Tags
If You Can Make It There…
26 Sunday Apr 2015
Posted Travel
in26 Sunday Apr 2015
Posted Travel
inTags
03 Saturday May 2014
Posted entertainment, Holidays/Special Events, movies, Paris, Uncategorized
inTags
"Belle", "Chinese Puzzle", "Manos Sucias", "White Shadow", movies, New York, Paris, Romain Duris, San Francisco International Film Festival
It’s that time of year again – time for the San Francisco International Film Festival. Since they raised the ticket prices to $15.00 apiece, I only committed myself to seeing 4 of them. I don’t do that “rush” thing, either, as it’s just more added stress,
Last weekend I saw “Chinese Puzzle,” a French film starring Romain Duris. Apparently, it’s part of a trilogy, the first two being “Auberge Espagnole” and “Russian Dolls.” “Chinese Puzzle” was a cute romantic comedy, which Monsieur Duris seems to do so well. Basically, he and his ex-girlfriend (with whom he has 2 children) live in Paris and take turns having the children. When the ex meets someone in New York and decides to move there, he decides to move there, too, and ends up living in Chinatown. The added plus was that Romain Duris was there at the beginning of the screening, as well as for the Q&A afterwards.
The following evening I saw “Belle,” which is based on a true story. It dares to make a statement on the plight/influence of “colored” people in England back in the day. “Belle” is the illegitimate child of a young man with a title and a colored woman. When the woman passes away, he takes the child to live with his uncle, as he is constantly traveling for military duty. She is raised with another illegitimate young girl, who’s white. It of course touches on interesting situations where one is allowed to do things, but the other is not, yet one is “recognized” by her father, while the other is not. Nice cinematography and good acting, though slightly over the top at times.
Next week I’m seeing “Manos Sucias” and “White Shadow.” “Manos Sucias” is about two brothers, at least one of which is involved in drug trade/smuggling and what ensues as they journey down river. “White Shadow” deals with the black market sale of albino body parts in some African nation; don’t recall which. As you can tell, I’m into drama!