The incredible enrichment a documentary can leave on you is simply to difficult to summarize in a review and trying to describe emotions like happiness, thoughts and contemplation are even harder. Just yesterday I saw Given and travelled with a family of four on a journey from the USA to Fiji, to 15 countries in a span of 14 months. And today i took an even more profound and spiritual journey all the way to El Camino in the inspirational documentary FOOTPRINTS The Path Of Your Life. This documentary follows 10 souls taking the 500 mile walk with a Catholic Priest and as we walk with each member little by little we get to know why they chose to do this journey in a very spiritual and moving experience that must be seen to fully understand what I am trying to put in this review. You will smile, you will feel confused, you might cry a bit but when you reach the end of this documentary you will be rewarded in a way that you will take something personal that these 10 souls share with their viewers. This is an amazingly rewarding documentary that must be experienced. The group took the journey for their own individual gain but little did they realize that the journey ahead of them in all its pains harsh walks, blisters, asthma attacks and so much obstacles was a journey that placed them there for each other towards one walk and one goal. One of the quotes that I heard and will take with me is this J.O.Y Jesus.Others.You It's not about you it's about others....
Reviews
3 Reviews
Simshar
(2014)
A Milestone In Maltese Cinema
13 November 2014
Simshar is a milestone in Maltese cinema. Simply put it's the best movie ever made locally in Malta.
Usually I am a bit hesitant when I attend packed cinema houses, as I don't want to hear too much talking that would spoil my movie experience. The audience at this premiere were impeccably silent! No, not because the audience was asleep, but because Simshar managed to grab the audience's attention in the first five minutes! The first 15 minutes are probably the most important few minutes to grab an audience. This was a movie that was working from the very start!
This review will focus more on the direction and acting of the movie rather than the story itself. I personally think that the summary on IMDb is just enough for the audience to know what the movie is about.
I have always believed that the director of any movie is the person who is responsible for the final product of the film. You can have the best actors in the world but if you have a bad director you will get a bad film! When I read about Rebecca Cremona's debut movie Simshar and the very hard struggle she had in making the Simshar movie a reality, I really felt that Rebecca was a real serious film maker that would not give up, regardless the short comings of money or any other obstacles that lay ahead. These are real dedicated directors that look for perfection in what they do.
Here are my impressions on the direction of Simshar. I've always felt that our beautiful Island Malta is one of the best places to shoot films. Our country has culture, character, beauty and a look that just brings out so much alive on the screen. The color used in the movie is like a painting that's come to life. Pause the movie anywhere you want and you will get a thousand beautiful photographs from the whole movie,The movie Simshar is impeccable beautiful to look at!
The last movie I saw that had my eyes totally fixed on the screen was Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. Simshar might not have the eye candy and the huge budget that The Grand Budapest Hotel had but it is absolutely beautifully shot and your eyes will be glued to the screen. The technical use of slow motion in certain scenes is incredible. A particular scene has the wonderful actress Claire Agius in a state of panic during the feast village, we see various angels of Claire's face, the fireworks illuminating the screen during the feast activity with people cheering, and the worried face of Theo's mum (Claire Agius) running confused in slow motion. That scene is still rolling in my head even as I write this now! The use of slow motion in this scene adds a sense of dread and you can actually feel the pain the character is going through. Cremona uses as much as possible of our Island and traditions, I personally was eagerly waiting for the feast scene as it's a colorful scene even if it's clouded with the inevitably doom to come.
Probably one of the most challenging things to shot in a movie is water! However Cremona not only seems to have total control of this element, but shows how incredibly professional she is in shooting the water scenes. The Simshar scenes shot in the water puts the viewer in an experience to what it feels to be in an open water situation, experiencing the fear, the thirst and anguish of trying to survive this horrible tragedy.I could connect to every character on the screen because each actor and actresses have been chosen immensely well to play their part. A particular new face that impressed me with his acting was Jimi Busuttil who plays Theo's grandfather. I believe Jimi Busuttil is a real life fisherman, his acting in Simshar is something to be seen. I was also very impressed by Lotfi Abdelli who I believe actually learned the Maltese language to play the part! Adrian Farrugia (Theo) is also an inspiring young actor that will have the audience shedding a tear or two by his convincing acting. The acting in Simshar is immensely rewarding from the main actors to all the extras involved. Simshar is Rebecca Cremona's first debut. Every director started somewhere and in my opinion Simshar is a truly brilliant start for Cremona. Do keep in mind that the movie is 'inspired' by true events. You might come out of the cinema asking a lot of questions or seeking more information on the internet about the Simshar tragedy. If that happens to you, than you were alive for the whole duration of the movie. Simshar made you think, it made you ask questions and it made you interested to read and find out more. Simshar has already entered in my personal favorite list of movies for 2014. Experience this cinematic event on the big screen as it's meant to be seen. I rate Simshar - a good 8/10.
Usually I am a bit hesitant when I attend packed cinema houses, as I don't want to hear too much talking that would spoil my movie experience. The audience at this premiere were impeccably silent! No, not because the audience was asleep, but because Simshar managed to grab the audience's attention in the first five minutes! The first 15 minutes are probably the most important few minutes to grab an audience. This was a movie that was working from the very start!
This review will focus more on the direction and acting of the movie rather than the story itself. I personally think that the summary on IMDb is just enough for the audience to know what the movie is about.
I have always believed that the director of any movie is the person who is responsible for the final product of the film. You can have the best actors in the world but if you have a bad director you will get a bad film! When I read about Rebecca Cremona's debut movie Simshar and the very hard struggle she had in making the Simshar movie a reality, I really felt that Rebecca was a real serious film maker that would not give up, regardless the short comings of money or any other obstacles that lay ahead. These are real dedicated directors that look for perfection in what they do.
Here are my impressions on the direction of Simshar. I've always felt that our beautiful Island Malta is one of the best places to shoot films. Our country has culture, character, beauty and a look that just brings out so much alive on the screen. The color used in the movie is like a painting that's come to life. Pause the movie anywhere you want and you will get a thousand beautiful photographs from the whole movie,The movie Simshar is impeccable beautiful to look at!
The last movie I saw that had my eyes totally fixed on the screen was Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. Simshar might not have the eye candy and the huge budget that The Grand Budapest Hotel had but it is absolutely beautifully shot and your eyes will be glued to the screen. The technical use of slow motion in certain scenes is incredible. A particular scene has the wonderful actress Claire Agius in a state of panic during the feast village, we see various angels of Claire's face, the fireworks illuminating the screen during the feast activity with people cheering, and the worried face of Theo's mum (Claire Agius) running confused in slow motion. That scene is still rolling in my head even as I write this now! The use of slow motion in this scene adds a sense of dread and you can actually feel the pain the character is going through. Cremona uses as much as possible of our Island and traditions, I personally was eagerly waiting for the feast scene as it's a colorful scene even if it's clouded with the inevitably doom to come.
Probably one of the most challenging things to shot in a movie is water! However Cremona not only seems to have total control of this element, but shows how incredibly professional she is in shooting the water scenes. The Simshar scenes shot in the water puts the viewer in an experience to what it feels to be in an open water situation, experiencing the fear, the thirst and anguish of trying to survive this horrible tragedy.I could connect to every character on the screen because each actor and actresses have been chosen immensely well to play their part. A particular new face that impressed me with his acting was Jimi Busuttil who plays Theo's grandfather. I believe Jimi Busuttil is a real life fisherman, his acting in Simshar is something to be seen. I was also very impressed by Lotfi Abdelli who I believe actually learned the Maltese language to play the part! Adrian Farrugia (Theo) is also an inspiring young actor that will have the audience shedding a tear or two by his convincing acting. The acting in Simshar is immensely rewarding from the main actors to all the extras involved. Simshar is Rebecca Cremona's first debut. Every director started somewhere and in my opinion Simshar is a truly brilliant start for Cremona. Do keep in mind that the movie is 'inspired' by true events. You might come out of the cinema asking a lot of questions or seeking more information on the internet about the Simshar tragedy. If that happens to you, than you were alive for the whole duration of the movie. Simshar made you think, it made you ask questions and it made you interested to read and find out more. Simshar has already entered in my personal favorite list of movies for 2014. Experience this cinematic event on the big screen as it's meant to be seen. I rate Simshar - a good 8/10.
Gravity
(2013)
Hope And Spirituality In Space.
3 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Here are my thoughts on why GRAVITY is a unique masterpiece and a moving spiritual journey.
The caption on the screen 'Life in space is impossible', immediately captured my attention that what I was about to witness was something beyond my imagination and something truly impossible. What I am going to write about here is not about the acting or technical aspects of the movie. I can rest assure your minds that this movie directed by Alfonso Cuaron is simply breathtaking, masterfully directed and so well done that I am already seeing Alfonso Cuaron on stage holding his Oscar for best director in next year's Oscar Ceremony. Yes it's THAT good.
But what I want to write about here is how Gravity is such an incredible spiritual moving movie. Upon seeing the preview you might get the impression that this is a 90 minute space movie with the two main stars either screaming or hitting metal when disaster strikes. Gravity is so much deeper than that! Gravity is an experience that draws us in and never let's go of our senses even after the final closing credits role. It's such a powerful experience of a movie that you will exit the cinema, carry on your daily duties, go to sleep and wake up the next day still feeling that what you have just witnessed yesterday gives you hope to overcome your daily problems as if life in space is impossible, life on earth IS possible.
Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is faced with the danger of dying. Death is hanging over head, she is waiting to die. There is NO hope. It's pitch black, she is alone, there is no communication. Her partner is nowhere to be seen. This is the setup we are pulled in, we cannot not notice what she is going through. We are witnessing all this sitting comfortably with our 3D glasses on, but our mind is right there with her, feeling exactly what she is witnessing. It's in front of our eyes but there is nothing we can actually do...but hope that she survives this..
There is where the movie excels, this is the moment were Stone's character will surpass all that is impossible in space and make it possible.
We have two choices, we either give up or stand up and turn the word impossible to I'm possible.
Gravity does not force us to believe in God, but what Gravity does, is show us that the human spirit longs for something more higher and more powerful when faced with death and danger. In a striking scene we hear Stone desperately trying to pray, she says I don't know how to pray as no one ever taught me how. This is an amazing moment and a moment that we wish to reach out to stone and comfort her. As I have said Alfonso Cuaron leaves the religious aspect open, one time we see a picture of St Christopher carrying Baby Jesus, our minds seeing this picture cannot but force us to look up to a Higher force that we need someone right NOW to carry us through this dark moment. In another scene Stone sees a small statue of a Buddha. These two religious icons we see actually seem to set Stone's spirit to fully awaken. We learn that stone has suffered a lot and was very depressed on the loss of her child. This is the flashback moment, the pitch black moment were our spirit feels that we have nothing to live for anymore, there is nobody to hear our plea, we are clinging on to nothing....but we must seek the small light of hope and most importantly now... faith... whatever you believe, your spirit cannot give up on faith and hope.
The Buddha icon we see may very well represent that Stone will be re-born again if she allows her spirit to awaken in this final moment between life and death....
Gravity must be fully experienced on the largest screen, and if possible in 3D. Enjoy the special effects as they are truly mind blowing, but I also hope that you let the movie take you to a place where you can examine your life, and upon exiting the cinema you feel that nothing in this world is impossible if you let that small light inside of you shine.
The caption on the screen 'Life in space is impossible', immediately captured my attention that what I was about to witness was something beyond my imagination and something truly impossible. What I am going to write about here is not about the acting or technical aspects of the movie. I can rest assure your minds that this movie directed by Alfonso Cuaron is simply breathtaking, masterfully directed and so well done that I am already seeing Alfonso Cuaron on stage holding his Oscar for best director in next year's Oscar Ceremony. Yes it's THAT good.
But what I want to write about here is how Gravity is such an incredible spiritual moving movie. Upon seeing the preview you might get the impression that this is a 90 minute space movie with the two main stars either screaming or hitting metal when disaster strikes. Gravity is so much deeper than that! Gravity is an experience that draws us in and never let's go of our senses even after the final closing credits role. It's such a powerful experience of a movie that you will exit the cinema, carry on your daily duties, go to sleep and wake up the next day still feeling that what you have just witnessed yesterday gives you hope to overcome your daily problems as if life in space is impossible, life on earth IS possible.
Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is faced with the danger of dying. Death is hanging over head, she is waiting to die. There is NO hope. It's pitch black, she is alone, there is no communication. Her partner is nowhere to be seen. This is the setup we are pulled in, we cannot not notice what she is going through. We are witnessing all this sitting comfortably with our 3D glasses on, but our mind is right there with her, feeling exactly what she is witnessing. It's in front of our eyes but there is nothing we can actually do...but hope that she survives this..
There is where the movie excels, this is the moment were Stone's character will surpass all that is impossible in space and make it possible.
We have two choices, we either give up or stand up and turn the word impossible to I'm possible.
Gravity does not force us to believe in God, but what Gravity does, is show us that the human spirit longs for something more higher and more powerful when faced with death and danger. In a striking scene we hear Stone desperately trying to pray, she says I don't know how to pray as no one ever taught me how. This is an amazing moment and a moment that we wish to reach out to stone and comfort her. As I have said Alfonso Cuaron leaves the religious aspect open, one time we see a picture of St Christopher carrying Baby Jesus, our minds seeing this picture cannot but force us to look up to a Higher force that we need someone right NOW to carry us through this dark moment. In another scene Stone sees a small statue of a Buddha. These two religious icons we see actually seem to set Stone's spirit to fully awaken. We learn that stone has suffered a lot and was very depressed on the loss of her child. This is the flashback moment, the pitch black moment were our spirit feels that we have nothing to live for anymore, there is nobody to hear our plea, we are clinging on to nothing....but we must seek the small light of hope and most importantly now... faith... whatever you believe, your spirit cannot give up on faith and hope.
The Buddha icon we see may very well represent that Stone will be re-born again if she allows her spirit to awaken in this final moment between life and death....
Gravity must be fully experienced on the largest screen, and if possible in 3D. Enjoy the special effects as they are truly mind blowing, but I also hope that you let the movie take you to a place where you can examine your life, and upon exiting the cinema you feel that nothing in this world is impossible if you let that small light inside of you shine.
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