CLOSE TO THE POINT, BUT ALAS...

Wartime stories are kind a worn out genre, even in Europe, which tried to give them some more humane touch (”A very longengagement”, ”Atonement”, ”Enemy at the gates”).

”Frantz” is one of those humane dramas about the gallantry and knighthood between the enemies and a discreet love triangle that emerges among the hatred and fresh wounds after the ending of First World War.

Slow tempo and gradual building of tension will seduce the viewer in the first part of the movie, but will leave the story open and pretty much without the required climax and outcome.

”Frantz” is a solid piece of war/love drama, but not a special one as well.

FRANTZ – 5/10

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AMUSING CARICATURE

Paul Verhoeven made his name with some commercial long features in the '90s, but since then struggled to achieve a more „serious” CV in the filming industry on both coasts of the Atlantic.

„Elle” will return him to his European roots, telling a slow pace story about a deeply deviated Michelle (very good Isabelle Huppert) who begins her search for the man who raped her in her home. On that road, she will show a thousand different faces, each worse than the previous one. Script will go on to make some heavy caricature of her character, but a solid ammount of good old fashioned Euro pervert fun will accompany it to the very end.

„Elle” will make an average USA viewer feel uncomfortable, but will also reward a Euro-movie lover with some strong laughs and sense of expectancy.

ELLE – 7/10

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SURPRISINGLY REALISTIC

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I found ”The battle of Algiers” via iMdb’s Top 250 and never regreted watching it. Although shot over 50 years ago, it still resonates strong in the eye and the ear of  every movie lover.

Done the old-school way, with one black and white camera, huge sets with hundreds of extras, it depicts the brutal civil war led between the indigenous Muslim population of Algiers and the occupying armed forces from France.

High levels of tension, detailed script and strong opposing characters of Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) and Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin) will guide you smoothly through the entire course of this movie.

”The battle of Algiers” is one valuable lesson from history, urban guerilla warfare and film making.

THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS - 7/10

GOING SOMEWHERE

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French multiculturality is one of the biggest open questions inside this country’s society. Marseille school is the backdrop for ”The Class” and it is a volatile backdrop, with every possible nationality and race imaginable involved.

Although there is no plot in the classical term, the script is invigorated by the destructive dialogues between 15-year olds and their teacher that tries to maintain control over them. All the major issues of these kinds of society’s sub-units are tackled: racism, nationalism, local-patriotism, poverty, inclusion and harassment.

”The Class” is more of a documentary than a ”classical” long-feature film, and a good one as well.

THE CLASS - 7/10

STANDING STILL

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French-Canadian co-production about the substitute teacher coming from nowhere to take over the class that was traumatized by the former teacher suicide inside the classroom has all the ingredients of the European small scale drama, but somehow fails to fulfill all the potentials of it.

Acting is mediocre, plot is practically non-existent, but there are some quality questions opened when it comes to children’s trauma, growing up and relationships inside the classroom.

”Monsieur Lazhar” could have been a great school drama, but it isn’t. It’s just decent.

MONSIEUR LAZHAR - 4/10