huygens Reviews

Children of Men (2006)

Too superficial

[3/10 · 24 December 2006]

Warning, some elements of this comment might give you some hints on the plot.

A big disappointment... The plot looked interesting at first, no more babies born, dark set with governments and activist fighting hard against each other. Questions are raised like why is the World in this state, etc. Some good ingredients for a nice film. However, after watching it whole, a taste of superficiality linger... Where are the explanation of why activist are fighting so hard against governments? Why is there no more baby or almost none? In the end, we only have a feeling of having seen lots of actions, fight, run, escape, etc. But where is the meaning of all that?

Hopefully, there will be a following to this film and this could make it a great series, or if it isn't, it is only a big waste...

Barakat! (2006)

A really nice insight in a country oversea from mine

[10/10 · 25 October 2006]

I really enjoyed watching this movie, it has a slow pace where the director films intensively the expression of the characters making you feel that you can read their minds. The landscape and characters are both splendid, "majestueux" (which I would translate as "elegant with a touch of grace" in English). It was also a nice insight of the problems in Algeria, many still present from the cicatrice of the French colonisation. As a French, I was really interested to have the view from their part. As many times the History we learn at school does not deserve the uppercase 'H' because it is often biased. * warning, occidental point of view here: * And most of all, this film present the fight of women in a country where their place is not comparable to the men's one.

101 Reykjavík (2000)

Excellent snapshot of Icelandic life

[8/10 · 8 November 2005]

I have been living in Iceland for a year and a half and got a picture of the country, its people and its capital, Reykjavík (I actually even lived in the 101 postal code in Reykjavík). This movie is really highlighting a type of persons that I have met quite often in Iceland. I think it is a clear and accurate picture of an important part of the young population. The main actor, Hilmir Snær Guðnason (Hlynur), is really expressing this disillusion that you can feel while enjoying Reykjavík's night life. If you want to go to this marvelous country or if you just interested how one can survived after a few months winter night, this is the movie to go watching. But do not worry, there is more than that in Iceland.