Film Reviews by GF

The Director's last movie was 'Once Upon A Time in Anatolia', which was another long film which consisted largely of long conversations on the condition of the human spirit.

This film takes up a similar theme. The main characters and indeed the others, each have a lack of fulfilment in their lives and struggle to fill the gap. The lead character Aydin pores over writing his weekly column for a local newspaper, his wife submerges herself in charity work and so on. At the beginning, unsually structured the hotel they live in (it is carved out of a cave), seems to be a lively and happy home, however as the long conversations turn into arguments, we realise that this is not the case. Meditations on religion, philosophy, loneliness and the general lack of substance in modern life gives the movie its backbone, and the length gives it a sense of epic.

Highly praised, Cannes award winner this is a beuatfully shot film, well scripted and well worth watching if you want to escape the superficiality of much of today's Hollywood's output.

Powerful and moving early drama from the Director to went on to make big production epics like Hero. This bittersweet story is about the relatonship between a vulnerable blind girl and the man who is hoping to marry her Mother.

In order to impress his future he wife, he pses asa hotel manager and offers the young girl a job.

A modern Chinese story similar to Cinderella this is heart warming and moving.

The Fourth film from Chinese Director Zhang Ke Jia, charts the lives of a group of young performers and security guards living and working in a giant theme park in Bejing. The theme park is made of of tacky replicas of The Eifffel Tower, Big Ben and Ulan Bator.

Spending their days dressed in silly costumes and the boys as security guards, this charts the changes the characters undergo in modern China that has itself transformed istself from Communism to state capitalism.

A serious and entertaining move from one of China's finest and most internationally known auters.

If you liked the first part of this Japanese period drama and comedy, the second one won't disappoint.

The lead character Kenshin finds himself leaving his new home to eliminate a myserious masked figure intent on bringing down the new Government. The usual cast of characters and some new ones are all involved and the the action scenes are excellently choreographed.

The love interest takes second stage to the action, but the cliffhanger at the end means the final part is likely to bring to a climax, oine of the best action trilogies of the past couple of years.

Powerful film often dark, yet often funny and moving, this UK film focuses on three neighbouring families, who are all in their own way 'Broken'.

The central character 'Skunk', a twelve year old girl, played by newcomer Eloise laurence is the glue holding the film together and the film is formed by her relationships with her Father in particular and the other characters.

This film won the British Independent Film of the year and to attract such actors such as Tim Roth and Denis Lawson, it was going to have to be something special and it certainly is - definitely a must see, and proof that UK cinema is capable of producing more than fluff about Royal families and second rate gangster flicks.

Two families find they have been given the wrong son after a mix up at birth at the hospital. They meet and get to know each other. One couple are rich but staid, the other get by financially, but their home is full of fun and love. What happens when the boys have to choose where to live?

This family drama is moving and funny and grips you from start to finish.

Part action movie, part love story this is moving and tragic and beautifully filmed. With a lovely soundtrack and choreographed acton scenes that are oten breathtaking, this has something for all fans of Asian cinema.

Clever, tense thriller, featuring the talents of the rising star Maika Monroe. The music is excellent and well juxtapositioned and the film is never dull and well paced.

This ought to have won the Oscars for best Film and Director, sadly they had to settle for BAFTAS. Filmed over nine years, the film starts with the main character a nine year old boy and ends with him as a young man newly arrived at College. As the years pass, we watch his relationships with his Father, sister and not least his Mother's journey through disastrous relationships to professional independence. Friends, teachers and girlfriends come and go, and as the years go we see slice of life itself.

Never dull, often inspiring and sometimes moving, this is ambitious film making at its best.

This smart thriller is an intricate tale of murder and deception, but what marks it out, is the last ten minutes, where the film is turned on it head a la The usual Suspects. Will say no more -watch it for yourself - you won't be disappointed...

Based on Shuichi Yoshida’s novel, “A Story of Yonosuke” is a bitterseet comedy drama including as it does a major plot point (which I will not detail) well before it occurs. Far from spoiling the film, however, this reveal gives everything that happens after (as well as before) a fresh resonance and poignancy. From a charming fish-out-of-water comedy about a country boy in the big city emerges a smartly made drama that asks — and eloquently answers — one of the biggest questions of all: What do our lives really mean to those around us? How can one person have an impact, especially if he hardly seems to have a clue?

From the Director of the equally inspiring 'The Woodsman And The Rain', this like The Woodsman is a triumph of the human spirit with all its quirks and flaws.

Bright breezy and fun this is a welcome addition to the canon of Korean movies, from Third Window Films. Good music, some hilarious moments this warm hearted movie will please those who like Asian cinema.

The word Complex has three meanings and all three are involved in this intriguing movie from Hideo Nakata, one of Japan's most creative and successful Directors.

Complex - a large housing development, a psychological condition, or a complicated situation. A young girl living in a decaying block of flats starts to experience strange feelings and is witness to supernatural events. Like the film Black Swan, we see things only through the eyes of of the female character who may not be the most reliable witness. What happened to the rest of her family? Is the strange kid who follows her around really living in the building? This is a masterpience of suspense and mystery and the truth of what really happened is only finally revealed in the closing seconds of the film. Brilliant

Dark horror movie which owes a debit to the film Thirteen, this follows a journalist who picks up a rucksack containing directions to a mysterious rural location.

He then finds himself as part of a horrifc game. Bit gory, very dark and stylish.

Despite their popularity, Asian horror movies seem to be thin on the ground these days, so welcome to this, which is typical of the genre.

It has all the usual elements - good female lead, spine chilling scenes, slightly puzzling back story ending and great looking scenery.

Well worth watching.