Sunday August 3rd, 2008

NOODLE
8/10
I'm a new father, and this is my first film festival as one. I've noticed that aside from a severe lack of sleep that my brain has been reprogrammed - I see the MIFF advert with the little baby there and think about how cute my boy is. Sad, but true. So, when I see films now, they have different a different effect on me than they might have in previous years... Which is all said because Noodle was a great little film that really pulled at the heart strings. It's about a chinese boy whose mother is a cleaning lady for a twice widowed Israeli flight attendant. She leaves her six year old son with the flight attendant for an hour after receiving a phone call, but never comes back. The story is cute and funny and at times sad. The little boy in this is great too. Highly recommended for those who like a sappy sweet film.

EMPTIES
6/10
This Czech film is about a teacher of retirement age who (you guessed it) retires. He's still an active person, more in mind perhaps than in body, and has some trouble adjusting to retired life. It follows him as he tries to pick up new jobs and the various people he meets along the way. It was a little drawn out, and to be honest I felt a little let down by the ending, but overall, it was enjoyable enough.

O' HORTEN
6/10
(Note that I fell asleep for about 20 minutes in this film, so if anyone wants to argue the review with me, they have every right to). This was a quirky film that got stranger by the minute - it's about Odd Horten, an engineer on a train in Norway who reaches retirement age, and how he spends his time. If it sounds familiar (see Empties) then it's pretty similar in premise, but quite different in execution. A far more appealing film visually.

SON OF RAMBOW
7/10
A nice and often funny film about a quiet school boy whose mother is very religious and whose father has died some time ago. When he crosses paths with a bratty class clown, a friendship forms and together they set about making their own film, where Rambo (yes, that Rambo) needs rescuing by his son. Probably would appeal to those who like Wes Anderson's Rushmore. The scene in the senior students common room was hilarious. Recommend it if you want a off-centre feel food flick.