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What To Watch Thursday is Overdose’s weekly film concept: every Thursday – which traditionally is Premiere-night in the cinemas across Amsterdam – we will review at least two films that are definitely worth your while. Our main goal is to shield you from horrible films and wasting your precious time. In the process we will try and give you as much in-depth background, without spoiling anything!
Lore
Anticipation: Lore is Australian director Cate Shortland‘s adaptation of British writer Rachel Seiffert’s collection of (post) World War II stories. After her critically acclaimed first feature Somersault (2004) Shortland went slightly off the radar, and Lore is quite an interesting choice to return with eight years on. The British original is adapted by Shortland with the help of a mostly German technical team and shot in German as well. The premise here makes up for the more exiting part of the film perhaps: what was life like for those who still supported Der Führer immediately after the war? While Lore (Saskia Rosendahl) still believes in the cause, her parents are feverishly trying to shred the evidence of their Nazi complicity. After a turn of events, Lore finds herself on the run and, while travelling 900km to her grandmothers house in Northern Germany, she also has to take care of her four destitute siblings.
Appreciation: Lore is aptly shot by Adam Arkapaw, best known for the brilliant Australian crime film Animal Kingdom, and really there is little to complain here in terms of quality. Crisply shot, well acted and a suitable – if slightly overstated – musical score. There is an almost post-apocalyptic vibe to Lore, similar to – perhaps – John Hillcoats’s The Road (2009). This film, however, is distinctly more European: so imagine a lot of close-up shots and much dwelling on the beauty of the natural environment. We’re talking drama with a capital D here, so if you’re not up for some melodrama you might want to settle for something more light-hearted this week.
Length: 109 min.
Verdict: 3/5 – It’s an interesting and provocative set-up and Shortland certainly delivers a great piece of quality drama – if somewhat overstated.
Where to see: Watch this film in Cineville’s Kriterion, The Movies and Rialto.
Adaptation.
Anticipation: Adaptation. is a definite must-see, named by renowned film magazine Sight and Sound as one of the 30 best films of this century, Spike Jonze‘s quirky tale of a scriptwriter facing a ever so familiar writers block is arguable his greatest one. The film is scripted by Charlie Kaufman, who at the time had a nice run of fine experimental indie films: Being John Malkovich (1999) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) being most memorable. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) is hired to adapt a best-selling novel about an orchid obsessive John Laroche (Chris Cooper), he finds himself struggling to finish the script and – like the tag line reads – unfortunately for him: he writes the way he lives. And much to his annoyance his identical twin brother Donald is living life with apparent ease.
Appreciation: Although this film’s fragmentary narrative and the ever neurotic Nicolas Cage – watch a great clip of this versatile actor here – might not be everyone’s idea of a relaxed night out, Adaptation. is a very rewarding film. It’s funny, complex and original. The real Charlie Kaufman’s unique and crazy voice rings out through this brilliant piece of film. Cage’s delivers one of his career’s best performances here. The supporting stellar cast is more than adequate. And really, to provide more information on this weird film would spoil the experience of watching a feature so out of control that you might feel a little mind-drained (in a good way) after you’ve seen it. So, I’m going stop here and say: go watch it!
Length: 114 min.
Verdict: 5/5 – A definite must-see! Smart, funny and inventive.
Where to see: Watch this film Monday March 18th 22.00 in Cineville’s Kriterion.
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