[CIFF Capsule Review] Life Feels Good

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Life Feels Good
Director: Maciej Pieprzyca
Country: Poland
CIFF Screening: October 20, 2013 (11:45am)

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Life Feels Good is based on a true story of a Polish man, Mateusz, born with cerebral palsy, that was was diagnosed as mentally disable at a young age. However, the diagnosis is far from the truth. The film uses Mateusz's internal dialogue to set certain scenes, oftentimes resulting in the complete opposite of what he was striving for. When he is sent to a disabled center due to the growing age of his caring Mother, Mateusz finds a chance to prove that he is, in fact, an intellectual man unfortunately held back by his body.

First and foremost, David Ogrodnik, an able-bodied actor, portrays Mateusz magnificently for the majority of the film. Physical acting is so hard to do, even more so when depicting somebody with a physical disability. However, Ogrodnik captures the real Mateusz's nuances and physical characteristics to a T. The film's primary theme of communication is heartbreaking; I can't even fathom to imagine being unable to communicate due to circumstances out of my control. You can't help but feel for Mateusz as he struggles to simply express that he's more than just a vegetable. Writer/director Maciej Pieprzyca's poignant film is a stirring, sentimental, and sensational look at the struggle those afflicted with physical disabilities face.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRHScoreHalf 8.5 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] The Harvest

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

The Harvest
Director: John McNaughton

Country: United States
CIFF Screening: October 19, 2013 (8:30pm)

The Harvest is a psychological horror/thriller about a married couple, Richard (Michael Shannon) and Katherine (Samantha Morton) taking care of their son, Andy, who was born with a debilitating disease. Worried for his well-being, they keep him sheltered from the outside as they drug him with illegal prescription drugs in an attempt to keep him healthy. When a young adventurous girl, Maryann, moves into the neighborhood, she befriends Andy... to Katherine's disapproval. As she does her best to keep Maryann away from Andy, it becomes clear to the young girl that the family is hiding a dark secret.

The problem I had with The Harvest is how painful the plot is. When Maryann uncovers the family's mystery, her attempts at getting help from her grandparents are brushed aside despite her having solid proof and evidence backing up her claims. Multiple times, her Grandfather tells her to "Follow her heart," yet her attempts at doing so are ignored. Another thing is how wooden the acting is from Shannon (Man of Steel) and Morton (Minority Report). Shannon carries a menacing nature, yet is supposed to be the peaceful, loving character to Morton's menacing shrew of a Mother. In the moments when Morton is allowed to let loose, her attempts at being frightful just feels so forced and displaced.

The Harvest is being billed as a psychological horror/thriller, yet there's nothing scary about the film at all. If it fits neither of these genres, despite attempting so hard to fall within those categories, what is it? You'll laugh more than you'll feel even a hint of tension during the film. This is one harvest you don't want to wait on.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 4 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] Heli

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Heli
Director: Amat Escalante
Country: Mexico
CIFF Screenings: October 19, 2013 (9:30pm), October 20, 2103 (8:30pm)

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Most of us are aware of the violence and prominence of the drug cartels in Mexico. In Heli, the unfortunate reality of the situation is fictionalized in an oftentimes brutal 95 minutes of screentime. The titular Heli is a 17-year-old factory worker living within meager means with his wife, their baby, his 12-year-old sister, Estela, and their father. When Estela's 17-year-old boyfriend, an army cadet, proposes to Estela, he stashes a secret cache of cocaine at her house. Unfortunately, it triggers a pandora's box effect that exposes the corrupt nature of the Mexican officials being just as dangerous as the violent nature of the cartel members themselves.

Heli came with a warning of its excessive scenes of violence. While the few gruesome scenes weren't highlighted and stylized in the way Hollywood films do, they're no less shocking in how shocking they are. Rather, the violence is somewhat muted and nonchalant. By not making a spectacle of the violence, director Amat Escalante creates an even more devastating look at the reality that has held Mexico hostage as normal, everyday occurrences... which are unfortunately what they are.

Heli is a depressing film with no room for optimism. In saying that, it's also one of the best films I've seen this year. It might be a bit niche and catered towards film festival goers, foreign film aficionados, and those with interests in Mexico's politics, which is more than fine. If you don't fall under these aforementioned groups, I'd still suggest seeing Heli not only to get a better understanding of how violent Mexico is right now, but how different foreign filmmakers frame their films compared to the predictable drudge Hollywood has a tendency to crank out.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRHScoreHalf 8.5 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] Chasing Fireflies

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Chasing Fireflies
Director: Roberto Flores Prieto
Country: Colombia
CIFF Screenings: October 18, 2013 (5:30pm), October 19, 2013 (11:45am)

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Manrique lives a solitary life watching over an abandoned salt mine in Colombia. His only forms of social contact are with a stray dog and a co-worker who insists on telling mediocre jokes before giving Manrique daily security codes. His routine is broken up by the appearance of a young daughter he didn't know about. Her cheery, optimistic nature soon begins to rub off on Manrique as he slowly begins to lighten up and connect with Valeria.

Chasing Fireflies was shot beautifully against the natural backdrop of Colombia. The most pivotal scene of film is perhaps where the film found its title where Manrique and Valeria are surrounded by fireflies during a late night bonfire; it's in this scene where the cinematography is at its best. The film's theme of family and love is never too sentimental or cheesy, which films of this nature can sometimes end up becoming. As has been common in most other films screening at this year's CIFF, Chasing Fireflies has many moments of quiet ambience, playing into Manrique's self-isolation, but also letting the relationship between he and Valeria grow naturally without the need for incessant dialogue to push the connection along.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 7 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] La Jaula de Oro

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

La Jaula de Oro
Director: Diego Quemada-Diez
Country: Mexico
CIFF Screenings: October 16, 2013 (8:00pm), October 17, 2013 (6:00pm), October 22, 2013 (1:15pm)

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To some, the United States represents hope for a prosperous future. The path some have to take to achieve that future can be dangerous and oftentimes illegal; however, the risks far exceed the alternative. In director Diego Quemada-Diez' La Jaula de Oro, three Guatemalen teenagers embark on their own journey to to fulfill the promises "the North" has to offer. After befriending a Tzotzil Indian along the way, they run into various problems that threaten to deter their journey. La Jaula de Oro portrays the hardships facing immigrants on their paths for a better life.

La Jaula de Oro doesn't try to politicize the plot or tell a feel-good story about illegal immigration. Instead, Quemada-Diez depicts the harsh realities facing those attempting to enter the US. The ending is bittersweet, but real... unfortunate as it is. The purpose of foreign films and foreign film festivals like the Chicago International Film Festival is to show a piece of life that aren't normally seen by American movie audiences. There have been amazing immigration films in the past (Sin Nombre being one of the better films of the past few years) that have been glamorized and stylized. La Jaula de Oro runs counter to that with a gritty depiction of this journey, both aesthetically and narratively that doesn't add a layer of Hollywood sheen to undercut the film's message.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 7 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] Like Father, Like Son

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Like Father, Like Son
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Country: Japan
CIFF Screenings: October 16, 2013 (6:00pm), October 19, 2013 (7:00pm)

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How would you react when you found out the life you were living was a lie, that the child you have loved and nurtured for six years turns out to not be your biological son at all? In Hirokazu Kore-eda's Like Father, Like Son, the Nonomiya family discovers that their son, Keita, is not actually their son at all. When presented with this shocking news, they meet with another family in a similar situation. As is common with films of this nature, the Ryota Nonomiya is a strict, hardworking man raising Keita to be just as hardworking; however, their biological son, Ryusei, is a bit more "wild" and reared by the laidback, but loving Sakai family. The two families attempt to work through their situation by integrating the families with one another, but at what cost to the children?

Family plays an important role in Japanese culture, and films like Like Father, Like Son analyze just how important bloodlines are, even in modern society. Kore-eda opens up the "Nature vs. Nurture" debate with the film, but in a way that engages its audiences. Like Father, Like Son is heartbreaking at its most emotional points, funny at its most lighthearted, and entertaining and captivating throughout. There are so many ways the film could have failed, but the right tone, flow, and plot helped make Like Father, Like Son one of the best films of this year's Chicago International Film Festival.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 8 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] Hide Your Smiling Faces

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Hide Your Smiling Faces
Director: Daniel Patrick Carbone
Country: United States
CIFF Screenings: October 14, 2013 (6:15pm), October 16, 2013 (6:30pm), October 22, 2013 (1:30pm)

Hide Your Smiling Faces takes place in a rural, densely-forested town where kids play in the woods and swim in lakes. While light on plot, the film nudges its main protagonists, brothers Tommy and Eric, along following the death of their young friend. Other reviews have compared writer/director Daniel Patrick Carbone's style as Terrence Malick-esque, and I have to agree to a point. Not much happens in terms of plot in Hide Your Smiling Faces, per se; rather, the film is more interested in examining the effects of the child's death on Tommy and Eric.

In any other film, this would result in plodding along with time achingly slowing down to a halt. In Hide Your Smiling Faces, however, it's poetic and inquisitive. The amazing cinematography helps accentuate the atmospheric nature of the film. Heh, funny I mention nature, as both the nature of life and death and Nature as the physical setting of the film are Hide Your Smiling Faces' two biggest themes.

As I continued writing this capsule review, I began to realize exactly how Malick-esque this film really is. Take the best parts of Tree of Life, dust off any lingering scenes of confusion, frame it in a coming-of-age drama, and you'll Hide Your Smiling Faces. If you can only see a select few films at this year's Chicago International Film Festival, make sure you see Hide Your Smiling Faces.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 8 out of 10


[CIFF Capsule Review] Lasting

[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]

Lasting (Nieulotne)
Director: Jacek Borcuch
Countries: Poland and Spain

CIFF Screenings: October 14, 2013 (5:45pm), October 15, 2013 (3:00pm)

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Summer love rarely lasts, yet it's usually because of circumstances outside of the couple's hands. Yet, for those days, weeks, months, those shared moments feel like they're everlasting. In Jacek Borcuch's Lasting, Michal and Karina fall in love while on holiday in Spain. However, a life-changing encounter Michal has with an overzealous landowner changes the trajectory of the relationship. In a film in which Michael's harboring of a secret presents the main source of conflict, it's Karina's own secret that further balance's Lasting's theme of secrecy.

Lasting was awarded the Cinematography Award for a World Cinema Drama at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and it shows with its soft hues accentuated by long, contemplative silences. The contrast between the heavenly, dreamscape-like landscape of Spain with the muted, dreary sights of Poland further drive the connection between cinematography and narrative.

Score: RH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH scoreRH score 6 out of 10