Control

Drole De Felix

Yet again I wonder why and how French cinema can produce so many thoughtful films about human relationships. This one stars the wonderful Sami Bouajila - who features in one of my favourite films Days of Glory. This is in many ways extremely 'light' (as suggested by the title

perhaps). Felix is gay, an Arab, HIV+ and seemingly happy. He sets out to find his father, someone he has never met, after he loses his job and following his mother's death he uncovers some correspondence from this man. He travels across France from Normandy to Marseilles, but isn't (naturally) finding his father - he is finding himself. The film shows his various encounters and creates a new 'family'. Like many characters in French films he is remarkably casual, careless almost - and is portrayed in the usual manner that film makers consider gay men should be shown - promiscuous, on the edge, an outsider looking in, and more lustful than emotional. However, I'd give this a 8/10 rating.

Righteous Kill

3:10 to Yuma

Brideshead Revisted

I've Loved You So Long

Law of Desire

Another strange and yet fascinating film from director Pedro Almodovar. As is his usual style the storyline is shambolic and requires a great deal of attention, tricky when you're reading subtitles simultaneously with trying to see the action! In this film Pablo ( a film director mmmm) is obsessed with Juan - a 'straight' boy who cannot love him, becomes the object of the dangerous attention of Antonio (an interesting portrayal by Antonio Banderas), who falls passionately in love with Pablo - who in turn cannot return the affection of this boy (who is also allegedly straight too). Meanwhile Pablo's transexual sister Tina (keep up damn it!) is looking after the abandoned daughter of a flighty friend. All Almodovar's films are peopled by the unusual and bizarre and are tragic in the extreme - this is no exception, there is sex, violence, extreme emotions and a dramatic ending. I always wonder how much Almodovar is playing out his own fantasies and frustrations. Nevertheless a rating of 7/10 is deserved. Is this a tragic tale?