So many good movies. I really do need to watch more International films.
Parched
Starring: Indian women
Original release: 2015
Synopsis: In the arid landscape of Rajashthan, four women navigate their way through personal and cultural difficulties.
I can't begin to describe how good this movie is. It's real, it's vibrant, it's full of life when everything seems like one hardship after another.
Totally check it out.
Caramel
Starring: Lebanese women
Original release: 2007
Synopsis: The daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.
Women being women and with the same concerns we all have. It's a quiet film about life and love and growing old.
The Divine Order
Starring: Swiss women
Original release: 2017
Synopsis: In 1971, a young housewife organizes the women of her town to petition for the right to vote.
I know. It sounds amazing to me too. Women in 1971 still not able to vote. I was even more amazed to find out that there were also women who were opposed to having the vote.
Like wow that's a concept.
And in Switzerland of all places.
Our Little Sister
Starring: Japanese women
Original release: 2017
Synopsis: Three sisters who live in their grandmother's home take their 13 year old half sister home to live with them.
Just a nice, sweet, gentle film following the daily lives of 4 sisters.
The Joy Luck Club
Starring: Actresses I have always liked
Original release: 1993
Synopsis: The life histories of four Asian women and their daughters reflect and guide each other.
This is a 4 star tissue movie. Seriously you're going to need the entire box by the time you have finished this. You'll also might want to hug your mum afterwards.
The Help
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.
Original release: 2011
Synopsis: 1960s America and an aspiring author writes a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on
the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go
through on a daily basis.
Basically slavery make legal. I cheered every time one of those women fought back, especially Octavia Spencer who is truly awesome.
Made in Dagenham
Starring: Sally Hawkins
Original release: 2011
Synopsis: The 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination.
Sisters doing it for themselves.
Real Women Have Curves
Starring: Ugly Betty before she was Ugly Betty
Original release: 2002
Synopsis: Freshly graduated
from high school, Ana receives a full scholarship to Columbia
University. Her very traditional, old-world parents feel that now is the
time for Ana to help provide for the family, not the time for college.
You can never have enough of daughters fighting against their mothers for the right to choose to do things their own way.
Go for it girl.
Only 6 more posts to do and 365 Movies in 365 Days will be finished. I can see the end in sight...
Eat Drink Man Woman
Starring: I wish I knew
Original release: 1994
Synopsis: A man and his daughters and food.
There's grumpy Dad, his slightly less grumpy daughters and a simple story of each of them trying to find their place in the world and maybe romance too.
Little Forest
Starring: Haven't Got a Clue
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: A young woman grows tired of life in the city and returns to her hometown in the countryside.
Who knew that a movie featuring cooking intermingled with people having conservations and beautiful scenery of nature could be so relaxing to watch.
Little Forest Winter/Spring
Starring: Still a mystery
Original release: 2014
Synopsis: Almost the same movie as above only this is the Japanese version.
It's pretty much a cooking show movie Japanese style with lots of vivid colours and nature.
Surprisingly riveting and relaxing.
Little Forest Summer/Autumn
Starring: Mystery people again
Original release: 2014
Synopsis: See above
Basically these Little Forest movies are food porn. Which weirdly is a good thing.
This Is Not What I Expected
Starring: I really need to learn peope's names.
Original release: 2017
Synopsis: A CEO and a chef constantly clash.
He's a food snob, she's a klutzy chef. It's a Chinese version of a rom com. I'm there just for that alone.
Really though I'm just glad that they didn't die in the end like they do in every other Chinese movie I've ever seen.
Haute Cuisine
Starring: French people
Original release: 2012
Synopsis: The president's chef
It's a non stop food parade. What's not to like.
Maybe I should have called this whole post food porn.
Tortilla Soup
Starring: Hector Elizondo
Original release: 2001
Synopsis: A Mexican-American master chef and father to three daughters has lost his taste for food but not for life.
It's Eat Drink Man Woman Latino style. The food still looked nice, really though watch the original.
Chef
Starring: The man who directed Iron Man
Original release: 2014
Synopsis: A head chef quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort
to reclaim his creative promise.
One of those Indie movies that gets everything right. The music is also totally on form.
Watch, listen and enjoy.
Oh la la it's all about France this week. I ended up watching a whole lot of gentle quirky films that were all pretty much fantastic.
My grandfather who was a major Francophile would have been so proud and pleased.
I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more movies like these. Recs anyone?
Populaire
Starring: French people
Original release: 2012
Synopsis: A boss resolves to turn his secretary into the fastest typist in the world.
Who knew that a movie about typing competitions would be so wonderful.
I ended up loving this way more than I thought I would. Glorious colours, sizzling chemistry and banter galore.
Now one of my favs.
Coco Before Chanel
Starring: The French chick from Amelie
Original release: 2009
Synopsis: The story of Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world.
Wonderful clothes and the French countryside. It doesn't take much to make me a happy camper.
The Women on the 6th Floor
Starring: More French people
Original release: 2010
Synopsis: In 1960s Paris, a conservative couple's lives are turned upside down by two Spanish maids.
And another quirky gentle movie that only the French can do so well.
Romantics Anonymous
Starring: Still more French people
Original release: 2010
Synopsis: Two very shy people meet and fall in love.
Shyness in all its awkwardness and clumsiness and perfectly played out with these two people who you just know are going to find a way to be together.
My Afternoons With Marguerite
Starring: The French actor everybody knows
Original release: 2010
Synopsis: A semi-literate and lonely odd-job man bonds with a much older and well-read woman.
More everyday life with two completely different people and more gentle quirkiness that is so lovely to watch.
The Intouchables
Starring: And even more French people
Original release: 2011
Synopsis: After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an
aristocrat hires a young man to be his caregiver.
Feel good in every way.
La Vie en Rose
Starring: And that's the end of the French people
Original release: 2007
Synopsis: The life of Edith Piaf.
The ultimate icon of French music. And I bet you've got that song and that voice in your head now.
Watched because my grandfather loved her music so much and now I can see why.
Sam is the man in this week's viewing in all his glorious scruffiness. There's a handful of Aussies in there as well but they don't really count.
There's also plenty of humour and some great music.
Death In Brunswick
Starring: Sam Neill
Original release: 1990
Synopsis: Carl just can't seem to get a break - his rent is way overdue, his mum has moved in with him and just when he thinks he is about to turn his life around he accidentally kills someone and now has a body on his hands.
I am so there for a scruffy looking, leather jacket wearing Sam Neill who sings Split Enz songs.
Delightfully quirky and funny.
Strictly Ballroom
Starring: Dancing Aussies
Original release: 1992
Synopsis: A dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner.
Bitchy people being bitchy, a 'plain' girl loses the glasses and sparkles everywhere.
Yep it's ballroom dancing Oz style.
It kind of works what with the dancing and romance and music but man I hate that song.
The Sapphires
Starring: Singing Aussies and a Irishman
Original release: 2012
Synopsis: It's 1968, and four young, talented Australian Aboriginal girls learn
about love, friendship and war when their all-girl group The Sapphires
entertain the US troops in Vietnam.
I could just listen to them singing all day long.
Sweet Country
Starring: Sam Neill
Original release: 2017
Synopsis: An aboriginal man and his wife go on the run after he kills a white man in self defense.
Stories like this need to be told.
Oranges and Sunshine
Starring: The actress who always looks sad
Original release: 2010
Synopsis: A social worker stumbles into one of the biggest secrets of the British government.
The things that countries and governments do all for the 'greater good'.
This movie will shock you and appall you. As it should.
The Dish
Starring: Sam Neill
Original release: 2000
Synopsis: A remote Australian community plays a key role in the first Apollo moon landing.
Totally Aussie in every way. Which is completely part of it's charm.
