Un hiver en temps de guerre (Oorlogswinter/Winter in Wartime) by Martin Koolhoven is a film about a young boy - Michiel - who during World War II becomes involved in the resistance movement when rescuing a British soldier who has landed in the forests after parachuting himself out of his plane.
He engages his sister but is not aware of all the dangers lurking behind the corner. His feelings of content when he sees that he actually is able to help the British soldier - in spite of the warnings from his parents and uncle - becomes predominant.
After a while he starts to revaluate both his father (as he has seen as a coward) and his uncle (whom he has regarded as courageous). Is his uncle really the war hero he thought him to be?
A rather traditionally told story but well realized and the acting is good, not least the young actor in the role as Michiel.
After a while he starts to revaluate both his father (as he has seen as a coward) and his uncle (whom he has regarded as courageous). Is his uncle really the war hero he thought him to be?
A rather traditionally told story but well realized and the acting is good, not least the young actor in the role as Michiel.
The good heart by Dagur Kari is a story about Jacques, the owner of a shabby bar, where only certain guests are welcomed. In order to let the others know that they'd better look for another bar, he's extremally unpleasant and rude towards them.
One day he finds a homeless young man (Lucas) who lives under the Brooklyn Bridge and as Jacques earlier has suffered five heart attacks - it' during the fifth he meets the young man in the hospital - he wants a successor to his establishment. Almost forcing Lucas to his bar, he trains him and not least in the art of being rude.
It all seem to work out well until one day a drunken stewardess, terrified of flying, shows up at the bar.
Jacques doesn't want a woman in the bar (as marines earlier were afraid of having women on board a ship) and of course Lucas falls in love with her. This deveolopment causes tremendous problems for all three - and for the clients.
Brian Cox as Jacques and Paul Dano as Lucas are both very good in their characterisation of these two rather unmatched men but in spite of good acting and a rather unusual story, it tends to become more mainstream than we anticipated at the beginning of the film.
After a while one know how the different characters will act and the end is rather predictable and at the same time somewhat of a 'happy ending' for both of them.
These were the two last films we had the chance to see as we had to pack our things , check out from our room and take the train to Paris at 19.00.
We have luckily also had the chance seeing a great deal of Rouen and as this was the first time for me - Gunnar - visiting this charming city, I let myself be guided by Aurore who, between 2000 and 2004, annually visited Cinéma Nordique and Rouen. She even worked a summer as a florist, with her cousin Aurelièn as boss in the flower shop he owned in those days.
Pictures next.
No comments:
Post a Comment