La nana

English Title: The Maid

Sebastian Silva, Chile, 2009, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I was very lucky; I went to see this film and when it was finished the director was there for Q&A!! I always like when I have the chance to see someone from the film after watching it. I used to enjoy more when actors are invited but with time I started to appreciate more when the the director is the one in front of you (although I would reconsider this point if the one in front of me is Pitt!) Anyway, the film was good. It's a very simple subject with a great acting of the maids especially the main maid!! (some others of the crew were not as good). From q&a was nice to recognized the fact that the 3 secondaries maids are little parts of the main maid identity.

Cold Souls

English Title: Cold Souls

Sophie Barthes, France-US, 2009, imdb

Review: 4.5 Uchuvas
Comment: This film it's just great! I totally totally totally TOTALLY loved how the director converts such a subject in something totally credible! The film is so powerful (great acting btw) that it's difficult to keep remembering that, in fact, it just can't happen!

The Invention of Lying

English Title: The Invention of Lying

Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson, UK, 2009, imdb

Review: 3.5 Uchuvas
Comment: First, I think this film is a US film no UK... but I will leave it as UK's.  It's a film that won't change your life. Also, it's not a film to be remembered for it's cinematography or sound or acting. In fact this film should only have 3 Uchuvas BUT I always give a lot of credits when a story has a lot of design! It's not easy to make a script when everything has to be the truth... think about it! Also, I liked the fact of watching an easy and not trascendental film on a terrible raining day, Sunday, alone and with an empty stomach! Anyway, a nice relaxing film.  (Also you have to consider the fact that I just totally loved Gervais)

Araya

English Title: Araya

Margot Benacerraf, Venezuela, 1959, imdb

Review: 4.5 Uchuvas
Comment: As some of you know, I'm not a big fun of black and white films. However I loved this film not only for his great cinematography but for the beautiful way the documentary was developed.  A South American film nominated to the Golden Palm (Cannes) with great great camera movements. The only "funny" thing was the narrator's script... it felts like reading a soap opera or a bad poetry.

Paris

English Title: Paris

Cedric Klapisch, France, 2008, imdb

Review: 2.0 Uchuvas
Comment: What a super boring film!  (Can I leave this comment up to here? ok, thanks)

In the Loop

English Title: In the Loop

Armando Lannucci, UK, 2009, imdb

Review: 3.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I just have to say that whoever likes politics and/or it's familiar with British politicians, must see this film.  I didn't like it as I didn't get most of the jokes BUT there were a lot of good laughs around, so, have a go!

Leonera

English Title: Lion's Den

Pablo Trapero, Argentina, 2008, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I don't know what is better in this film: the super sad story, the great actress or the effects! One of the saddest films I've seen and also one of the toughest! After you've seen it you will need a couple of hours to recover.

Anonyma-Eine Frau in Berlin

English Title: A Woman in Berlin

Max Farberbock, Germany, 2009, imdb

Review: 3.5 Uchuvas
Comment: I think is a bit low the number of Uchuvas but I really can't give more to a film that made me feel bored in the middle of it. I just kept thinking: "ok, move on.... what else are you going to show".  The film become very repetitive at some point. The story is really good but a bit too long.

Malena

English Title: Malena

Giuseppe Tornatore, Italy, 2000, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: Another great Tornatore's film. I loved they way he pictures Italy's towns and specially the way kids are educated (or were... not sure). The story is sad but also full of funny moments that make a good balance. The cinematography is really good. I need to keep an eye on his new film La porta del vento that hasn't been realized yet; I'm starting to become his fan.

2nd LaUchuva film night

LaUchuva film blog in partnership with 2 Washington Square Village and apt 7 J presentssssssss: 2nd LaUchuva FILM NIGHT.

For this second screen, I have selected LaUchuva d'Or film: Children of Heaven from Iran, (don't get it confuse with Children of Men or Little children)

When: POSTPONED until August 1st 2009

Time: Come at 5pm and we'll wait until it gets dark.

Where: The partnership has offered the venue, so it will be there.

RSV: lauchuva@gmail.com

Popcorns on my account.

Revanche

English Title: Revanche

Gotz Spielmann, Austria, 2008, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I wish, I really wish I could say something about this film but if I do all the emotion for you will be gone. So just have a look. It's super great! The acting is superb! the photography amazing.

Tsotsi

English Title: Tsotsi

Gavin Hood, UK - South Africa, 2005, imdb

Review: 4.5 Uchuvas
Comment: A super touching film! I saw it ages ago and don't remember details. I just remember the super tough story and great acting.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

English Title: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Guy Ritchie, UK, 1998, imdb

Review: 4.5 Uchuvas
Comment: This was my first Ritchie's film and totally loved it! I keep watching it and still enjoy every part of it. Very similar to his master peace Snatch but still good enough to be a great one on it's own.  I love mess films that ends some where! edition was superb!

Abre los ojos

English Title: Open your Eyes

Alejandro Amenabar, Spain, 1997, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I saw this film long long long ago and I liked it a lot. I recently saw it again and still liked it a lot especially after watching the horrible American version... which made me think, why! why they have to re-made films!! WHY!! especially WHY if the first one was soo good!... W H Y ! ! ? But anyway, this Amenabar film was superb, edition was super good, acting was good and the story kind of too crazy to be understood the first time (well, in my case!... although even the third time I saw it I thought: "what?!")

Why not FF posting

(FF=Festival Fims)

I had an idea of posting FF news and winners in the blog. I started doing it but suddenly I realized that:

1. There are more FF in the word than mosquitos in the air!

2. There are more unknown films than unknown clouds types. 

3. If I wanted to post about the FF I had to dedicated more than:

a. 90% of my posting talking about them.

b. 80% of my time looking for info about them.

4. If I was reading so much about the FF I new which films are around and which ones I would like to see, which is not bad at all BUT:

1. I have to wait for months to see the films which make my expectations go higher and higher with time and:

a. I feel disappointed most of the time after having such a high expectations (case: Gomorra)

b. After reading so much about the film I knew everything (plot), which I don't like at all!

After realizing this, I felt sick and decided:

1. I won't post about FF in the blog.

2. I won't look for information in the web about the FF.  I will only (and this is my advice) create a list of films that has been shown in IMPORTANT FF.  Just keep them in mind to see them without reading too much about them.

I will create a post with my list... if you want to have a look...

In the mid time and because I don't post too many US films, I want to suggest this great film: "Away we go" ...Super nice!

Seraphine

English Title: Seraphine

Martin Provost, France-Belgium, 2008, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: This is an amazing biography of this French painter that tbh I didn't know until yesterday.  The film, some how, reminds me the the softness of the Scandinavian's films. It has a kind of cold cinematography giving all the power to the landscape and paintings (especially the ones in big format which after watching them in the big screen, makes you fell in love with her art!) The acting is superb! The sound, perfect! The photography very beautiful.

Bin-jip

English Title: 3 Iron

Ki-duk Kim, South Korea, 2004, imdb

Review: 3.5 Uchuvas
Comment: Here with my second Korean film in the blog.  Against any prediction, this film was surprisedly soft and delicate (considering the idea I have of Korean cinematography).  With almost any dialogue at all (apart of my friends' comments during the film asking who is that guy? whose house is this? "that part is important so pay attention!", or, "he doesn't talk in the whole film" ;) this film doesn't have any special photography or effects or acting; it's just a nice and soft story with a nice ending that is open for you to guess it; the nicest you get your guess the nicest the film is.  Thanks Hrishi for hosting!

Le Scaphandre et le Papillon

English Title: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Julian Schnabel, France, 2007, imdb

Review: 3.5 Uchuvas
Comment: I remember that when I went to the theatre to watch this film I had so many expectations! so many that I end up totally disappointed.  I guess the story itself is so bloody sad that when you go to watch a film that you know it's deeply sad it doesn't make you feel that sad anymore unless it's a super great production which I think it's not the case here.  Maybe I'm wrong but from my point of view this film it's no much that a general sad film with no much of interesting factors on it. The only thing that it was really good and I still remember after these years, was the sound when the main character is "talking" or thinking. Plus the eyes scenes are deadly strong!

Rabbit-Proof Fence

English Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence

Phillip Noyce, Australia, 2002, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: I didn't know that this film was a true story until I finish with the film and look for more information about the whole thing. The film it self is beautiful but the story is just amazing.

Nord

English Title: North

Rune Denstad Langlo, Norway, 2009, imdb

Review: 4.0 Uchuvas
Comment: The only film I managed to watch from Tribeca film festival. It was well worth the queue under the rain. It's a beautiful film as soft and delicate as most of the Scandinavian films. The last ski scene has the most amazing photography. Also, the film have the sweetest death I've seen in films!!!