Fast Review-Fernando Guzzoni’s Blanquita hits the a viewer a with punch to the face. After viewing the Chilean Oscar entry on the country’s child sex traffic scandal I needed a moment. The Venice Film Festival winner is now playing in New York City and Los Angeles. 4 maybe 4.5 stars out of 5.
Running Time 98 minutes, An Outsider Pictures release.
For out Before Tacky podcast we discuss what is happening in the fashion world. Reflecting these times of certainty brands, magazines and buyers chug along trying to figure out a right path.
Lyn and Taiwo join the discussion from Milan and London.
As a cinema lover and child of the seventies I watched many films from the “Blaxploitation”(a term I never liked) era. Netflix just released IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU from historian and filmmaker Elvis Mitchell.
A mockumentary from a South African filmmaker seemed a bit of a long shot. Attending a film festivals is about viewing cinema outside of one’s comfort zone. Part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam Return of the Tiger Section, Daryn’s Gym was a curious title with an unusual premise. Surprisingly, the work from director Brett Michael Innes made me laugh. Soldiers lead by an ill prepared leader in a David versus Goliath battle.
Black and Paper interview with Producer Paulo Areal from the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Normally, South Africa audiences expect serious, heavy subjects. You avoided this narrative, going for comedy. What was the reason?
“During COVID there was just so much heartache and pain. Brett Micheal-Innes, the writer-director producer of the film who is a known creative who deals with Dramatic themes, felt we needed to see a different slice of South Africa, a slice where a bunch of lovable misfits come together to fight for a common cause.”
As the producer, how did you approach this film?
“Daryn’s Gym was conceived, written, and produced over a 6 months period during COVID.
As the producers it was our task to run the first “COVID Safe feature set’ in South Africa. These uncharted waters had many firsts in terms of Social distancing, COVID protocols and regulations. However, these challengers brought the crew and cast together and made the journey a pleasant one.”
Was the audience supposed to feel sorry for Daryn, at times feeling the need to put him out of his misery?
“I don’t think so, even though Daryn was out of his depth regularly, his naivety was part of his charm and makes him endeared to the audiences.”
Were you hands on in regards to casting?
“Brett and I worked closely in the casting process and the final draft of the script was written once the leads had been locked off giving Brett the luxury of crafting the roles for the specific actors.”
Daryn’s Gym was screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
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Utama has won acclaimed for its visual poetry style. Bolivian Director Alejandro Loayza Grisi‘s film follows the affects of severe weather on a shepherd family.
Chat Cinema Podcast with the filmmaker coming soon.
French Avant Gard filmmaker Jean Luc Godard passes away today. The influential filmmaker inspired generations. As a director he broke all the rules becoming a major a reference point in cinema world.
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The New York City Film Festival unspooled its usual cinema fair of polished works by filmmakers from around the world. The mixture of physical and virtual continued this past June for ten days.
God Said Give Em’ Drum Machines is the story of how a sound was created in the Detroit music scene. Check out the Chat Cinema interview with director Kristian Hill.
McEnroe, director Barney Douglas’ story of the legendary “Superbrat” John McEnroe is a compelling documentary on a great tennis star. A humanising portrait of a man coming to grips with his illustrious yet troubled past.
All Man-International Male Story from Bryan Darling and Jesse Finley Reed is for anyone who remembers the sensual if not soft porn International Male Catalogs of the 80’s and 90’s. From humble beginnings flying by the sit of the pants to global success the documentary charts the raise pages sent to men all over the world.
Britain has always considered itself on the moral side of the Slave Trade having abolished the institution in 1807. The Story of Bones by Joseph Curran and Dominic Aubrey de Vere asks many unsettling questions about the country’s role with the treatment of human cargo. The effects of this are felt today on the isle of St. Helen.
Leave No Trace has generated a large amount of trace. Rightfully. Watching Irene Taylor’s devastating accounts of sexual abuse cover up in the Boy Scouts of America left me raw. For decades the civic organization knew their All American Clean image was a cover for attracting sexual predators. Anger, regret, sadness with a lost of trust combine to make this powerful documentary a raw emotional watch.
Google whistleblower told the world the tech giant has an AI sentient, a shutter went around the world. So happens at this time I screened Sophia. A passionate inventor or mad scientist, Jon Kasbe and Crystal Moselle’s documentary on David Hanson is a character study of a brilliant man on a mission to change the way we interact technology.
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady took a high morale approach to the documentary work Endangered. Produced by Ronan Farrow, the 4th Estate is under global threat. I can’t say I 100% liked this slickly produced myopic morality tale on journalism considering with public distrust of media at an all time high. Grady and Ewing never why? Frankly, YouTube commentators taking a stand against news censorship are more interesting than this victimhood tale.
The Belgium dark comedy Employee of the Month by Veronique Jadin gets a mention. Who does’t want to kill their work colleagues? Ines, played by Jasmina Douieb, answers the question further.
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Black and Paper titles are now on these platforms.
In the shorts category, I watched some small works worthy of attention.
The Resemblance from Derek Nguyen goes into “Black Mirror” Territory with a story on grief.
Mooptopia from Delany Buffett takes on the shallow fleeting meaning of social media fame.
Five O listed many directors: Ismaïl Alaoui Fdili, Yassine Lassar Ramdani, Elsie Otinwa, Florence Fauquet, Ming Fai Sham Lourenço, Eloise Monmirel. A White Savior story mixed with Opera set in Paris.
Triggered from Tara Westwood brings home the gun debate in hard hitting way.
Yes, Alexander Skarsgard has a body to die for, but the Emmy Winner is also an affable guy. During this press conference the The Swedish actor was engaging during this press conference for a movie that was,,,below par. His new film “The Northman” is generating positive buzz.
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