no longer take it, and run away with the never-ending snow as their only prospect.

The location is the most important character, and this fact is captured beautifully by the camera. It's a true achievement of the photographer and the director. It comes to a point where one can almost feel the cold and windy snow storms.

The acting was also a most pleasant surprise to me. I found the three main actors really becoming those three soldiers, really going through hell just for a small possibility of freedom.

The entire crew spent two years in the making of this film, which I believe is shown in the sense of reality it acquired.

It is only 85 minutes long, which is enough time for the story to get across the screen and touch the audience.

Totally worth seeing.

Fengming, a Chinese Memoir (2007)

A very interesting life story, told in a very particular way.

[9/10 · 9 April 2008]

I saw this film today, as the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) is taking place. Although I found it a most interesting piece, I must point out that not anyone can enjoy it.

The film is 3 hours long. And it's not exactly action-packed - quite on the contrary, the whole movie develops in Fengming's living room, and the camera's position hardly ever changes.

Also, the only thing we hear in the 3 hours is Fengming's voice, while we see her telling us the story of all the struggle she and her family had to put up with between 1949 and the 70s, a rather conflictive period in the political and social history of China.

So, for those who doubt their ability to stay focused for three hours, and/or are not that fond of this kind of films - you have been warned. For those who, on the other hand, consider themselves Oriental cinema lovers (I include myself here), or just are willing to see a different and interesting movie, I highly recommend it.