Samba – A French film with Omar Sy

Last week we went to see the very funny film Samba a French comedy but being French there is often a deeper meaning than just that. And so it was with this film. Omar plays a character who is from Senegal and who has lived in France for ten years. It shows the dark side of immigration, the lowly paid jobs and the risks run by desperate people. The film will make you laugh so go and see it but look at the other agenda and this isn’t funny. This is something that affects Europe and the US, Australia and even places like Argentina. Our burgeoning global human population especially in the mid latitudes is either moving to the north or to the south as they see the relative wealth of those regions. We don’t have a plan but we really need one. Go see the film and think about what is happening in both your country and in the world.

Advertisement

Wild Tales – Relatos Savajes

I have just been to see this wonderful and very funny film that is wicked in its dark humour content. It takes every day situations, six of them, and exaggerates their outcomes. The film was produced by Almodovar and has his style stamped all over it. While waiting for the film to start there were several Hollywood trailers that featured many special visual and audio effects, car chases and killing people. In comparison then it would appear that Hollywood has not only lost the plot but lost all the plots. In Britain it would be nice to see some of the independent film makers products. The slops that Hollywood produced can’t be everything that comes out of the US.

Tea and Sangria – Indie film

If you get a chance and you want to see a great little independent film then pay to see Tea and Sangria. It is a film by Peter Domankiewicz who has put his life, soul and most of his money into making and getting it distributed. He and the cast all deserve success with this wonderful romcom. It is the story of David who moves to Madrid to live with his Spanish girlfriend but not everything goes to plan. Search for it on Twitter and Facebook as well as looking at the reviews.

Film – Les âmes de papier Cine Lumiere South Kensington London 12th January 2015

Eight of us went to see this film last night at the Cine Lumiere in South Kensington and we all came out thinking what an amazing film. It was I think for all of us beautiful and stunning. The French certainly know how to tell a story. In the time of films consisting of loud bangs and flashes and where in the Cineworld we go to the sound permeates through from the screen next door this film is just a good story. The visual equivalent of a good book. It is a beautiful tale of life, love and loss. The actors and actresses don’t appear to have had fortunes spent on plastic and teeth but instead look like you and I. And of course there is the eccentricity of Parisian neighbours and what a city to have as a backdrop. Maybe more people want to come to London but Paris is a far more beautiful city and long may it remain so.

French film – Mea Culpa – Cine Lumiere South Kensington London

This evening we went to the Cine Lumiere situated in the Institut Francais in the heart of South Kensington. It is an action packed film but a little light on the plot with even a fairly large hole in it but still a good romp of a police buddy movie. It is a story about Simon and Franck a close pair but as we join the film in the present with flashbacks Simon is working as a security guard and has left the force. We are fed snippets of information between various chase and fight scenes. All in all well worth seeing. Especially at the Cine Lumiere.

Word on the Water – A Tale of Corporate Greed – Private Eye 1380

David v Goliath might be the next Hollywood blockbuster, they must be making it after having made Noah etc, but in the real world Goliath Inc, Goliath Corp and Goliath PLC kill and trample all over David the good guy. And here is just another tale of the little guys losing out to the corporate monsters. So let’s start with a couple of photos to illustrate who the good guys are. This is the canal boat, Word on the Water, a floating bookshop and poetry venue. And this is the cat that lives on the boat. The photos were taken near one entrance of Paddington station on the Grand Union Canal. In an article titled, “Paddington bare”, Private Eye explains that the Canal and River Trust have selected British Land to take two new permanent trade moorings and you can guess where :-). They plan to open a floating coffee shop and “Welcome centre” in the two moorings. The article adds that there are already more than a dozen coffee outlets in the area including one on a canal boat. So huge evil corporation that has spent £470 million (how much of that is debt?) buying up the local area versus a small independent business and cultural space. It doesn’t take a genius to work out the ending and it isn’t a Hollywood one. Story copyright of Private Eye. Buy it, you will be amazed.

French film – Prêt à tout – Anything for Alice Ciné lumière

We went to see this great lighthearted French romcom on Tuesday evening at South Kensington’s Ciné lumière. A wonderful cinema that is still great value for money but not very well attended. It is a shame that so many Brits won’t go to a film with sub titles but will sit through so many Hollywood slops that rely on ever louder sound and visual effects often lacking even a reasonable level of a plot. This film has some very funny gags, and yes, it is predictable in many ways but for entertainment value it is worth watching. The story won’t tax your mind too much but after a busy day at work it is a good film to help you unwind.