independent film

A War is emotionally powerful

By GTVW Staff

Photo :Courtesy

Magnolia Pictures will open Danish filmmaker Tobias Lindholm’s (Writer/Director of A HIJACKING; Co-writer of THE HUNT and “Borgen”) bruising and brooding third feature, A war, begins with commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk, star of the upcoming sixth season of Game of Thrones) and his men are stationed in an Afghan province. Meanwhile, back in Denmark, Claus’ wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) is trying to hold everyday life together with a husband at war and three children who are missing their father. During a routine mission, the soldiers are caught in heavy crossfire and in order to save his men, Claus makes a decision that has grave consequences for not only him, but also for his family back home. As Lindholm did with his gripping hostage drama A HIJACKING, he once again employs those who have been closest to the conflict. In A war he uses Danish soldiers and Taliban warriors, relatives and refugees, as he strives towards realism. Definitely is a film that involved ethics and legal chaos in the battled field. Therefore, many parts of the plot were well managed with sensitivity and detail. Many scenes reflect the humane side and the stressful moments of a martial court. Be a commander officer means to accomplish any kind of duty and foremost to ensure the safety of his soldiers and to treat all Afghans, without distinction, as potential enemies. The best and well rounded characters and brilliantly played in each scene.

A portrait of a bad brotherhood in “Rams”

By Jenny A.

In a secluded valley in Iceland, Gummi and Kiddi live side by side, tending to their sheep.  Their ancestral sheep-stock is considered one of the country’s best and the two brothers are repeatedly awarded for their prized rams who carry an ancient lineage.  Although they share the land and a way of life, Gummi and Kiddi have not spoken to each other in four decades.  When a lethal disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, the entire valley comes under threat.  The authorities decide to cull all the animals in the area to contain the outbreak. This is a near death sentence for the farmers, whose sheep are their main source of income, and many abandon their land.  But Gummi and Kiddi don’t give up so easily – and each brother tries to stave off the disaster in his own fashion: Kiddi by using his rifle and Gummi by using his wits.  As the authorities close in, the brothers will need to come together to save the special breed passed down for generations, and themselves, from extinction. This film has unpredictable plot with certain compassion through the main characters. The best part is that in each family one member always will be a brother, who dominates more than the others especially when your brother is your worst troublemaker neighbor but a particular issue makes that these men have support as would have been better from the beginning. Definitely Rams feels of a master piece from Iceland with great style and engaging to see it.

Experimenter is not enough disturbing

By GTVW Staff

Photos Agency

Yale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) designs a psychology experiment that still resonates to this day, in which people think they’re delivering painful electric shocks to an affable stranger (Jim Gaffigan) strapped into a chair in another room. Despite his pleads for mercy, the majority of subjects don’t stop the experiment, administering what they think is a near-fatal electric shock, simply because they’ve been told to do so. With Nazi Adolf Eichmann’s trial airing in living rooms across America, Milgram strikes a nerve in popular culture and the scientific community with his exploration into people’s tendency to comply with authority. Celebrated in some circles, he is also accused of being a deceptive, manipulative monster, but his wife Sasha (Winona Ryder) stands by him through it all.

“Samba” reflects the goodwill of French films style

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From Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, the acclaimed writing and directing duo of The Intouchables, are back with “Samba.” For ten years, Senegalese immigrant Samba (Sy) has stayed under the government radar, taking menial kitchen jobs in the hope of becoming a professional chef.  Suddenly, as his longtime ambitions for a better life seem just within reach, immigration authorities hit Samba with an order to leave France immediately. Stubbornly holding onto his dream, Samba pins his hopes for a reprieve on a local immigration advocacy center and Alice (Gainsbourg), an emotionally vulnerable volunteer with little experience but plenty of heart. He finds a second home at the center with Alice and her colleagues, including brusque law student Manu (Izïa Higelin), do-gooder Marcelle (Hélène Vincent) and naïve Maggy (Jacqueline Jehanneuf), as they search for a way for him to stay in France.

During 1 hr. 58 min Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano reflect a new comic drama style. Both are versatile and irresistible. This film is, in the context of French society, quite embarrassing. The French are often loved for being articulate and sophisticated. But this film reveals that there is still profound resistance to engage with the issues of representation of French society because of resistances to debate about immigration, multiculturalism, and race. Anxiety, confusion, and discomfort are elements seen in this film in which ending will surprise you.

Ooga Booga a new version of Chucky in African Style

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos:Courtesy

Coming in a new video streaming service at www.GrindhouseFlix.com, host to the weirdest, craziest, and most unbelievable grindhouse films from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s – and brand new world premieres.