Fourth day of Love and Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival \o/

Also my last day, but I guess 12 films in four days is a pretty good achievement. A lot of good movies, as always, though I feel this year my selection was even better than usual, or maybe the festival selection was more to my taste.

Todays four films:

Two prosecutors (2025)

1937: When a prisoner's letter escapes destruction, idealistic prosecutor Kornev uncovers NKVD corruption. His pursuit of justice in Stalin's USSR becomes a dangerous journey into the heart of a system devouring its own.

Grim look at the terror of the Soviet regime, towards its own people. Somewhat slow at times. Lots of unlocking doors of prison corridors. Not boring at all however, very well built atmosphere.

The name of the film confuses me a bit though.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35521200/

Heads or tails? (2025)

After a deadly rodeo and a stolen kiss, Rosa and her cowboy lover flee across the Italian wilderness, pursued by Buffalo Bill and the story he refuses to rewrite.

This has to be the weirdest western I've ever seen. I felt a strong plot kind of missing at times, but it was still a great watch. Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Alessandro Borghi make a beautiful pair.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32448429/

Untamable (2025)

When a police officer is murdered in Cameroon's capital, Commissioner Billong's search for justice exposes deep rifts between tradition and change, duty and survival.

The IMDd recap is weird. What I saw was a story of a person with massive personal issues, clearly according to the story happening before the police officer murder. A person struggling to cope with being a father and ending up alienating his family with abusive behaviour, while also taking out his frustration on random petty criminals. The whole chase of the cop killers seemed kind of secondary in the whole film.

Well produced, enjoyed it even though the topic was not an easy one.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36580117/

Once upon a time in Gaza (2025)

As Hamas tightens control over Gaza, Yahia seeks vengeance for his friend Ossama's brutal murder. His encounter with the killer alters everything.

This was an interesting one. I was expecting some kind of action shootup, but there was very little violence. A typical drama of good natured petty drug merchants (can that actually be a thing?), who run into problems with the establishment. What makes this untypical is that it was situated in Gaza, and that through the whole film we have a background of Israel occupation and strikes. Never as the main thing, but always present. As it is in the life of the people in Gaza. Or what is left of it right now.

Bonus points for the scene where a film is being made, Israel soldiers acted by Palestinian militants are instructed to take props with them into a scene, and they carry in a Hanukkah, a flag, and a ... large painting of Theodor Herzl 😁

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34734841/

#films #hiff

Third of Love and Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival \o/

Rumours (2024)

The leaders of seven wealthy democracies get lost in the woods while drafting a statement on a global crisis, facing danger as they attempt to find their way out.

Satirical look at a G7 event hosted in Germany, with the sentimental top leaders of the world trying to work with their own personal issues while drafting a statement on a global crisis, while a zombie apocalypse happens around them. We're left very little in detail on what happens to the world, and there are some really silly inconsistencies, but hey it's a satire focusing on the leaders themselves and how they think they're somehow so much more special than anyone else (except for the American president who sudddenly at some point seems to get things).

This was so funny, I don't really get the poor IMDb score. The audience, including me, was laughing their heads off.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30841606/

The Old Woman with the Knife (2025)

An aging assassin with a knack for taking out society's worst encounters a young protégé eager to learn the trade. As they form an unlikely bond, the veteran killer discovers fresh purpose in her twilight years of violence and routine.

This was really interesting. Somewhat ultra-violent, but with the interesting twist of an elderly person as the main character. One that was still extremely badass, of course, wouldn't get an action flick out of things otherwise. A touching story to soften all the spilling of blood. Well made, didn't get bored.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34509472/

Safe house (2025)

On Christmas Eve during the civil war in the Central African Republic in 2013, a Norwegian aid worker in a field hospital strives to protect a Muslim man from a Christian militia, without endangering her colleagues' safety.

Action packed and dramatic, well casted and without moments that felt boring. A really interesting, emotional, and sad story, which is also based on a true story, of the drama that unfolded during 15 intense hours at Doctors Without Borders' field hospital in Bangui on Christmas Eve, 2013.

There are not words that one can give for the respect of aid workers operating in warzones.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32317227/

#films #hiff

Fourth day of Love and Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival \o/

Also my last day, but I guess 12 films in four days is a pretty good achievement. A lot of good movies, as always, though I feel this year my selection was even better than usual, or maybe the festival selection was more to my taste.

Todays four films:

Two prosecutors (2025)

1937: When a prisoner's letter escapes destruction, idealistic prosecutor Kornev uncovers NKVD corruption. His pursuit of justice in Stalin's USSR becomes a dangerous journey into the heart of a system devouring its own.

Grim look at the terror of the Soviet regime, towards its own people. Somewhat slow at times. Lots of unlocking doors of prison corridors. Not boring at all however, very well built atmosphere.

The name of the film confuses me a bit though.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35521200/

Heads or tails? (2025)

After a deadly rodeo and a stolen kiss, Rosa and her cowboy lover flee across the Italian wilderness, pursued by Buffalo Bill and the story he refuses to rewrite.

This has to be the weirdest western I've ever seen. I felt a strong plot kind of missing at times, but it was still a great watch. Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Alessandro Borghi make a beautiful pair.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32448429/

Untamable (2025)

When a police officer is murdered in Cameroon's capital, Commissioner Billong's search for justice exposes deep rifts between tradition and change, duty and survival.

The IMDd recap is weird. What I saw was a story of a person with massive personal issues, clearly according to the story happening before the police officer murder. A person struggling to cope with being a father and ending up alienating his family with abusive behaviour, while also taking out his frustration on random petty criminals. The whole chase of the cop killers seemed kind of secondary in the whole film.

Well produced, enjoyed it even though the topic was not an easy one.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36580117/

Once upon a time in Gaza (2025)

As Hamas tightens control over Gaza, Yahia seeks vengeance for his friend Ossama's brutal murder. His encounter with the killer alters everything.

This was an interesting one. I was expecting some kind of action shootup, but there was very little violence. A typical drama of good natured petty drug merchants (can that actually be a thing?), who run into problems with the establishment. What makes this untypical is that it was situated in Gaza, and that through the whole film we have a background of Israel occupation and strikes. Never as the main thing, but always present. As it is in the life of the people in Gaza. Or what is left of it right now.

Bonus points for the scene where a film is being made, Israel soldiers acted by Palestinian militants are instructed to take props with them into a scene, and they carry in a Hanukkah, a flag, and a ... large painting of Theodor Herzl 😁

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34734841/

#films #hiff

Nothing on a streaming service with kill my enthusiasm faster than seeing the world "colorized". What kind of coward can't enjoy something just because it was naturally shot in black & white?

#movies #films #cinema #cinemastodon

Third of Love and Anarchy, Helsinki International Film Festival \o/

Rumours (2024)

The leaders of seven wealthy democracies get lost in the woods while drafting a statement on a global crisis, facing danger as they attempt to find their way out.

Satirical look at a G7 event hosted in Germany, with the sentimental top leaders of the world trying to work with their own personal issues while drafting a statement on a global crisis, while a zombie apocalypse happens around them. We're left very little in detail on what happens to the world, and there are some really silly inconsistencies, but hey it's a satire focusing on the leaders themselves and how they think they're somehow so much more special than anyone else (except for the American president who sudddenly at some point seems to get things).

This was so funny, I don't really get the poor IMDb score. The audience, including me, was laughing their heads off.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30841606/

The Old Woman with the Knife (2025)

An aging assassin with a knack for taking out society's worst encounters a young protégé eager to learn the trade. As they form an unlikely bond, the veteran killer discovers fresh purpose in her twilight years of violence and routine.

This was really interesting. Somewhat ultra-violent, but with the interesting twist of an elderly person as the main character. One that was still extremely badass, of course, wouldn't get an action flick out of things otherwise. A touching story to soften all the spilling of blood. Well made, didn't get bored.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34509472/

Safe house (2025)

On Christmas Eve during the civil war in the Central African Republic in 2013, a Norwegian aid worker in a field hospital strives to protect a Muslim man from a Christian militia, without endangering her colleagues' safety.

Action packed and dramatic, well casted and without moments that felt boring. A really interesting, emotional, and sad story, which is also based on a true story, of the drama that unfolded during 15 intense hours at Doctors Without Borders' field hospital in Bangui on Christmas Eve, 2013.

There are not words that one can give for the respect of aid workers operating in warzones.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32317227/

#films #hiff

If you were to start watching Robert Altman films, where would you begin? Chronological order? Or, which are those that are must see before you die? I've seen MASH and The Player (though I don't remember it well.)

Recommendations?

#Films #Movies

#films #documentaries #tickling#CompetitiveTickling#JaneOBrianMedia

I have to wonder what #hollywood is doing when the most recent film of that name is actually the dumbest idea I've ever seen for a #movie -

"What if aliens invaded but we didn't actually watch the invasion, we watched a guy watch an invasion dramatically like a #youtube reaction channel?".

That's the kinda thing a drunk stoner says.

#writing #films

'This is Gaza’ Palestinian filmmaker Yousef Hammash reported from the warzone; his family’s displacement, decision to travel south to Rafah and London to continue reporting.
On Channel 4 Streaming, executive produced by Ed Fraser and Girish Juneja and directed by Tom Besley.

https://www.channel4.com/news/channel-4-announces-new-streaming-documentary-this-is-gaza-from-emmy-winning-news-team-in-gaza

https://www.tombesley.com/

https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/this-is-gaza/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOV0trwAREw

#Diaspora #documentary #films#Gaza#Journalism#Palestine TomBesley

I just posted about the Modular Film Festival by @kev

https://coxy.co/5306/modular-film-festival-2025

🍿

cc. @modularfilmfestival

#Films #Movies #Cinema #FilmFestival #ModularFilmFestival #MFF2025 #NewBlogPost

I just posted about the Modular Film Festival by @kev

https://coxy.co/5306/modular-film-festival-2025

🍿

cc. @modularfilmfestival

#Films #Movies #Cinema #FilmFestival #ModularFilmFestival #MFF2025 #NewBlogPost

Ruh oh?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn41yddj4m1o

#Cinema#Movies#Films#JamesBond

This evening's viewing: 1945 British flick Dead of Night, largely held to be the grandaddy of the "portmanteau" style of anthology #horror that Hammer and Amicus would use often in the 60s and 70s (also boasts an early "is the ventriloquist mad or the dummy alive?" story)

Unusual for the time, also unusual in being an Ealing production, better known for their comedies.

#film #films#1940sFilm#Horror#Portmanteau#AnthologyFilm#HorrorAnthology#HorrorFilm#DeadOfNight.