Reviews

The movie has been rated by only 136 people so far. We should wait a little bit more. However what surprised me was the Metascore which is completely irrelevant for a movie that used a classical way of evolution in its line of action, without falling in the trap of predictable movements. Its action tends to be the closest to reality. Review your reviews as it shouldn't be quickly condemned.

Before starting any analysis on "Zozo", we should admit that actor's role do not depend only on movie makers... talent inside Imad Creidi's brains is definitely the priority of this movie (physically communicative too, his eyes and mouth are giving all expressions needed to make you feel what an 11 years old boy really feels during sad or happy moments). That will be not enough to talk about Imad Creidi in few lines... what is certain is that this actor has already a high sensibility of feelings in real life. Question: why isn't he shooting another movie already?? He is perfect for any role.

Back to ZOZO the movie: Well, Josef Fares, the director and writer, said something in his story, when Zozo was writing a letter: "if only dreams came true". Well i think his movie came true and we can dream about hope and tolerance. Zozo criticizes violence by showing its presence everywhere and shows in a very subtle way, many ways that could bring violence as well as the best way to avoid it. By his impartial look to facts, viewers can feel or not the significance of every scene. Unfortunately, some do not "feel" the movie: they can just tell about the significance of some scenes. Therefore, Zozo might not affect all people, especially if viewers are not patient, sensitive or take the time to listen and understand a Lot of symbolism. This is not only the story of very important parts of the life of an 11 years old boy. It is more than a dream, a message of tolerance and of life. Once can dream, but it will be confronted to the bitterness of life: like a green apple mixed with some salt. Life, seen through the eye of innocence... transition in the life of a child becoming soon an independent teen... love he can give... injustice he will face because he is different from other kids of his age... and finally, his glory by finding his own way. The story of a boy, we have pity on but later we might envy him. That's a glory too.

Being a movie fanatic and reviewer, I was invited to the "Semaine du Cinema Francophone" in Beirut (francophone cinema week). The movie taught me the word "tolerance" as I was one of these stupid guys who mocked on effeminate people. (Maybe to reject my desire at this age to be free to disguise myself, like Ludovic did in the movie). What I know is that being in a place that was supposed to gather cultivated people, journalists and movie reviewers, cinema lovers, artists, etc. I was chocked to hear people laughing at some scenes that were supposed to be moving, sensitive and very important humanely. Also the sound going out public mouth: "tsss tsss tsss" was so chocking that I felt more the pressure of "non-tolerant' society inside the movie theater itself, more than the pressure Ludovic had to endure in his story. My personality was projected into Ludovic who suffered his moments in the film, while I was personally suffering inside the theater and trying to vibe with the movie, despite chocked snobbish people's reaction. An excellent movie. Rather a drama than a comedy!

This is a personal story as a movie reviewer.

It was at "Chicago" press screening... the movie was stunning (for me anyway, MAYBE because I also live in a theater atmosphere with my parents as famous actors in the country and my father as a director and producer of Events and shows)... But the movie was excellent for sure and i was happy to see very known old reviewer having the same feeling about the movie. (nothing to compare to All That Jazz). However, one of my friends, a reviewer in a local important newspaper, felt horrified by this movie. He told me, pointing at Rob Marshall's name at the end-credits: " look at the screen: you see that name? well, i think it is the last time you will see it on screen, i'm telling you". This was the beginning of a long "war" between us. We like to give arguments that convince each other and share our point of views. But for "Chicago" it was obvious I was right! I'm glad he was wrong and today we celebrate my victory with "Memoirs of a Geisha".

In this finely tuned story, we are facing 3 important points that keeps the eyes fully directed towards the movie: the human beauty (physical beauty and interior beauty), the set/image magnificence and the dialog/music exquisiteness. Which leads us to the perfection of the audiovisual work: perfect image and perfect sound for our brains. As for the characters, the interaction between vicious-hostile people and kind, humane and caring ones, makes the hypothesis of tolerance at the young Chyio (later the famous known Geisha Sayuri) a tool of survival for a world collapsing under the World War. Will it be possible for her to be rewarded after all what she suffered and maybe, get the right to really love?

'Burn Motherf…!' We can't stop singing this song! Black Humor yes but not insensitive public. It reminds instantly an old advertisement against famine in Africa where starving children are filmed in a dry sandy parcel, searching the ground for grains to eat, while funny music is being played over the pictures… then a catchphrase pops up in the middle of the screen, saying: 'Are you shocked by this music choice? Well you shouldn't! It's the image you should look at!'.

Amazing how people can change history... or maybe not? But at least one man edited one of the most important periods of history, an important documentary that will be produced later on DVD and assist/help humanity, giving the chance to all generations in the USA and the whole word (present and future time) to reveal the other side of what they might call "real history". At least the future generation will be able to decide if Michael Moore was right or not about his thoughts! This is a movie that will probably be a unique reference to students, historians, politicians, NGO's, anyone! This reference will have more impact in 10 years (wait and see). This cinematographic work is more than a simple documentary made with archives and images: it carries Moore's personal point of view, a lot of people opinions and a convincing intelligent analysis evaluating all images and news we 'swallow' everyday on TV!

What if?

What if all what Moore said was wrong? Well for only being a valuable 'movie' (more than a simple documentary), Fahrenheit 9/11 deserves the 2004 Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm!