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johnmaddison-83890
Reviews
1944 (2015)
Excellent film
What a brilliant film. Puts the whole concept of war in it's stupid context, a country caught up in a war they don't want, that isn't theirs, and individuals forced into fighting on one side or the other, neither of whom they feel any allegiance to, indeed both of whom they hate for the way they have treated them in the past. Some very touching moments, and the bad guys are not all germans, this film shows how very complex an issue war really is. Best war movie to date
10 jours en or (2012)
Love this film
I adore this film. I started watching it to learn french, and have watched it so many times now, each time recognisong a few more words. It's low budget and very sweet, but well put together and got some really nice touches, if you pay attention.
It's about a travelling salesman (Marc) whose life gets turned upside down by a chance encounter with a stranger who needs his help. He ends up reluctantly looking after the six year old son of an illegal immigrant, charged with the task of delivering him to a safe place while the mother heads off on a dangerous journey to find them a better life. It's a desperate last roll of the dice for her and she literally throws the child at him, hoping against hope that he will rise to the occasion while she goes off on her life and death bid for their freedom. There's a symbolic gesture of lights being turned out as time after time Marc has to make a choice between his old, self-centred, life and this new one being thrust upon him. He is slowly drawn into his new role, the two developing a deep relationship as they go, and meeting a few more people with needs and hurts of their own in more chance encounters along the way. It's a beautiful little tale of humanity as these four, as it turns out, main characters help each other deal with their problems just by rubbing along, thrown together by fate. Lovely film
The Wife (2017)
Disappointing, really
Well acted, but very simple story. Will, however, appeal to feminists
Jihad: A Story of the Others (2015)
Moving stuff
There are some embarrassingly mean-spirited reviews of this film here. I found these guys believable, and the film one of those most touching things I've seen in a while. I suspect the bad reviews are from people who have a religious agenda of their own and share the very emotional poverty that Deeyah attributed to these guys as young, foolish Jihadis. You hit the nail on the head, Deeyah. It's a thing that knows no boundaries, infecting religions, cultures and belief systems of every sort, and there will always be people whose hearts are so full of hatred, and, indeed, self-loathing, that they will twist anything into a channel to express that hatred. Sad as I am for their victims, I find it heartening to see how people can be pulled back from the brink, rescued from the darkness that once enveloped them, and I'm glad to see they found the answer in their own religion. We can all learn something from this insightful piece