“The Blue Caftan” (“Le bleu du caftan”) (2022). Cast: Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, Ayoub Missioui, Abdelhamid Zoughi, Zakaria Atifi. Director: Maryam Touzani. Screenplay: Maryam Touzani and Nabil Ayouch. Web site. Trailer. Love is such a precious gift, one that often seems elusive to those looking for it. But it’s out there if we know where to search for it, and, ironically, that usually begins inside each of us. Unfortunately, when it emerges, we frequently don’t recognize it for what it is, or we unduly place obstacles in our own way that keep us from embracing it. This can lead to longing, anxiety and dissatisfaction, conditions that can linger for prolonged periods. But, these considerations aside, love is nevertheless a powerful force that will find us, provided we leave ourselves open to it, even under the most trying of circumstances. Such are the dynamics at work in the moving new Moroccan romantic drama, “The Blue Caftan” (“Le bleu du caftan”). As the owners of a tailoring shop specializing in custom-made classic Moroccan caftans, Halim (Saleh Bakri) and his wife, Mina (Lubna Azabal), have made quite a name for their handiwork. The elegance and beauty of their lovingly crafted outfits speak volumes, ...
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If it’s March, it wouldn’t be complete without the Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago European Union Film Festival. After several years of adjustment, abbreviation and cancellation due to COVID-19 concerns, the festival finally returned to normal form this year for its 26th annual edition. I managed to screen 10 of the event’s 24 offerings, which are summarized below. Check out what’s new in cinema across the pond! “Exodus” (Sweden) (4.5/5); Imdb.com (9/10) Web site Trailer The refugee crisis (especially those escaping from Syria) is an issue that is finally getting its due cinematically, first with the Netflix fact-based offering “The Swimmers” (2022) and now with this impressive debut feature from writer-director Abbe Hassan. The film follows the odyssey of a young Syrian girl (Jwan Alqatami), travelling alone, who flees to Turkey from her homeland on her way to Sweden for a reunion with her sisters and parents. But, upon exiting the crowded shipping container that transported her on the first leg of her journey, she’s met with a raid by Turkish immigration authorities, barely escaping in the unexpected company of one of the exploitive smugglers who organized her flight to freedom (Ashrof Barhom). Thus begins a trek through Europe as ...
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“The Quiet Girl” (“An Cailín Ciún”) (2022). Cast: Catherine Clinch, Carrie Crowley, Andrew Bennett, Michael Patric, Kate Nia Chonaonigh, Joan Sheehy. Director: Colm Bairéad. Screenplay: Colm Bairéad. Book: Claire Keegan, Foster (2010). Web site. Trailer. Everything in life requires attention. And, the more precious, special or complex something – or someone – is, the more crucial the provision of that kind of regular care and consideration becomes. But, regardless of how much attention is supplied in any of these cases, the one thing that absolutely cannot be tolerated is neglect, particularly when applied willfully or when it involves anything or anyone of a vulnerable nature. Such disregard is capable of being overcome, though, as seen in the touching new Irish domestic drama, “The Quiet Girl” (“An Cailín Ciún”). Life can be lonely in a rural setting, especially for children and particularly for those who don’t exactly live up to what others expect of them. Such is the case with Cáit (Catherine Clinch), a young girl of few words who lives with her family in the Irish countryside. Her parents, Mam (Kate Nia Chonaonigh) and Da (Michael Patric), don’t seem to understand her, but, then, they also don’t make much of ...
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Reviews of “All That Breathes” and “Chrissy Judy,” as well as a trifecta of Oscar coverage, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...
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“All That Breathes” (2022). Cast: Salik Rehman, Mohammad Saud, Nadeem Shehzad. Director: Shaunek Sen. Web site. Trailer. Lofty notions are often seen as impractical and unrealistic. And, indeed, they’re frequently looked upon as impossible to implement given their staggering requirements and essential commitment. But that’s not to say that they can’t be accomplished with the right amount of determination and a strong faith in the possibility of their fulfillment. One such instance is aptly and beautifully chronicled in the uplifting new documentary, “All That Breathes.” The Indian capital of New Delhi is a city beset by an array of challenges. With an urban population of 11 million and another 17 million in its adjacent Delhi capital district, it’s the world’s second largest metropolitan area. And, with so many people packed into such a concentrated area, the city and its surroundings suffer from environmental issues, most notably its suffocating air quality, which the World Health Organization designated as the worst on the planet in 2014. This has led to severe health problems – particularly those of a respiratory nature – for many of its residents. But it doesn’t end there; it has also seriously impacted the city’s animal population, especially its ...
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Dear Academy, Congratulations on finally putting together a show that was worth watching — for the first time in a number of years. Bringing back Jimmy Kimmel as host was a good move, as was restoring live presentations of all the awards. The look of the show was also quite appealing. Well done. HOWEVER, the producers of this show STILL need to get some things right, and they never seem to do so. For starters, it’s widely recognized that viewership has been dropping off for some time, and that trend is probably not going to be reversed. Given the decreased attention spans of many people these days, they’re just too impatient to sit that long. But that’s actually OK. Instead of worrying about ways to try and retrieve lost viewers, the Academy should focus on ways to retain the viewership that it already has. How can that be done? First of all, stop worrying so much about the length of the show. Those who are REALLY interested in it will stay watching, no matter how long the broadcast goes. Those who grow impatient and tune out aren’t your target audience anyways, and they likely won’t stay with the show no ...
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