International Feature - The Girl with the Needle (France) and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)

 

Denmark traditionally does very well in the Oscar race, and I've seen lots of terrific films in this category. This one is no exception. Karoline is a young factory worker whose husband hasn't been heard from in over a year since he went to war. Her boss seduces her and wants to marry her when he discovers that she is pregnant, but his mother is not having it. Alone and scared, she decides to go to the women's bathhouse and tries to give herself an abortion with a long knitting needle. Another woman and her daughter discover what she has done to herself, and they offer to take her in and help her. By day, this woman runs a candy store, and under the cover of secrecy, she also takes babies from desperate women who simply can't afford to raise them, and she tells the women that she gives the children to families eager to adopt. But there is a darker secret that Karoline discovers, and when she does, her life changes forever.

This was a depressing film on so many levels, but it was excellent. Of course, I never share the most important spoilers, but I can tell you that this is not the film to watch when you want to see something light. The Oscars are not exactly known for their upbeat selections, but this one is particularly difficult and offers the tale of another unintended consequence when women have their choices limited or taken away.

While Germany is credited for this International Feature, the film was shot in secret in Iran and smuggled out to be assembled and produced in Europe. It is set against the background of nation-wide protests against the oppressive government which our protagonist Iman's teenage daughters support, and in which he is forced as a judge to pass sentence (often the death sentence) against protestors who are brought before his court. He is given a handgun to keep at home and when the gun goes missing, he panics knowing that losing it could result in his own death sentence. He goes over the edge and threatens his family with interrogations that increase in intensity, ultimately causing his own downfall and the collapse of his happy family life.

While this film is very well done, it is another one that lasts almost three hours (with no intermission). I don't have deep knowledge of what it is like to live in Iran and there are many surprising pieces of the story reflecting a lifestyle of which I would never otherwise have known. On the other hand, almost every scene in the movie had me on the edge of my seat, as each piece unfolds and all one can see is danger and disastrous consequences around every corner. If this is life in modern day Iran, human rights abuses abound, and it is most accurate to say that there are really no rights at all. That's what it is like living in an autocratic theocracy, and perhaps this is the best possible lesson for our time.

International Features

IO CAPITANO: Italy

While international films can be difficult to watch, this one was absolutely brutal.  Seydou and his cousin Moussa leave Senegal dreaming of going to Europe to find jobs and send money home.  They are 15 years old and they know that it can be risky, but they have saved their money and set out not telling anyone from their family. The hardships they endure include being kidnapped, beaten, starving, and near death more times than I can count, and the film shows both the horrors and the occasional kindnesses they receive along the way. What shows through more than anything is not just their grit, but especially Seydou's humanity, his sense of morality and character, and that nothing will stop him from achieving his ultimate goal. This is an incredible cinematic feat, but it is NOT for the weak of heart.  I cried many times.

PERFECT DAYS: Japan

I really really wanted to love this movie.  It is from Wim Wenders who is responsible for movie masterpieces like Paris, Texas. And, the lead character Hirayama who is a diligent toilet cleaner by trade (and whoa, the public toilets featured are nicer than some people's homes for the designs and architecture, plus the Japanese people must be much more restrained than public toilets you find in the United States, so often soiled by the grossest of indiscretions). He appreciates all of the small things in life, and his daily routine, from which he never deviates, is simple.  He is an avid reader and a music lover. But this slice of life movie offers very little by way of plot (and I think that might be the point) - the first nearly 45 minutes is two full day rotations of his routine from dawn to dusk. I rarely enjoy slice of life films, and though this was certainly one of the better ones, if you like an engaging plot, this might not be for you.

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW: Spain

Society of the Snow is actually nominated for two Oscars, including for Makeup and Hairstyling.

On the other hand, Society of the Snow is Spain's version of the plane crash in the Andes. In the United States, the film was called Alive, and this is a far superior telling of the experience. After the crash, those left alive went through horror after horror, and the plane crash itself is responsible for only some of the deaths on the mountain. The crew had to balance conserving their small number of resources with building enough muscle and strength to try to hike their way out of there. The performances and indeed, the makeup and hairstyling, are phenomenal.

THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE: Germany

Carla, a teacher in a public school loves her profession, and loves her students. Some thefts in the teachers' lounge leave one of her students accused of the crime. She decides to set up a sting operation, leaving her wallet exposed and her computer open and recording. When a colleague's uniquely patterned shirt is identified in the video, all hell breaks loose at the school. Carla is attacked for gathering evidence illegally, and the colleague's son (one of Carla's students) begins to act out as he tries to discover why his mother has been placed on administrative leave.  It's an emotional journey as Carla begins to doubt her own accusation and the other teachers get whipped into a frenzy.  It's a really good movie that is absolutely worth your time.

THE ZONE OF INTEREST: United Kingdom

As a reminder, The Zone of Interest is actually nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture, and you can find the review of this film earlier in the blog list.