Kannathil Muthamittal AKA A Peck on the Cheek (2002) (8/10)

This is a wonderful Tamil movie on the one hand about a girl wanting to discover her roots, but, on the other, more about war and the toll it takes. It is set in Sri Lanka, but it could be anywhere. The interweaving has been wonderfully done and the performances, especially by Keerthana are simply superb. Reminded me of the book Kite Runner. Though it is a different story and a different setting, the similarity of strains are striking. It was a pity that most songs did not have English subtitles.

Kannathil Muthamittal AKA A Peck on the Cheek (2002) (8/10)

Z (1969) (8/10)

Z is about an idealogue very pertinent to the current world where nuclear weapons are spreading left and right. It is about a peaceful, Gandhian way of protesting against superpowers and nuclear armament. As usual, people whose interests lie with furthering the arms and their followers, often blind, brand such people leftists and communists (and these days as seculars) and try to do away with them. When the police join in with such "rights", it becomes a deadly combination. Otherwise well-meaning politicians (is there such a thing?) can also then be afraid to raise their voice. What about the judiciary? Is that arm which is supposed to separate church and state, and rule impartially capable of managing that pressure? How many men does it take to change a light bulb, really? Seriously recommended. BTW, its French.

Z (1969) (8/10)

Marmoulak AKA The Lizard (2004) (5/10)

One can survive through this Farsi movie which has a good plot but is rather wasted by the way the story is told. It is literally told rather than acted out in much of the part with hardly any performing, especially the relatively slower first half. Also the cuts are not representative of the elapsed time between them and one has to just assume it based on whatever happens next. To add to it the shade of the English subtitles almost always matched the color on which they were seen. The germ is good. A wolf in sheeps clothing evolves. Gradually. That was the good part. Until the end you are not sure which side is he on. Not even at the end. the best part was the questions he has to answer about praying - on the North Pole and in space, and precaustions before a man and woman go to space. Alas, the lighter moments were few and far flung. I wonder why serious movies have to be just that.

Marmoulak AKA The Lizard (2004) (5/10)

Cactus Flower (1969) (8/10)

An excellent comedy about husbands and wives and past and current and future boyfriends who aren't. But it is much more about Sergent Ingrid Bergman and the absolutely innocent Goldie Hawn. A comedy that keeps on getting complex without the misunderstandings that are often the mainstay of such plots. Here it is plain white lies, and sometimes other shades of gray that deliberately mislead just one person. Excellent framing and color combinations are a treat. The highlight clearly is the dentist dance. Do try it once you see it.

Cactus Flower (1969) (8/10)

Ostre sledovane vlaky aka Closely watched trains (1966) (7/10)

This Czeck movie is a delightful study of human nature. Set around a small railway station in occupied Czechoslovakia it is mainly a story of a young man trying to discover adulthood. He handles the signals at the station which is sometimes used by ammunition trains closely watched by the German troops. His journey is unfortunately not easy and is fraught with hot water, practically and self-fetched too. But that experience puts him in the hands of a doctor who has words of advice for him. He tries to folow the advice literally creating some uncanny exchanges. People continue to be themselves though, including our hero Milos which finally turns out to be good for him. May be not entirely.

Ostre sledovane vlaky aka Closely watched trains (1966) (7/10)