Michelle Strozykowski's Blog

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

I'm watching our hamster running about in her plastic ball, moving fast but going nowhere. At the risk of sounding like a bit of a depressive geek, from an existentialist viewpoint aren't we all going nowhere fast? Maybe it's the weather, which has quickly turned grey and gloomy, but more likely this sudden lapse in my customary optimism is down to watching too much of the Film4 channel on digital telly.

There's been an Ingmar Bergman season running recently, which I have dipped in and out of, leading to a re-appreciation of The Seventh Seal. Now whilst I can assure everyone that this film is in no way depressing whatsoever, and indeed has many moments of hilarity, maybe it's time I watched a proper comedy. Stay tuned foreign film fans, world cinema has a wealth of humourous films to choose from, and I promise to unearth a comedy gem or two by this time next week!

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

I finally managed to see The Dark Knight last week, which I thoroughly enjoyed. LOVED Heath Ledger as the Joker, which almost goes without saying thanks to the media his untimely death brought to his performance in the film.

I hold no bones with all this silly talk of an Oscar nomination though. Yes, his Joker was everything you wanted from the character - at times charming, at others chilling and psychotic - but would there be any suggestion of an Oscar if Ledger wasn't dead?

The Dark Knight is a summer blockbuster. A very fine one, granted, but not an Oscar contender by fault or design. Besides, Ledger was part of an excellent ensemble cast, so if he deserves an Oscar nom then so too do Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale and Gary Oldman.

For more information on Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan and his incredible filmography - not a foot wrong so far - please check out my latest article Director Profile: Christopher Nolan

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Apologies Foreign Film blog fans (all 3 of you!) for a small gap in communications. I've been kicking back in the sunshine (and sloshing thru' the mud) at the Summer Sundae Weekender in Leicester. Normal service will now be resumed (hopefully), but first I must report what happened when I met Joe Cornish of the Adam and Joe Show telly/radio fame.

First of all everything was going so well. We had a lovely chat and he laughed at our jokes and listened to our ideas for about 5 minutes. Me and the boyf. actually thought we had a new best friend....Unfortunately, the following day we tuned into the Adam and Joe radio show only to hear about half an hour of air time filled with the very ideas we had been discussing with Joe the previous day. Should we have been flattered? Well we would have been if there had been even the slightest nod of thanks. It's not as though we expected him to remember our names, but a quick mention, in passing, of the lovely couple he'd been chatting to would have easily sufficed!!!

Slebs eh? Who'd talk to 'em? More than once?

Anyway, this just goes to remind me why I love the foreign film world so much. Nothing beats maintaining a hefty amount of distance between you and your idols, if you want to preserve the love and affection.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Summer seems to have finally reached us here in Britain, and with it lazy days filled with barbecues, parties, drinking and having fun. Whilst enjoying my third or fourth glass of Pimm's (how refined!) on a recent gloriously warm evening, I started to reminisce about drinking games I was foolish enough to get involved with in my younger days.

I've done Star Wars – everybody drink when they say 'force' or 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' - but the best one of all is Bruce Robinson's Quirky Cult British Film: Withnail and I. Check out my latest article for great quotes from Withnail and news concerning a certain Mr Johnny Depp's involvement with Mr Robinson's latest project.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Last night I watched the Australian film Shine. It's one of my favourites, and rightly won Geoffrey Rush an Oscar for his moving portrayal of pianist David Helfgott.

It made me think about how many other foreign films have carved themselves a place in peoples' hearts, earning cult classic status in the process. The sort of films people talk about and recommend to their friends, generating new fans generation after generation.

I remember at college when the cool girl (in my eyes anyway) with pink hair and tattoos found out I was into films. She recommended her favourite film Betty Blue. At the time (I won't say how many years ago) I only knew it from the iconic poster, but after I finally got round to renting it I fell in love with foreign films. Betty Blue has a gorgeous soundtrack, fabulous leads in Beatrice Dalle and Jean-Hugues Anglade, romance, madness, colours, scenery, everything!

I haven't seen Betty Blue for well over a decade, but just thinking about it now I'm going to have to dig it out and watch it again. If you feel the same way about films, check out Foreign Films: Cult Classics and Quirky Favourites, and see if you agree with the recommendations.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

The clouds are grey, the threat of precipitation imminent. It must be summer in green and pleasant England....and summer means festivals! Glastonbury is done and dusted, but there are plenty of other festivals just around the corner, ranging in size from boutique chic to positively gargantuan! Even those crazy cats from The Mighty Boosh organised a festival this year.

Although loads of music festivals have film screenings, I've never quite understood the attraction of sitting in a field to watch a film, surrounded by loudmouth nutters. I have to admit though, the recent Meltdown Festival – which took place in London's Southbank Centre – turned me back on to the idea that films could be a worthwhile festival experience. They screened Ridley Scott's Bladerunner accompanied by a live orchestral performance of Vangelis' futuristic soundtrack. How cool is that?

The film festivals proper kicked off in Britain with Edinburgh's International Film Festival, where British film director Shane Meadows picked up the Michael Powell award for his new film Somers Town. The possible (although it's only a rumour!!!) new Doctor Who Robert Carlyle picked up the best actor gong for his performance in Summer, and German maverick Werner Herzog garnered the award for best documentary for his new film At the End of the World. After my recent profile of Wim Wenders, perhaps Herzog needs to be the next German director on my list for a retrospective career profile. Watch this space.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Following on from my recent look at the history of German Expressionist films, I thought I'd take a look at the work of a modern German auteur. Wim Wenders is a hugely successful European director, whose films have the power to entertain and entrance.

Unfortunately, his latest film Palermo Shooting has taken a complete drubbing at the hands of the critics, but that should not denigrate the past contributions this great director has made to the landscape of European cinema. See my article Profile of Wim Wenders the German Film Director for a breakdown of his best films.

Wenders has also been announced as the head of the jury at this years Venice film festival from Aug 27th - Sept 6th - about which I hope to bring you more news nearer the time.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Holiday season is upon us; a fact transparently reflected by the sight of big flashy blockbuster movies at the multiplex. This year, as respite, the world of foreign films has a holiday gem to offer.

The new French film from Tunisian born director Abdellatif Kechiche, Couscous, offers a different staple of the holiday season. Namely a foreign film about food. Winner of the Cesar award for best French film last year, of course Couscous isn't just about food. It's also about family, tradition, culture, dreams, disasters and everything in between.

For me, having just spent a few days in the glorious Spanish sunshine enjoying vistas of olive groves and strolls along roads lined with citrus trees, Couscous couldn't have come at a better time. I've been feasting outdoors on Spanish tomatoes and mozzarella, crusty bread, olives and allioli, and my thoughts have inevitably turned to foodie foreign films.

The best ones evoke memories, inspire yearnings and transport viewers to the sights, sounds and flavours of far off places. Check out my latest foreign films article The Best Foodie Films, and revel in the dramatic impact food can create in films.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

The lure of summer blockbusters is momentarily pulling me away from the esoteric hidey-hole comfort of foreign films. I'm looking forward to the new Batman film with a mounting sense of excitement. Heath Ledger's penultimate performance (Dr Parnassus still to come of course) is intriguing and tragic in equal measure, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne's love interest hits all the right notes. Please have a look at my Dark Knight article for further slathering anticipation, and the new trailer.

Christian Bale tenuously links this blog back into the foreign film subject, as the only non-American to ever have taken on the role of caped crusader. The Welsh born actor, along with London born director Christopher Nolan, has re-defined Batman. I wonder if the same will be said of his role in the forthcoming Terminator film? He has been announced as the new John Connor in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. Not out until 2009 and already I can't wait!

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

I'm one of those girls who couldn't care less about the new Sex and the City movie. Yes, we do exist! I've occasionally dipped into the TV series, but the idea of transposing this vacuous show to the big screen strikes me as meaningless.

I know the girls have a legendary camaraderie and the scripts are raucously entertaining, but it's all so fake. Unattainable glamour, money, friendships and killer heels. The interest SatC generates here in Britain (where I'm writing from) surprises me. Despite the vast differences in dating etiquette displayed by those New York gals, SatC fans in Britain are legion.

Controversially, the premier took place in London, on the 12th May, and was met by intense excitement. Strange it wasn't in New York, often cited as the fifth member of the SatC cast? Is it a turkey? I hope not, because one thing I am pleased to see is women achieving decent screen time. SatC doesn't appeal to me, but I hope it pleases the large proportion of eager female fans it was made for.

Let's face it, strong roles for women are still scarce. Angelina Jolie aside, action films, superheroes and daredevil archaeologist roles all tend to be filled by men. Luckily, it's different in foreign films. Check out my latest article Women in Modern Foreign Films – Strong Roles for Leading Ladies in Art-house/Subtitled Films and see for yourself.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

I'm looking forward to Hellboy II immensely. First and foremost there's the magnificent Ron Perlman who plays the titular demon. From the strong but forlorn Vincent in the TV show Beauty and the Beast to the sweet natured circus strong man One in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's City of Lost Children, no-one does the alienated, unappreciated hero thing as well as Ron.

Secondly, director Guillermo Del Toro is fast becoming a real favourite (of mine and everyone else's). Since making the first hugely overlooked Hellboy film, Del Toro has received deserved recognition for his fantasy epic Pan's Labyrinth.

Strangely, considering how much I love Hellboy, I was put off watching this critically acclaimed masterpiece for a long time. I somehow managed to utterly convince myself I would hate it. I think my reticence may have had something to do with the clips I'd seen of Ivana Baquero (Ophelia) crawling through muddy insect infested tunnels.

With this initial reluctance in mind, I decided to have a fresh look at Pan's Labyrinth to see if it does indeed manage to overcome the pre-conceptions many of us hold regarding fantasy films attempts at serious drama. Does it in fact live up to the hype? Find out inPan's Labyrinth Film Review.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

This weekend I went to see a fantastic piece of theatre called Contains Violence. It took place amongst the deserted roofs and office buildings of Hammersmith, London. We, the audience, sat on a rooftop terrace, wearing headphones, clutching binoculars and spying on proceedings.

Our narrator, actor Simon Kane, walked around the audience with microphone in hand – Jeremy Kyle style – informing us through our headphones that he would tell us what to pay particular attention to. As the play unfolds, it starts to become apparent that his version of the story might not be the absolute truth. The images and sounds we're presented with, the flashbacks and revelations, make for a confusing web of intrigue. To arrive at at a conclusion about what we've witnessed entails living our very own Jimmy Stewart/Rear Window experience. The disparate strands of story require piecing together like a jigsaw.

This Hitchcock inspired performance encouraged me to re-assess the great man himself. It's generally agreed that Jamaica Inn (1939) marks the end of Hitchcock's British films, although his next film Rebecca (1940) remains intrinsically British in character despite being made in America. This is perhaps because both of these films were adaptations of books by Cornish writer Daphne Du Maurier. Rear Window is far more universal in theme. The film centres on the desire to watch other people, whilst remaining unseen by them. It also allows us to witness a crime, without becoming directly involved. Contains Violence shares the same focus, satisfying the voyeuristic mores of cinephiles and theatre-goers alike.

Recently I have also been writing extensively about Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Like Hitchcock, Jackson enjoys making cameo appearances in his own films. Check out Peter Jackson – The Early Years for a few pointers on these brief occurrences.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, a firm favourite of your humble foreign films steward, has been announced as Peter Jackson's choice to direct the two proposed new Hobbit films.

Del Toro's track record of intensely evocative art house fantasy such as Pan's Labyrinth, combined with the comic book style action and thrills of Hellboy make him a perfect choice.

Jackson himself will be developing the screenplay, along with fellow Lord of the Rings writers Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens.

For more information about Peter Jackson's meteoric rise to fame, and the exciting new projects he's reported to be involved in such as Halo, please read Peter Jackson - The Early Years and Peter Jackson - New and Recent Films. Both articles will be linked to a comprehensive filmography of this amazing director.

Meanwhile, Del Toro's eagerly awaited Hellboy sequel is set to hit (UK) cinema screens in August. See a preview of Hellboy II – The Golden Army here.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Anthony Minghella passed away on March 18th 2008, suffering a fatal haemorrhage after surgery on his neck due to cancer. The greatly admired director of Cold Mountain, The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley was 54.

Anthony was held in great esteem, not just as a great director but as a warm, generous, lovely man. Atonement director Joe Wright spoke with consumate fondness about his Godfatherly guidance in the Observer newspaper tribute to Minghella (23/3/08).

“He made me consider very carefully everything I was doing. He'd make me articulate the choices I was making in the script and clarify them. He had tremendous generosity of spirit...”

My personal favourite film of Minghella's was the heart wrenching Truly Madly Deeply. Although this feature debut was made for TV, the standard Minghella achieved with his brilliant writing and directing earned the film a proper cinematic release. A virtually unheard of turn of events.

I was greatly saddened to hear of his death.

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Spring is set to bring a number of interesting films to the screen. I'm particularly looking forward to Garth Jenning's Son of Rambow, a film set in the1980s about two young boys who watch a pirate video of Rambo, inspiring them to make their own film, Son of Rambow.

Release date: April 4th (UK).

Mike Leigh's Happy Go Lucky is picking up plenty of awards, especially for lead actress Sally Hawkins. Happy Go Lucky is about a cheerfully optimistic London school teacher who lives life to the full. It was recently previewed on the Film Four channel, and it looks great. Mike Leigh spoke candidly about making the film which, as always, relied on an improvised script. (Much as the French New Wave directors did back in the 50s). He said that having got to know Sally Hawkins while working with her on Vera Drake and All or Nothing, he felt it was time to give her centre stage. Happy Go Lucky also stars the brilliant up and coming young actress Andrea Riseborough, seen recently on British TV Screens in the fabulous Being Human and Party Animals.

Release date: April 18th (UK)

Guillermo Del Toro is up to his old tricks with the spooky looking Spanish horror film The Orphanage. Del Toro is the big name producer behind new director Juan Antonio Bayona. Despite Del Toro's non-directorial role, the film still closely follows his trademark mix of psychological tension and supernatural fantasy. The posters alone are enough to awaken long forgotten nightmares.

Release date: 21st March (UK).

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Living in a relatively small town has advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it's much cheaper than city living, but on the minus side getting to see the latest movies can be a problem. No Country for Old Men wasn't deemed worthy of a release here, despite its Oscar winning status, and although the local cinema does try to offer a choice, the vast majority of films inevitably tend towards the mainstream, teenage market. When they do get hold of a foreign film or a classic, it's usually only shown once. That's why I made sure I went to see La Vie En Rose, for its singular screening last Wednesday.

One of the best things about the one off Wednesday specials is that they get shown on the posh screen, which has a bar. Obviously the foreign film crowd are thought of as a well behaved bunch, who can be trusted to take beer into the cinema. It's all very civilised. Unfortunately, the normal disregard for small town audiences was in place, leading to my cinema being supplied with the very worst print available. La Vie En Rose was still watchable, but it was in no way enhanced by the presence of a nasty green line running down the screen. Worst of all, the climax to the film was beset by sound problems, giving the impression that Edith Piaf was duetting with a chicken.

Still, shouldn't complain, at least I got to see the film. Even better, on the way out everyone was handed a free ticket, by way of apology. Now I bet that never happens at the Odeon, Leicester Square!

Posted by Michelle Strozykowski

Hello and welcome to the foreign films blog. Feel free to get involved, contribute to the discussion forum or comment on articles - your feedback and opinions are very welcome, so please don't hesitate to contact me.

Awards Season Comes to a Close

This week I've been pondering the outcomes of the annual awardathon love-ins. Many fine foreign films and actors have been rewarded this year, with particularly notable appearances from Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton. The French actress Marion Cotillard pretty much swept the board, picking up a whole clutch of awards including an Oscar, a Bafta, a Cesar, and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose. I have to admit, I would never have predicted such a brilliant turn from Cotillard, even though I loved her in Luc Besson's 1998 French action/comedy Taxi.

British actor Daniel Day Lewis gave a moving speech at the SAG awards, dedicating the award for his performance in There Will Be Blood to Heath Ledger. Day Lewis then went on to garner best actor gongs at the Baftas, the Oscars and the Golden Globes. London born actress Tilda Swinton also achieved the triplicate of Bafta, Oscar and Golden Globe for her supporting role in Michael Clayton.

The awards ceremonies have introduced several strong contenders in the foreign films field. Hopefully, they'll begin filtering out to cinemas around the globe at various points this year, so we can all get to see them. The Counterfeiters picked up the Best Foreign Film Oscar, Pan's Labyrinth won BBC4's World Cinema Awards, The Lives of Others got the Bafta and The Elite Squad picked up the Golden Bear at Berlinale. More on these as and when they all become available to view in Britain.