Day 6: Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?

Today's lesson is entitled "How to get into any film in the festival, even if its sold-out", and is based on some sterling.. ahhh... 'research' by my mother. Its quite a cunning plan. First, buy a ticket to some film. Doesnt have to be on the same day, or even in the same theatre. For best results, make sure its a film that nobody wants to see, like The Complete History of Yugoslavian Ditch Digging.

Take that ticket, and go to the film that you really want to see. Present the ticket to the shaved ape at the door. They'll just tear it off without looking at it. Presto! You're in a sold-out film!

For bonus points, make sure you proceed to phone your notoriously sarcastic son, and try to convince him that you're in the right place, at the right time.

The Last King Of Scotland

Forrest Whitaker has come a long way from being ordered to requisition a new name. In this biopic of famed dictator Idi Amin, Whitaker chews up pretty every bit of scenery he can get his hands on. Truly a rivetting performance.

The movie itself is pretty good. Worth a look.

Catch a Fire

A film doesnt exist in a vacuum - it exists within the context created by the events and culture of the time that it is released. In that sense, I cant help but think that this is more than just your standard run-of-the-mill apartied film.

If I can be snootily intellectual for a moment - superfically the movie tells the (true) story of Patrick Cambasso, a coal plant worker outside of Johannesberg. After an explosion at the plant, he's caught up in a sweep and falsely accused of involvement in terrorism. After much torture, he's released for lack of evidence.

And of course, immediately wanders off to Mozambique to join up with the ANC's special op squad, and procedes to bomb the plant he worked at.

However, given the troubles that the Bush administration is experiencing in Iraq over interregation techniques and handling the insurgency, I cant help but draw parallels between the behavior of the South African police forces, and US troops in Iraq - that is that hard methods dont lead to information, just to eroding your own authority, and propping up the insurgency.

Food for thought, at any rate.

Quelque Jours en Septembre

A French spy film that takes place in the days leading up to 9/11. I need to emphasize the French part. This means that there are no car chases. No explosions. No nifty gadgets. No Bourne or Bond.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Alatriste

Spanish historical epic that was about 45 minutes too long. Suffered from trying to condense 7 books worth of material into a single movie. As a result, the entire thing was a bloated mess that lurched around with very little sense or coherency. Typical, really.

Who knew that Viggo spoke Spanish anyways?