SIFF Sighting: OUR SUMMER IN PROVENCE (drama; France)

Tassoula reviewed the drama OUR SUMMER IN PROVENCE, which played at the 41st annual Seattle International Film Festival today.

The link can be found on her blog.

SIFF Sighting: LOVE IS IN THE AIR (romance; France)

Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) is a woman living in New York, headed home to France to marry her boyfriend, who is a respected lawyer.

Antoine (Nicolas Bedos) is a mess—traipsing through life with one woman after another, none satisfying him for more than two weeks.

As often happens in romantic comedies, our two stars here have a "meet cute," and this time it's on an airplane in the seats right next to one another.

They both discover (Julie in horror; Antoine in delight) who they're seated with and we quickly learn they were longtime loves before Antoine did something horrible to wreck it all.

Through glasses of champagne and an abundance of turbulence, they recount their relationship for those within earshot and remember why they parted.

As often happens, the memories recalled make the mood bittersweet and the two must contemplate if they'll go their separate ways once the plane lands, or try one more time to be a successful couple.

Sagnier's manner is reminiscent of early Meg Ryan performances; Bedos nails his role as a careless playboy effortlessly, but what stops this film from being as charming as it wants to be are the continued formulaic scenarios.

The ending also risks leaving a bad taste in the mouth. Anyone who has ever had another person sabotage them for selfish reasons may not appreciate the resolution here.

The classic French Kiss would probably be a better option for those seeking a happily ever after rom com.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR screened at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

The Prey

It's easy to root for one of the "bad guys" in this smart thriller from Eric Valette.

Franck (Albert Dupontel) is serving time for a bank robbery when he finds himself rescuing a fellow prisoner from a brutal attack. He believes the man, Jean-Louis (Stéphane Debac), is innocent of the crimes for which he's accused. When Jean-Louis is released from prison, he offers to pay back Frank's kindness by helping him protect his family on the outside.

Fearing he may have made a terrible mistake in trusting Jean-Louis, Franck escapes from prison and lives on the run, desperately searching for his wife and child while at the same time hiding from law enforcement who believe he's a serial killer.

Each layer of discovery in this film represents a thrill ride for the audience—from the cops in pursuit of Franck to the sadistic nature of the real serial killer. There are foot chases, shoot-outs,  stake-outs, setups and an abundance of bloody results.

Thankfully, the lead actors do a brilliant job of convincing the audience that each act is feasible, which is enough to keep us hanging on through the twists and turns of the story to the very end.

Though there are undeniably formulaic elements to the script, the results are perfectly satisfying.

SIFF Sighting: A CHECKOUT GIRL'S BIG ADVENTURES (Romantic Comedy, France)

Solweig (Déborah François) was unable to pursue her dream of being a teacher because her father had an accident that left him in a coma. Faced with the reality that he may never wake up, she takes a job as a checkout girl to support herself and her ten-year-old brother.

To vent her frustrations about how she's treated by her superiors and the customers, she starts an anonymous blog, which becomes nationally known and prompts her employer to conduct a witch hunt to find the writer. Meanwhile, Solweig is busy accidentally falling in love with a stranger who came to her rescue on a cold, snowy night.

In this lighthearted comedy, which is based on a memoir, we experience a slice of life with folks we can't help but know—grocery store clerks. They work hard each day doing the same thing over and over again and frankly aren't treated so well. Toss in the added twist of an ill family member and the responsibility of caring for another and we have a very sympathetic situation.

Our heroine here keeps a chin up despite the drama and keeps us rooting for her in life and love.

Though terribly predictable and formulaic, the characters are very well-drawn (and for the most part, likeable) and the story is a sweet one to witness.

A CHECKOUT GIRL'S BIG ADVENTURES screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: 38 WITNESSES (Thriller, France)

In the spring of 1964, a young woman named Kitty Genovese was brutally raped and murdered in New York, just steps from her apartment. 38 people heard the attack; none acted quickly enough to save her life.

This true story became famous and ignited many psychological studies into group mentality (the theory was that most likely everyone who heard her screams figured someone else had already called the police).

Kitty's murder also inspired this film, 38 WITNESSES, a fictional version of the crime which takes place in France.

This spin on the situation focuses on the guilt of the witnesses rather than the loss of the girl.

At first, all claim not to have heard anything at the time of the attack, but then Pierre (Yvan Attal), who lives in the same complex, can't live with himself and comes forward to confess he heard it all. This causes the investigation to re-open and interview the 37 other witnesses as well. Of course, not all 37 were asleep during the crime.

Director Lucas Belvaux poses an interesting question in his exploration of the witnesses, that makes us ponder the aftermath of the real event. What happened to all of those people who heard Kitty die? Did they suffer remorse for their silence? Did they just go on as if nothing had happened? Or were their relationships, jobs and futures affected by the tragedy?

The acting and production value in this film is superb, though we would've probably felt more empathy with the characters had we spent some time with the victim. We as an audience don't get to learn about the life that is lost, which does provide a convenient detachment from the case.

But it's a good, solid film from an impressive director and cast.


38 WITNESSES will screen later this month at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. For tickets, visit the SIFF website.

SIFF Sighting: COMING HOME (Drama, France)

Gaëlle (Agathe Bonitzer), has been locked up for years in her kidnapper's cellar. Though he doesn't appear to be sexually abusing her, he does beat her and sometimes tie her up. 

In contrast, Vincent (Reda Kateb) also attempts to educate her, shares meals with her, takes her for walks in the forest and does his best to provide medical care.

She seems to develop a fondness for him, though she frequently slaps him and says she'll never love him. In a weird, warped way, they seem to care deeply about one another. One day when she is nearly an adult, he finally allows her to leave. And leave, she does.

Upon her return home, she is sent immediately to therapy, which also makes her feel like somewhat of a prisoner.

Her parents love her and were desperate to get her back, but once she's home they have no idea how to treat her. The same is true for her childhood friends—especially one who witnessed her kidnapping. He doesn't know why he felt the need to come and visit her, shares this with her and promptly leaves.

As if it wasn't hard enough losing your childhood.

Frédéric Videau's film is a psychological exploration of what happens in an authentic way between a prisoner and their captor. How human nature shapes one's feelings and emotions to cope with whatever is placed in one's path.

Agathe Bonitzer plays the lead role with the right mix of angst and fragility; Reda Kateb makes Vincent less a monster than we'd expect.

All in all a great film to spark debate about the complexities of such a relationship.

COMING HOME will screen at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. For tickets, visit the SIFF website.

Book Review — Paris Movie Walks: Ten Guided Tours Through The City of Lights! Camera! Action!

Having visited France, but never Paris, the new book Paris Movie Walks: Ten Guided Tours Through The City of Lights! Camera! Action! has me salivating for a plane ticket.

In the first page of the Prequel, author Michael Schümann confesses that readers have "come to the wrong place" if they're looking for a city guide that covers historical figures and facts. But that doesn't mean the pages aren't rich with stories from the past—they're just fictional ones that have been brought to life by cinema.

And what a wealth of them there are!

From 1954's SABRINA to the recent sequel THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, Schümann covers it all, with step-by-step walks down to the street corner (and detailed maps to help). The narrative is structured so specifically, I almost feel as if I'd have to carry the book with me on all ten separate self-guided tours to be sure not to miss anything. But I guess that's the idea, eh?

What I like about the book (and what faithful Cinebanter listeners will find refreshing) is that the author spares no reserve about spoiling film plots. If you haven't seen the movies he's discussing, you'll probably want to catch up via Netflix before you depart (plus, what's the fun of walking by something you have no frame of reference for anyway?). That said, just reading his different descriptions of places and characters (specifically Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke's lovers from BEFORE SUNSET) had me longing to literally follow in their footsteps and re-live some of the greatest moments I've experienced as a viewer.

Also to note is the author's balanced treatment of independent films (THE THREE COLORS TRILOGY, TELL NO ONE) and mainstream fare (THE DA VINCI CODE, A VIEW TO A KILL). If the films both happened on the same block, he appropriately offers equal narrative for each.

I've taken themed walks in European cities before (i.e. "Magical Mystery Tour" in London, focusing on The Beatles), but never have I contemplated such a comprehensive tour, which covers so much ground both of the city and of the art.

The only minor drawbacks of the book are the sloppy edits (Reese Witherspoon doesn't spell her name "Reece") and the somewhat jumbled "What to Watch" section at the end that isn't based on more than the author's enjoyment of the films. Instead, I'd have preferred a list of which flicks contain the most minutes of Paris or a few more sections like the one titled The French-American Friendship, which offered more context into the landmarks along the walk.

Overall though, it's a definite gem for any film buff thinking of a trip to The City of Lights. I can't imagine wanting to see it for the first time any other way.


Paris Movie Walks by Michael Schürmann includes 280 pages of text, photos and maps. It is available now in trade paperback from The Intrepid Traveler, $15.95.

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SIFF Sighting: GOD'S OFFICES (drama; France)

The life of those who run family planning centers in the United States can sometimes be fraught with danger because of the strong opposing beliefs to their practices. Either that's not the case in France, or the filmmaker failed to communicate that.

In fact, GOD'S OFFICES has no beginning or end. Viewers are simply placed in the middle of a days' work as counselors are speaking with folks who for some reason want to terminate their pregnancies or begin a plan of contraception. The series of vignettes includes teenagers with religious parents, a religious boyfriend who wants to verify that his girlfriend (who had formerly been sexually abused) is a virgin, a woman having an affair with a violent man and of course, a prostitute.

Presented in a documentary-like fashion, the conversations with these characters could have been very colorful, but instead play very dry against the backdrop of their drab offices. Also disappointing was the limited interaction between workers. We only see them come together as a team two or three times, and when they do, their talks are just as boring as the others.

The fatal flaw here is that no emotion is conjured up by watching all of these situations play out. At no time did I feel empathy for the patients, or even angry with the patients. The matter-of-fact manner in which they presented the information unfortunately translated to a mediocre result—one that is well worth skipping.

GOD'S OFFICES screened at the 35th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

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SIFF Sighting: A FRENCH GIGOLO (drama; France)

Josiane Balasko's A FRENCH GIGOLO is a family story. Not 'family' in the Disney sense, but a tale that revolves around the inner workings of two non-traditional French families.

The first is made up of two sisters: Judith (Nathalie Baye) and Irene (played by Balasko herself). They live together and run a QVC-like television program that showcases new info-mercial caliber products. Neither are married.

The second family is centered around a couple: Marco (Eric Caravaca) and his wife Fanny (Isabelle Carré), who live with Fanny's mom and younger sister. Fanny is the partial owner of the hair salon where she works and Marco takes odd jobs.

Their lives intersect when Marco, desperate for cash to keep his wife's salon going, decides to moonlight as a male escort, and Judith becomes one of his regular clients. He is a few decades younger than she, and he has other clients, but Judith is special. There is a chemistry there that causes them both to brim with happiness in one another's presence.

But...Marco still loves his wife and is essentially only doing this for her. Of course she doesn't necessarily see it that way when another client leads her to the truth, and that is where the real story begins. Is it worth it for Marco to continue as an escort to save their financial life, though it jeopardizes their marriage? Or is his time spent with Judith more in line with what he wants out of life and therefore worth pursuing on a non-professional basis?

The writing is so good in this film, you'll find yourself switching alliances throughout, agonizing for all sides. Though it's a complicated situation, it's not too unrealistic to be believable.

The acting is superb from all of the leads (especially Baye) and were it not for some annoying, unnecessary supporting characters (Fanny's sister; Bérénice at the TV show), this would be a somewhat flawless film.

A love triangle that not only includes three people, but three problems: money, jealousy and infidelity, which makes us question our own motives and reasoning.

A FRENCH GIGOLO screened at the 35th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: BABY LOVE (comedy; France)

In Vincent Garenq's BABY LOVE, dedicated pediatrician Manu (Lambert Wilson) has a strong desire to become a father, though his partner Phillipe (Pascal Elbé) agrees with the French law that dictates gay couples should not be parents. "It's unnatural," he says, though he clearly doesn't believe his love for Manu is so.

Unable to convince Phillipe that parenthood is the right choice for them, Manu breaks up with him and takes matters into his own hands by pretending to be straight for an adoption agency consultant, which backfires terribly.

Desperate, he begins searching for a woman to be his surrogate and finds one in Fina (Pilar López de Ayala), an adorable Argentinian woman who he accidentally hit with his car.

From there the film takes a few twisty turns (some predictable; others not) that carry viewers through the lives of characters who are both appealing and familiar.

Fina is especially charming with her delicate features and aura of sweetness; Manu is the man all women (and most men) would probably like to have in their lives. As a member of the audience you can't help but root for all of them, even when their goals unfortunately differ.

BABY LOVE is a tender, light-hearted glimpse into a very real problem that many gay couples face. Let's only hope that a decade from now, those problems won't exist.

BABY LOVE screened at the 35th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

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Cinebanter #57 - THE LAST MISTRESS and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

The MP3 of Cinebanter #57 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula survey sex and stoners in their double review featuring THE LAST MISTRESS and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. During the Last Five®, Michael enjoys a trip to Belgium, while Tassoula climbs aboard that CARRIER Michael has been raving about. And in the final segment, they announce what their next film will be. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:30 THE LAST MISTRESS Discussion
• Break
• 14:35 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 15:20 PINEAPPLE EXPRESS Discussion
• Break
• 34:35 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 35:15 The Last Five®
• Break
• 1:01:10 Show Notes/Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

The show is also available on Podcast Alley, and blubrry. Please vote for us at any of those sites and leave comments if you like what you hear.

And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. All donations are much appreciated.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: KING CORN, DRUNKEN MASTER, IN BRUGES, LAST TANGO IN PARIS and WATER. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: JAWS, ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, CARRIER (Part 1), CARRIER (Part 2) and THE RECRUITER.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the original music in this episode.

Cinebanter #56 - TELL NO ONE

The MP3 of Cinebanter #56 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula shower due praise on the exciting French film TELL NO ONE. During the Last Five®, Michael catches up with some classics, while Tassoula revisits one of the all-time great blockbusters, and in Listener Feedback, they both respond to comments and theories about THE DARK KNIGHT. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:26 TELL NO ONE Discussion, Part 1
• Break
• 17:00 TELL NO ONE Discussion, Part 2
• Break
• 30:15 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 31:10 The Last Five®
• Break
• 53:45 Listener Feedback
• 1:01:30 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

The show is also available on Podcast Alley, and blubrry. Please vote for us at any of those sites and leave comments if you like what you hear.

And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. All donations are much appreciated.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: THE APARTMENT, THE NEW YEAR PARADE, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, KING CORN and DRUNKEN MASTER. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: BATMAN BEGINS, FREEDOM WRITERS, HEIDI FLEISS: THE WOULD-BE MADAM OF CRYSTAL, JAWS and ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the original music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Cinebanter #34: SICKO

The MP3 file of Cinebanter 34 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula pray they won't get sick as they reflect on SICKO. They also share their Last Five®, and discuss the IMDB top 20 documentaries. Tassoula closes out the episode with some show notes. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 SICKO Discussion
• Break
• 27:23 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 28:05 The Last Five®
• Break
• 42:31 Documentaries Discussion
• Break
• 55:54 Show Notes
• 58:26 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

The show is also available on Podcast Alley, Pop Current and Podcast-Review. We've also recently joined the blubrry community. Please vote for us at any of those sites and leave comments if you like what you hear.

And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. All donations are much appreciated.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: APOCALYPTO, PARIS, JE'TAIME, TIME OUT, RATATOUILLE and BLACK SNAKE MOAN. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: 1408, ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, GOODFELLAS, THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX and SHERRYBABY.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Cinebanter #33: PARIS JE T'AIME

The MP3 file of Cinebanter 33 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula pick apart the good and the bad from the collection of short films PARIS JE T'AIME. They also share their Last Five®, and Average Matt returns with his review of SHREK THE THIRD. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 PARIS JE T'AIME Discussion
• Break
• 22:40 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 23:29 The Last Five®
• Break
• 42:41 Average Matt
• 50:27 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

The show is also available on Podcast Alley, Pop Current and Podcast-Review. We've also recently joined the blubrry community. Please vote for us at any of those sites and leave comments if you like what you hear.

And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. All donations are much appreciated.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: KNOCKED UP, DOWN THE VALLEY, SAVING FACE, BEER LEAGUE and APOCALYPTO. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: DOLPHINS, THE GODFATHER, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, PRIMO AMORE and 1941.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

WAITRESS Show Update

Good news—our technical difficulties have been resolved and we are back up and running.

Episode 31, WAITRESS, will be available on June 13.

In the meantime, here are a few more capsule reviews from Tassoula, who is currently attending the Seattle International Film Festival.

2 DAYS IN PARIS (romantic comedy)

Fans of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset will be delighted by the return of Julie Delpy in this film, which lands her in Paris portraying half of another bantering couple. This time she's paired up with former real-life boyfriend Adam Goldberg who plays her American boyfriend coming home with her to Paris to "meet the family." His germophobia and her past relationships create a comedic landscape that the two travel effortlessly upon, throughout the course of the film.

Goldberg is at his funniest as Jack, balancing the right amount of physical comedy with the timing of his sarcastic lines; Delpy is both a sweetheart and a spitfire as Marion, who you alternately question and adore. In the Q & A with Goldberg (see photo below) at SIFF, he explained that Delpy, who also directed the film, created a pleasantly collaborative atmosphere on-set, which probably explains the great on-screen chemistry between all the actors.

I only hope we see more from this gifted filmmaker.




2 DAYS IN PARIS premiered in the US at the 33rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival earlier this month. It will be open in limited release nationwide August 10.













GRIMM LOVE (German title: ROHTENBURG) (drama/thriller)

Years ago a man in Germany was imprisoned for cannibalism and murder after he met a willing participant on the Internet, killed him and ate him. This film is inspired by that story and is told through the journey of grad student Katie (Keri Russell) who is researching the killer, Oliver Hartwin (Thomas Kretschmann).

Fascinating as the story is, even I (who has a high tolerance for the bizarre) was sickened by the film's apparently accurate portrayal of the act. I wish that the filmmakers had left more to the imagination and explored further why both gentleman were driven to be aroused by such a heinous practice. We get more background on the 'victim' than we do the killer and even that isn't altogether satisfying.

The dialogue is also borderline campy for such a horrific topic and takes away from the effect of the outcome.

GRIMM LOVE screened at the 33rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival last month.

AMERICAN SHOPPER (documentary)

The nicest surprise for me so far at the festival has been this hilarious documentary.

Set in my college town of Columbia, Missouri, the story follows the quest of an insurance agent to launch the first-ever "National Aisling Championships" in the local Schnuck's grocery store.

What is aisling? Well, it's a sport/theatrical exercise that the agent created to bring pride to the city of Columbia. Never mind the fact the town boasts three respected institutions of higher learning—he wanted to invent something that the regular citizens could participate in and have fun with.

And darned if he didn't do just that.

We see the evolution of the idea come to (comedic) fruition from his initial meetings with the grocers to the actual day of the competition, which featured over 20 finalist competitors presenting their decorated shopping cart and accompanying routine to a panel of judges—and dozens of shoppers. Along the way you get to know quite a bit about the cast of characters who chose to participate and watch how they formulated their theme ideas, strategies and choreography. It's all presented in a cleverly edited, warmly funny way that will leave you shaking your head in happy disbelief.

You have to see it to believe it.

AMERICAN SHOPPER will screen at the 33rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival on June 10 at 1:30 p.m. For tickets, click here.