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Review by John Delia

Compelling and disturbing due to the historical period in Hungary with the occupation of the Russians following WWII, the film Those Who Remained tells a story about coming of age. The acting, direction and production is very good, especially since not a lot has been featured in films about the country’s takeover and the people who came under a different system of government. Read more…

Review by John Delia, Sr.

Heartwarming and heartfelt, the documentary Aida’s Secrets reveals how two brothers find their family many years after the WWII holocaust. It’s not a rehash of one of the most diabolical events in history, but a reuniting of family members. The film holds some endearing moments and a mystery of surprises. Read more…

Review by John Delia

One of this year’s Foreign Film Oscar nominations, Embrace of the Serpent opens this weekend in several markets around the nation. Brilliantly shot in the jungles of Columbia, the movie is loosely based on the events from the journals of two explorers. Well-acted, photographed and directed the fictional story takes you on an adventure that must have been as dangerous making it as the real life drama from which it has been extracted. Read more…

Review by John Delia

One of the best Foreign Language Films in 2015, Mustang now opens in the United States and it’s one of the favorites for a 2016 Academy Award. The film shows the loyalty of sisterhood in Turkey and the trials of being female in a nation steeped with male dominance. Compelling, powerful and sometimes unconceivable, the story delights, excites then becomes heartrending. It tops my list for this year’s Oscar nominations. Read more…

Review by John Delia

The compelling film The Attack has a pocket full of messages and a handful of questions as it spools out a tale of an unconscionable act.  The casting is point perfect with acting unparalleled in most countries.  While Israel and Palestine are the featured areas where the story takes place, this could be a sign of the times most anywhere in the world.  I felt disconcerted throughout the film then let down with a finale that leaves one wondering the effect the story will have on those that view it. Read more…

Review by John Delia

Picturesque, intriguing and romantic the odd love story of the strange King of Denmark comes to theaters this weekend.  Called A Royal Affair, the opulent period piece transports the viewer back to the late 1700’s for an inside look at a time of ‘Enlightenment’ when this country was ruled by tyrants who deceived the crown.  Take a look into this interesting world of idealism, insecurity and revolution.

The true story of the Danish King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) who takes Caroline Mathilda (Alicia Vikander) of England to be his Queen is at the center of this beautiful costume piece.  While King Christian has a mental illness and depends largely on his advisors who make favorable decisions for the court, but chastise the people of his realm, have caused unrest.  His new wife urges him to take advice from his newly appointed German doctor Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen) who has visions of a free society. While he loves Queen Caroline, so does Johann and a love triangle of sorts ensues leading up a rebellion in the kingdom that changes forever. Read more…

STARK

REALISM

WITH GUT

WRENCHING SCENES

NINAH’S DOWRY

Review by John Delia

Life in other countries can be brutal in many different ways, with spousal abuse coming to the forefront more often in America the film Ninah’s Dowry becomes a harsh reminder.  The film runs through October 23 as part of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.  Direction, acting and cinematography are outstanding in Ninah’s Dowry with filmmaker Victor Viyuch in attendance at Florida Atlantic University on Tuesday October 30th at 2:30 pm for a Q&A.

Mbufung Seikeh as Ninah in Ninah’s Dowry

The film opens in the mountains of Cameroon, Africa with Ninah (Mbufung Seikeh) the 20-year-old wife of Memfi (Anurin Nwunembom) her head strong husband.  A sharecropper for a local land baron, his duty to him overshadows justice to his family.  On one afternoon Memfi gets a visit from the baron telling him that one of his children has ridden his horse. Being forbidden, Memfi has to punish the boy.  Ninah steps in to protect him she also gets beaten.

Deciding she has had enough abuse, Ninah escapes the house and travels to her sick father.  When she gets there they tell her that she must go back to her husband because it is the customary law.  Ninah refuses causing uproar among her family members and friends of Memfi.  Memfi demands his dowry back.  When she cannot pay he grabs her and forces her to go back to his farm.

The film has some very gut wrenching scenes with a lot of brutality. Director/writer Victor Viyuch gives the viewer a close up view of how women are treated in the Cameroon like slaves to their husbands and fathers.  In one scene her own son turns against her in favor of his pitiless father.

The movie is unrated but does contain violence, brutality and language.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film that hits at the heart of troubled women in Africa. (B)

Additional Film Information:

• Cast: Anurin Nwunembom (as Memfi), Mbufung Seikeh (as Ninah), Crista Eka (as Clarise)
• Directed by: Victor Viyuch
• Cinematography: Victor Viyuch
• MPAA Rating: NR (Contains Violence, Language, Brutality)
• Genre: Drama
• Language: English + Pidgin & Babanki w/English sub-titles
• Running Time: 1 hr 35 min
• FLIFF Play Date: October 21, 22, 23
• Country of Origin: Cameroon, Africa

Director Victor Viyuch filming Nina’s Dowry

THE DIRECTOR: Named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Independent Filmmakers to watch, Victor Viyuoh wrote and directed the thesis short MBOUTOUKOU which was filmed entirely in Cameroon, Africa. In one year on the circuit, Mboutoukou played at over 100 festivals including Venice in Italy, New Directors/New Films and Rotterdam. Beginning with its nomination for the 2002 Student Academy Awards, Mboutoukou won over 20 awards including Best Short at SXSW, Best Student Short at FLIFF, and the Rights of the Child Award at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Victor is an alumnus of USC’s School of Cinema-Television and Film Independent’s Directors and Screenwriters labs.

A DISTURBING

MOVIE

THAT MUST

BE WATCHED

LA RAFLE (THE ROUNDUP)

By John Delia

It’ not often enough that we can get reminded in film of some of the more dismal times from the past, especially those that show ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’  This happens to be the case of La Rafle (The Round-Up) a French film that captures a period in history covering the cruel extermination of a helpless people, including children in the 1941-45 France.  The movie has a sorrowful tone that resonates throughout yet a must see to remind us that the world we live in is so fragile.

The film opens with French children already wearing the yellow Jewish identification star sewn to their clothes like some sort of tattoo.  With fear of punishment and death, the Jewish people are scared with the scorns of those who look upon them as a scourge.  Stamped with this awful disparagement they still go on with their daily lives. The Nazi occupied France has put fear in the pathetic Vichy Government to do their bidding and time is running out for all Jews everywhere. 

Children and women being rounded up for extermination in La Rafle

With an order from Adolph Eichmann, the French police have been told to round up 20,000 Jews and movie them to the Velodrome d’Hiver, a massive stadium normally used for rallies and sporting events.  There they will wait their fate as French Vichy leaders debate with Hitler’s bidders on the next step in the lives of these powerless humans.  An unfavorable decision gets made and thousands of men, women and children are put in the Beaune La Rolande detaining facility, the last step before total extermination.

The solemnity of the film showing how vulnerable we are as humans to governments, the power that’s wielded by a chosen few and the fear that instills a weakness in those that are afflicted gets played out under the excellent direction of Roselyne Bosch. 

Also the writer of the true story Bosch relates that “All the events, even the most extreme, happened during this month of July 1942”.  Her story isn’t all an uncourageous narrative as we are presented with heroes like Dr. David Sheinbaum played by Jean Reno who gives his medical experience to his fellow Jewish prisoners.  Reno has that kind of poetic face that shows a kindness and love for what he does, even in the face of being subjected to the same fate as his fellow Jews.

Melanie Laurent as Annette Monod

La Rafle (The Roundup) has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains brutality, language, violence and a rape. The movie is performed in French with English Subtitles. I recommend this film as a must see for all adults.

FINAL ANALYSIS: An important reminder and an excellent production. (A)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast: Melanie Laurent, Jean Reno, Hugo Leverdez, and Anne Brochet, with Mathieu and Romain Di Concerto as Nono Zygler
• Directed and Written by: Roselyne Bosch
• MPAA Rating: Unrated (contains violence, rape, language and brutality)
• Genre: Foreign, Drama
• Running Time: 2 hrs 4min
• Opening Date: Now Showing
• Distributed by: Menemsha Films
• South Florida theaters:   Miami: The Tower Theater, Frank Intracoastal 8
• Ft. Lauderdale: Cinema Paradiso, Tamarac Cinema 5, Gateway 4
• Palm Bch County: Living Room Theaters, Movies of Delray, Movies of Lake Worth

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