Umani's Reviews

What War May Bring (2010)

10/10

1 October 2010

MERCI

Thank you Monsieur Lelouch!

France and the U.S.A. are my "homelands", but when I watch Monsieur Lelouche's films, I am proud of being....simply human.

In my humble opinion, his films have a rare profoundness that makes them transcend beyond all standards of culture, figures of style....they dig deeply into the core of the human soul.

I am no film critic; my appreciations do not concern the technical aspect of his films, I will leave this ungrateful task to others, those who earn a living in a way I am glad I don't.

I will just say that a film by Lelouch encompasses much more than film making techniques and effects. A film by Lelouch is Poetry, Music, History accounts and travels of many kinds: travels in time, places and, most of all, within our soul.

This film is a beautifully scorching experience. It hurts to be human.

One key word comes to mind : Love: the catalyst of Life. Love of every form and degree.

The full array of human emotions are always present in Monsieur Lelouche's films. The seemingly "evil" in us, the "worst" in humanity can be transformed.

Often unnoticed details, short moments, may very well have a powerful impact on a person's destiny.

Life in cycles, the great story that never ends.

We come to this world and...

...we love, we hate, we suffer, we doubt, we hope, we despair, we sin, we forgive, we win, we lose, we learn, we love again...

as the great Tennyson wrote : " 'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all"

I would like to thank Monsieur Lelouch for being who he is: a great poet!

The world is so fortunate to have him....

38 out of 59 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Walk on Water (2004)

9/10

"walking on water" or "the man who cried"

1 February 2005

Warning: Spoilers

the film aired for the last time in my city tonight.

i read (and respect) critics who see in this film an angry homophobic man, incapable of dealing with his inner emotions. personally, i believe it goes beyond this appreciation, this is just part of the mosaic.

the reality of present day Israel, the Israelo-Palestinian conflict, the German identity after WWII: amidst all of these parts of the mosaic, is a very powerful image, that of Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee, and of a miracle.

why do human beings become intolerant, hate and kill. the story of generations, of conflicts, of wounds left unhealed. there is one key phrase in the film : "open your heart". it takes tragedy in several forms in this film for tears to flow, the heart to open and start feeling again. to live again, as is the great statement in the end.

all of them have suffered, Jews, Palestinians, Germans. it stems from a long history, and what we see nowadays is just the result of history and many unhealed wounds.

i was moved and disturbed by a father who wants to take the role of God and "take a man's life" before God does. i don't have to agree with it, but can rationally see why he evolves this way after losing his family under the Nazi regime. the weight of the past joins the present when he asks his son to commit a murder for those matters unresolved in his heart. (some will say he is accomplishing justice).

when the son spoke German again, i shivered. he is in the past, he is in the present; but he is not a victim, he is a survivor.

i do not think he didn't kill out of his evolving friendship with Axel, but because he simply could not kill anymore. he remembered those words: "open your heart" and cried at last.

when Axel touches his grandfather, there is no hatred in his gestures and expressions. he gently caresses the forehead, the lips... as in a last sacrament that atones, expiates past sins. the ending scene was felt more like a deliverance and putting a soul to rest.

Tabgha is a very powerful symbol of compassion and faith in this film. the film maker must be someone who vividly feels the human condition, transcending barriers of religion or nationality.

i also recommend this film because it allows to view a few aspects of Israeli life, the tension between Israelis and Palestinians, and fragments of Berlin, three generations afterwards, and such great soul searching.

Excellent, simply excellent.

12 out of 16 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Village (2004)

9/10

not a horror film, but...

24 September 2004

definitely look beyond. must agree with many, the previews were misleading.

for all of those that who have perhaps read essays by Thoreau, Emerson and other 19th c Transcendentalists (on utopian communities, nature and resistance to civil government) it had to strike a deep chord.

to me, this is a film about social ideals. it is interesting to note that despite "the group's" best intentions... the human and the innate ultimately affected them in turn, too. Fear, jealousy, violence.

personally, i don't think one can escape reality and live in a bubble. our societies are what they are, this is life, this is what we have built. on the other hand, we should always strive for a better world and react to injustice and violence in all it's forms.

what beautiful acting, too.

the violinist who plays the theme throughout the film is just magnificent.

0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Le genre humain - 1ère partie: Les Parisiens (2004)

7/10

Lelouch is... Lelouch

22 September 2004

Lelouch is unique. you either hate or love him films, as his style is often composed of stories within stories, interactions, time leaps and even the participation of the spectator himself.

mostly all the people in the film are familiar faces in France. many of the interpreters here are not actors but friends of Lelouch. some are real life singers, journalists, comics and TV show hosts, even his wife and child have roles. for the french audience, it is easier to smile at the contrast between who they really are in real life, and who they play in the film.

all these features always add a very intimate tone to his films, where he strives to reach deeply into the human heart and... the human condition.

the reference to Victor Hugo at the beginning of the film is essential to it's understanding. i recommend the viewing of another film, his version of Hugo's "Les Misérables" very poignant, universal and timeless.

ultimately, he sees beauty in each and one of us, and elevates man, even the bum, the weak, the ugly, even the spirits (as is the tribute to his late friend Ticky Holgado).

God is a bum in this film. it goes to show that for Lelouch, a spirit of light stirs in all of us and that it can be found everywhere, especially in the most surprising places and moments. in some films he has depicted unfriendly characters such as nazi collaborators, tyrants, crooks and criminals. but they all have a soul, they are all human who once loved. man for Lelouch is essentially good. one recurrent message in his works would have to be : Compassion.

in "les Parisiens", first part of a trilogy, complex relationships and the pitfalls of love are the center of all the situations. if you're not used to Lelouch's style, you can get a little lost. but it's only a matter of training the eye and the ear... i do admit that this film is very French, and a French public will probably be more "in tune" with the mannerisms, eye expressions, body language and situations depicted.

thank you again, Monsieur Lelouch. and as always, thank you for the beautiful music*, an essential part in his films. always.

i recommend.

* non-stop from beginning to end. this by itself is a great reason to enjoy these 2 hours.

7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Umani

Reviews

Tell Your Friends

Recently Viewed