Poulet au vinaigre (1985) Directed by Claude Chabrol. I strongly protest the attempt to carry over the food-related titling in the idiotic Cop au Vin by which it is known in USA. However, this is an interesting and entertaining tale of small-town misbehavior in which one murder leads to another. None of the characters is fully likeable, even the protagonists being rather despicable in some ways. I must learn more about Chabrol. 7/10
Elle est des notres [She's one of us] (2003) Directed by Siegrid Alnoy. One of those movies where people stand immobile and expressionless, staring off into space, and when someone walks out of the shot they just leave the camera going for a while so you look at what was behind them and go "hmmm..." Interesting in a way though, in that one may not fully realize that France too has strip malls, industrial parks, condo suburbs, and stores with names like Monsieur Meuble (Mr. Furniture). I liked the fact that it was almost always grey and rainy and, like me, the main character finds her attempts to communicate normally with those around her often fall flat and she seems least comfortable when people are trying to be friendly, most tormented when everyone around her is having their version of fun. 6/10
Dekigokoro [Passing Fancy] (1933) Directed by Ozu Yasujiro, my favorite director. Like his other silent films, far more sophisticated and accomplished than many sound films made years later anywhere in the world. The pacing on this was a bit more uneven and I kept thinking it was about to end and then it didn't. It's a small light drama of a handful of rather poverty-stricken and mostly uneducated people and their mutual interactions. Ozu is always great with child/parent interactions, and he chose his actors well. My one serious gripe with this release is with the modern musical track. If I were going to provide a score for a silent Japanese film I would at least try to find someone who knew something about music of that nation and period, or locate someone in Japan who still actually accompanies silent films - surely there must be someone in that nation who has preserved that skill. I wouldn't just find some joker who can do random jazzy noodling for an hour and a half, slap it onto the disc, and think I had done it justice. I eventually had to turn off the tinny clinking noises and watch it completely silent. Movie - 8/10 Music - 0/10
