Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Latest screenings: Waltz With Bashir, The Wave (Die Welle)


Waltz With Bashir surprised me. I had heard it was good, but i thought it would be one of those films i would admire, like Persepolis, than really like. It would be different. An interesting alternative to shake up the Best Animated Feature or Best Foreign Language Film categories. I never expected to find one of the best films of the year!
Thought provoking, funny, shocking, entertaining, disturbing, beautiful. Waltz With Bashir is so many things, what it isn't is over-rated. This is simply a must-see. I would vote for this as Best Foreign Language and Best Animation, and the way things are going it may well be in my Best Feature and Best Director lists - certainly will be for the long-list first vote.
Awards chances: This will 100% feature in the Animation nominations (see above). For BAFTA i think it also has a fantastic shot at a foreign language nomination. It deserves so much more. Quite simply: Brilliant!
The Wave (Die Welle) - Talking of thought-provoking, Monday night i saw an excellent German film called The Wave that i was recommended. Momentum has it in the UK so hopefully they'll send it out, and if they do i encourage all to watch it. It has moments bordering on melodramatic but on the whole is a very well made and handled film about a teacher trying to really get through to his students on a controversial topic - the film asks, does he prove his point or go too far. Watching it you know exactly how the media would spin it and it will make you consider news stories in different ways, even though that is not what it is about.
Awards chances: For BAFTA it may have a shot in foreign language if it gets sent out because it is a very good film that strikes a chord.

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