Please enjoy these reviews of 52 movies I was able to see in Palm Springs, at the PSIFF Jan 2-14, 2019

1. Bohemian Rhapsody 7.5 Well made feature about Freddie Mercury and Queen, staring Rami Malek with an outstanding performance. The music sequences are spell binding, and the story is well told. The characterization is truly amazing, and Malek’s portrayal of Freddie seems authentic, and was approved shot by shot by the surviving Queen members. It is well worth seeing, and one which all classic rock band music lovers will adore, not to mention Queen fans.
2. The Tobacconist 6.5 Foreign language Austria/German film about a teenage boy who becomes an apprentice to a Tobacco shop owner in Vienna pre world war 2. The owner serves all customers, including Jews, and one of his customers is Ziegmund Freud. As the world changes, and before annexation by Germany, and with the tensions of Austria as a backdrop, this is a strongly told story of relationships, maturity, in a chaotic place. Strong back story with dreams, and love advice from Freud.
3. The Resistance Banker 7.5 This is the incredible true story of a Dutch banker defrauding the German controlled banking system during WW2 in order to finance the resistance, and other projects. Excellently told, though perhaps you may need to see it a few times to fully absorb the schemes, both daring and ingenious that Walraven Van Hall concocted to raise 10’s of millions of dollars (in today’s money, ½ billion?) to help his country. I really enjoyed this one.
4. Sheherezade 5 A French language movie which centers on the story of a young delinquent who meets a teenage prostitute in Marseilles, a meeting which helps both people. Not particularly well told, though it may suffer from translation issues. It was one of the least enjoyable foreign language films at this festival.
5. All is True 8 Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench star in the movie about a retired William Shakespeare, after his Globe Theatre burned down in 1613. It is a story many would not know, and matches Branagh in a very familiar character portrayal. The human portrayal is fantastic, and we get a glimpse of the simplicity and complex issues he faced in his life after he ‘retired’ Very interesting, though perhaps a bit slow moving, and dark videography. Should be seen by every high school English teacher!
6. Arctic 7 Enjoyable survival story centering around a man with wonderful survival skills stranded after his plane crashes in the remotest Arctic. When a rescue helicopter also crashes in heavy winds, he is further left caring for a severely injured woman. It is a bit slow moving, and some may have problems with some of the plot, it was enjoyable, particularly for those who enjoy survival stories.
7. Woman at War 8.5 An outstanding Icelandic movie, which tracks the fictional story of a Yoga teacher who spends her spare time illegally and destructively disrupting Iceland large industries. Being recently in Iceland, I know full well the issues some Icelanders have with damage being done both on island and off by industry and pollution. It has such a realistic feel, and has drama, intrigue, and a wonderful story. One of the best from PSFF 2019. This is why you go to festivals.. your chance to see something like this, which you likely would never be exposed to otherwise.
8. Memoir of War 3.0 I picked this because it seemed to have all the elements that I loved. WW2 Nazi occupied France, woman seeks to find her gestapo deported husband. Sounds wonderful right? What a piece of junk. Boring and hard to follow, and France’s entry to the Oscars for best foreign language film. With the other short listed films, is isn’t any surprise this didn’t make it. Don’t waste your time.
9. Botero 6.5 A well made and interesting and informative documentary about Fernando Botero, perhaps known as ‘the most popular’ living artist. For lack of a better term, he was best known perhaps for his artistic depiction of ‘heavy’ people, subjects, and in particular, women. With particular prolific ability, his art is in collections all over the world, and tells his story, including the dramatic things which shape his art. Worth seeing
10. The Accountant of Auschwitz 6.5 This documentary is based on the true story of the trial of the main accountant (Oscar Groning) of the Auschwitz/Birkenau death camps. It has some really good informative and thought provoking information presented, but also has some odd inaccuracies. Canadian director debut film. Good graphic statistical information gives it a 6.5
11. The Parting Glass 3 What a piece of junk, albeit with a star studded cast including Anna Paquin and an aged Ed Asner. It is a story about a coming together of family after the death of the youngest sister. It fails on so many counts, not the least of which is ‘funny’ dialogue which generated perhaps one mild snicker in a large full theatre. The attempts at humour were ill written, and it is an odd, unappealing, and disconnecting movie you should avoid.
12. Mothers Instinct 7.0 This movie from Belgium follows the story of two families living side by side in a semi detached home. Both have small boys, and while one of the mothers is looking after the other mothers boy during a minor illness, he falls from a window and is killed. The twists that follow keep your interest, and while it doesn’t hit it out of the park, it is an enjoyable watch. French subtitles. Perfect Strangers 5 Interesting concept in this Mexican (Spanish with English Subtitles) movie where relative strangers to each other agree to leave their cellphones on the table, an exercise to prove they have nothing to hide from their spouse. Invariably, things go wrong. Kind of plodding, and not terribly well written.
13. Mouthpiece 7.5 This film is a well made feature by Canadian director Patricia Rozema about the story of a young woman who’s mother suddenly dies, and she has to write a eulogy, despite family issues. The movie was an adaptation of a play, and uses outstanding dual actor simultaneously portraying the same character in real time. It has achieved critical acclaim and was received with a standing ovation at it’s TIFF premier in 2018.
14. Museo 6.5 IN this retelling of a true story, an unsuccessful man in his mid 30’s, and the butt of family jokes and the pain of everyday life being unsuccessful, get the opportunity to steal a stash of priceless pre Columbian artifacts. Another strong Mexican movie (English Subtitles) follows the challenges he has in trying to sell these artifacts which takes him on a weird adventure. Enjoyable.
15. The Other Story 6.0 Israeli movie about a orthodox Jewish girl attempting to marry a newly ‘religious’ former bad boy musician, and the family’s objection to the union, and associated efforts to discredit the young man, who is a very popular musician. It may have more appeal to an audience closer to the story, but for me, it plodded a bit, and was just OK.
16. Yomeddine 8.5 Yomeddine is the story of a leper and an orphan searching for their past and roots on a cross Egypt donkey ride. It is a remarkably well made movie, which stars an actual leper from the depicted colony in the main acting role (no acting experience). He and the orphan are brilliant together, and the story is both hear warming, sad, happy and poignant. How incredible this movie is. This is why you go to film festivals. Arabic with English subtitles. Side note, Rady Gamal, the cured leper, is a bit of a celebrity in Egypt, and owns a convenience store near the colony.
17. The Interpreter 7.0 A Slovakian movie following an 80 something Slovak interpreter for a 70’s something Austrian in his journey to try to find truth about the Austrians farther, a vicious Nazi killer. The two with obvious different personalities, slowly evolve in this good story in a country (Slovakia) which does not want to remember this part of it’s history.
18. Secret Ingredient 7.0 An entertaining story about a railway worker who discovers and steals a large stash of Pot, hidden on the train by organized crime in Macedonia. He somewhat accidentally decides to make a ‘cake’ using the pot, and his deathly ill father miraculously improves after eating some slices. Unfortunately, the crooks come calling, and the word spreads far and wide about the miracle ‘cure’, which generates hundreds of people to show up at their door. Good action, turns. Lots of fun.
19. Capernaum 9.0 Oh my goodness. This is a movie you should see. It is a story about a young 12 year old boy who takes his parents to task for the irresponsible way they bring up, and continue to produce children in Beirut, Lebanon. Eventually, the boy leaves after his younger sister is sold by his parents to a shop owner, as his ‘bride’, after first helping her hide her first period. The boy Zain eventually becomes the guardian of a 1 year old Ethiopian baby, whom he cares for the best he can. This true to life story hits very close to home for life on the streets, and in poor communities and slum areas in Beirut, where this type of story isn’t atypical. What an incredible movie. Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Film Feb 2019.
20. Border 8.0 Border is an odd story centered around a homely (very) customs officer who has the uncanny ability to ferret out people smuggling items across a border (assumed to be Sweden). It is a thriller, sci fi based with odd twists and turns, not the least of which can only be described as ‘gender bending’. A fun movie, which certainly was memorable, and has the most interesting sex scene I have ever seen in a movie to date.
21. Ayka 8.0 An incredibly hard movie to watch which centers on the true to life experience of Moscow refugees, in this case, a young mother who abandons her minute old baby so she can return to work, not lose her job, and stay solvent. Gut wrenching, painful to watch movie from Kazakhstan. Oscar nominated Foreign Language Film Feb 2019.
22. Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire 6.5 An interesting documentary, made more interesting in the stories told by his wife at the premier, Elsa. I wasn’t previously aware of Carlos, but the story was told largely through the presentation of previously lost video taken in the 70’s.
23. BlackkKlansman 7.5 Spike Lee’s most recent, and Oscar nominated film about Ron Stallworth, the first black detective in Colorado Spring police department, who uses his ‘white voice’ to infiltrate the KKK. Full of twists and turns, it is a solid movie staring Denzel’s son John Washington and Adam Driver.
24. Never Look Away 8.5 This German movie by director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is 188 minutes long, which may be a reason you decide not to see this. 3 hours plus is a challenge for most people, but what a terrific movie! The director said, and rightfully, the movie moves quickly, and doesn’t lag during it’s time. It follows the story of a young boy who witnesses his mother be dragged off by a Nazi, only to re-encounter the same Nazi, now at the father of a young woman he falls in love with. Tremendously written, wonderful movie.
25. Happy New Year Colin Burnstead 6.0 Bit of an oddball UK comedy telling the story of Colin Burnstead who invites his extended family to celebrate New Years Eve together at a remote villa. As the evening progresses, secrets get revealed, and relationship issues exposed. Not my ‘cup of tea’. Maybe for die hard British humour enthusiasts.
26. The Heiresses 6.0 Forgettable Paraguay movie about a woman who develops a relationship with an unpredictable woman after her caregiver goes to prison for fraud. A bit of an oddball past coming of age sexual awakening story which doesn’t capture the audiences intrigue.
27. Inventing Tomorrow 7.5 Inspiring documentary which follows the participation of 6 different teen agers, all with wonderful environmental inventions, in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. I imagine it would be wonderful to attend one of these fairs, so many incredible minds across virtually every area of science.
28. A Twelve Year Night 7.0 Feature telling the true story of 4 Revolutionary Movement men captured in 1972, and kept in a 12 year isolated captivity in Uruguay, in an attempt to drive them insane. Interesting if not plodding story, which does educate the audience about this true event.
29. The Factory 6.5 Factory workers abduct and hold hostage the ruthless owner of a factory who attempts to shut it down in this Russian thriller. Dragged Across Concrete 6 Extremely violent story of two detectives (Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson) who are suspended after someone captures a bungled arrest. Disgruntled, they somewhat unrealistically connect with a crime boss, and things become extremely dark from there. Not for most people.
30. Don’t Shoot 7.5 This Dutch movie tells the true to life story of a notorious crime spree in Belgium from 1982 to 1985, and the gangs blood siege of the Delhaize supermarket on Nov 9, 2985, and the effect on one family in particular. Well made, well written story, which holds you fast in your seat. Interesting and worrisome connections to the police, politicians and organized crime are exposed along the way.
31. Home + Away 7.5 Extremely topical documentary following 3 youths who must cross from dangerous Juarez every day to Bowie High School in El Paso Texas. It gives you a real look into the impoverished world these people live in, and the extraordinary efforts the teachers embark on, sometimes using their own money to help these kids succeed, with sports being the catalyst. Low budget movie is both entertaining, and informative.
32. The Third Wife 8.0 This movie was one of the hits of Palm Springs. It is a story set in 19th century Vietnam, centered around a 14 year old ‘Third Wife’ of a wealthy ‘lord’ landowner. It is incredibly filmed, beautiful cinematography. Ash Mayfair was the winner of the Spike Lee Production Fund weaves an intricate relationship story about the 3 women, who despite helping each other, quietly and always compete for the affection, and to be the favorite. She told many interested stories in her Q and A after the screening, which added a lot of poignancy to the film.
33. Butterflies 6.5 Turkish movie about the reuniting of 3 sisters, summoned mysteriously by their father after 30 years. Somewhat unengaging story, which wasn’t to my taste, but maybe to others who love simple relationship dysfunction.
34. Toman 7.0 A biopic about Zolenek Toman, a Czech (and Jewish) businessman who firstly works as a low level officer in the Czech government operating out of country during the war, to his position as the head of intelligence after the war. Toman creatively and fraudulently utilizes his status in order to manipulate things around him in order to first line his pocket, and secondly do some good. The movie, and it’s telling isn’t without controversy, as some describe him as the Czech Schindler, and others as a simply an opportunistic business man. A close friend who is Czech told me it had special appeal to her, as it was ‘an accurate depiction’ of political post war Czechoslovakia. Fair to say though, without some backdrop, it likely can be a confusing movie to watch.
35. The Etruscan Smile 8.5 A retelling of the return of the prodigal son, except, this iteration centers on the return of the estranged father from his Scottish rural existence to his son, living in a very suburban New York City. Along the way, the crusty and ill father falls in love with his family, and in particular his grandson, and gains the affection of a beautiful woman in New York (Rosanna Arquette). Really a wonderful movie, which draws you into the lives of the characters, and in particular the journey the father (Brian Cox), his coming to grips with his age and illness, and the repairing of relationships he has damaged along the way. Just wonderful.
36. Riot 6.5 Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Movement as told before and after the June 24, 2978 Mardi Gras festival, where they were savagely beaten and oppressed. Fairly well told story with a 70’s movie cinematography feel. Part of why you love festivals, entertainment and education. Bizarre to realize this was just 40 years ago.
37. Bathtubs Over Broadway 7.5 David Letterman’s senior comedy writer Steve Young discovers inadvertently while collecting oddball records for a letterman segment starts a multi year and continued journey to find extremely rare ‘industrial advertising’ musicals, from records to video footage. Along the way, he further realizes that many famous, or soon to be famous actors, production teams, directors often worked on these projects. A wonderful telling of a treasure hunt of a different kind.
38. The Realm 6.0 A Spanish and French thriller about politics and corruption. Familiar story with a few new twists, is a bit plodding, and one of those times that a foreign language film with subtitles just doesn’t translate properly if you don’t speak the language of the film. Just OK
39. Smuggling Hendrix 7 This is an amusing and funny comedy set in Nicosia where Yiannis’s dog Jimi (Hendrix), escapes his home, and wanders over to the Turkish protected zone, and his efforts to legally or illegally get him back across the border. Funny events along his journey, after he realizes due to ridiculous but established policy, he can’t just take him across, even though he can move fairly freely himself. Complicating matters is his impending departure to Amsterdam in a few short days. Fun!
40. Prospect 5.0 An off world gem hunter and his daughter get into trouble during a mission hunting odd semi organic gems in a far away place. Sounds pretty good if you like sci fi, correct? Don’t bother. It is quite a lame, low budget first effort for USA film producers Chris Caldwell and Zeke Earl.
41. Ruben Brandt Collector 6.0 Hand drawn animated Hungarian film was loved by many who saw it.. except me. It is presented as a ‘thriller’, but I didn’t find it anywhere near thrilling. Interesting animation, with tremendous detail and off Picasso like characters is interesting, artsy, but not entertaining to me. Entertainment first! Art second!
42. The Biggest Little Farm 8.5 This is a don’t miss movie. A documentary which follows the story of a couple living in Los Angeles California, in a smallish apartment with a rescue dog Todd. Todd becomes a huge pain, and won’t stop barking, not matter what they try, and they try almost everything. Facing eviction, they decide to buy a well broken down but huge farm. They hire on a person who not only knows the farm, but also has a plan to rehabilitate it. What is amazing about this true story, is that they evolve the farm with the strong value that they will not disrupt nature around them, rather they will embrace it, to make their efforts as ‘green’ as possible. It is a wonderful story for those who love nature. While you can expect the requisite bits of sadness that comes with the territory, any loss is expertly filmed, and done in such a way that it won’t wound even the staunchest of you who are animal lovers. Must see for everyone who believes we need to live in harmony with our planet.
43. Buffalo Boys 4 Almost walked out early from another movie to see this first ever Indonesian western. It wasn’t well written, hard to follow with subtitles, and pushed too far over the top to have effects, blood and violence attempting to follow in the footsteps, and using a blue print of westerns you have seen for sure before. In the end, it misses for many reasons.
44. The Ice King 7.0 John Curry became the first openly gay figure skater at the time he won the Olympic Gold medal in 1976, when homosexual acts were still illegal in the UK. This follows his story, including the formation of his theatre company, his trials and tribulations that he experiences along the way. A good amount of archival footage really gets you into his life, and this film documents a truly wonderful life lived, albeit, not without so many challenges.
45. Saf 6.5 A Turkish and timely story about a local worker who must take on additional work after hours, and in doing so, replaces a low paid Syrian refugee. Like a lot of films at this years festival, it looks into the world wide crisis which is refugees, and the challenges their assimilation into new cultures brings. Informative, but not tremendously entertaining.
46. The Trouble With You 7.0 A French comedy where a mother discovers her husband who was previously a highly decorated cop, is in fact a crooked officer. It amusingly tells over an over slightly and then dramatically altered single event in an ever evolving way, as the information regarding her husband becomes more and more clear. Funny!
47. Sophia 7.5 A French and Qatar film which follows the story of a young 20 year old girl who discloses her new pregnancy is from a acquaintance who denies his involvement. The backdrop? Morocco where out of marriage sex is illegal, not to mention, the loss of ‘face’, and the fact that the father is from a lower class. Difficult but extremely informative feature, which you can really project yourself into, and the events you are watching which must happen regularly in oppressed cultures.
48. Becoming Astrid 8.0 The wonderful telling of the young life of Astrid Lindgren, who would later in her life pen many many childrens books, including Pipi Longstocking. This Swedish/Danish co production is a wonderfully told story, which follows her very challenging young life, including her falling in love with her boss, and the hiding of her pregnancy and child. You will really love this movie.
49. Dead Pigs 6.5 Many people loved this movie, but frankly, it was just OK for me. This Chinese production is centered on a story which follows the death of tens of thousands pigs in China under mysterious circumstances. It exposes the difference in class in China, and is told through the eyes of different characters. I don’t really honestly ‘get’ Chinese film, hence the 6.5 score.
50. Everybody Knows 7.5 Javier Bardem and Peneople Cruz star in this well made movie about the return to a small town by Cruz’s character to attend a family wedding, only to have one of her daughters drugged and kidnapped under mysterious circumstances. The real reason why this has happened, and the forever effects of the kidnapping has on the extended family is the strength of this Spanish movie with English subtitles.
51. Dukla 61 7.0 A Czech film set before and during the horrible mining disaster in 1961 in Dukla, Czech Republic. Well developed characterization of the individuals who were caught in the disaster, personal stories, and evolving story to the disaster make this an enjoyable to watch.
52. Ladies in Black 8 The closing night movie was Ladies in Black, an Australian movie set in 1959 where department stores were in their hay day.. elaborate exhibits, impeccably dressed staff, white glove concierge service. A young teenage girl, somewhat geeky, joins a sales team and learns the ropes through apprenticeship, hard work, all the while utilizing her evolving charm. A Hungarian senior clerk (Julia Ormond) plays a large role in her transformation in this uniquely uplifting film where…. In the end.. there are absolutely no ‘dark’ characters. Very few movies have this kind of feel good story, a difficult thing to do where no one is the bad guy. Excellent movie!