The Yacoubian Building (Egypt 2006)
Director: Marwan Hamed
Original Title: Omaret yakobean

Not one for the casual filmgoer, nonetheless Marwan Hamed draws some good performances from the residents of the magnificent Cairo building after which the film is titled. He doesn't cower from issues such as homosexuality, Islamic fundamentalism, sexual harassment and corruption. They are all interwoven into the stories without crushing the free flow of the story lines.

If you think you can watch a film 161 minutes long, then I'd recommend you watch this one.

PA Guide 7/10

Adel Imam: Zaki El Dessouki
Nour El-Sherif: Haj Azzam
Youssra: Christine
Essad Youniss: Dawlat El Dessouky (as Issad Younis)
Ahmed Bedir: Malaak (as Ahmed Bedeir)
Hend Sabri: Bothayna (as Hind Sabry)
Khaled El Sawy: Hatem Rachid
Khaled Saleh: Kamal El Fouly
Ahmed Rateb: Fanous
Somaya El Khashab: Soad
Bassem Samra: Abd Raboh
Mohamed Imam: Taha El Shazly

2 Days in Paris (France/Germany 2006)
Director: Julie Delpy

Julie Delpy and Adam Goodman

PA Guide 7/10

Julie Delpy: Marion
Adam Goldberg: Jack
Daniel Brühl: Lukas
Marie Pillet: Anna, Marion's mother
Albert Delpy: Jeannot, Marion's father
Aleksia Landeau: Rose, Marion's sister (as Alexia Landeau)
Adan Jodorowsky: Mathieu
Alexandre Nahon: Manu (as Alex Nahon)

Congorama (Canada/Belgium 2006)
Director: Phillippe Falardeau

Set in Belgium and Quebec, Congorama follows the twin fortunes of Belgian inventor Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Quebec mechanic Louis (Paul Amahrani). When Michel learns that he is adopted, his search for his parents takes him to rural Quebec where his fate becomes intertwined with that of Louis. Director Falardeau cleverly tells each of their stories individually until the day they meet, and then follows their conjoined fates together as a tragic accident changes both their lives.

Winner of five awards at the Quebec Film Festival, Congorama contains subtle plot twists and a great underplayed light comic touch from Gourmet. This film is a must for any fans of Francophone Cinema, but slightly less than gripping for the casual filmgoer although I'd still recommend it.

PA Guide 7/10

Olivier Gourmet: Michel Roy
Paul Ahmarani: Louis Legros
Jean-Pierre Cassel: Hervé Roy
Claudia Tagbo: Alice Roy
Gabriel Arcand: Priest
Lorraine Pintal: Lucie

The Bubble (Israel 2006)
Director: Eytan Fox
Original Title: Ha-Buah

This exceptional piece of Israeli cinema is a gripping drama about a gay relationship between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian from the West Bank town of Nablus. Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, three Israelis, two gay men and one straight woman, try to get on with their lives in The Bubble, a term used by Israelis for Tel Aviv due to its partial insulation from the conflict that affects many other parts of Israel.

Ohad Knoller and Yousef "Joe" Sweid

All begins to unravel when one of them, army reservist Noam (Ohad Knoller), starts an affair with Ashraf (Yousef ‘Joe' Sweid), a young Palestinian whom he encountered while on border patrol. Despite their best efforts, politics and the conflict increasingly creep into their lives. Some very funny moments are supplemented by the pain caused by the twin threats of homophobia and racism. Eytan Fox deserves many plaudits for this unmissable and moving film. A special mention is also well merited for Alon Friedmann who camps it up as Yali, the second gay man in the apartment. Rather than portraying a gay stereotype, Friedmann portrays Yali as someone who is acting that role it seems mostly for his own entertainment.

Ohad Knoller, Yousef "Joe" Sweid,
Daniela Wircer, Alon Friedmann
in The Bubble

PA Guide 9/10

Ohad Knoller: Noam
Yousef "JoeYquot; Sweid: Ashraf
Daniela Wircer: Lulu
Alon Friedmann: Yali

A Friend of Mine (Germany 2006)
Director: Sebastian Schipper
Original Title: Ein Freund von mir

Karl (Daniel Brühl) is a talented but shy employee of an insurance firm. Partly to provoke him and partly to gain experience, his boss sends him to work for a day as a driver for a car hire firm at Hannover Airport, on minimum wage.

There he meets the quixotic Hans (Jürgen Vogel), worldy wise in facts, but naïve in friendships. The two "drivers" become friends and Schipper cleverly explores the nature of friendship between two people one of whom isn't all he seems to be. The arrival of Hans' girlfriend (Sabine Timoteo) further confuses things.

Despite the deceptions, you can't help but like all the central characters, and this film is absorbing without being overtly judgmental. A good advert for German Cinema and I am already looking forward to seeing what Schipper will create next.

PA Guide 7/10

Daniel Brühl: Karl Jürgen Vogel: Hans Sabine Timoteo: Stelle Peter Kurth: Fernandez Michael Wittenborn: Naumann Oktay Özdemir: Theo Steffen Groth: Frank Jan Ole Gerster: Cornelius

Souls Without Borders (Spain/USA 2006)
Director: Anthony Geist/Alfonso Domingo

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade were the American contingent to the legendary International Brigade, those foreigners who enlisted to fight against Franco's Fascists in the Spanish Civil War. This slow documentary consists of interviews with remaining veterans and superb historical footage from Spain.

A slightly sad film which chronicles the idealism that propelled these volunteers but also the incompetence that bedeviled their war effort. This is quite a difficult film to watch unless you are already interested in the fascinating subject of Spain's Civil War (as both Goya and Orwell were). If you are though, do see it.

PA Guide 5/10

Falkenburg Farewell (Sweden 2006)
Director: Jesper Ganslandt
Original Title: Farväl Falkenberg

A slow film that meandered dreamily through the lives of several twenty-something males in the small Swedish seaside town of Falkenberg. As such it was good and unambitious, and achieved its purpose as a shallow gentle insight. The ending however seemed to be a desperate attempt to make the film actually about something, an endeavour in which it sadly failed.

PA Guide 3/10

John Axel Eriksson: John
Holger Eriksson: Holger
David Johnson: David
Jesper Ganslandt: Jesper
Jörgen Svensson: Jörgen
Rolf Sundberg: Jesper's Father
Ulla Jerndin: Holger's and John's Mother
Per-Ola Eriksson: Holger's and John's Father
Helena Svensson: Jörgen's Mother

The Big Combo (USA 1955)
Director: Joseph H. Lewis

"The Big Combo" has got everything you'd expect a film noir to: the low-key black-and-white visual style it's famous for, iconic images, unnerving brass music and of course the whole range of your favorite characters. There's the hardboiled policeman, the virtually mandatory femme fatale and, last but not least, the bad guy, usually the major stumbling-block keeping the first two characters apart. The setting is of course an urban one: the big city portraying the labyrinth our heroes have lost their way in and are constantly battling to get out of, although, alas, in the end they very rarely succeed. As I was saying, "The Big Combo" has got it all. If, in addition, you're one to enjoy trenchant one-liners (Leonard Diamond: "She's under arrest, Mr. Brown." Mr. Brown: "What's the charge?" Leonard Diamond: "Homicide." Mr. Brown: "That's ridiculous, she wouldn't kill a fly." Leonard Diamond: "She tried to kill herself." Mr. Brown: "Is that a crime?" Leonard Diamond: "It happens to be against two laws: God's and Man's. I'm booking her under the second.") and don't mind the predictability of the plot, this movie is just the ticket for you. There's even a foggy airport scene in the end. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Richard Conte excels in the role of the bad guy, the smug, ever dapper Mr. Brown. Cornel Wilde convinces as the righteous law enforcement official Lt. Leonard Diamond, and Jean Wallace in the role of young, beautiful and once innocent Susan Lowell who fell in love with the wrong guy and is now seeking refuge in suicide, evokes strong protective instincts – both male and female.

PA Guide 7/10

Cornel Wilde: Police Lt. Leonard Diamond
Richard Conte: Mr. Brown
Brian Donlevy: Joe McClure
Jean Wallace: Susan Lowell
Robert Middleton: Police Capt. Peterson
Lee Van Cleef: Fante

This is England (England 2006)
Director: Shane Meadows

Set in Northern England in 1983, this drama follows the path of a young 11 year old whose father died in the Falklands war from victim of bullying to adoption and indoctrination by the far right National Front. Superb performances are turned in by Thomas Turgoose as young Sean and Stephen Graham as the politicised but troubled ex-con, Combo, whose arrival disrupts the groups apolitical harmony.

Thomas Turgoose

PA Guide 8/10

Thomas Turgoose: Shaun
Stephen Graham: Combo
Jo Hartley: Cynth
Andrew Shim: Milky
Vicky McClure: Lol
Joseph Gilgun: Woody

The Life and Times of Yva Las Vegass (USA 2006) WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Wiley Underdown

This Seattle documentary follows the rise and fall of the temperamental Venezuelan singer Yva Las Vegass from her height with former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic in Sweet 75, to busking outside Pike Place Market being harassed by traders and security.

Her rudeness, her drug use, her talent, the loyalty and the enmity she inspires in equal amounts are all put out there. Lively and forthright contributions from her former colleagues in Children of the Revolution add both spice and light to the story. The film does not try and hide both the pain and joy that comes from being around her.

I deviated between liking and disliking the woman and that is a credit both to Wiley Underdown and Yva herself that neither attempted to produce a fawning documentary. There is also some magical footage of her performing both in our Seattle streets and on stage.

PA Guide 7/10

Outsourced (USA 2006)
Director: John Jeffcoat

Josh Hamilton and Ayesha Dharker

Cultural differences abound when he instructs the Indians to speak and think like Americans. Josh Hamilton plays the lead excellentlly without overacting and Ayesha Dharker is a superb foil as the inevitable love interest.

Josh Hamilton

PA Guide 9/10

Josh Hamilton: Todd Anderson
Ayesha Dharker: Asha
Larry Pine: American Businessman
Asif Basra: Purohit N. Virajnarianan
Matt Smith: Dave
Arjun Mathur: Gaurav

Four Minutes (Germany 2006)
Director: Chris Kraus
Original Title: Vier Minuten

Hannah Herzsprung stands out as the totally unlovable Jenny, an inmate with a rare talent for playing the piano. Her performance, ably aided by Monica Bleibtreu as her elderly tutor Traude, is powerful enough to allow me to overlook the reocurrence of the cliché that all woman offenders are innocent and that men are always responsible for their incarceration.

There are some genunely moving scenes and the nauseating violence is suggested rather than porrtrayed; all this mostly when Jenny gets anywhere near a piano. If you then throw in the remaining cliché that Traude's problems are all caused by bad Nazis during WW2, you sadly are left with a good but lazy film which is carried across the finish line in relative triumph by some sterling work by the actresses.

PA Guide 7/10

Monica Bleibtreu: Traude Krüger
Hannah Herzsprung: Jenny von Loeben
Sven Pippig: Mütze
Richy Müller: Kowalski
Jasmin Tabatabai: Ayse
Stefan Kurt: Direktor Meyerbeer
Vadim Glowna: Gerhard von Loeben
Nadja Uhl: Nadine Hoffmann

Red Road (Scotland 2007)
Director: Andrea Arnold

Set in Glasgow's gritty tenement projects, "Red Road" centers on Jackie (Kate Dickie), a video security officer who spots a man from her past and begins an elaborate game of cat and mouse. Clive (Tony Curran), the object of her obsession, is an ex-con who is trying to go straight, a ladies' man who doesn't quite understand why Jackie is stalking him, but responds with an intense pursuit of his own.

The characterizations are low-key but intense, and many of the supporting characters are equally three-dimensional. A slow pace builds towards the drama of the final quarter and a series of resolutions that are slightly implausible at times but emotionally satisfying, and that don't trivialize the complex moral issues involved.

PA Guide 7/10

Kate Dickie: Jackie
Tony Curran: Clyde
Martin Compston: Stevie
Nathalie Press: April
Andrew Armour: Alfred

The Ferryman (New Zealand 2007)
Director: Chris Graham

A chiller from New Zealand: three couples embark on a six day boat journey to Fiji and their differences ensure that personality clashes abound. However, all that is put to one side when they encounter a seemingly abandoned boat in dense fog. They find a living stranger on board and rescue him, however the terrifying consequences lead to plenty of gore.

Well made and with some genuine spine-chilling moments although the monsters are not as scary as in higher budget films.

PA Guide 6/10

John Rhys-Davies: The Greek
Kerry Fox: Suze
Sally Stockwell: Tate
Amber Sainsbury: Kathy
Tamer Hassan: Big Dave
Craig Hall: Chris Hamilton
Julian Arahanga: Zane
Lawrence Makoare: Snake

Grimm Love (Germany/USA 2006)
Director: Martin Weisz

Naive American journalist Katie Armstrong travels to Germany to research the horrific case of cannibal Oliver Hartwin who advertised for a victim on the Internet and found a sad lonely one in Simon Gromback. The film is entirely in English although set in Germany and bizarrely even the shop signs were translated into English. Most of the film is shot in three-quarter light to add creepiness.

There is some very gory footage in here and three people walked out during a particularly vile scene. Sadly this moment was also the most memorable bit.

PA Guide 3/10

Keri Russell: Katie Armstrong
Thomas Kretschmann: Oliver Hartwin
Thomas Huber: Simon Grombeck
Rainier Meissner: Young Oliver
Angelika Bartsch: Viktoria
Alexander Martschewski: Rudy
Nils Dommning: Karl
Marcus Lucas: Felix
Pascal Andres: Young Simon

Orange Revolution (USA 2007)
Director: Steve York

Viktor Yushchenko

When the Electoral Commission declared Yanukovych the winner, Yushchenko's orange clad supporters took to the streets. It became one of the most successful nonviolent political protests since the end of the Cold War.

Protest at the Maidan-Platz

Plaudits are due both to the work of Steve York and the bravery of the Ukrainian people.

PA Guide 9/10

The Ten (USA 2007)
Director: David Wain

"The Ten" is a kind of Rocky Horror for the 21st century, already a cult film before it's even released. It's a set of 10 vignettes loosely based on the Ten Commandments, demonstrating each with absurd, over-the-top scenarios such as the man permanently embedded in the ground, or the doctor who leaves surgical instruments inside his patients "as a goof" (a phrase that will no doubt be in common currency within a few months of public release). Characters recur over the course of the movie, and a show stopping finale ties it all together. Overall it's an enjoyable ride, but sometimes the humor is a little strained or drawn-out, and it's not always quite as clever as it thinks it is.

PA Guide 7/10

Paul Rudd: Jeff Reigert
Famke Janssen: Gretchen Reigert
Jessica Alba: Liz Anne Blazer
Adam Brody: Stephen Montgomery
Bobby Cannavale: Marty McBride
Rob Corddry: Duane Rosenblum
Kerri Kenney: Bernice (as Kerri Kenney-Silver)
Ken Marino: Dr. Glenn Richie
A.D. Miles: Oliver Jennings
Gretchen Mol: Gloria Jennings
Oliver Platt: Marc Jacobson
Winona Ryder: Kelly LaFonda
Liev Schreiber: Ray Johnson
Ron Silver: Fielding Barnes
Jason Sudeikis: Tony Contiella

Children of the War (USA 2007) WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Alexandre Fuchs

La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) are now the biggest gang in the world. Born out of El Salvador's bloody civil war, they arrived in the US with Salvadorean immigrants until they were caught and deported. On arrival here, they had to put up with the racism of Mexicans towards them who viewed them as second class citizens. Alexandre Fuchs' disturbing documentary does its best to humanise the gang members but unfortunately in doing so glosses over their innocent victims. The FBI describe La Mara Salvatrucha as the largest and most violent gang in the world. Fuchs portrays them as victims. I know who I believe.

PA Guide 5/10

Monster Camp (USA 2007)
Director: Cullen Hoback

If you ever wondered what the geeks in your office do on the weekends, "Monster Camp" may give you some idea. This low-key rambling overview of Seattle's live role-playing scene follows a group of part-time swordfighters, trolls, elves and magicians as they live out their characters with all the intensity they find lacking in their daily lives. There are some humorous moments when real world and fantasy world overlap, as in ex-lovers who must play a scene together. The approach is direct and fairly sympathetic, though with moments where it's hard not to see the film-makers preparing the audience to laugh at the nerds, like junior high all over again.

PA Guide 4/10

Battle of Wits (Hong Kong 2006)
Director: Jacob Cheung
Original Title: Mo Gong

Andy Lau as Ge Li

Jacob Cheung's Chinese epic cannot be faulted for lack of colour or action. But this alone doesn't make it stand out from others of this genre. What does is a masterful display by Andy Lau as Ge Li, a philosophical military strategist who arrives to save the small citadel of Liang which is unfortunate enough to lie in the way of the unstoppable and merciless Zhao Army.

Fan Bingbing as Yi Yue provides a romantic entanglement as Li tries to enact his pacifist philosophy and military strategy to save the Liang. Despite his success, internal politics frustrate him and provide a constant source of harassment to him as he continues to harass the Liang. Based on Hideki Mori's manga series Bokkou.

PA Guide 7/10

Andy Lau: Ge Li
Sung-kee Ahn: Xiang Yan-zhong
Siu-hou Chin: Niu Zi Zhang
Si Won Choi: Liang Shi
Bingbing Fan: Yi Yue
Tin Chiu Hung: Gao He-yong
Zhiwen Wang: Liang Wang

A Secret Genocide (France 2006)
Director: Alexandre Dereims

No attempt at partiality is made and we are not spared any of the horrors of Burma's policy. The plight of the Karen is terrible and the piece is a searing indictment of not only the Burmese but to a lesser extent the indifference of the Thai Government.

PA Guide 7/10

Walk the Talk (USA/Sweden 2007)
Director: Matthew Allen

Roy (Evan Ellingson) is a rebellious teen who having accidentally shot his brother is forced to live with his uncle's family to avoid Juvenile Detention. His uncle Erik, superbly played by Cary Elwes, is a motivational guru who at first fails to get anywhere with the permanently disgusted Roy. Although Erik's family are a caricature with no depth of character, the culture clash produces some genuinely funny moments. As long as you accept that this is a comedy, you will not be disappointed as there are sufficient laughs among the thin strain of social comment to justify seeing it.

Elwes is magnificent in his refusal to steal the limelight and after making a large impression at the start, he allows the young Ellingson to hog the limelight, an opportunity the youngster grabs with both hands.

PA Guide (7/10)

Evan Ellingson: Roy Naybor
Cary Elwes: Erik
Illeana Douglas: Jill (as Illeana Douglass)
Katie Cassidy: Jessie
Chris Pratt: Cam
Katie Finneran: Linda

The Art of Crying (Denmark 2006)
Director: Peter Schønau Fog
Original Title: Kunsten at græde i kor

Jannik Lorenzen in The Art of Crying

Peter Schønau Fog's black comedy takes place in rural Jutland in 1971 and deals with some difficult themes. The film plays through the eyes of 11 year old Allan (Jannik Lorenzen), who starts performing the unlikeliest of acts to get his father's attention and love.

When a rival businessman dies, and his father's suicidal tendencies increase, our attention begins to be diverted to events with an even more sinister undertone, incest. Seen through the eyes of Allan (who is not the victim), one can watch the plot unfold without pressure to be judgmental, mainly because Allan in his naiveté isn't.

As if these themes were not difficult enough, further tragedies follow. But Allan's sole concern remains his father's happiness and he seems to cope with everything in his unique way.

This film is both brave and beautifully acted, with the young Lorenzen shining out. The backdrop is stunning and this film has deservedly won recognition in various film festivals across Asia and Europe.

PA Guide 9/10

Jannik Lorenzen: Allan
Jesper Asholt: Henry
Julie Kolbeck: Sanne
Hanne Hedelund: Mor

La León (Argentina/France 2006)
Director: Santiago Otheguy

If there was a 'spoiler' in this review and you didn't go and see it, you owe us a favour. Alvaro (Jorge Román) lives a solitary life as the only gay in a small Argentinian logging village. The occasional glimpse of a theme appears when one bullying local performs a homophobic rant in a bar and the same character, Turu (Daniel Valenzuela), also commits an act of vandalism against a community of apparent immigrants after a racist rant.

However the pace is too slow and the events too rare to make this movie compelling. It's filmed in black and white. I suspect so that you'll have something to remember it by.

PA Guide 2/10

Jorge Román: Alvaro
Daniel Valenzuela: El Turu
José Muñoz: Iribarren
Alfredo Rivas: Missionar/Missionary
Esteban Gonzalez: Missionar/Missionary
Mirta Rivas: Missionarin/Missionary
Diego Quiroz: Marinaro Julio
Mariano González: Joven del Yate
Marcos Woinsky: El Alemán
Ignacio Jiménez: Chico Lopez
Daniel Sosa: Gadea Padre
Leonardo Rodríguez: Hermano de Laura

A Sunday in Kigali (Canada 2006)
Director: Robert Favreau
Original Title: Une dimanche à Kigali

Luc Picard and Fatou N'Diaye

Favreau pulls no punches in portraying the cruelty and viciousness of the Interhamwe. He is not any kinder regarding the apathy and indifference of the western powers, especially his own Canadian government.

Picard is outstanding and carries the film from start to finish. If there is any scene without him, its sole reason for existence is to highlight Valcourt's powerlessness by medium of his absence.

The subject matter for this film is tragic but Picard's powerful performance, although based on a fictional novel, leaves you feeling that at least somebody tried to do something, although sadly we all know with hindsight that far more could have and should have been done.

PA Guide 8/10

Luc Picard: Bernard Valcourt
Fatou N'Diaye: Gentille

The Damned Don't Cry (USA 1950)
Director: Vincent Sherman

There are some lessons only life, the world, and the combination of the two can teach you. Maybe that's why those who have been there call them worldly wisdoms. "The Damned Don't Cry" features three of the most classic examples. First of all: Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere. True. At least that's what Ethel Whitehead (Joan Crawford), obedient daughter, devoted wife and loving mother of a young son, believes. After her son dies in an unfortunate accident, the young woman, dissatisfied with her humble, unpromising life in a small Texan working class suburb, packs her bags and leaves for Arizona to take her chances. Wisdom number two: Honesty is the best policy. False. When righteous, frugal and slightly naïve accountant Martin Blackford (Kent Smith) enters her life, Ethel, who in the meantime has metamorphosed into a heinous femme fatale, introduces him to a circle of highly influential, but dubious businessmen whose bookkeeping he soon takes over. Martin's professional skills are just the ticket for Ethel, and she finally meets George Castleman (David Brian), the most powerful man of the circle. Turning down Martin's proposal of marriage, she begins an affair with George, a ruthless, rags-to riches underworld boss, assuming the name of Lorna Hansen Forbes, fictitious millionaire and socialite, on the way. Wisdom number three: Crime doesn't pay. True. When business partner Nick Prenta (Steve Cochran) threatens to stray from home, George wants Lorna to find out what he's up to. Unwillingly, she falls in love with Nick. When George finds out, things are getting hairy…

PA Guide 6/10

Joan Crawford: Ethel Whitehead / Lorna Hansen Forbes
David Brian: George Castleman / Joe Cavany
Steve Cochran: Nick Prenta
Kent Smith: Martin Blackford
Hugh Sanders: Grady
Selena Royle: Patricia Longworth
Jacqueline deWit: Sandra

Season Five (Iran/France 1997)
Director: Rafi Pitts

Roya Nonahali turns in a sparkling performance as that unlikeliest of characters, Mehrbanou, an Iranian feminist. A surprisingly watchable film revolves around a seemingly pointless feud between two clans, the Jamalvandi and the Kamalvandi, in a small rural village somewhere in Iran. Assisted by the most piercing set of blue eyes, she heroically does battle on behalf of her clan and continues to single mindedly wage a personal vendetta against the general apathy of her relatives. Her performance is reason enough to check out this film. But if not, football fans should see it just to note the incredible similarity between Ghorban Nadjafi who plays her brother Jan Ali and former Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho.

PA Guide 6/10

Roya Nonahali: Mehrbanou
Ali Sarkhani: Karamat
Parvis Pourhosseini: Mayor
Ghorban Nadjafi: Jan Ali
Golab Adineh: Mrs. Sun

Strike - The Heroine of Gdansk (Germany 2006)
Director: Volker Schlöndorff
Original Title: Strajk - Die Heldin von Danzig

Strike - The Heroine of Gdansk

Katharina Thalbach and Andrzej Chyra
in Strike - The Heroine of Gdansk

Agnieszka is a three-dimensional woman who suffers the loss of her newlywed husband and a growing estrangement from her son as her activism makes life harder for him. Small and wide-eyed, her hair in braids, she confronts the communist party bosses at the shipyard and fearlessly charges in to save fellow workers in a shipyard fire... but we also see her dancing with her young son, serving soup to fellow workers, or being sick from nerves the first time she makes the long climb up into her crane. Katharina Thalbach perfectly captures Agnieszka's strength and vulnerability, her determination and compassion.

PA Guide 8/10

Katharina Thalbach: Agnieszka
Andrzej Chyra: Lech Walesa
Dominique Horwitz: Kazimierz
Dariusz Kowalski: Bochnak
Krzysztof Kiersznowski: Mateusz

The Paper Will Be Blue (Romania 2006)
Director: Radu Muntean
Original Title: Hîrtia va fi albastrã

In those eight heady days in 1989 between Ceaucescus's resignation and his execution, it was unclear who was running Romania. Gun battles raged in the streets as police battled the army. Costi is a young recruit in the Internal Army Unit who decides to leave to defend the television station on behalf of the anti-Communist revolution. His Commanding Officer starts the hunt for him while trying to remain oblivious to the chaos and destruction around him.

PA Guide 6/10

Paul Ipate: Costi
Adi Carauleanu: Lt. Neagu
Dragos Bucur: Dragos
Tudor Istodor: Bogdan
Alexandru Potocean: Vasile
Andi Vasluianu: Aurel
Dana Dogaru: Dna Andronescu
Ion Sapdaru: Craciun
Mimi Branescu: Lt. Deleanu
Alexandru Georgescu: Lt. Voinescu

Made in China (USA 2007)
Director: John Helde

Helde's father spent his childhood years in China and his son documents his journey there to uncover his father's roots. He makes a good attempt although the film by its very nature is self-indulgent. Seattle native Helde failed to convince his father to return to China for the first time since 1935 and that failure seemed to dent his enthusiasm for the voyage. This enthusiasm seems only to have been rekindled when his father becomes very ill.

Slow paced but a nonetheless fascinating glimpse into life for the American pioneers in China in the early part of the 20th Century.

PA Guide 5/10

Yella (Germany 2007)
Director: Christian Petzold

Nina Hoss puts in a solid performance as Yella, a young woman trying to make her fortune in Hanover having fled her small East German town. However, her troubled past follows her, and she also encounters new misadventures as she falls in with a charming but dishonest investor.

PA Guide 6/10

Nina Hoss: Yella
Devid Striesow: Philipp
Hinnerk Schönemann: Ben
Burghart Klaussner: Dr. Gunthen
Barbara Auer: Barbara Gunthen

Sex and Death 101 (USA 2007)
Director: Daniel Waters

Simon Barker takes the lead in this amusing romp about a man who mysteriously receives a list of his future lovers. Winona Ryder assists but probably won't regard this as the most glorious moment in her career.

The script is relatively tight and the jokes are fairly funny. This film would certainly make for a good choice for a night out at the cinema. Some critics seem to regard this film as being deeper than it really is with talk of ‘Feminist Crusades against Sexist Men' but in truth, the only moment of real debate is whether it would be good or bad to receive such a list.

No-one is going to change their view of men or women and Waters has no ambition to be didactic or educate us. His aim is to make a funny film about sex – and death. He succeeds and deserves the plaudits that come his way from the public who clearly are more in touch with him than some critics.

PA Guide 7/10

Simon Baker: Roderick Blank
Winona Ryder: Gillian
Leslie Bibb: Miranda
Tanc Sade: Beta
Patton Oswalt: Fred
Mindy Cohn: Trixie

Nu. (Netherlands 2006)
Director: Jan Willem van Ewijk

Ewijk produces a sad and slow but moving melodrama about a friendship between two old friends battling their way through life with very different degrees of success. Jaap (Matthijs Bourdrez) suffers from depression and JP, played by van Ewijk, is an international businessman. Jaap's girlfriend is in a coma following an accident. This film is no psychological thriller but a subtler examination of how friendship can help the troubled soul deal with internal issues even in a situation where the friend doesn't have the answers himself.

This is van Ewijk's first film, and there are far worse places to start a career than Nu (Dutch for "now"). For van Ewijk, it's now about "next".

PA Guide 6/10

Jan-Willem van Ewijk: JP
Matthijs Bourdrez: Jaap
Arisha de Waal: Rose's Mother
Ramin Ghiasy: Driver
Ilona Minchom: Rose
Steven Novick: Stan
Lynsey Jane Rowe: Lara
Belia van der Giessen: Anna
Brigitte Baladié: Rose (voice)
Veroniek Vermeulen: Vera

Summer 04 (Germany 2006)
Director: Stefan Krohmer
Original Title: Sommer '04

Difficult to absorb German language film about a 15 year old boy and his very mature 12 year old girlfriend who go on holiday with his family. There they meet a mysterious stranger whose oddities seem to be solely based on the the fact he lived in America. He develops an unhealthy relationship with the young girl which leads to some uneasy viewing for us. Several adult themes are explored and this is not for everybody.

For fans of German Cinema, it will be worth seeing. As entertainment, it leaves a little to be desired.

PA Guide 6/10

Martina Gedeck: Mirjam
Robert Seeliger: Bill
Svea Lohde: Livia
Peter Davor: André
Lucas Kotaranin: Nils
Nicole Marischka: Grietje
Gábor Altorjay: Daniel
Michael Benthin: Arzt

Little Book of Revenge (Canada 2007)
Director: Jean-François Pouillot
Original Title: Guide de la Petite Vengeance

Marc Béland and Gabriel Gascon

This film continues to intrigue right up to the end and even beyond as you are left wondering about the fate of the central characters after a last minute plot twist. Riveting.

Well recommended and not just for fans of Quebec Cinema.

PA Guide 9/10

Marc Béland: Bernard
Gabriel Gascon: M. Vendôme
Michel Muller: Robert
Pascale Bussières: Sandrine

Nömadak Tx (Spain 2006)
Director: Raúl de la Fuente

The "Tx" refers to the txalaparta, a traditional Basque instrument that requires two players. Musicians Igor Otxoa and Harkaitz Martínez travel the world building and playing the txalaparta in front of bemused but appreciative audiences in far flung outposts of folk culture. If you like folk culture, this will appeal to you and the show is very nearly stolen by a Mongolian singer whose unique style of singing will remain with you long after the taste of popcorn is a distant memory.

Otxoa und Martinez

PA Guide 6/10

I Really Hate My Job (England 2007)
Director: Oliver Parker

Oliver Parker talks exclusively with Prost Amerika!

Particularly irritating may be the character Abbie, played by Neve Campbell, who is a self-absorbed selfish bartender. We're not supposed to like her and certainly it's hard to take her side as she continues to frustrate the adorable Anna Maxwell Martin (Madonna/Jane) who is trying to manage the place. The negative portrayal of American characters in foreign films has been a feature of this festival and, to be fair, Oliver Parker didn't baulk the issue when we asked him about it. (See our exclusive interview with him here).

To keep consistent with the educational level of the characters, the dialog sometimes lacks rapier-like wit. The woman are bitchy but not cruel to each other. But any shortage in side splitting lines is more than compensated for by five actresses who lift the film with a mixture of talent and hard work. They and Parker have done as well with this script as anyone possibly could have done. Shirley Henderson stands out but do not let that take anything away from the anarchic Pellea, the permanently simmering Martin, the broody Campbell and the more restrained Lara.

You will alternate between feeling love, empathy, sympathy and pity for each of the characters in turn. Each of the actresses will move onto something new, but you will leave the cinema wishing that you might well run into Abbie, Alice, Rita, Madonna and Suzie again after Parker finishes with his next project, a remake of the 50s schoolgirl romp St Trinian's.

PA Guide 7/10

Shirley Henderson: Alice
Neve Campbell: Abbie
Alexandra Maria Lara: Suzie
Anna Maxwell Martin: Madonna
Oana Pellea: Rita
Danny Huston: Danny Huston / Al Bowlly

Black Sheep (New Zealand 2006)
Director: Jonathan King

Oliver Driver

It's not for the squeamish but, then again just when you think you'd hit your quota of gory-ness, you burst out laughing in gales of hysteria.

Jonathan King creates a perfect blend of tongue in cheek humor and good old fashioned shock horror. It deserves an international audience. Go see this.

PA Guide 8/10

Nathan Meister: Henry Oldfield
Danielle Mason:Experience
Peter Feeney: Angus Oldfield
Tammy Davis: Tucker
Glenis Levestam: Mrs. Mac
Tandi Wright: Dr. Rush
Oliver Driver: Grant
Matthew Chamberlain: Oliver Oldfield

The Memory Thief (USA 2007)
Director: Gil Kofman

Kofman has made an extraordinary film. However I can't decide whether it is extraordinarily good or extraordinarily bad. Mark Webber as Lukas looks ill cast as a rudderless toll booth attendant at whom a racist haphazardly tosses a copy of Mein Kampf. Lukas then takes this to work while holding the cover at an extraordinary angle so that every passing motorist can see it. Within a week, a Holocaust survivor has tossed a video of his testament at the same unfortunate Lukas. Unlikely? Well, shortly after that said survivor dies and you are still a bundle of hardly believable coincidences away from the fresh air.

However, what Kofman does well deserves praise. His examination of a man without a past trying to invent one is very clever and there were points where you thought the film was going to work excellently. Webber's portrayal of parts of his descent into madness is well done. Jerry Adler does a fine job conveying the dignity of the Holocaust survivor, but it is never explained why an 82 year old man has a daughter that looks 25.

The film goes on too long and Kofman eschewed several chances to wrap it up which frankly the audience were hoping he would.

If you're unpedantic about details, consistency and unlikely coincidences, then this film will enthrall you.

PA Guide 6/10

Mark Webber: Lukas
Rachel Miner: Mira
Jerry Adler: Mr. Zweig
Farah Cabrera: Nurse (as Farah Afnan)
Douglas Spain: Dominic
Allan Rich: Zvi
Luck Hari: Mrs. Sarkar
Kim Harper: Mrs. Feldman
Chris Ellis: Mr. DeSilva
Ralf Mosig: German Tourist

Gagarin's Grandson (Russia 2007)
Director: Andrei Panin
Original Title: Vnuk Gagarina

Dane Lukombo and Gennady Nazarov

The boy, Gena, a black orphan, is adopted by a distant relative, a struggling artist, and possesses all the bad-boy attributes you'd expect from a boy raised in an orphanage: he smokes, drinks and creates trouble. Though the main message of the film is unconditional love, it deals directly with racial attitudes that are not generally explored in Russian film.

"Gagarin's Grandson" is the debut feature of well-known Russian actor Andrei Panin ("The Wedding", "A Driver for Vera"), who also plays the artist's best friend and in the climax of the film, connects to and really understands Gena. While there's ample information online about the main cast, Gennady Nazarov ("Mumu") and Tamara Vladimirtseva ("The Wedding", "Tycoon"), there is little on Dane Lukombo who gives us a subtle, convincing and explosive Gena who drives the film which ends, not at all happily-ever-after in that bygone American way, but in ambiguity? Can he be saved by love or it is it too late?

Let us hope that the broader international public will appreciate and help nurture this fine young actor who, in the future, could play an assortment of rich roles from Russian history.

Maryna Ajaja, Programmer Seattle International Film Festival, 2007

PA Guide 8/10

Dane Lukombo: Gena
Gennady Nazarov: Fyodor
Andrei Panin: Neighbor
Natalya Rogozhkina: Agent

Black Irish (USA 2006)
Director: Brad Gann

Brad Gann's drama irritatingly begins with a mural of an organization that funded terrorism for 30 years as an annoying and unfair way of telling us that this was set in an "Irish" neighborhood of Boston. There are surely other ways of suggesting Irishness than this. The film however manages to pick up despite the presence of the usual suspects of Irish clichés: alcoholism, insensitive priests, violence, broken families, abortions and trouble with the law. The laziness in the plot lines is saved by an excellent performance by Michael Angarano as Cole McKay, the 16 year old through whose eyes the story unfolds. Brendan Gleeson as his father mercifully doesn't overdo the stereotypical drunken father and that just about keeps the film watchable.

Credit to the actors is deserved but it would be nice to see a film about Americans of Irish descent that didn't tar them all with the usual clichés. If it's any consolation the Italian Americans aren't portrayed any better.

PA Guide 6/10

Michael Angarano: Cole
Brendan Gleeson: Desmond
Tom Guiry: Terry
Melissa Leo: Margaret McKay
Emily VanCamp: Kathleen

Molière (France 2007)
Director: Laurent Tirard

Fabrice Luchini, Romaine Duris and Laura Morante

PA Guide 8/10

Laurent Tirard talks exclusively
with Prost Amerika!

Journey Home (Hungary 2007)
Director: Reka Pigniczky

Two American sisters set out to discover the role their beloved father played in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Using old footage and photographs, the past and present of this Hungarian family is unraveled through the eyes of the sisters and the wider Hungarian Community in the USA.

The issue of just how far their father participated in the revolution keeps the sisters occupied, having often heard his tales of heroism in their youth. Torn between the irreconcileable desires of finding out the truth and leaving the past behind, the sisters set off for Hungary. There they encounter a wall of silence from their relatives. Then they discover something about their father that they could hardly have expected, and they see him in a new light. Who was he really?

Although quite drawn out, Pigniczky's film covers an interesting time in history and is worth seeing for that reason.

PA Guide 5/10

Lady Chatterley (France 2006)
Director: Pascale Ferran
Original Title: Lady Chatterley et l'homme des bois

"Lady Chatterley" is a French adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's famous novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover", which almost entirely lacks the passion of the original. At nearly 3 hours, it is padded with lingering shots of greenery and pointless domestic altercations, perhaps to make the scenes with Lady Chatterley and the gamekeeper Parkin stand out more, but nothing can disguise the lack of charisma or chemistry. On the positive side, there are a few tender moments, several fine supporting performances, and some interesting commentary on the social mores of England in the 1920s, but none of this can make up for the overall lack of intensity or direction.

PA Guide 5/10

Goya's Ghosts (Spain 2007)
Director: Milos Forman

Goya's Ghosts

Stellan Skarsgård as Goya

A fantastic historical film overloaded with acting, technical and cinematic talent.

PA Guide 9/10

Javier Bardem: Brother Lorenzo
Natalie Portman: Inés/Alicia
Stellan Skarsgård: Goya
Randy Quaid: King Carlos IV
Blanca Portillo: Queen María Luisa
Michael Lonsdale: Father Gregorio
José Luis Gómez: Tomás Bilbatúa
Mabel Rivera: María Isabel Bilbatúa

Joshua (USA 2007)
Director: George Ratliff

This chiller tries a little too hard not to be The Omen. The plot is basically the same though. The little child has powers of evil and uses them to cause mayhem to his family after his young sister is born. The cast do very well with a script that is slightly slower than it needs to be and you feel yourself willing the child to hurry up and become more evil faster. Enjoyable but it could do with a little more gore. The end set it up perfectly for a sequel which is sure to come if it makes big money.

PA Guide 6/10

Jacob Kogan: Joshua Cairn
Sam Rockwell: Brad Cairn
Vera Farmiga: Abby Cairn
Celia Weston: Hazel Cairn
Dallas Roberts: Ned Davidoff
Michael McKean: Chester Jenkins
Nancy Giles: Betsy Polsheck
Linda Larkin: Ms. Danforth
Alex Draper: Stewart Slocum
Stephanie Roth Haberle: Pediatrician

The Singer (France 2006)
Director: Xavier Giannoli
Original Title: Quand j'étais chanteur

"The Singer" is a pleasant but bland excursion that never quite takes off, more a showcase for Gerard Depardieu than a film that can stand on its own. Depardieu is Alain Moreau, an aging ballroom singer who helps create romance for lonely over-40s. His life is on automatic, though with hints of a turbulent past; brief flings and a dangerously close relationship with his ex-wife and manager keep him going. Then he meets Marian, a young realtor and single mother with her own tragic history. Their relationship starts on the wrong foot, and progresses to an awkward friendship/courtship as she shows him one overpriced country house after another. He has no interest in actually buying a house, a fact that is apparent to her but doesn't stop her. Slowly each learns to fully appreciate the other, and their scenes together have many moments of genuine warmth and sweetness. After an odd plot turn, the ending is confused and ambiguous, but we can live with not everything being explained, can't we?

PA Guide 6/10

Gérard Depardieu: Alain Moreau
Cécile De France: Marion
Mathieu Amalric: Bruno
Christine Citti: Michèle
Patrick Pineau: Daniel
Alain Chanone: Philippe Mariani
Christophe: Himself
Jean-Pierre Gos: The mayor

Fever of 57 (USA 2007) WORLD PREMIERE
Director: David Hoffman

A documentary that covers the American reaction to the Soviet's successful launch of Sputnik in 1957. I couldn't get past the abysmal spelling in the subtitles starting from the opening LBJ quote. That and not knowing Kazakhstan isn't in Russia. Other than that, it was an interesting documentation of how easy it is to scare the American people.

It however paints both Ike Eisenhower and Nikita Khruschev in excellent lights as forward thinking politicians who stood up to their militaries. It seems both the Soviet and US militaries wanted to use Sputnik to justify not only more military spending but the militarization of space.

PA Guide 5/10

Drama/Mex (Mexico 2006)
Director: Gerardo Naranjo

It isn't surprising that this is a drama from Mexico. How good it is may be a little more of a revelation. Some quality acting helps to intertwine two stories of love, loneliness and jealousy. A touching friendship develops between Jaime, a suicidal middle-aged businessman and Tigrillo, a 15 year old runaway. In the other story, two men, one good one not so good, compete for the heart of a sex-mad and fairly disloyal woman.

If anything, this film ends too soon which is not only rare but a recommendation too.

PA Guide 7/10

Fernando Becerril: Jaime
Juan Pablo Castaneda: Gonzalo
Diana Garcia: Fernanda
Martha Claudia Moreno: Mama Yhahaira
Miriana Moro: Tigrillo
Emilio Valdés: Chano Cuerpiperro

Them (France 2006)
Director: David Moreau, Xavier Palud
Original Title: Ils

Thriller apparently based on reality which is set in Bucharest. Olivia Bonamy stars as Clementine, a French teacher in Bucharest. She and husband Lucas (Michael Cohen) experience a night of terror in their house. If you like horror, watch this late at night. It is scary in places. Film buffs will be intereted to see how the French ‘do' horror as the genre is a relatively new thing for their film industry.

PA Guide 5/10

Olivia Bonamy: Clémentine
Michaël Cohen: Lucas
Adriana Mocca: Ilona (as Adriana Moca)
Maria Roman: Sanda
Camelia Maxim: Maria
Alexandru Boghiu: The baby
Emanuel Stefanuc: Adolescent n°1
Horia Ioan: Adolescent n°2
Stefan Cornic: Adolescent n°3
George Iulian: Adolescent n°4

The Signal (USA 2007)
Director: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry

"The Signal" is a horror/sci-fi film about an alien broadcast signal that takes over people's minds and makes them paranoid and violent -- kill everyone else before they can kill you. It's structured in three parts, each centering on the story of Lewis and his wife Maya as he pursues her amongst the carnage and terror. The story arc and dialog show a certain intelligence and wit, and the characters are surprisingly three-dimensional for a horror film.

PA Klasse 5/10

AJ Bowen: Lewis Denton
Anessa Ramsey: Mya Denton
Cheri Christian: Anna
Lindsey Garrett: Laura
Chad McKnight: Jim Parsons
Michael Ngaujah: Rod (as Sahr Nguajah)
Scott Poythress: Clark
Matthew Stanton: Jerry (as Matt Stanton)
Justin Welborn: Ben
Christopher Thomas: Ken

Surveillance (UK 2007)
Director: Paul Oremland

Dawn Steele

Adam (Tom Harper) is a young gay professional, living a life of cool detachment. A one-night stand throws him into the middle of an expanding crisis, as mysterious entities watch his every move and fight to prevent the disclosure of a scandal that reaches into the heart of the royal family. The man he took home turns up dead, and he must race against time to find out how and why. At each step those he encounters have their own shifting motives for helping him, most notably his old friend Amy (Dawn Steele), an ambitious TV reporter determined to advance her own career, but still carrying unresolved feelings for him.

"Surveillance" is a perfect blend of action and drama, style and content: the inner love story told by way of a computer video that every one is desperate to get hold of; the security monitors following Adam's every move through the London streets and out to the coast where the final unfolding takes place. There are no bad performances here, but Dawn Steele's Amy threatens to steal the show with her mix of intensity and vulnerability.

PA Guide 8/10

Tom Harper: Adam
Dawn Steele: Amy
Sean Brosnan: Jake
Simon Callow: St John

Blood on the Flat Track (The Rise of the Rat City Rollergirls) (USA 2007)
Director: Lainy Bagwell, Lacey Leavitt

"Blood on the Flat Track" chronicles the rise of the Rat City Roller Girls, rising stars in the new world of roller derby. Fast-paced match footage is interspersed with reminiscences from the players -- each gets to dish on her teammates and opponents and share favorite match stories, and there are many charming moments, such as the baby-faced "Basket Casey" explaining why she's the most violent and bloodthirsty of the lot. The hometown crowd loved this film, and directors Lainy Bagwell and Lacey Leavitt received a standing ovation.

PA Guide 6/10

Dirty Little Secret: Herself
Basket Casey: Herself
Randy Pan the Goat Boy: Derby Rules Voiceover
Shovey Chase: Herself
Rocketman Houlihan: Himself
Clobberin' Mame: Herself
Mommacherry: Herself
Molly D. Molish: Herself
Hot Carla: Herself
Kitty Kamikaze: Herself
Burnett Down: Herself

Expired (USA 2007)
Director: Cecilia Miniucchi

Lonely vulnerable meter maid Claire (Samantha Morton) looks after her afflicted mother and dreams of romance. When a troubled and annoying colleague Jay (Jason Patric) enters her life, her preconceived notions of romance are turned upside down. Patric puts in a star performance as the emotionally stunted Jay and you find yourself really wanting Claire to iron out all his many faults as you must know they'll eventually make each other happy!

PA Guide 6/10

Samantha Morton: Claire
Jason Patric: Jay
Teri Garr: Claire's Mother

Nina's Journey (Sweden 2006)
Director: Lena Einhorn
Original Title: Ninas resa

A long but absorbing retelling of the life of Nina Einhorn, a Pole who escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto. Enhanced by touching re-enactments and historical footage, the suffering and death that accompanied the times is evident for the viewer.

Part documentary and part drama, this is one of the better films about that era and I would recommend it if this genre is of interest to you.

PA Guide 8/10

Agnieszka Grochowska: Nina Rajmic
Maria Chwalibóg: Fanny
Andrzej Brzeski: Artur Rajmic
Pawel Iwanicki: Rudek Rajmic

Sons (Norway 2006)
Director: Erik Richter Strand
Original Title: Sønner

A very brave and impressive directing debut by Erik Richter Strand who tackles one of the most sensitive subjects available and declines to be lazy and tell us what we want to hear.

Henrik Mestad plays seedy pedophile Hans, who seems to have preyed on every youngster in the bleak Norwegian town. Lars, superbly played by Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, takes it upon himself to avenge youngster Tim (Mikkel Bratt Silset), the latest victim. As both Tim and Lars get deeper into their plot, dark secrets emerge from the shadows.

Strand resists the temptation to be didactic and lecture us about the subject, instead treating his audience like adults and occasionally giving us provocation to actually think. The ending too allows for a bit of mystery and even hardened film critics didn't unanimously agree about it.

Strand is to be congratulated for his audacity and Seattle should hope he returns soon with his second film.

PA Guide 8/10

Nils Jørgen Kaalstad: Lars
Henrik Mestad: Hans
Edward Schultheiss: Jørgen
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal: Norunn
Marika Enstad: Anja
Mikkel Bratt Silset: Tim

Crazy Love (USA 2007)
Director: Dan Klores/Fisher Stevens

A bizarre documentary chronicles the even bizarrer tale of love crazed stalker Burt Pugach who developed an unhealthy obsession wit Linda Riss in 1950s New York.

To say that their 50 year relationship is grotesque hardly begins to explain it. When Riss tried to end the affair, he committed the ultimate crime of passion, he attempted to disfigure her and rightly went to jail. Despite this, contact began again and the two end the film married.

Many laughed and indeed the lines are excellent and both characters have great timing and comedy value. But the idea that extremes of emotion and infatuation can ever justify the kind of violence Pugach inflicted on Riss left me cold and the humour of it was just not quite enough to overcome the unease. Others will disagree.

Nevertheless, this is a funny film and if you don't share my preconceived prejudices, you will be entertained.

PA Guide 8/10