A FANTASTIC WOMAN/ UNA MUJER FANTASTICA

Chile, 2017, 100 minutes, Colour.
Daniela Vega.
Directed by Sebastian Lelio.

Sebastian Lellio has made a number of interesting films, the controversial Sacred Family and the award-winning Gloria. He tackles a contemporary issue, gender, transgender. His title focuses on the central character, as female, and as admirable.

The central character is called Marina, played by Daniela Vega, herself a transsexual. She gives a very serious performance, affectionate in her relationship, dignified in her conduct after the death of her partner and the antagonism from his family, feeling the grief of the death of the partner – and an outlet in classical singing lessons and final performance.

The setting is Santiago, an urban setting presented as ordinary but detailed. The action takes place over two days.

We are introduced to Orlando, a 57-year-old businessman having a massage – and then going to a club where he listens to Marina singing. They go to his apartment and we realise that they are partners. However, he wakens during the night, ill and is rushed to hospital. He dies.

Given the title, Marina is a woman of some dignity, courteous to people, but upset by a policewoman coming to voice suspicions about Orlando’s death, bruises on his body, and wanting to examine Marina. But this is nothing compared with the animosity of Orlando’s family, his son coming to the apartment, verbally abusing Marina, taking the dog which was hers. Orlando is ex-wife is even stronger, demanding that Marina bring the car, forbidding her to come to the funeral, wanting to talk directly about the relationship, Marina and her trans-situation, but talking directly means talking insultingly.

There is the issue of Marina being excluded from the funeral, emphasising the sensitivities of the family, although Orlando’s brother is much more sympathetic and understanding.

The drama also offers examples of homophobia and anger, leading to violence, targeting people whom they do not understand.

Marina is also taking lessons in classical singing – and, at the end, this is a symbol of her coping and succeeding in the future.

Transgender issues are in the news at the present time, many people mystified by persons with difficulties in identifying their gender as well as having surgery to fortify their choice. In telling this story, with a sympathetic central character, audiences may have an opportunity for greater understanding if not empathy.


1. A contemporary story about gender identity? In the person concerned? In the response of others? Fears, abuse, acceptance?

2. Santiago, the city, the streets and buildings, the clubs, police precincts? Church, cemetery, crematorium? The musical score? The popular songs in the club? The operatic songs?

3. The introduction to the film, Orlando and his massage, his age, going to the club, the attraction to Marina? Filling in his background, his business, his former wife, his son, brother?

4. The story of Marina? First seeing her singing at the club, a low voice, the face, masculine, feminine? The attraction to Orlando? Dancing, going home with him, the sexual relationship,? His awakening in the night, ill, Marina and her steadying him, his falling down the stairs, to the hospital, emergency, discussions with the doctor and nurses, his possessions, his death, Marina running away, being brought back by the police?

5. The suspicions, the bruises on Orlando from his fall, alcohol, drug testing? The aneurysm? Marina ringing his brother, the sympathetic brother?, With the dog, Bruno entering, his bitterness, antagonism, ousting Marina? The resentment about her relationship with Orlando? Contact with Sonia, the ex-wife? Her wanting Orlando’s car, Marina bringing it, the discussion, Sonia and her antagonism, forbidding her to go to the funeral?

6. The detective, the first encounter with Marina, some respect but yet suspicion? Their experience? Marina not ringing back, the message, Marina going, interrogation, wanting the physical check, the doctor, the photos?

7. Marina and her grief, bearing herself with dignity, doing the right thing by people? Conscious of people’s condemnation, confidence in herself? Going for the singing lesson and the support of the teacher?

8. Going to the church, walking up to the coffin, the reaction, being ousted? The son and the family, taking her in the car, verbal abuse, wrapping her head, throwing her out of the car, her looking at herself in the mirror? The decision to go to the cemetery, the crematorium, the being able to look at Orlando’s body, the brother offering the ashes and her refusal?

9. Her sister and brother-in-law, picking her up, the comments? At home?

10. Back at the apartment, the dog returned? Facing a future?

11. The finale, the singing on stage, her determination?

12. Audiences and understanding issues of gender, transgender, surgery, physical and psychological repercussions, self-image, as understood and misunderstood by others?

I AM BOLT

UK, 2016, 107 minutes, Colour.
Usain Bolt, Palais, Serena Williams, Sebastien Coe, Yohan Blake, Ziggy Marley, Chronixx.
Directed by Benjamin Turner, Gabriel Turner

While there was no one in the world without doubt who Usain Bolt was at the time the film was released, future interest will depend on how well an audience is aware of Bolt, his talent, his career, his record Olympic gold medals…

This is a British documentary about Bolt, the fastest man alive. It shows him as an athlete but it also shows him, quite strongly, as a person.

The film serves as a biography, outlining Bolt’s Jamaican background, his birth in 1987, the portrait of his mother and father and their comments about him as well is their watching his achievement in the Olympics, his life at school, his sport success, the initial coaches and their prognostications, training him. There are also a number of talking heads with his friends, filling in his background as well as their personal esteem of him.

While the film shows him as a teenager, it is when he is about 20 that he starts to win gold medals and starts to break records. The film has a great deal of video footage and records of his sprints.

While the film, outlining his career, opens at track events in Beijing in 2015, there are quite a lot of flashbacks, and the earlier part of the film showing the races in Beijing and his gold medals; the flashbacks to the London Olympics occur in the latter part of the film, no less exciting even though one knows the results, just having the opportunity to watch the races from various angles, hear Bolt’s comments on them afterwards, and all with speeds under 10 seconds.

The film indicates that Bolt can be nervous before events, but he seems a fairly calm personality, with religious undertones and invocation of God, enjoying partying and mixing with people, finding the ascetic discipline for sports very difficult, but able to submit himself to the rules and regulations for the regimen. His personal coach makes a lot of appearances, giving information about training, health, demands, and seems a very genial personality.

Prior to the Rio Olympics, Bolt seem to be at wary of participating but, according to the film, all of which was being made during the years preceding Rio, Bolt listens to Justin Gatlin, who had been disqualified for drug offences, but had made a comeback expecting to beat Bolt but failing to win the events. He broadcast a challenge before Rio, Bolt accepting – and, of course, ultimately succeeding.

There was also injury before Rio which required him to have some time off, go to a doctor in Germany who understood his injuries and was able to diagnose what was wrong and help him to recovery.

The film is interested in the talking heads who give their testimony, sports personalitires like the Brazilians footballers Peke and Reyer, like friend and four times Olympic gold winner, Serena Williams, Lord Sebastien Coe, as well as commentators and Jamaican musicians like Ziggy Marley and Chrionxx from Jamaican media (and scenes of jubilant celebrations in the streets). These are combined with the biography sequences as well as the training sequences, keeping audience interest.

Bolt had achieved his record nine gold medals before the age of 30. After the film was released, it was revealed that one of the runners in the 2012 4 x 100 m relay was found to be influenced by drugs and the gold medal withdrawn – which Bolt took rather philosophically.

For those interested in sports, this film is a must. For those not interested in sport – it is almost a must.

ANACONDAS: THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID

US, 2004, 97 minutes, Colour.
Johnny Messner, Ka Dee Strickland, Matthew Marsden, Nicholas Gonzalez, Eugene Byrd, Karl Yune, Morris Chestnut.
Directed by Dwight H.Little.

The original Anaconda was a popular show, generally ridiculed by the critics. This follow-up, not a sequel, received even less affirmation, including a Razzie nomination for worst film.

The screenplay is the kind that most people could sit down and write if they were given a framework for a matinee adventure.

The setting is Borneo and opens with scenes of local tribesmen and the pursuit by an Anaconda – and destruction and devouring. The scene transfers to New York, explorers putting in a plug for finding an orchid in Borneo that flowers for only two weeks every seven years and whose contents contain a drug that prolongs life – a new, commercial version of the Fountain of Life. At first reluctant, the board is persuaded and an expedition set up.

The expedition is led by a British scientist who also has a team of doctors and scientists with him. Also present is the executive who was not enthusiastic about the project as well and is the entrepreneur who promoted it. However, it is the rainy season and boats are not willing to go upriver – but a man is found, Johnny Messner, who was a special Ops operator and he and his associate do a financial bargain.

What happens is fairly predictable, difficulties during the voyage on the rickety boat, the opposing official falling overboard and being threatened by a crocodile which the captain of the boat fights and stabs… In the meantime, there is the expected squabbling amongst all the characters.

When the boat goes over a waterfall, it smashes to pieces, and when what is left is gathered up, there is a trek through the jungle to rendezvous with another boat (whose captain is swallowed by an Anaconda). During the crossing of a river, a flirtatious young doctor is devoured by an Anaconda. The leader of the expedition interprets the size of the anacondas, whose diet includes the blood orchids, as indicating that the essence of the flower has life-giving power.

The rest of the expedition offers the expected terrors, poisonous spiders causing paralysis, more anacondas on their way to a breeding ground, all kinds of dangers, all kinds of frights, all kinds of taking of responsibility and the majority ruling. The head scientist then manifests his obsession, taking the raft that they have built, stranding the others. Once again, they go through the jungle, not without quite a lot of terrors, to encounter the scientist, the flowers in the pool for breeding, one of the doctor’s assistants manifesting determination and force to get the flowers, rescued, the scientist – of course – falling into the pool and being devoured.

And so, the travellers valuing life more than money take the raft and travel downriver.

There were several other films with Anaconda in the title but not related.

MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE

US, 2015, 89 minutes, Colour.
Gail O' Grady, Betsy Brandt, Daniela Bobadilla, Frank Capello, Roy Werner.
Directed by Sam Irvin.

Mothers of the Bride was made for television, especially for a women’s audience, younger women and their reflections and plans for marriage, older women, mothers, marriage plans and hopes.

The key thing for this film and the meaning of the title, Mothers, is that the central character, Jenna, Daniela Bobadilla, was adopted immediately after her birth. Fortunately, she grew up in a very loving family, Gail O’ Grady is the mother, Roy Werner as the easy going farther.

Now the daughter, Jenna, is engaged and thinking of marriage preparation. But she does want to find out something about her birth mother, the adoptive mother agrees but is, though they had met the actual mother at the time of the adoption. Betsy Brandt is effective as the birth mother.

The birth mother is now a successful entrepreneur at organising celebrations and wants to organise the wedding and the wedding reception, the mother willing, but becoming more worried as the birth mother starts taking over everything.

The theme of the two mothers and their warmth as well as their clash is important, a scene coming towards the end when Jenna asks her birth mother what she is really after and she replies that it is her one opportunity to something for her daughter. With that, the conflict is resolved, the daughter makes decisions, has respect for the suggestions of her adoptive mother, and is very glad that the birth mother is able to undo a number of the arrangements – and in fact, proceeds going to support her adoptive mother’s charity.

Happy ending – and an image of a child looking at how to interact with her parents and the parents able to work together for the wedding of their daughter.

1. A film for mothers, a film for daughters, mothers and daughters? Impact for fathers? For husbands?

2. American city life, families, home, meals? Weddings, planning, preparation is, details? The musical score?

3. The title, the issues of adoption, the role of the birth mother, the role of the adoptive mother? Father? The effect on the child?

4. Happy family, the mother and father joking, their work for the foundation, charity? Their daughter, studying, the meal, the proposal, the song and dance?

5. Jenna, her age, engaged to Chris? Her knowing her story? The bonding with her parents? Her wanting to meet her birth mother? The family agreeing? The processes? The appointment?

6. Haley, her story, teenage, pregnant, the father abandoning her, the reaction of her parents, hospital, the birth, meeting prospective adoptive parents, her choice? The only option she had?

7. Haley, her manner, her success, arranging marriages, all her contacts, people owing her? Her offering to prepare the wedding? Taking over? Debra’s reaction, participating, feeling out of it? Jenna’s choices?

8. The details of the preparation, the initial choice of the range, the fashionable club, Debra rejected at the door, lavish? The dress on the fittings, the shoes? Music? Jenna enjoying it? Haley wanting to do the best? Debra and her appointments, being late, feeling down? Her husband’s reaction?

9. The foundation, Debra’s friend and her joking, support? Going to Elaine, the cutting off of the funding? Debra’s decision to return, confronting Elaine, restoring the funding?

10. Jenna, asking Haley why she was doing all of this, Haley reviewing her past, saying that this was her only opportunity? Her gratitude to Debra and her husband?

11. The change of heart, Jenna’s choices, going to the ranch, cancelling the wedding at the fashionable club, the proprietor, giving the money to charity and Debra able to continue?

12. The happy wedding?

13. The focus on women’s issues, women’s characters, dealing with them? Audiences identifying?

GOLD

US, 2016, 121 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Mc Conaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Bill Camp, Craig T.Nelson, Macon Blair, Rachel Taylor, Bruce Greenwood, Stacy Keach.
Directed by Stephen Gaghan.

A very straightforward title. It means what it says – or perhaps not! Probably best not to know anything much about the plot to be ready for the ups and downs of the exploration for gold in Indonesia and the business consequences.

The film stars Matthew Mc Conaughey who has been called to lose weight for some roles and for others, putting on weight and keeping it. But that is character he plays, Kenny Wells, son of a wealthy businessman in Reno, Nevada, 1981, and determined to prove himself to his father.

His father’s company was for prospecting and that is what enthuses Kenny Wells and drives him to go into action. The screenplay also makes use of the, literal, American dream. Kenny wakes one morning, convinced that he has seen where he will discover gold. He also hears about a prospector-geologist, Michael Acosta, played by Edgar Ramirez, who has a theory about minerals in Southeast Asia. Kenny tracks him down in Jakarta, praises him for his theories, tempts him to start prospecting for gold in the interiors.

It should be said immediately that this is not Indonesia where the film was made – Thailand is standing in.

In their explorations, they find definite traces of gold – but Kenny succumbs to malaria, looked after by Michael who assures him, when he recovers, that they have probably hit the mother lode. While there are a number of sequences in Indonesia, moving backwards and forwards to the US, most of the action takes place in the American business world.

Kenny Wells is also one of those unstoppable enthusiasts, a salesman par excellence and he gets investment for his company. He is a smiler, a talker and an inveterate smoker and, eventually, an inveterate drinker. He has a very loyal working team around, supported by his girlfriend, Kay (Bryce Dallas Howard) who doesn’t quite understand his dreams, doesn’t quite believe in them but is willing to support them as long as she can.

As successful reports come in, Wall Street becomes interested, Kenny is enthusiastic, does drive a hard bargain but moves on to further success. But he is a stubborn man and is very wary of big business interests who seem to be willing to squeeze him out.

Just as you think the film is about to end, it doesn’t. And that is why it is better to know nothing before going in to see it.

The film announces that is based on a true story – which sometimes means ‘loosely based on’ and that is certainly the case here, worth Googling afterwards to find out what actually happened to Kenny Wells and to see what actual events have been incorporated and how the events and characters have been shaped for dramatic purposes, even the final minute!

2017 has meant that we look at America in a bit of a different way from what it might have been had not Donald Trump become president – This is a film which probably would interest him considerably, though he might have handled the situation differently (though looking back at the ups and downs of his career, perhaps not).

1. The title, true, false, the revelation of fraud?

2. The claim that it was based on actual events – how true, the Canadian background of the similar case, details invented, arrange for dramatic purpose, especially the ending?

3. The world of Reno, gambling, business, the world of the prospectors? The offices? The contrast with Wall Street, the Exchange, the world of the financiers?

4. Indonesia (using Thailand locations), Jakarta and the luxury hotel? The world of government, military, the Soehartos, the wealthy playboy son? The countryside, mountains and rivers, the mines and equipment? The musical score?

5. Matthew Mc Conaughey as Kenny Wells? Personality, appearance, weight, pot-bellied, smoking and drinking? His relationship with Kay, the gift of the watch – and later pawning it for his prospects? The interviews with his father, sharing the goals? The impact of his father’s death?

6. The years passing, his ambitions, establishing his company, the range of helpers and their loyalty, Kay and her working in the bar, the office in the bar?

7. Kenny as a huckster, his enthusiasm, causes? Studying prospects? Discovering Michael Acosta, interested in his achievements, his prospecting, the search for copper, his victories? His ideas about minerals in Southeast Asia? The visit to Jakarta, their talk, offering the money, Michael turning round and accepting? Kenny and his company in Reno and their raising the money? His discussions with the company and the young men turning him down – his later meeting with the owner, the friend of his father, admiring his father, and the possibility of a comeuppance for the young advisor? The work in the bar?

8. The expedition, and the countryside, Michael, his life, the collaboration? The local workers, striking? Kenny and his bout of malaria, over several months? Michael looking after him, waking up, the invitation, the lucky strike, the joy, the samples and their being tested, payment of the workers – later no money and their walking out?

9. Going back to the US, the excitement, taking Kay to the site for the house and his promises? The partners – warning them to put money aside? The New York financiers, calling him, the interviews, the boss, hesitations, his being able to sell them on the idea? The friend of his father, the enthusiasm, the company, the prospects, employing the young man who had turned him down? Michael and his visits to America?

10. The success, the Indonesian government? Money difficulties, Soeharto’s son, the interviews, persuading him?

11. Head financier, wanting to buy out Kenny, the meeting, Kenny and his petulance, his name being excluded, turning down the deal, Michael’s disappointment?

12. The award, the ceremony, his speech, Michael leaving?

13. Kenny and his drinking, flirting with the woman from the company, Kay’s reaction, her leaving?

14. The FBI arriving, the news of Michael’s fraud and disappearance, the taking of the millions? The finances in New York, the bosses and hiring and firing? The local dismay? Kenny to the truth, the FBI believing him?

15. Kenny, his failure, going back to Kay, the letters – and the shock of the cheque from Michael and his initial serviette with the contract?

16. A fable about going the gaining whole world and losing…?

THE FAMILY

Australia, 2016, 108 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Rosie Jones.

This is an Australian story, especially from the 1970s and the 1980s, the story of a cult, The Family.

Older audiences may remember the headlines of the 1980s when a number of children from The Family were taken in a raid by the police and the head of the cult, Anne Hamilton- Byrne and her husband, Bill, fled the country. But, the older audiences may not remember the details at all, except in recent years with the stories about one of the best known of The Family children, Julian Assange. However, this documentary with some re-enactments, stays with family and does not mention Assange – the Australian film, Underground from 2012 does provide this background.

Anne Hamilton- Byrne, a yoga teacher and her husband gathered followers around them both in England and in the Dandenong ranges, at Ferny Creek, Melbourne as well as out of Melbourne at Eildon (lots of images of Eildon and the dam). Quite a lot of adults became members of the cult, co-founded by an academic from the University, Raynor Johnson.

Anne Hamilton- Byrne declared that she loved children and gathered a number of orphans as well as the children of some of the cult members, keeping them in the house at Ferny Creek or Eildon, an extraordinarily strict regime, harsh disciplines and punishment, brainwashing the children, instilling deep loyalties as well as fear of the outside (that if the policeman saw them they would be killed), and the motto: unseen, unheard, unknown.

The film has a great deal of testimony from the adults who remember their time in the family, the loyalties, the fact that most of them had to have bleached hair, look similar, wear uniforms – one headline of the time referred to the John Wyndham story and referred to them as Children of the Damned, the story of hostile alien children in an ordinary village. The audience gets to know these talking heads very well as they recur with substantial interventions throughout the film, some obviously badly damaged by their experiences, some having overcome the difficulties and taking strong and critical stances. There are also some older members, amongst them women who were referred to as “aunts�.

The story is also told from the point of view of the police inspector, Lex de Man, who joined the special task force to investigate The Family during the latter part of the 1980s. An actor is seen for situations of the 1980s but the actual officer, de Man, gives a rather impassioned account of his involvement, the effect of talking with the children, discovering the harsh regime they lived by, beatings, food deprivation, use of drugs like LSD as well as something of the madness of Anne Hamilton- Byrne, her glamour, her snobbery, her extraordinary capacity for manipulation, and belief that she was Jesus Christ.

There was encouragement in the 1970s and 80s to take home movies of the children so there is plenty of material incorporated into this documentary showing the children, pictures of the adult talking heads of what they were like when they were little. Plenty of material of Anne and her husband.

The latter part of the film is interesting in terms of the pursuit of the husband and wife, the taking refuge in England, Hawaii, going under the radar in a house in the United States, which was also investigated by the FBI. After extradition, there were hearings, a court case and a sentence, in 1993 which barely touched Anne Hamilton Byrne and her husband, suspended sentence, a small fine.

Throughout the film, we might well be wondering who this woman really is, where she came from – and the film gives a thorough explanation of her background, her family, her mental state and ambitions and their fulfilment. While her husband had died in 2001, the film informs us that as of its making in 2016, Anne Hamilton Byrne (actually not her real name) is still alive at 95 in a dementia section of an institution.

This is the kind of story we expect out of the United States – but here is a homegrown story, from Melbourne and Victoria, with real children and real adults, and the more shocking in recent times with the revelations about the sexual and physical abuse of children.

CHONGQING HOT POT

China, 2016, 94 minutes, Cover.
Baihe Bai, Kun Chen, Hao Qin.
Directed by Quin Yang.


If audiences wondered about the Chinese sense of humour, here is an example. It has comic situations, characters behaving comically, a lot of slapstick. But there is also the serious side, bank robbery, conflicts, and lots and lots of martial arts fights as well as some street brawling.

The film opens with masked bank robbers going into a bank, putting a closed sign outside, confronting the staff and customers, getting into the vault. There is a comment that the city of Chongqing (the city where the main actor, Ken Chun, actually comes from) is noted for its many subterranean tunnels and the camera goes from the bank down a hole, through the tunnels, finishing up in a Hot Pot restaurant utilising the tunnels and the walls.

Then the film story goes back, focusing on the three friends who own restaurant, one of them an inveterate gambler who is in serious debt, and the plans to sell the restaurant which go very slowly. The three friends have known each other since school days, who had a band together, one of whom is married, the other planning to move to Beijing.

When they discover the hole in the floor of the bank vault, there are many, many temptations. Meanwhile, the boss of the gang who is owed all the money begins to put pressure as well as some bashings.

One idea is to enlarge the restaurant by amplifying the tunnel space – which is against local regulations.

Then there is a brainwave that a friend from school is actually a teller in the bank, disliked by all her fellow workers and shunned. They invite her to a meal at the restaurant, she sensing something amiss, their revealing their plan for her to help them in the recovery of the money – and she agrees. There are several visualising is of what might happen if the plan goes into action.

The two timelines then coincide, with the friend amongst the prisoners of the bank robbers, offering to be some kind of hostage to let the others leave. While the three owners eventually get up into the vault, our hero is apprehended, tied up after he has actually vanquished one of the robbers. However, with the others arriving, everyone is tied up, the robbers masks put on them, including the girl even though the bank staff have been led to safety. And the police intervene.

The robbers, unmasking, pour petrol over the hapless prisoners and are about to set it alight when the leader of the gambling group turns up with his men and there is fight, brawl, lots of action – but also of the kind that leads to various people being injured and deaths.

Needless to say, a knife is found, the group cut their way to freedom, the police round up the robbers – and the leader of the gang is wounded and gives up on the debt.

Everybody is happy, the reward money enables them to buy a bigger and better restaurant, the friend does not go to Beijing and all is well.

BIG FAT LIAR

US, 2002, 88 minutes, Colour.
Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Bynes, Amanda Detmer, Donald Faison, Sandra Oh, Russell Hornsby, John Cho.
Directed by Shawn Levy.

Big Fat Liar is a comedy concoction for the family, a film to take advantage of the popularity of Frankie Muniz, star of the television show Malcolm in the Middle. He has a strong screen personality, seems to be enjoying all the adventures that he finds himself in. Paul Giamatti enjoys himself even more as the most crooked and exploitative of Hollywood producers. In fact, he steals Frankie's essay from school and builds it up into a film property. This means that Frankie goes to Hollywood along with his friend Kaylee, not supported by his anxious parents who think that he never tells the truth.

This is a shaggy dog story, with the hero as a big fat liar, as well as the producer being an even bigger and fatter liar. There are all kinds of chases, misunderstandings, double-deals. It is the junior version of such Hollywood films as the portrayal of producers in Swimming with Sharks (with Kevin Spacey as the unscrupulous producer). The film also shows Hollywood, the tourist attractions, the studios with Lee Majors doing a guest spot to remind audiences of their favourite television shows of the past.

Most of the comedy comes from the hero seeing a trailer for a film called Big Fat Liar based on his story. In Hollywood, the young man makes life a misery for the agent, he becomes the butt of all kinds of practical jokes, and the disgruntled staff whom he has alienated join in making life a misery. Eventually, of course, he has to admit his plagiarism. Life ends as a misery for the producer as the audience all hoped.


1. A film for a young audience? For parents?

2. The midwest setting, home, school, streets and activities? The comparison with Los Angeles, airport, limousine, Hollywood, officers, studios, the California countryside, mountains and desert? The musical score?

3. The title, Jason and his lies and stories, getting himself into trouble, his homework, writing the story, losing it, Marty Wolfe and his stealing it, the consequences, the final successful film?

4. Jason, his age, the opening and all the lies to his parents, the bullies and taking his skateboard, locked out of school, phoning Kaylee, getting in the window, the teacher’s reaction, not doing his homework, the sad story about his father and his choking, the vigil in hospital? The class and their attentive listening to his stories? His being found out, the teacher phoning his parents, their presence, the pleading not to go to summer school, time limit to finish his essay? His enthusiasm in writing Big That Liar?

5. His being hit by the limousine, the encounter with the driver, with Marty Wolfe, the lift, spilling his papers, losing the essay, his parents not believing him?

6. Marty Wolfe, the satire on the Hollywood producer, being objectionable to everybody, verbal abuse, humiliation, completely unpleasant? His reading the story, taking it as his own, on television, the interviews, the promise about the film, taking all the credit for himself?

7. Jason and Kaylee, class, her resistance but his always persuading her to help him? The window, the phone call and his pretending to be his father? Jason suffering summer school in the satire on the boring teacher? Asking her to go to Hollywood with him? The problem about her grandmother, the bully with the skateboard, his being persuaded to impersonate Kaylee, the comic sequences with the grandmother, the muscles, the exercises…?

8. At the airport, Frank and the limousine, Jason pretending to be the fur salesman? The later encounter with Frank, almost losing his job, his having been insulted by Marty Wolfe, his decision to help the two?

9. At the office, the secretary, not interested, the pretend phone call about her car parking on a dog? Jason and his getting into Marty’s office, Monty and her reaction? Marty trying to cover, Jason and the plea to ring his father, his burning the story? Getting the guards to oust Jason? Kaylee and her work at the desk?

10. On the set, the discovery of the room with all the goods, toys, settling there? The decision to get Frank to help them?

11. The president of the company, demanding Marty’s presence? The importance?

12. The various steps of the strategy, Jason and Kaylee and their success, Frank’s help, getting the help of everyone else, Monty at her exasperation with Marty, the stuntman and the presence of Lee Majors, the birthday party for his grandchild, the security guard, the associate producer – and all the scenes of Marty being rude to them? Jason being present at the party, the announcement about the film, Jason talking into his earpiece, glued to his ear, Marty pulling it out, the enormous peel and the appeal to people’s hearts?
The president relenting?

13. The comedy with Marty and his shower, blue after the swim in the pool, the orange hair? The wrong address for the meeting and his being beset by the children at the party? His ability to make good with the situation? Demanding the limousine, Frank and the breakdown of the car, his being picked up by the actor he insulted, the side road, being abandoned in the desert, calling for help, the helicopter with the stuntman, the fake emergency, leaping out of the helicopter?

14. The confrontation between Jason and Marty, on the roof, Marty boasting about stealing the story – and it being film from all the different angles? Jason leaping over the building? Marty stranded? Everybody leaving?

15. Marty and his having to become the clown for children’s parties – and the children on attacking him? The happy ending for Jason, his parents believing him, Kaylee and her help, everybody at the premiere of the film? And comeuppance for Marty?

THE MODEL

Denmark, 2016, 105 minutes, Colour.
Maria Palm, Ed Skrein, Yvonnick Muller, Charlotte Tomasewiska.
Directed by Mads Mathiessen.

The plot of The Model is not entirely unexpected, portrait of a young girl living in Denmark, an international opportunity to model in France, the support of her parents, their questions. There is also the relationship with her boyfriend, a student.

In France, she is nervous, shares a room with another model who is initially hostile but becomes her support, and the ambivalent behaviour of the landlord.

At first, she fails at the photo shoot, very awkward, her age and ready to give up on her. However, she returns, is successful, begins a relationship with the British photographer – which ultimately leads to further betrayal, her disillusionment, her returning home to Denmark. She has also deceived her boyfriend and he abandons her.

Model Maria Palm portrays Emma, the model, and British Ed Skrein is the photographer.

The ending is open-ended, the model being offered another job, to pose for Chanel, which was her dream – but the screenplay does not give the ending but, judging on her past behaviour, she will most likely accept.

1. A Danish story, a universal story? Internationality, France, Britain?

2. The title, expectations, fulfilled?

3. The opening with Danish life, an ordinary family, studies, relationships? The musical score?

4. The Paris locations, the studios, apartments, clubs?

5. Introduction to Emma, at home, her ambitions, her relationship with her parents, her boyfriend, the bond, the promises? Family support, the opportunity, going to Paris? Her being nervous, the later revelation of her young age, her lies? The apartment, the landlord and his behaviour towards her? The roommate, initial hostility, sharing, friendship, talk, confidante and advice?

6. The photo shoots, the make-up, the staff, the photographers, the agents? Discussions about deals? Emma and the interaction with the agent, his giving up on her, a favourable response, his promoting her? Her return to the photo shoot? Her trying? Her success, the range of costumes, poses, the range of photos with the group? Her desire to pose for Chanel?

7. Shane, criticism, change of heart, at the dance, her response, the sexual attraction, the liaison? The photo shoots, his style, success?

8. The weekend, travelling, the guests, the talk, the experience, Shane and liaisons, Emma and her behaviour with the man seducing her, upset? The clashes, the parting?

9. Her boyfriend coming to Paris, her lies, putting him off, his reactions?

10. The break, the effect on Emma, her going home?

11. Life back at home, the phone call – and the offer, Chanel and the screenplay leaving it to the audience to decide whether she would accept or not? Judging on her past
experiences, a probable acceptance?

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB

UK, 2016, 103 minutes, Colour.
Luke Treadaway, Bob the Cat, Joanne Froggatt, Ruta Gedmintas, Anthony Head, Darren Evans, Caroline Goodall, Ruth Sheen.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.


Anyone who is unfamiliar with the books on which this film is based may perceive the title as one of those life on the streets, cool and mod, in an American city. Not in the least!

The Bob of the title is actually a cat, a London cat, a ginger cat, whose destiny seems to be to charm absolutely everyone, even those who are a bit averse to cats.

The film is based on books by a drug addict, James Bowen, who overcame his problems, especially with the friendship and support of Bob the cat. It should be mentioned that Bob appears as himself although there are quite a number of stand ins as well. There are quite a few photos of the real James and actual Bob during the final credits of the film – enabling an emotional response for a final time. Luke Treadaway is convincing in the role.

Actually, the film is doing two things. By focusing on Bob, it invites the ordinary audience to watch the film, to enjoy watching Bob and his behaviour, his bonding with James. James tried to raise some money by busking in the city of London, especially around Covent Garden. After he discovers Bob as an intruder in his house, Bob bonds with him, especially after visits to the vet and care for him, and plenty of food – but not the mouse who lurks behind the wall! He follows James out of the house, onto a bus which leads to James carrying Bob on his shoulders everywhere and Bob sitting, being attentive, as James sings. When the crowds gather, listening to James but looking at Bob, there are quite a lot of donations – and umpteen photos.

When James loses his job, unjustly, he is able to get more work by selling The Big Issue, the heads realising that Bob is a wonderful marketing opportunity, that for all those who want to have a photo with Bob, the payment is buying an issue of The Big Issue.

There are some jealousies and poor James finds himself again in a fix, a month with no income, his pile of coins steadily going down, himself hungry, and Bob pacing also hungry. Eventually, there is another scuffle in the city and Bob is chased by a dog, absent for days, James pining…

For those engrossed by the cat, they are introduced to another story, a story of emotions, a broken family, a young boy becoming an addict, desperation of life on the streets, attempted busking, encounters with his father who has merit again and has a family, the trust of a social worker and entry into a methadone program, the risks of failure, the agony and days of withdrawal from methadone.

While Bob is a support, a neighbour who works as a vet, Betty Ruta Gedmintas, is also a great help to James, though shocked when she discovers that he is part of the methadone program, upset because her addict brother had died. There are glimpses of other addicts, an overdose in the streets, the dealers who stand on street corners in the suburbs.

The aim of the books on which the film is based was to attract readers who like a feelgood story as well as their experiencing of what it felt for an addict to feel bad. Audiences who may not be all that keen on cats will appreciate it but sit back and try to emphasise with the cat lovers who become absolutely absorbed.

1. A true story? The popularity of the books? The popularity of Bob the Cat? The presence of Bob himself in action? The final photos of James and Bob?

2. A drug story: family, difficult emotions, family problems, parental separation, addiction, teenage and adult, the drugs, the street, busking, the cat, people responding to the cat, companion to James, his change, the methadone program, his going through withdrawal? The experience?

3. The film as a cat story, audience response to cats? The stray, ginger, strong minded, making a noise like a thief, bonding with James, his looking for an owner, Bob at home, food, chasing the mouse, going out with James, James carrying him, present at the busking, the cash, the photo opportunities? People attracted by the cat?

4. Audiences, attracted by cats – with the dogs seen as the enemy! The cuteness of cats?

5. Val, social work, James and his trust, for getting the favour for the house, his settling in, his program, the visits to Val and her assessment? Taking Bob to the vet, his concern, the long wait, the money for the medicine, failing to turn up? His apology, continuing, finally ready for the withdrawal after the emergency methadone at the pharmacist, his success?

6. His father, the background story, staying in England, saying he did not want to fly to Australia, the separation, in London, watching James at Covent Garden, the talking, the insistence of his wife, his father slipping him the money, not wanted at the Christmas celebration, James going to the New Year party, the chaos with the cat, the girl with the allergy, breaking the vase? James as clean, coming to apologise, his father explaining, apologising, saying he was talking to his son?

7. Betty, walking the dogs, working at the vet, helping James with Bob, the story of her brother, his art, his death and its effect on her? Vegan, the meals, the jokes about tofu? Caring for Bob at the vet? The bond, talking, James relying on Betty, liking her, her discovering him with the methadone, her being hurt?

8. James in himself, the hurt as a child, the impact of his father and his absence, emotions, drugs, friendship with Baz, Baz following him after seeing the money, asking for the money, promising to use it for food, Baz collapsed on the street and James calling an ambulance, Betty helping to revive him? James and his down period, busking, his songs, the different venues around London, the poor amount of money? His work with Val? Bob in the house, care for him, the injury and taking him to the vet, the long wait, the payment for the medicine? The relationship with Betty, the bond? Emotions? Bob on the bus, people’s reaction, James singing, the crowds, the attraction of Bob, the increase in the cash, James thanking people, the range of photos? The dog urinating and the fight, James arrested, Val bailing him out, the ban on busking? The desperation, hungry, the amount of coins going down, Bob and hunger? The opportunity with The Big Issue, the special patch at Angel Station? People responding, the photo opportunities, selling the magazine, the American couple, the jealous opposition and his complaining to the authorities, James banned for a month? The return, the woman wanting to buy the dog for her boy, the dog chasing Bob, James and his pursuit? James pining, waiting, Bob’s return? The methadone, the anguishing experience? Clean again? Betty leaving, the bond between them?

9. The publisher, seeing James and Bob, giving money, the article about them in the local paper, the idea for the book, tracking James down, the discussions, the computer – and Bob with the fish on the screen?

10. The characters who liked James and Bob, the old lady and her knitting the scarf, often present? All the people wanting photos, the children?

11. Baz, money, food, death, the dealers across the street?

12. The book launch, people present, Betty, James’s father, his stepmother, the people from the street?

13. The impact of this film on cat lovers – and the opportunity to become more acquainted with addiction and its consequences and rehabilitation?