Movie of the Month : BREAKING THE WAVES

“L O V E “. Everyday we experience this breathtaking emotion with both inanimate objects and with other souls. It is when we finally find true love that nothing else in the world seems worthy or good. We work as hard as we can to continue this warmth that we feel in our hearts when true love exists, and sometimes that means going to a level we never thought imaginable. This is the central theme of the film, Breaking the Waves.

Synopsis:

In a Puritan Scottish village where religion is the number one priority and women are confined to being just housewives a religious woman named Bess McNeill who has conversations with God, finds the love of her life in a worker at the oil rig called Jan. The two soon marry and fall madly in love with each other but tragedy strikes as Jan gets badly injured in an accident at work that leaves him paralyzed from the neck down. But Bess really loves her man and is determined to stay with him forever but an unusual request from Jan complicates things as he ask her to do something that requires her to give the ultimate sacrifice. Bess is determined to make Jan happy and to prove to God that she loves him, but she soon loses control of her actions

Review;

Winner of the GRAND PRIX AWARD @ FESTIVAL DE CANNES, at first glance the movie seems like a heartbreaking romantic story of a woman that loves her husband even though he's crippled from the neck down but then slowly turns from that to a dark tragic story of a woman going to the extremes to make him happy.. However director Lars Von Trier turns a horrid tale into something intimate, real, tender and heartbreaking thanks to a bare-bones approach consisting of hand-held camera, lack of artificial lighting, grainy photography, and lingering close-ups ,story inter cut with brief music interludes set to an image of scenery. This breaks the film up in a style not used before.

The movie has a mesmerizing quality that reminds me of Carl Theodor Dreyer's "Ordet" at times. Both are set in remote communities and deal with religious concepts which, even for a semi-believer, remain difficult to comprehend. Both films have a supposedly mentally unstable central character, a young man who talks as Christ in "Ordet" while Bess, the young woman in "Breaking the Waves" talks to God who answers her in her own voice's deepest register. Bess falls in lave with Jan, an oil-rig worker and the early scenes chart their wedding. When Jan has to return to the oil-rig the distraught Bess prays to God for his return, a prayer that is answered ironically when he returns paralyzed from the neck down after an accident on the rig. How Bess lives with this situation is the subject of the second and third hours of the film. These have at times an almost unbearable intensity. It is one of those very rare films where I feel the use of a hand-held camera to be completely justified as it gives extraordinarily emotional events a frenetic immediacy.

Also the ending here is a real head scratcher, I won't go into detail as I don't want to ruin the film for any one else, but I've seen the film two times now and I'm still not sure what to make of it, lets just say you'll never forget that last shot and you'll be thinking about it for weeks. Either way, Breaking the Waves is still one-hundred times better than most of the Hollywood hogwash, full of beautiful images and performances, and is a good chance to see a real film by one of cinema's greatest directorial talents.

Lars von Trier is a most provocative film-maker: provocatively innovative and brilliant, but also provocatively offensive and silly. Frustratingly, it's hard to separate these two gifts: it seems to be in his nature to continually push the envelope, and dare his audience to judge whether he is doing so with a straight face. Although still far-out by the standards of mainstream cinema, 'Breaking the Waves' is perhaps his most conventional English-language film; and also his best, a movie of rare emotional power.

The most heartbreaking performance ever to grace cinema is that of Emily Watson as Bess McNeill. What a pity that Frances McDormand of Fargo was awarded the Academy Award in 1996 instead. Emily Watson is emotionally drained by the time her last scene airs and you get the sense that she played Bess as she went taking chances and relishing her material. She has such an expressive face and is such an all rounded character that any weaknesses in the plot simply don't matter any more. She carries the film entirely. Stellan Skarsgard, a most underrated actor in my opinion plays Bess's husband and is also superb, and the supporting cast includes the late Katrin Cartlidge as Watson's sister-in-law, and cult legend Udo Kier.

Conclusion:

To me, life is short and precious. I need it to mean something. I need to live life to its fullest by trying to put meaning into things that are important. Otherwise, despite my faith, life would seem empty. Life can't be a mere test ground that determines whether we are worthy of entering heaven or face hell. We are meant to experience the joy of loving, the warmth of being loved, the sorrow of losing a loved one, and what it must feel like to say goodbye to loved ones. I think that's what life is all about -- fully realizing each facet of love.

A true landmark in visual artistry and a film whose shrouded messages will haunt me till the end of my days. A film that can stir up every known emotion and it manages to create some new ones too. It changed my life.... Changed my way of thinking. Without a doubt the best movie I've seen my entire life!!!

Title: Breaking the waves (1996)

Director: Lars von Trier

Cast: Stellan Skarsgard , Emily Watson , Katrin Cartlidge

Rated R for strong sexuality

Country: Denmark

Language: English

DVD Features: photo gallery

Trailers

Trailer Link :www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_3Nio8P5gQ

Torrent file name : Breaking The Waves.torrent

Movie of the Month : RESCUE DAWN (2006)

IN A TIME when blockbuster means sequels and remakes galore delivering high powered special effects but not much human soul, we need a picture like this. A film with enough intelligence to let its audience digest the material without insulting us with biases or unnecessary special effects, a film that moves at a perfect pace, an almost naturalistic approach to film-making, and rooted, masterful performances from a capable group of actors.

Synopsis;

Based on the real life story of Dieter Dangler, a German-American fighter pilot shot down in Vietnam while on a secret mission and is captured by Viet Cong. He is then taken to a POW camp where he meets two Americans and three other captives, who have been imprisoned in the camp for over two years. Over the course of many months, Dieter and his fellow prisoners of war devise a plan of escape, while enduring torture and starvation. However, once they've successfully fled the confinements of the camp, they face even more sever conditions in the jungle.

Review:

Vietnam movies nowadays are a dime a dozen, and to be honest, most of them all seem the same. "Rescue Dawn" sticks out from the pack because its an accessible film about the hellish war loaded with the existentialist touches we've come to except from Werner Herzog. Herzog may be working for Hollywood now, but don't fret. His films are still full of the beautiful imagery and survivalist themes that prefigured many of his 70s and 80s masterpieces. "Rescue Dawn" is the same Herzog we know and love. Its filmed in a cold and distanced style, yet the story and setting manage to ultimately make it an emotionally powerful experience. Its free of the audience manipulation that often comes with these films. In my mind, its the best Vietnam War film since "Apocalypse Now". Just like "Apocalypse Now", whatever war its set in is irrelevant. This could've been set in World War II or the Gulf War and the story would have the same impact.

Like most POW and prison break movies, "Rescue Dawn" follows the same basic premise and structure as any other. There is the life pre-capture, which in this case introduces us to Dengler, a brash young U.S. Lieutenant with a passion for flying, getting ready for his first aerial mission; the capture and introduction of other cast members and the subsequent escape and rescue after 23 days in the jungle. What makes it different from other similar movies is that "Rescue Dawn" isn't the run-of-the-mill escape story, with a shallow story focusing only the main cast members and a cunning escape plan, but rather a work viewing the war as it affects both parties in a very realistic way, touching on war fatigue and famine on the Vietcong side. And it's beautiful, with both close-up and wide shots of the details in the surrounding nature that reminds you of director Herzog's relationship with naturalism

What makes this film unique is that it does not wallow in over-glorifying itself. It doesn't try to pump up the audience with patriotic blather or "gee whiz, what a guy" feel good stuff. It simply tells the story of this incredibly courageous and resourceful man, Dieter Dengler. This is a great example of how films should be made. Also Like any great POW movie, the film has many moments that aren't totally tension filled or with exposition relating to escape: there's humor, like with a prison guard who's a midget named Jumbo, or a dog with a few hind-leg walking skills, or the one prisoner who doesn't say a word but conveys "yes" without even nodding.

This is also a refreshingly truthful patriotic film - in which Dengler himself espouses some of the most profound reasons why many Americans still love America. Dengler illustrates that, even when engaged in an unjust conflict, America is its people and their spirit of liberty, not a government and not its military might. Dengler is a true American hero - not because he saves lives or fought expertly (after all, he hardly fought!) but because of his will to survive, to help those deserving of his help, and his desire to come home to the country he loved.

Director WernerHerzog manages to capture a sense of reality that would escape many other directors, he utilizes his skills to show how the harshness of their predicament is derived from the conditions and the surroundings in which they are imprisoned, not just by the captors or prison guards. Also he does a great job of depicting tiny bits of humanity and dignity shining through in the most inhumane conditions, and how the will to survive can triumph over death..Some of the finest scenes in the film are presented in long takes with no dialogue just the all encompassing sound of loneliness which is reinforced by the unforgiving weather conditions. The film has breathtaking cinematography of Laos and Vietnam from Peter Zeitlinger and a triumphant and evocative music score from Klaus Bedelt.

The characters really stand out here... Christian Bale, in perhaps his most humane role yet, plays Dieter. He had shredded over 100 lbs for the role, embodies his German-born subject with ferocity and fervor.Bale as Dieter appears to eat live worms at one point; struggles with a wildly writhing six-foot snake and strips it with his teeth. His character, Dieter, has such a will to outlive the unbearable circumstances, and Bale exemplifies that will with chilling conviction. The real revelation from this film, however, is Steve Zahn., who often has been typecast as the comic relief sidekick, Aside from having lost forty pounds and being almost completely unrecognizable, he gives amazing performance as Deiter's friend Duane, thus showing his true potential and dedication as an actor. And the relationship between Zahn and Bale is pitch perfect. Also Jeremy Davies is incredible in his role as whacked-out P.O.W. named Eugene. He’s spooky without being unbelievable, and he is scarily thin.

'Rescue Dawn' makes for one of the most harrowing movie experiences that will inspire tears, smiles and, ultimately, an appreciation for what this man endured for the country he loved so much. Herzog has created a masterful film here which can be appreciated by all. You will feel all your emotions come out watching this film, with scenes of heart wrenching anguish and scenes of rapturous joy contrasting together perfectly.

Title : Rescue Dawn

Director: Werner Herzog

Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn

Rated Pg-13 for some disturbing images

Country :USA

Language : English

DVD Features: Feature length audio commentary with director

Deleted scenes

The Making of rescue dawn

Trailer Link:www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftXlf.html

Torrent File Name :Rescue Dawn [DVDRip][Eng][2007][BugzBunny]

AN INTROSPECTION ON FAVOR

Recently i received a pretty good favor from an acquaintance . Even though we had barely seen each other or talked in recent years , once when i simply asked whether he could download some rare movies ,he said ,"okay ,will try" .Initially i was a bit skeptical whether he would do it as he was a busy workaholic with many computer related works from early day to late night. But after one month , i got a call from him, saying that he had got all those 50 movies which i had asked him.For some,this maybe a trivial thing.but for me this was a big thing & made me to write this small article exploring FAVOR dynamics.


Most of us aren't beneficiaries of good deeds or favors very often. When we get in trouble, we have to survive in on our own. "One can never pay in gratitude; one can pay "in kind" somewhere else in life" - Anne Lindbergh This quote may seem out of place to most people. Their lives have not been graced by good deeds or favors done for them by others and they have little time or interest in doing something for another person that does not benefit themselves.

In past generations people had to support and do favors for their friends and neighbors because they knew the time would come when they would need help from others when they couldn't make it on their own.Even Today ,for example in certain close knit communities like Amish , when a new barn (for grain storage ) has to go up for a family , the rural community has a "barn raising" ceremony where the whole people of the community come together to build the barn and the building usually went up in a day.

But in suburban areas today, neighbors feel successful if they manage to reach an agreement over a questionable move that could affect both without going to court. In cities many apartment neighbors don't even know each other. And they won't meet because, by convention, no one speak to others in an elevator.When someone does something nice for another, the good deed doer might not even receive a "Thank you." Some don't want favors done for them because they believe it creates an obligation for them to return the favor.When people help each other today we call it charity. However, the word charity either must be redefined or a new word must be found for a new kind of helping .

Even if we can't repay someone who has done us a favor ,we can however, pay it forward. We can do a good deed for someone else who needs one desperately. We can help those who want it. We can stop making it seem shameful to need help from others.We can even do favors for those who need it even if we haven't received any ourselves.

As an icing on the cake , a list of movies which celebrate Favor ;

1. Forrestgump
2. Okurbito (Departures)
3. La Promesse (The Promise)
4. Luo Ye Gui Gen (Getting Home )
5. Birdy
6.Central Station

Someone has just done you a favor of passing along some good news. Maybe it's not much to you. But you could pass along some good news about the future we all hope to see ,to someone.