SomewhatItay

I'll never understand how this became a classic. This trite, ultra-didactic what-if-documentary, tries to show the aftermath of a nuclear attack on britain, with the ridiculous archaic voice-over that docs had these days telling us the facts while the images do nothing but illustrate it. That's the whole movie. It wouldn't be so enraging if there wasn't a film made 20 years later (by the same BBC) called Threads, made with roughly the same premise, but infinitely more real and harrowing.

82 _78%

Forbidden Games (1952) - Rated 25 Mar 2009

If all the "quality" french films from the 40's-50's were like this one, then Truffaut, Godard et al would really have nothing to revolt against. This is a superbly written, engaging, unique look into the life of children under war. Though its premise sounds melodramtic at the very least, it's infused with enough comic and realist touches to avoid sentimental pitfalls. The direction may be indistinguished, but the striking visuals and the light touch bring out the best of the masterful script.

50 _23%

The Harder They Come (1972) - Rated 24 Oct 2008

Great music, lousy film.

77 _60%

Az prijde kocour (1963) - Rated 30 Jul 2008

A charming, free-spirited allegory about freedom, truth and political repression, made in the very first year of the Czechoslovakian film renaissance. What's great about it is that unlike other allegories (mostly from communist countries) that preach about freedom, this one really expresses it, through its visual and narrative style. There isn't too much plot to speak of, but its sheer imagination and deep compassion for people (and children in particular) really compensate for it.