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By Roger Costa
LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A remarkably crafted and precise life-spanning epic on the iconic musician, this endearing drama comes right on time to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of his birth. Writer-Director Niki Stein amusingly chronicles his life in an accessible, universal approach depicting his journey from a prodigious child who defies his conservative instructor with his personal and rebellious musical-techniques to his young days as a handsome student venturing Vienna and mingling with Mozart and other geniuses alike, and from his early signs of deaf to the difficulties of aging with financial and emotional instability. In an elegant atmosphere, luminously shot and fast paced editing, the film maintains it thrilling and interesting as seen through the nostalgic memories of Beethoven, reflecting on his childhood, his fondness for his persistent, influential father, and other family members, the lessons and angles acquired through his mentors and friends, and his forbidden romance to a member of the elite. Impeccably designed and performed by a fantastic ensemble cast, it is probably the best, most elegant and modernized Beethoven’s adaptation ever made for the screen.
(Film Movement. 12/16. In Virtual Cinemas.)
FUNNY BOY ⭐⭐⭐
Prolific Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s latest achievement is a tender coming of age gay story with a strong political backdrop. Set in late 70’s-early 80’s it depicts the horrors of racial prejudice against members of a Tamil community in the awakening of the civil war in Sri Lanka. The narrative focuses on the development and sexual arise of a young boy, who since his early ages demonstrates his interest in the feminine universe, as well as a courageous expressiveness of his true personality. As a kid he battled bullying in school and prejudice at home, while his parents are engaged in the political conflicts; as a young man he discovered the fascination of American/British pop culture, while developing his first romance with a lonely richer boy; As the crisis intensifies and most of his community are threatened and attacked, they plan a escape to Canada, interfering somehow in the boy’s sudden process of figuring out his identity and place in the world. The director unveils social, political, gender and cultural issues seen through Arjie’s boyhood and varied experiences with a world he doesn’t belong to. It’s only at the moments of intimacy and entertainment provided by his encounters with his boyfriend, and the acceptance found on his aunt’s approach that bring him a sense of ease.
Canada’s Official entry for the Best International Film at the 2021 Oscars, Mehta composes an affecting, lively and free-spirited, historically accurate and family-friendly LGBTQ tale.
(Array. 12/10. In Theaters and On NetFlix.)
ALEX WHEATLE ⭐⭐⭐
The fourth part in the Small Axe film event helmed by Steve McQueen is a vibrant look at the process of creating an artist. Based on a true story, it follows the title protagonist (Sheyi Cole), from his childhood spent at institutions, where he was constantly abused and mistreated, to his passion and engagement on music and activism, and from his participation on street movements to his time in jail where he was mentored by a cellmate and became an award-winning writer.
Sensitive and filled with a contemplative sense of youth harmony and community, McQueen invites the audience to a pounding heart experience, reggae-soundtrack infused, philosophical urban drama, while reflecting on ethnic identity, racial conflicts and police extremes.
(Amazon Studios. 12/11. On Amazon Prime.)
THE WEASEL’S TALE ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Directed by prolific Argentinian filmmaker Juan José Campanella (from the Oscar winning thriller “The Secret In Their Eyes”), this delectable golden age homage follows the troubles faced by a trio of elderly artists formed by a famous grand dame of the cinema, her screenwriter husband and the director who worked with them. They share a mansion and lifelong stories of fame, awards, success, collaborations, as well as ups and downs, until they are targeted by two real estate agents viewing to buy the property. Blending mystery, crime farce, comedy and drama, Campanella conducts the material with vivid spontaneity and sharp sarcasm. The trio of actors are superbly displaying their comic skills, including Graciela Borges as the delusional actress, astonishingly embodying vanity, glamour and a unique sense of being utterly satisfied at certain circumstance and age, the always fantastic and compelling Óscar Martínez as the perceptive director and Luis Brandoni as her wheelchair confined husband. There are also highly emotional moments taking place throughout the debauchery and troublemaking scenario, subtly moving observations on aging and being forgotten after stardom, the importance of true friendship and loyalty, and what movie magic represents for its lovers, particularly one sequence where the actress’ face is enlightened by the projection of her young version, changing the tone in the narrative, as an opportunity for its characters to find in memories a way of healing traumas, unsolved matters from the past, forgiving one another and how an accident changed the course of their lives.
An admirably well-done intersection between “Sunset Boulevard” and “Knives Out”, it is a delightfully funny, investigative classic formula cinema-homage filled with grace and cynicism at both levels and unexpected twists.
(Outsider Pictures. 12/11. In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas.)
EDUCATION ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The final chapter in Oscar winning filmmaker Steve McQueen’s acclaimed Small Axe 5-films event is the most delicate and heart-breaking of them all. A superbly crafted and invigoratingly performed coming of age story, it follows a special needs boy who is the target of a segregation program that excludes him from proper education. Engaged on the same elements that composed the previous films- the Caribbean/British experience with social/racial injustices- this juvenile deflowerment story has a coherent melodramatic approach that brings out some tears on the viewer’s face without exaggerating on the dose. It never loses its powerful political statement though, especially when the help comes from an organized group of proudly Black West Indian women fighting the system for equal education. Absorbing and moving, it presents newcomer Kenyan Sandy delivering a convincingly emotional performance as the struggling kid who will easily win your hearts. A triumphant, lovely crowd-pleasing drama that celebrates the power and importance of education, community, family and social virtues.
(Amazon Studios. 12/18. On Amazon Prime.)
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