"Another Earth"

When I was about to give up on the summer movies...
Here it is, a cool and mysterious preview I saw at the theater the other day: "Another Earth" (2011) by Mike Cahill, seemingly a new director.
The preview looked good. I didn't know anything about this film so it was even better!

It seems like there will be many movies about the end of the world this year including the film "Melancholia" (2011) by Lars von Trier.

So excited. Can't wait to see it  and hope it will be a good one.

Synopsis: In another Earth, Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman accepted into MIT's astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. A brilliant composer, John Burroughs, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession and is about to have a second child. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. (Fox Searchlight)

Official Site & Trailer: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/anotherearth/


USA: In Select Theaters July 22, 2011

"The Tree of Life" Part 2

3.5 Potatoes

I finally saw the movie "The Tree of Life" (2011) by Terrence Malick yesterday. It is the winner of Palm d'Or at the Cannes 2011.

The cinematography was amazing, very beautiful movie. Though there was a bit of Net Geo-esque touch to it. At the beginning I almost felt like watching "Atlantis" (1991) but after that, the story moves onto remembering the character's childhood that somehow links to your own childhood even though my childhood was nothing like the O'Briens.

I really loved the fact that the movie had minimum dialogue and it was beautifully done.
I took one potato out for the Net Geo being too long at the beginning, that makes my rating for this movie to be 3.5 Potatoes.

Just be patient at the beginning and you would totally appreciate the movie at the end.

Synopsis: The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence. (IMDb)


USA: Now Playing in Theaters

French Crêpe

Here is another 'real' thing I found recently: the REAL French CRÊPE!

Vive la Crêpe Website

There are many French crêpe places in Los Angeles area, but they are usually too thick, too moist, too much stuffings etc...

But here is the real one: Vive la Crêpe in Beverly Hills. Their crêpes are thin and crisp, and perfect amount of ingredients. They started in New York and finally opened a place in Beverly Hills, right next to another my favorite Teuscher Chocolates & Café.

I have tried the #7 Prosciutto, Raclette Cheese, and Sliced Potatoes and also the #9 Egg, Gruyere and Ham. They are both very delicious, but the #7 is my favorite.

Crême de Marrons

I have not tried their sweet crêpes yet, I must do very soon. One thing I must to say, they do not have my favorite Crême de Marrons - chestnut spread :(
They do have Nutella though... But it is not the same...


I go there practically every week now! Highly Recommended!

Vive la Crêpe
368 Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 map
Tel: 310-278-8377


Menu: http://www.vivelacrepe.fr/ing/menu.html

CANNES 2011 Winners

So here are some of the winners at the Cannes Film Festival 2011.

Palm d'Or: "Tree of Life"

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"

Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia"


I have talked about these movies on my Blog this month and I am very happy with the results.
Especially I am happy for Jean Dujardin as the Best Actor. I am not interested in the movie "The Artist", but I highly praise Jean Dujardin as one of the greatest actor of our time.
Bravo for Kirsten Dunst also.

"Tree of Life" on the May 4th Blog

"The Artist" and Jean Dujardin on the May 17 Blog "Silent Movie Now... Why?"

"Melancholia" and Kirsten Dunst on the May 15 Blog "Melancholia"



"Tree of Life" US Release date: May 27, 2011

French Macarons

I treated myself with 'lette macarons this week. YUM is the word.

Now it is easy to find French macarons in Los Angeles, but It is so difficult to find the good one.
But I think I found one!

'lette macarons in Beverly Hills is pretty good.

My favorite is the Caramel Salé.

Highly Recommended~!

'lette macarons

9466 Charleville Blvd,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 map
Tel: 310-275-0023

http://www.lettemacarons.com/

"Welcome"

4 Potatoes

I was just reading an article about the possible Palm d'Or recipient at the Cannes 2011. They think it could be the film "Le Havre" (2011) by the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki.
The story is about the people in the port town of Le Havre, France trying to help an immigrant refugee boy from Africa cross the Channel to England.

This film has a very strong similarity to the 2009 film by Philippe Lioret "Welcome" starring Vincent Lindon. It won the Audience Award at the COLCOA 2009. It was very good film.

I remember briefly the line "The boy is trying to cross the Channel to tell the girl how much he loves her, and I can't even do that to the girl in front of me.." (it wasn't exactly that, my memory is very vague) it was very touching.

I am not sure if the new film "Le Havre" will be any better, but the story has been around and already done.

The film "Welcome" (2009) is Highly Recommended.

"Welcome" Synopsis: When authorities forbid young Kurdish refugee Bilal from crossing the English Channel to reunite with his girlfriend in England, the 17-year-old resolves to swim to his love - and finds an unlikely ally in the form of swim instructor Simon. Facing an inevitable divorce from his wife, the middle-aged teacher takes the resolute youth under his wing in this stirring, beautifully acted French drama. (NETFLIX)



"Welcome": DVD/Streaming Available

"Le Havre": US Release Date Unknown

Thanks Ciao Bella!

OCP post was spotted by Ciao Bella yesterday!

It was cool to know someone is reading
this blog :)

"Abel"

4.5 Potatoes

The film "Abel" (2010) by Diego Luna was one of the best films I saw at
the AFI last year. It was also the Official selection for the Cannes 2010.

The little boy who played the character Abel was an amazing actor. Thanks to the great director Diego Luna who knew exactly how to direct children. His Q&A was fun, he became his own moderator and his son was running around in the theater. He was a child soap opera actor in Mexico and after achieving many successful movie careers internationally, he is now an actor, a producer and a director. He is truly the success story in the entertainment business.

I heard this film was released in the US in March this year, I am surprised that it was a small release for such a great film. Such a shame.

Synopsis: About a peculiar young boy who, as he blurs reality and fantasy, takes over the responsibilities of a family man in his father's absence. (IMDb)

Official Site (Mexico): http://www.abel-lapelicula.com/



US DVD Release: Coming Soon

Update and Coming Soon

O.C.P. has made some update on "About Moi" page and "All Time Favorite" will have additional films soon.

Stay tuned!

Thanks for following :)



O.C.P.

Tintin Tintin Tintin!!!!!!!

Here is the trailer of "The Adventure of Tintin: The Secret of Unicorn" by Steven Spielberg.
It is weird seeing the live-animation of Tintin, spooky is more like it. But I love Tintin so I would give a shot.

Synopsis: Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Capt. Haddock's ancestor and go off on a treasure hunt. (IMDb)

Official Site: http://www.tintin.com/



US Release Date: December 23, 2011

"The Eighth Day"

"Rebirth" or "The Eighth Day" (2011) - Yôkame no Semi 八日目の蝉 by Izuru Narushima is a Japanese movie based on the book by Mitsuyo Kakuta.

I have seen the TV version of this story which was aired on NHK by the same title last year.
The story is about a woman who lost her baby by the request of her lover who is a family man, kidnaps his baby. She raises the girl for five years which was the happiest time of her life until it ends...

The TV version was so well done, I loved it. I am not sure how they fit the whole 5 years into some 90 mins movie. I hope I can see it on DVD very soon.


TV Official Website: http://www.nhk.or.jp/drama/semi/

Yôkame no Semi TV

Official Website & Trailer: http://www.youkame.com/index.html



Japan Release Date: April 29, 2011


US Release Date Not Available

"When We Leave"

4 Potatoes

"When We Leave" (2010) - die Fremde by Feo Aladag was the Oscar official submission from Germany this year. Unfortunately it didn't make the final nominees, but it won many prestigious awards through out the year.

It is so weird to think that this type of Honor Killing is still happening all over the world. "They" value the Family Honor yet Killing people = Committing murder is Okay??
They are supposed to be looking for a better life which they couldn't have in their own country.
But they are dragging their old culture into the new and supposedly the better life. WHY?
So many things do not make any sense.

This is a movie about Turkish immigrant family in Germany.
Highly recommended.

Synopsis: Umay is an young girl of Turkish descent, fighting for an independent and self-determined life in Germany against the resistance of her family. Her struggle initiates a dynamic, which results in a life-threatening situation. (IMDb)


Available on DVD June 7, 2011

Silent Movie Now... Why?

I just read an article in IndieWIRE that Weinstein Co. just bought the movie "The Artist" (2011) - l'Artiste by Michel Hazanavicius ("OSS 117: Lost in Rio", "OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies") at the Cannes Film Market. 


But it is not just a movie, it is a black-and-white silent movie... The main characters played by Jean Dujardin a French actor, and Bérénice Bejo an Argentinian born actress who works in France and some other casts include John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller (Oh where has she been??) and so on. It is a French distribution film by Warner Bros. Entertainment France but multi-international casts and the story is based on Hollywood (of course).

Clark Gable

Just over all, Jean Dujardin is a great actor, especially he is good at making comical facial expressions which is perfect for a movie without any dialogue. He also has the Clark Gable-ish look too. But I wonder if it is going to sell here.

Well at least they do not need to spend any money on sub-titles...

Synopsis: Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of taking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break. (IMDb)


Currently showing at the Cannes Film Festival 2011


US Theatrical Release Date Unknown

"Super 8"

It is almost one month away, the new film by J.J. Abrams "Super 8" will be released in the USA.


It looks like another mysterious monster visit. But by watching the trailer, I don't think we will get any motion sickness this time.


I am sure it will be a fun Summer movie and love the poster.


Synopsis: After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon. (IMDb)


Official Site & Trailer: http://www.super8-movie.com/



Coming Soon to Theater near you on June 10th, 2011

"I Killed My Mother"

5 Potatoes

This is one of the best & new films directed by a young director of new generation.

"I Killed My Mother" (2009) - J'ai Tué Ma Mère" was written, directed, produced and played by Xavier Dolan, a child actor turned prodigy.

This was his first featured film which won many awards including Prix Regards Jeune at the Cannes 2009.

This film had some monetary difficulties during the production because of his young age, a lot of investors declined to invest. But thanks to his co-stars, his life time savings and of course his mother's support, he achieved to complete this amazing film which blows your mind.

YES you can make a great film with such a little money.

Great music by Nicholas Savard-L'Herbier and Luis Mariano's "Maman La Plus Belle du Monde" completes this film.

Story Line: A semi-autobiographical story about Dolan as a young homosexual at odds with his mother (IMDb)

Currently Showing on TV 5 Monde (May)

DVD Availability Unknown

"Melancholia"

Here is another film showing at the Cannes 2011.

"Melancholia" (2011) by Lars von Trier. His last film "Antichrist" (2009) was quite shocking for some people (not for me) and much talked about. Anyway this year's film "Melancholia" has a bit of Sci-Fi touch, and surprising to me Hollywood actors Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland are among the main casts... Hmmm

The trailer looks good. Charlotte Gainsbourg is getting better and better as an actress, and Charlotte Rampling is adding the mysterious mood to the movie and is great as always.

I can't wait to see it!

Synopsis: Two sisters find their relationship challenged as a nearby planet threatens to collide into the Earth. (IMDb)


Official Site & Trailer: http://www.melancholiathemovie.com/

US Release Date: November 4, 2011

Summer Movies

I saw some interesting previews tonight. Here are two movies I am interested in seeing this summer.

"Apollo 18" (2011) by Gonzalo López-Gallego. It is an Hollywood movie directed by a Spanish filmmaker. Story line is about the real space mission in 1970s which was cancelled by NASA... I love the tag line "THERE'S A REASON WE'VE NEVER GONE BACK TO THE MOON". The preview looked good.

Official Site & Trailer: http://apollo18movie.net/

US Release Date: Aug 26, 2011

The second one is "One Day" (2011) by Lone Scherfig. This is also an Hollywood movie, but directed by a Danish filmmaker and filmed in UK... This director is known for the movie "An Education" (2009) which was a good film.

My question is about the main character choice... was Anne Hathaway really the best choice for this movie? She is faking the British accent! Wasn't there a better British actress for her part? I am so sure there was...

Love the poster though!

Official Site & Trailer: http://focusfeatures.com/one_day

US Release Date: Aug 19, 2011

"Source Code"

4 Potatoes

"Source Code" (2011) by Duncan Jones is an Hollywood movie which was released in the US about 2 months ago. The story is about a guy Colter Stevens who finds himself waking up on the Chicago commuter train and a girl in front of him calls him Sean, 8 minutes later the train blows up.

Surprisingly I really enjoyed it. The beginning wasn't too slow at all as some reviews have commented. It seems like he is fairly new director but the movie was pretty well directed and edited. Bravo for him.

Also it was nice to see the city of Chicago where I used  to live :)




Still Playing in some Theaters

DVD Availability Unknown

THANK GOD The Blogger is Back!

After experiencing a few days of downtime,

the Blogger is finally back and running!

Whoop Whoop!

"Quiet Chaos"

3.5 Potatoes

"Quiet Chaos" (2008) - Caos Calmo by Antonello Grimaldi is an Italian Film, starring Nanni Moretti. One day an executive and his brother save the lives of two drowning women in the ocean, he comes home and finds his wife dead. Now he has his 10 year-old daughter to take care of all by himself. Everyone tells him he is not emotional enough while he occupies himself with his daughter, his work, and everyone around him...

I liked the way it ended, and the music for the movie was good. Especially I loved the ending song "L'Amore Transparente" by Ivano Fossati.

Nanni Moretti is an amazing actor as always. AND a surprising cameo!!!!!


↓↓SPOILER ↓↓ (It is written in white so if you want to know the answer, highlight it to read)

ROMAN POLANSKI

Streaming Available on Netflix

DVD Availability Unknown

CANNES REVIEW | 'Midnight in Paris' is Enjoyable, but Another Typical Woody Allen Story - indieWIRE

I knew it....

CANNES REVIEW | 'Midnight in Paris' is Enjoyable, but Another Typical Woody Allen Story - indieWIRE

Ciao Bella vs Häagen Dazs

Last night I went to a market to buy my favorite trio of Ciao Bella gelato: Tahitian Vanilla, Blood Orange and Triple Espresso. I LOVE to eat all three flavors at the same time. But the Tahitian Vanilla was all out, so I decided to get the Häagen Dazs Vanilla.... BUT it was all out too... Then I saw the Häagen Dazs Five Vanilla Bean... hmmm something new? So I ended up buying it.

Well personally I like the original Häagen Dazs Vanilla much much better, the Five version was too milky.

Anyway, now I am totally for the Ciao Bella gelatos, Häagen Dazs is so last decade...

"Love, Pain and Vice Versa: Violanchelo"

2.5 Potatoes

"Love, Pain and Vice Versa: Violanchelo" (2008) - Amor Dolor Y Viceversa by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa is a film from Mexico. I don't want to use the word "interesting" but it was interesting.

Two people are having dreams about one another and we don't know why, but it reveals slowly what is happening... well edited so you will not get too confused. I thought the music choice was wrong...
Good to see the actor Leonardo Sbaraglia again.

Synopsis: Architect Chelo (Barbara Mori) can't shake her drab love life or the prince who visits her dreams nightly. Dr. Marquez (Leonardo Sbaraglia) is happily engaged but plagued by nightmares of a seductive killer. When Chelo devises a method to make dream a reality, madness descends on both. Circumstances land Chelo and Marquez in a police house on either side of a two-way mirror, with each facing far more than meets the eye. (NETFLIX)


Available on DVD

"Character"

5 Potatoes

I felt like watching a good movie tonight and I decided to watch the movie "Character" (1997) - Karakter by Mike van Diem again. It was the winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998. Probably this was the first Dutch film I have seen in my life and I didn't even know any of the actors in the film. 
The story is very well written and a lot of surprises. I truly enjoyed it and I know I will enjoy it again and again. Highly Recommended.


Synopsis: Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir), the city's most feared bailiff, is discovered with a knife through his heart, and a young, self-taught lawyer (Fedja van Huet) who just passed his exams was the last person to see the man alive. But what was his connection to the dead man? The police are mighty interested to know, and the young barrister is ready to tell the story of a lifetime. This Dutch-Belgian drama won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. (Netflix)


Available on DVD

"Insoupçonnable"

3 potatoes

"Insoupçonnable" (2010) is a film by Gabriel Le Bomin which is showing on TV 5 Monde this month. Currently it doesn't have English title but the title means above suspicion.
It was pretty good. I didn't see 'that' coming. The actor Marc-André Grondin who played Sam was a bit weak I thought. But over all it was pretty good. It is totally above suspicion.

Synopsis: "Henri is convinced that Lise, his new young wife, truly loves him. He is also convinced that Sam, the witness at their marriage, is Lise's brother. It's a perfect set-up. Well, almost..." (TV 5 Monde)


Available this month on TV 5 Monde


DVD Availability Unknown

"The Man from Nowhere"

3.5 Potatoes

To make up the bad movie start this weekend, I quickly went into my DVD-to-Catch-up piles.Tonight's pick was "The Man from Nowhere" (2010) - Ajeossi 아저씨 by Jeong-Beom Lee with Bin Won. I added this movie to my Netflix list because I like Bin Won.

But surprisingly it was a good movie! Typical Korean action thriller and violent as usual, but there was a nice touch of heartfelt feeling to it, if you know what I mean...

Bin Won's true action without body double is HOT.

If you like Korean action movie, it is Highly Recommended.



- Violent and Gritty

"Poetry"

0 Potato, So Wilted and Wasted...

So I went to the theater to see the movie "Poetry" (2010) - Shi by Chang-dong Lee right away as I wanted to see it so badly...

And I was so disappointed!

It was way too long, 138 mins, and very slow for my taste and there were too many plots one movie can hold.
The plots such as heinous family crime, alzheimer, perverted old man and poetry... nothing was valued long enough to link from one scene to another.

What was he thinking???

"GANTZ"

I saw the trailer of the Japanese movie "Gantz" in theater last December. Unfortunately I missed the US release in January, because I wasn't interested in seeing it back then...
But I just saw "Another Gantz" on TV and now I want to see the theatrical version!


Synopsis: Gantz (ガンツ Gantsu) is a Japanese manga and anime series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku. Gantz tells the story of Kei Kurono and his friend Masaru Kato who die in a train accident and become part of a semi-posthumous “game” in which they and several other recently deceased people are forced to hunt down and kill aliens armed with a handful of futuristic items of equipment and weaponry. (Wikipedia)

Weekend: May 6

Here are two movies I want to see this weekend.

"Last Night" (2011) by Massy Tadjedin with Keira Knightley. The story is about a married couple who spends a night apart one day and their relationship and trust get tested...
I simply want to see it because Guillaume Canet is in it... 
Why not?


Synopsis: "The story follows a married couple, apart for a night while the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he's attracted. While he's resisting temptation, his wife encounters her past love." (IMDB)

Another movie I want to see is "Poetry" - Shi by Lee Chang-dong which won the Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival 2010. He also directed the amazing film "Secret Sunshine" (2007) - Milyang which was nominated for the Palm d'Or and the actress Do-yeon Jeon won the Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival 2007. I missed it at the AFI last year and I am looking forward to seeing it.


Synopsis: "... On a whim, Mija enrolls in a poetry class at the local cultural centre and begins a personal quest to find the perfect words to describe her feelings. However, she’s plagued by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and struggles with new vocabulary and the challenges of the creative process. When her world is turned upside down by the discovery of a monstrous crime, it is Mija’s unique and touching poetry that allows her to defy the weight of shame and distance herself from a painful proximity to violence." Read more... (Toronto International Film Festival)

"Last Night" in Theater Now


"Poetry" in Theater Now (US Release May 6, 2011)


"Secret Sunshine" DVD Coming Soon

"Villain"

4.5 Potatoes

"Villain" (2010)

"Villain" - Akunin - 悪人 (2010) by Sang-il Lee is a Japanese movie which was released in 2010. I thought this movie would be the Official Submission for the Oscar 2011 Best Foreign Language Film, but the movie "The Confessions" - Kokuhaku -  告白 (2010) by Tetsuya Nakashima took the place instead. Either way, Japanese didn't make the final nominations this year.

The story revolves around the murder committed by Shimizu played by Satoshi Tsumabuki and people connected to him and the victim. The movie asks the simple question who the real villain is... The thought "if..." and "this couldn't have been.." "this wouldn't have been.." will go through your mind through out the movie.

The actress Eri Fukatsu won the Best Actress at the Japanese Academy and the 34th World Film Festival of Motreal. Very well done.


"Villain" DVD Availability Unknown
"Confessions" DVD Availability Coming Soon

"Time to Leave"

4.5 Potatoes

François Ozon is one of my favorite directors and one of the most successful directors of my generation.
"Time to Leave" - Le Temps qui Reste was released in 2005, one of the best films he has directed.

The story is about Romain, a young fashion photographer, who became terminally ill with cancer. As soon as the doctor gives him the diagnose, he decides everything on his own...

If I were him, I would do the same too.

DVD Available.

"The Tree of Life"

"The Tree of Life" (2011) by Terrence Malick is one of the Official Competitions at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The story sets in 1950's, centers around a family with three boys.
The trailer looks superb. I am so looking forward to seeing it.


So far this is the first runner for the Palm d'Or, so I hear. But who knows, some new comer might grab it without any explanation like how it happened last year with "Uncle Boonmee who can Recall His Past Lives" by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.


US Theatrical Release Date: May 27th, 2011

"In a Better World"

4 Potatoes

The film "In a Better World" (2011) - Hævnen by Susanne Bier was the winner of this year's both Golden Globes and the Academy for the Best Foreign Language Film. It was released in theater a few weeks ago and I quickly went to see it. 


The story is about hate and forgiveness. But there were 4 different situations: divorcing parents, school bullies, ignorance in general and dictatorship. How do they solve these problems? Which one can they forgive and which one they cannot? It was very interesting to see how the father cope with these problems.
The Danish landscape was amazing, it gives you a moment to think about these issues as these characters probably did in the movie. Highly recommended.


DVD availability unknown.


Synopsis: When schoolboys Christian and Elias are involved in a violent incident, their fathers are initially unable to grasp the full implications of the boys' actions. Elias's father, Anton, an idealistic doctor often absent from home while he works in an African refugee camp, tries to communicate his own commitment to non-violence to the boys, but the troubled Christian continues to see Anton's beliefs as a sign of weakness. (http://oscar.go.com/)

Cannes Film Festival Season!

The official poster from the Cannes Film Festival 2011

Once again, it is the time of the year. Cannes Film Festival will open next week!


This year's official selection is revealed. There are some interesting ones. I just don't get it (sorry) why they chose "Midnight in Paris" (2011) by Woody Allen as the opening film...

Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin that I Live In"

The one that I am most looking forward to see is the latest film of Pedro Almodovar, "The Skin that I Live In" (2011) - La Piel Que Habito. It is based on a novel "Mygale" - Tarantula by Thierry Jonquet and screen adaptation by Pedro Almodovar. And the surprising cast of Antonio Banderas adds the interest to the movie. I am very glad that Antonio Banderas is now back to his root. He was a very talented actor in his Spanish era. And he should stay that way. Please do not waste your time in Hollywood, it is not for you.

"The Skin that I Live In" Teaser

Synopsis: A plastic surgeon, played by Antonio Banderas, in hunt for the men who raped his daughter.


Cannes Film Festival: From May 11 - May 22, 2011


Update: "The Skin that I Live In" will be released in the US, New York and Los Angeles, in November 2011. (5.2.11)


The Official Site: http://www.sonyclassics.com/theskinilivein/

"Which Way Home"

4 Potatoes



"Which Way Home" (2009) by Rebecca Cammisa is an Academy Nominee feature documentary film. Everyday thousand of children from all over South America, the youngest from 7 year-old, try to reach the US by hanging on to freight train illegally. More than 20% of those children lose their life by accident, rape, smuggling, exposure, and you name it... Some leaves home in search of his/her mother, father, hope and new life. Some leaves just everything behind, even family behind in hope for the better life. These are little children, 7, 8, 9, 10 year-old...

Speechless... It was so heartbreaking to see what these children are going through in search of better life and simply longing to see their mother, father or siblings who crossed the boarder and whom they haven't seen in years.

Why do they have to do this? Why their own country is not proving them the environment that they can all live together? It just make you think how fortunate you are. It did for me.

"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life"

5 Potatoes

"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" - Le Premier Jour du Rest de Ta Vie (2008) France

by Rémi Bezançon is one of my few 5 Potatoes from the recent years. 

The story is very simple. It shows how one family grows over the years. The story is focused on each member of the family. Very simple. Everyone can relate to one of them in someways. Very well directed and very well edited. There was a huge standing ovation at the US premier at COLCOA 2009. The song of Etienne Daho totally completed the movie. 

I can't wait to see his next film "Un Heureux Événement" (2010) which will be released in theater this October in France!

* Update: I just learned that this movie couldn't be released in the US because the music right was too expensive. Hopefully we could get to see this film somehow in the US one day. Totally worth the wait. (05.01.11)