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'go fish' is about 2 groups of lesbian roommates trying to get
their unattached roommates together. it's very honest, open and
creative. there's a certain clunky amateurishness to some of the
acting and writing, but the music and cinematography are first
rate. **** (including � star for breasts)
'boatman of the venda' (not sure on this title) is a very long,
fairly confusing indian epic. perhaps someone who was more familiar
with indian and bangladeshi culture would have gotten more out of
it. certainly interesting, but... **
'me, let's hope i make it' is (i believe) the latest lina wertmuller
movie. it's a trite, cliche ridden story about a teacher from the
north of italy who goes to a run-down suburb of naples and gets
through to his poverty- and violence- stricken 3rd graders. in the
process, he learns from them...blah blah blah. it's been done before,
better. the foul-mouthed kids are cute and the north/south cultural
rift is handled well. **
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'the cow' is a beautiful, sad movie about a young man's life in
late 19th century rural bohemia (czech republic). the story begins
with him selling the family cow to get medicine for his dying mother
and continues with the awful tragedies, and occasional miraculous
joys, of his difficult life. i believe that to the czechs this is
also a highly symbolic and powerful film. ****
'as an eilean' (from the island) is from scotland with the dialogue
mostly in gaelic and beautiful cinematography and haunting music.
it's a portrait of a remote town, focussing on a young man who is
leaving to go to university, his ex-headmaster and the local nurse.
there is also the brooding presence of a stranger in the town who
never speaks and is of mysterious origins. it's very quiet, very
simple, but very deep and moving. ****
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'grief' takes place behind the scenes of a low-budget daytime soap.
it follows a week in the life of the over-worked writing staff,
especially the gay head writer (whose partner has died of aids).
it's mostly a light, clever comedy with some good insights in some
of the more serious moments. well written and acted. ***� (including
� star for dick)
'hedd wyn' was up for an oscar last year (i don't remember if it
won) for best foreign language film. it's in welsh (a truly amazing
language) and is the story of a famous welsh war poet. it's little
dry and straightforward, but beautifully done. ***
'clerks' is a *very* low budget movie (something like $27,000) that
is quite funny. it's about a guy who works in a convenience store
and the various weird things (and people) that come through his
shift. some dead spots, but mostly inspired comedy. ***
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