Film
Sophisticates may recoil at the deliberate symbolism and guileless self-assurance of “Life of Pi.” But this is a fable of storytelling, faith, spirituality, and coming of age whose sympathies are clear and strong, couched in visuals of such extraordinary artistry that the experience of watching it is intoxicating.
A collection of short films and a documentary at The Boston Jewish Film Festival serves up plenty of decision, determination, devotion and delight.
It can be a long wait for the end of the world, even though it lies only a week away, to wit, from the beginning to the end of the Israeli film “We Are Not Alone.”
Teams of string coaches were deployed to make this quartet of actors look like they knew what they are doing with their instruments, but no critic has noticed how completely unrelated the motions of their left hands — finger placement and vibrato — are to the music that is played, with the exception of Christopher Walken, who looks like he is playing his cello correctly and producing real music.
Two impressive documentaries deal with the trials and tribulations of old age and the history of dance in Israel.
As “Lincoln”‘s end credits roll, you feel vaguely dissatisfied and disappointed that the film never achieves the emotional greatness that it might have in the hands of a different director.
Each film demonstrates a distinct female sensibility as well as a strong and unique stylistic vision.
School is in full session, family holidays are looming, a nail biting election is imminent (or past), but films are up to the challenge, whether you are looking for art or escape. The Boston Jewish Film Festival brings 45 films to 10 Boston area locations, B.U.and UMass host free film screenings with filmmaker talk backs, Harvard offers a classy horror flick, the ICA has commercials, and there are shorts galore.
“The Sessions” quietly and lovingly engages humor, philosophy, sexuality, and spirituality to create a poetic meditation on the nature of physical love and emotional connection.
Recent Comments