Black ice is a strong film, with excellent characterisation, plot development, and filming; in fact it won seven Finnish Jussi (film industry) awards in 2008 including Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Editing, Best Music, and Best Actress. The wife who is misled by her husband decides to play a complex game, but as the plot unfolds she develops dual feelings of both friendship and revenge towards her husband's mistress. Our feelings towards the mistress are bounced around too because she is quite happy to be a participant in the plot of deception she and the husband are engaged in, but then we find she herself becomes an unknowing target in the wife's plan of deception. The wife seems to have a fondness for knives (kitchen, gym props, and scalpels) and this gives the film a further degree of bite. Which of the 'friend or foe' feelings held by the wife will be triumphant by the end of this very fine film?
Reviews
4 Reviews
Brownian Movement
(2010)
A Film of the Highest Worth.
19 March 2013
This is an exceedingly fine film. It explores issues that arise when a marriage is put under a "pressure test" – through its exploration of cause and effect it raises the challenging question of 'what is the nature of marriage?' The issue is "what is enough?' as one of the characters asks. As the wife and husband cope with events the camera focuses on their faces for very long durations of time; this is done in total silence so we, the viewer, is given the luxury of having time to explore our own thoughts about the progress of the film, and how each character does (or one thinks, should) react.
This film flies its 'Art House' flag with pride, being slow and low key (but beautifully set and filmed). It is a film in which deep thought has gone into its making, and to do it justice it deserves the same respect from the viewer. Watch it, and see if it gives you cause to ponder the significant issues that it raises.
This film flies its 'Art House' flag with pride, being slow and low key (but beautifully set and filmed). It is a film in which deep thought has gone into its making, and to do it justice it deserves the same respect from the viewer. Watch it, and see if it gives you cause to ponder the significant issues that it raises.
Dog's Head Bay
(1999)
Dog's Head Bay - to me, a real treasure
5 June 2011
I know that Dog's Head Bay was panned by the critics. But it was a programme that I really enjoyed for its fresh humour and dramatic ironies. I rated it very highly and made sure that I did not miss an episode. The series took strong but good natured jibes at the aspirations of those who put property values as the supreme quality of all aspects of their lives (and how Australian is that!). But the critics panned David Williamson, and had other opinions, which leads me to reflect on the role of the critic as one who manufactures aspirations for the artist to meet, and then castigates them when they are not met! As Jean Sibelius stated: "Remember, a statue has never been set up in honour of a critic! "
Darling
(I) (2007)
A wonderful movie (contains spoiler)
20 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The film was voted by the Swedish Film Critics Association as 'Best Swedish Film of 2007', and with good reason. The film becomes a portrayal of Eva, and the emotional journey that she goes on. She is self-centered, egotistical and emotionally empty. But during a time of hardship she encounters Bernhard, and she gains a chance to escape from her carapace by actually considering someone else. But she is unable to make the complete journey and reverts to her empty ways. Meanwhile Bernhard should regard himself as hard-done-by, but he looks for the positives (in employment and the promised housing). The ending was great: Bernhard rides the bus but is smiling and waving, while Eva is in the luxury car but has reverted back into her blankness. Not everybody who looks attractive is really worthy! Can't imagine that Hollywood could ever make this movie as it shows a most subtle progression - but the progression is in reverse: as her finances go down, her emotional outlook goes up, and then vice-versa!; Hollywood would likely sickenly sweeten the ending by having Eva leave her boyfriend's SUV and join Bernhard on the bus!
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