05 May 2017

November

November is an Estonian film about culture, magic, and love.

I truly had no clue what this film was about abut I am so glad I watched it.

The cinematography for one: is stunning. It's black and white, making it even more mesmerizing.

The story seemed to be confusing but surely came together as the film progressed.

There are interesting plot lines. Such as how Estonians are religious and also superstitious. They are able to get a "helper" called a "kratt" through the Devil.

The main plot line involved Hans (Jörgen Liik) and Liina (Rea Lest). Hans, a poor commoner, locked eyes with royalty and is heads over heels; whereas Liina lusts/loves Hans.

The things the characters do for love is sometimes a bit insane, but always with good intention and for love.

Towards the end of the film, an unexpected event happens. But it made the film that much more poetic and beautiful.
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CREDITS
Writer: Rainer Sarnet
Director: Rainer Sarnet
Producer: Katrin Kissa
Main Cast: Rea Lest, Jörgen Liik, Arvo Kukumägi, Katariina Unt, Taavi Eelmaa, Dieter Laser

Keep the Change

Keep the Change is a dramedy about a New Yorker who is required to attend a program for adults with disabilities in order to stay out of jail and meets another participant who changes his life.

David Cone (Brandon Polansky) first comes off as a somewhat pretentious, entitled man due to his family's wealth. Actually, he seems like that throughout the entirety of the film. However, there are some subtle hints that he is on the autistic spectrum, and as the story unfolds it becomes more apparent.

His co-star, Samantha Elisofon, plays Sarah. Sarah is one of the students/participants at the cent for adults with disabilities. She has a learning disability and autistic. Although that is a couple of her characteristics, her other personality attributes shined through. She likes to sing, perform, flirtatious, and very bold.

The film is a somewhat classic love story, but it is through a new perspective. Most people don't know much about autism or have only certain ideas of it, me included, which is why it's refreshing to see it love and life in a new way.

Keep the Change is a feel-good film with people who don't always have it so easy because not everyone understands them.

It was also the Founders Prize & Best New Narrative Director @ Tribeca Film Festival 2017.

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CREDITS
Writers: Rachel Israel
Director: Rachel Israel
Producers: Summer Shelton, Todd Remis, Kurt Enger
Main Cast: Brandon Polansky, Samantha Elisofon, Nicky Gottlieb, Will Deaver, Jessica Walter, Tibor Feldman
Running Time: 94 minutes

03 May 2017

Thumper


Jordan Ross’s Thumper premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival as a Spotlight Narrative. The film is listed as crime, drama, thriller on IMDb. Truthfully, I did not know much about the film before seeing it and expected it to be a somewhat foreseeable storyline about a young girl getting involved with the wrong people. 

Well, I was wrong.

Thumper’s main character is Kat Carter (Eliza Taylor) and within the first scenes of the film, the audience suspects that she is just a new, mysterious girl and the whole film will center on her. However, by the end of the film, I felt like this film made a deeper impression and strong statement about the youth portrayed.

Thumper is about the war on drugs and set in a community where kids are prone to getting involved in drugs and violence, with high possibilities of not reaching their full potential. Beaver (Daniel Webber) seems to be the embodiment of a teenager who is struggling with family, money, and the typical high school problems. His character represents the rebellious but thoughtful youth. He parties, drinks, smokes, but he cares. He cares about his brother, Jeff, his crush, Kat, and who he might become, making it a gritty, evocative coming-of-age film.

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CREDITS
Writers: Jordan Ross
Directors: Jordan Ross
Producers: Fernando Loureiro, Roberto Vasconcellos
Main Cast: Eliza Taylor, Lena Headey, Pablo Schreiber, Ben Feldman, Daniel Webber, Grant Harvey
Running Time: 93 minutes