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Before Sunrise(1995) / Before Sunset(2004)

 
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> Before Sunrise(1995) / Before Sunset(2004)
mmuk2004
post Apr 19 2009, 09:39 AM
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Recommended by Rajnish:

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

A marathon effort by Nina Paley, she wrote, directed, produced and animated this 1:20 hr. film. This animation retelling the Ramayana with a feminist twist with the author's story serving as a parallel story is entertaining , imaginative and irreverent. Its mingling of various art forms. Rajasthani paintings, shadow puppets and the voice of the 1920s jazz singer Annette Hanshaw to retell the story contrasting the modern and the ancient tales of abandoned women, is very innovative and entertaining. Really liked the shadow puppet's commentary framing the narrative as they commented on the epic, with their modern day sensibility, sometimes mixing facts, giving their own take on it, extending to references beyond the epic's themes. I am sure that the images are not just taken from Rajasthani paintings, some of the Sita and Hanuman pics seem straight out of calender art (Indian panwala style tongue1.gif ) with its garish colors and abundance of lotuses. Will have to see that film again to check out what other stuff has been used to get that pastiche spirit that is the most exciting thing about the movie.

Here's some more info on the pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sita_Sings_the_Blues

You can watch it here: http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/indie...-the-blues/241/

This post has been edited by mmuk2004: Apr 19 2009, 09:55 AM


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"This isn't right, this isn't even wrong."
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Faraaj73
post Apr 19 2009, 03:28 PM
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QUOTE(mmuk2004 @ Apr 19 2009, 02:09 PM) *

Recommended by Rajnish:

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

You can watch it here: http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/indie...-the-blues/241/

This looks really interesting. Ebert is my favourite reviewer and he has praised this film to high heaven on his blog and invited it to screen at his film festival.....thanks for the intro Madhavi.....


Kind Regards
Faraaj



Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. - Victor Hugo

There is only one better thing than music - live music. - Jacek Bukowski

I hate music, especially when it's played. - Jimmy Durante

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible. - W. H. Auden
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r&d
post Apr 21 2009, 09:26 AM
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Madhavi,

Yes I saw it. It is not for me.
animation wise it is very good, jazz songs are cool.
I don't like the narration of dumb Indians trying
to explain Ramayana to white people.

The question that came to me about the movie
is why would American girl look for answers for love problems
in 5000 year old text about a virtuous King.
But I think it is latest Feminist fashion to look for
Indian goddess for inspiration. Even though the story is not very feminist.
I mean why not take Helen for inspiration. But funny thing
about Trojan war is that recently I read an article in which
historians stated that Greek kings were hoarding women
and that Trojan War was really about stealing women for Troy.
Now that changes the complexion completely but I am sure
no one will retell that story.
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mmuk2004
post Apr 22 2009, 10:43 AM
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QUOTE(Faraaj73 @ Apr 19 2009, 04:58 AM) *

QUOTE(mmuk2004 @ Apr 19 2009, 02:09 PM) *

Recommended by Rajnish:

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

You can watch it here: http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/indie...-the-blues/241/

This looks really interesting. Ebert is my favourite reviewer and he has praised this film to high heaven on his blog and invited it to screen at his film festival.....thanks for the intro Madhavi.....


Yes, just checked his review. smile1.gif



"This isn't right, this isn't even wrong."
Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958)

"There are no facts, only interpretations."
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

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mmuk2004
post Apr 22 2009, 10:49 AM
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QUOTE(r&d @ Apr 20 2009, 10:56 PM) *

Madhavi,

Yes I saw it. It is not for me.
animation wise it is very good, jazz songs are cool.
I don't like the narration of dumb Indians trying
to explain Ramayana to white people.

The question that came to me about the movie
is why would American girl look for answers for love problems
in 5000 year old text about a virtuous King.
But I think it is latest Feminist fashion to look for
Indian goddess for inspiration. Even though the story is not very feminist.
I mean why not take Helen for inspiration. But funny thing
about Trojan war is that recently I read an article in which
historians stated that Greek kings were hoarding women
and that Trojan War was really about stealing women for Troy.
Now that changes the complexion completely but I am sure
no one will retell that story.



Rajnish,

Thank you for the detailed comment. I agree with you that the parallels between the Sita and the Nina stories are very thin. That was the first thing that struck me in the film. No Laxman in the vanvaas either!

However, if you are not looking for distinct parallels, but instead read the story as it gets contextualized in the abandoned girl's mind, who picks up the Ramayana and empathises with Sita, seeing herself in her, it works, at least for me it did. The film's tagline is "The greatest break-up story ever told", she makes an epic story about her own break-up and the mode is comic.

The feminist take on the Ramayana is not original, Sita's plight has been analysed and commented upon in many texts and contexts. Witness our own Bollywood take on it (one of the many) :"Agnipariksha le kar bhi/Sita ko kiya na maaf Ram, Ye Kaisa insaaf" etc.

It is funny, I assumed that the director was of Indian origin when I saw the film. Now I wonder how she picked such a strange combination of Indian art forms to bear upon the story. Need to see the film again.

For me the originality of the film lay in the fact that she personalises the story and remakes it in the context of a modern sensibility that is far more fractured. The commentaries by the shadow puppets are not just missteps and gaffes but also extend the epic's perspective to bring the present to bear upon it (The Ayodhya Temple and communal riots e.g) That, I don't think, will ring many bells for a naive western audience. At times the commentary is irreverent, at times serious, and at times informative. And then she mixes up so many art forms in the retelling of the tale, that for me was the most original part of the movie.

It is not a great movie, but it is original and entertaining. And the long struggle NP had with the copyrights for the songs, and the decision to release it for free are all kind of refreshing details that add to the allure of the ...okay hype of the movie.


Regarding the Helen story: Hers was the face that launched a thousand ships... and in many texts Paris is called a common thief biggrin.gif Besides, to be fair, there have been many feminist takes on Helen's role and position in the Trojan war.



"This isn't right, this isn't even wrong."
Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958)

"There are no facts, only interpretations."
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

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hildebrand
post Apr 25 2009, 09:20 PM
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QUOTE(humble_rafi @ Jun 17 2008, 10:24 PM) *

Death At A Funeral (2007) : Its a beautiful movie with loads of witty humor, the best part of the movie is that every character is crafted eloquently.I laughed throughout the movie.We can hardly imagine, How hilarious a funeral can be.

There is a midget who proclaims himself as the lover of the deceased and blackmailed the deceased children for money, instead of paying him they kill him and put him in the same coffin and hence the story takes a turn.You better watch it to find out what happens in the end.I will give 9.5/10

A must watch comedy.


definitely a good one. My favourite movie of 2008 (it released in 2008 here!). Lovely black comedy.

This post has been edited by hildebrand: Apr 25 2009, 09:20 PM

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Hildebrand


Samandar ko Baandhe Aisa Koi Ghaat Nahi, Kadmon ko thaame aisi koi baat nahin Patli si dhaara samundar mein milti hai, milkar ke kho jaati hai, ghaat ghaat hi rehte hain woh samundar ho jaati hai, karlo jo chaaho, banlo jo chaaho

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hildebrand
post Apr 25 2009, 09:22 PM
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QUOTE(mmuk2004 @ Apr 14 2009, 11:47 PM) *

Burn After Reading (2009)

Okay the critics sound pretty annoyed with the misanthropic tendencies exhibited in the Coen brothers comedies, and this one seems to have no heart and only cruel laughter. It comes as more of a shocker after the brooding No Country for Old Men. A spy thriller spoof, it has all these props, glittering CIA office, glittering shoes, glittering floors, laconic men, a Russian embassy appropriately manned by thick-set men sporting thick Russian accents and it has all these talented actors playing dunderheads and "bitches" and "SOBs" and clearly having a good time. Cloony is good as the happily married man having an affair on the side and starting another one over the internet, Brad Pitt is good as the pleasant, empty-headed gym instructor who has his ears plugged with music most of the time and Tilta Swinton is good as the cold bitchy wife of Malkowich who is having an affair with Clooney. Fraces McDormand is even better as the not-so-bright gym instructor Linda Litzke, who is worried about getting the insurance to pay for her cosmetic surgery and about getting the right online date. And John Malkovich, as the cold, pissed off, CIA agent, Princeton '73 batch who is demoted from his job because of his drinking problem, is,IMO, the best. It is indded a cruel comedy, with not too much heart. Yet there is Richard Jenkins' yearning for Mc Dormand, there is Mc Dormand's yearning for the right date and the right body, and even a hint of yearning in the little boy lost petulant fit Clooney throws when he finds out about his wife. That might not add up to much heart, but the details, the Coens' strong point, are pretty heartening, the Princeton 73 details, Linda's conversations with the Insurance company, Linda's conversations with the plastic surgeon...The movie is not their best but it makes no sense to miss out on a Coen brothers film.


I have this movie and plan to watch it soon. Interesting review Madhavi.

Best Regards
Hildebrand


Samandar ko Baandhe Aisa Koi Ghaat Nahi, Kadmon ko thaame aisi koi baat nahin Patli si dhaara samundar mein milti hai, milkar ke kho jaati hai, ghaat ghaat hi rehte hain woh samundar ho jaati hai, karlo jo chaaho, banlo jo chaaho

“Geet boodhe nahin hote, unke chehron pe jhurriyan nahi girti
wo palte rahte hain, chalte rahte hain
sun-ne walo ki umra badal jaati hai….”

Please Visit
http://www.anmolfankaar.com: A website dedicated to Artists of the Indian Subcontinent. Now follow it on twitter too. http://twitter.com/anmolfankaar

http://www.shamshadbegum.com : A website dedicated to the Living Legend Shamshad Begum. May She Live Long.

http://www.madamnoorjehan.com : A website dedicated to Madam Noorjehan

http://www.geetadutt.com : A website dedicated to Geeta Dutt Nee Roy
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