It's the anti-Diving Bell. Whereas that was about the freedom and life found in constraint, this found no such optimism. These two astonishing films are great companion pieces.
The foreign film Oscar snub, well, honestly, it's the AMPAS' loss. Also, Anamaria Marinca was astonishing, as were the writing and direction.
The first half of the film almost works like The Lives of Others, and endlessly interesting, taut thriller held under the totalitarianism of communism. Later on, this becomes a grungy, pensive character study and rumination, and really gives up on entertainment. So, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to those looking for an enjoyable movie-going experience, but if you want to see an expert piece of film making, you should get to this as fast as you can.

A

For once I have to agree with snack. Incredibly realistic piece with very few cuts and with an audacious performance by Anamaria Marinca who has to command the screen in order to give the movie the impact it needs, since we see everything through her eyes (except for a single scene), and does it flawlessly. We'll be hearing more about her, I'm sure. This requires a certain mood, though. Easely the best Palm D'Or winner since Van Sant's Elephant.


(Oh, and please don't make comparisons with the mediocre Vera Drake.)

Hmm, I found Vera Drake to be mediocre as well, so since you say it's nothing like that...I should probably check it out.

A really great film. Very emotional and great acting by the lead actress. Everyone should check this out.

A-

I must've seen a different film then.

A tedious, pointless film. You know there's something terribly wrong with a flick when the lead spends the entire first half looking for Kent cigarettes. The performances were so-so, with the exception of Bebe (sp?) who was great. And whoever edited this needs to be fired ASAP. The dinner at the boyfriend's house gave the word "dragging" a whole new meaning.

I'm truly happy it wasn't nominated for an Oscar.

D

I hate to be a dick...but someone didn't get it.

I hate to be a dick...but someone likes pretentious, boring, pointless films.

As opposed to stupid, overblown and even more pointless action films...


Different strokes for different folks, people. Opinions. Everyone has one, fortunately.

I don't want to use too many words to describe this film. I don't want to spoil the experience in any way. But I will say this; it's a masterpiece. It's one of the best foreign language films I have ever seen. It features some of the finest acting of last year. It has dozens of extremely long camera shots, including two shots that must have run for over ten minutes...and every second of the shots adds to the film's unusually strong intensity. The performance of the abortionist ranks among the best of last year. The main woman is fantastic as well. It's extraordinarily realistic in its dialogue and silence, both of which are put to fabulous use here. This is not a movie for everyone. It's for people who appreciate filmmaking, and it's for people with patience. It's unlike anything I've ever seen.

A+

By the way, this has a fucking 99 on metacrtic with 31 reviews. ON METACRITIC. That's unheard of.

WOW, what an amazing film. I'm in complete agreement with Billybob on this one. Words cannot convey the experience of watching this remarkable film.

Grade A

I'll join the chorus.

This is a uncompromisingly bleak, depressing, and utterly heartwrenching work, with some astonishing performances, impressively deft writing, and accomplished camerawork. It's a rather simplistic tale told with the maximum of psychological depth and artistic effect, making it feel much more powerful and affecting than it otherwise would be. As a result, every action is heightened to become life-changing; every choice has devastating consequences. It's a truly moving film.

It reminded me a lot of Kieslowski's A Short Film About Killing, what with its communist setting, exceptionally realist approach, and decidedly dreary outlook on life, and it has a similar sort of subtle morality to it that's neither heavy-handed nor out of place. When the camera pans down to show the tiny fetus, bloodied on the bathroom floor, we know exactly what the film is saying, without it explicitly bashing us over the head. It's refreshingly understated and still extraordinarily profound.

One of the better films of the year, whichever one it was released in.

I NEED TO FUCKING SEE THIS. Someone help.

No offense, but I believe you missed the point of that scene.

Anyway, I'd give it either an 8/10 (B+) or 8/10 (A-).

A wonderful lesson in the use of silence, each one saying far more than a hundred lines of dialogue. Brilliantly directed and acted, this is a wonderful treat, but it's certainly not for everyone. A-

kinda great

also



kinda the point mmm

A