Tag Archives: based on true story
Manuela Sáenz (2001)
“If you wonder about Bolívar, it’s enough for you to know that I loved him when he was alive, and now that he’s dead, I praise him.” Set in the 19th century, Manuela Sáenz from director Diego Rísquez is the story of … Continue reading
Filed under Venezuela
Dostoevsky (2010)
“I wanted to write about the world of moral chaos.” Dostoevsky is a 2010 8 episode mini-series made for Russian television from director Vladimir Khotinenko, and if you’re into Russian film, Russian history or Dostoevsky, then this marvellous DVD is well worth … Continue reading
Yaroslav, Tysyachu let Nazad (2010) Iron Lord
“I die with the sword in my hand.” As a fan of Russian cinema, I took a chance on the 2010 film Iron Lord (Yaroslav, Tysyachu let Nazad) from director Dmitri Korobkin. Apart from a short youtube clip, I had no … Continue reading
Filed under Russian
Vénus Noire (2010)
Some stories need to be told, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that those stories–transcribed to film–result in an enjoyable or entertaining experience. This of course brings up the whole question of just what we expect when we place a DVD in … Continue reading
Filed under France
Memories of Murder (2003)
Someone recently recommended the 2003 South Korean film Memories of Murder (Salinui Chueok) from director Joon-ho Bong. It’s based on the true story of Korea’s first serial killer who ran amok raping and killing ten women over a five-year period from 1986-1991 in … Continue reading
Filed under Korea
The Sea Wall (2008)
A few years ago, the French film The Lover, based on the book by Marguarite Duras, made the cinema circuit. I loathed the film for its excessive romanticism. Yes I know millions loved it, but I didn’t. So when I saw … Continue reading
Filed under Cambodia, France, Isabelle Huppert, Political/social films
A Girl Cut in Two (2007)
“Depraved to the bone.” Shortly after beginning Claude Chabrol’s film A Girl Cut in Two (La Fille Coupee de Deux), I realised that this had to be a re-working of the love-triangle between eminent, middle-aged, married architect Stanford White, Gibson girl Evelyn … Continue reading
Filed under Claude Chabrol, France
Katyn (2007)
The Polish film Katyn (aka Post Mortem, Opowiesc Katynska) begins appropriately in 1939 with two sets of Poles passing and fleeing in opposite directions. One group is fleeing from the Nazis and the other group is fleeing from the Red … Continue reading
Filed under Poland
Paid in Full (1950)
“You can build a career on being beautiful but not a marriage.” If I watch a tearjerker, then I want a film that gives enough unabashed, glorious lurid melodrama that we can wallow in it. Douglas Sirk was the master … Continue reading
Filed under Drama, Lizabeth Scott
El Lobo (2004)
“Even in hell you need friends.” The Spanish film El Lobo is set during the last day’s of Franco’s dictatorship and is based on the true story of Mikel Lejarza’s infiltration of the ETA between 1973-1975. The story begins with married … Continue reading
Filed under Spain
