Day 7 Special Post

My 33rd film was a very special documentary/feature called Elephant Queen. We have been to Africa many times over the past 20 years, and spent hundreds of hours watching elephants. Many thousands of people come just to see them, over and over. To many, elephants just look like a huge beast, where in reality, they are unique in so many ways. They feel, they mourn and grieve, and are vegetarians exclusively. They are most intelligent, and the babies are all raised in a communal day care by several females, like each was their own. This movie is truly wonderful, and atypical of African wildlife docs as there is no predator prey footage. It also shows the symbiotic relationship between the elephants and so many other creatures existing in their water holes, and on them. It is simply a beautiful movie. 9/10. This review for our friends Natan Bergman and Meital Bergman. Who are in South Africa as we speak!

Funny Tiff moment. Sitting in front, I waved at this little co-star with Maggie Gyllenhaal in the Kindergarten Teacher. He waved back, and couple behind asked ‘Is he your son’? I said.. ” Yes, Yes he is.. !

Look at Me is a strong movie about a Tunisian Man who leaves his ‘home’ in Marseille to go and care for an autistic child he has by another woman. For anyone who knows anyone on the Autistic Spectrum, go see this. The instituations which everyone wants the father to put his boy into, are a compelling choice, but his uneducated and unconventional convictions challenge this somewhat effectively, and is good for thought.

Vita and Virginia is based on the true story of Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Wolfe’s lesbian relationship, and more importantly, their friendship, among husbands, boyfirends, in an increasingly accepting society. Good characerization, intersting story, and amusing relationship. Bit of a chick flick, but it appealed to me too.

What they had is moving story about a woman returning home to help her brother and father deal with a progressing Alzheimer’s patient, her mother. While I felt the mother’s portrayal of the paitent a bit lacking in quality, Hilary Swank and Michale Shannon are perfect, battling their own past and relationships, and trying to come together in what has to be the most difficult of family situations. The father rightfully says at one point, ‘you say the institution is best, but who is better then me to care for her’? (Not unlike autistic child’s father noted above) One of the most incredible lines deilvered by the mother late in the movie which I won’t spoil, but it made this an

The Land of Steady Habits is a weak movie starring Ben Mendelsohn and Edie Falco. A second very weak Gala, this time where a retired husband leaves his wife for freedom. Not engaging or memorable at all. Don’t bother ever watching this movie.