Goodbye 2011

This is my last post for this year, will have to go back to books from tomorrow. Exams marching their way at the very beginning of the new year,such a bad start to a bright new year ... :(
Lets forget that for sometime,
Coming to the happier thoughts,a good movie is a perfect solution to everything in my life.
Sad?? Watch a Comedy
Happy?? Watch a War-time documentary (and cry at the miseries of people)
Depressed?? Watch a Romance (and again cry,happy tears this time)
Confused?? Watch a Sci-fi
Bored?? Watch an Animated movie


Those were not the perfect solutions I agree but somehow watching a movie makes me feel better or to say makes me feel me (no idea how).


Of my experience of watching World Movies (which is quite limited) I believe that the French make the best Romances and the Iranians are best at movies which make you laugh and cry out with their sheer innocence.


Here is a list of my 5 Favorite (of the ones that I have seen)  French Movies (in no particular order)-


1) Amelie (original title- Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain)-

Amelie is the tale of young impish but naive Amelie Poulain,who lives in Paris (physically in Paris, but prefers to live in a world of her own,created by her incredibly fertile imagination). She sets out to help people in her own mysterious ways and finds love accidentally. One of the best romances I have seen,this is Audrey Tautou at her best.

Snippet from the movie: "Narrator: Nino is late. Amelie can only see two explanations. 1 - he didn't get the photo. 2 - before he could assemble it, a gang of bank robbers took him hostage. The cops gave chase. They got away... but he caused a crash. When he came to, he'd lost his memory. An ex-con picked him up, mistook him for a fugitive, and shipped him to Istanbul. There he met some Afghan raiders who too him to steal some Russian warheads. But their truck hit a mine in Tajikistan. He survived, took to the hills, and became a Mujaheddin. Amelie refuses to get upset for a guy who'll eat borscht all his life in a hat like a tea cozy. "

2) The Double Life of Veronique (original title- La double vie de Véronique) -

Strictly not a French movie since the director is Polish but half of the dialogues of this movie are in French,so am counting it here. The tale of two young women Veronika and Veronique,one lives in France and the other in Poland. These two women not only share the same name but a lot more. Won't give out the details,watch it to know more.


3) Paris,I love You (original title- Paris, je t'aime) -

This is a collection of 20 short films by 20 different directors all carefully fused one after another with a common thread running through,the love for the city and its inhabitants.  Paris, the city of love is buzzing with love,love is found, lost, revealed, hidden, awakened...
New York,I love you is a Hollywood inspiration of this movie.

Snippet from the movie :
"Hassan: I just got stung by a lousy mosquito. These neighborhoods are dangerous. Lagos is safer. What' your name? 
Sophie: Sophie. 
Hassan: I'd give you my card but I have none left. Too bad! Sophie, fancy a cup of coffee? Go on! Can I massage your feet? 
Sophie: Why would I let you? 
Hassan: Because they hurt. 
Sophie: They do? 
Hassan: You were running in my dreams all night... Please have coffee with me. "

4) Persepolis-

The animated film version of Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel by the same novel,Persepolis is the poignant tale of a bold and outspoken Iranian girl, Marjane during the Islamic revolution.

Snippet from the movie : " Marjane's grandmother: Listen. I don't like to preach, but here's some advice. You'll meet a lot of jerks in life. If they hurt you, remember it's because they're stupid. Don't react to their cruelty. There's nothing worse than bitterness and revenge. Keep your dignity and be true to yourself. "

5) Three Colors:Blue (original title- Trois couleurs: Bleu) -

The first of the three movies of the trilogy Three Colors: Blue, White and Red which are based on France's national motto,Liberty ,Equality and Fraternity. Blue,representing Liberty,is the tale of Julie Vignon, who loses her famous composer husband and daughter in a car accident. The movie shows how she tries everything to come out of her past and start anew a life which she wants and how she is drawn back to old memories and how music brings her back to the world of the living by healing her wounds.

Most people I know liked Red more but I somehow liked Blue more than the other two. It is necessary to see them in the correct order to have a complete understanding of  Krzysztof Kieslowski's motive. Must watches,all three.

Snippet from the movie: " Julie Vignon: Now I have only one thing left to do: nothing. I don't want any belongings, any memories. No friends, no love. Those are all traps."

Have you seen any of these?? Which one do you like the most?? Have you seen others which you liked more?? Tell me in the comments section :)

Back to my not-so-dear-books-in-syllabus, catch you all up after am done with my battle (a.k.a exams).

Hope you all have a great new year ahead.

Love,

Swarnali


P.S.-Image and info courtesy IMDB