jzland-1 Reviews

The Italian (2005)

Emotionally and cinematically gorgeous

[10/10 · 4 December 2009]

Gorgeous, both emotionally and cinematically, this exquisite (based on a true) story holds you in its thrall to its end and beyond. I found that I was moved to care about the characters, and identified with motivations that each portrayed, particularly those of the young and courageous protagonist.

A six-year-old boy, living in an orphanage in a poor section of Russia, is impassioned to find his real mother before he is sold to a couple in Italy. His urgent search, with several heart-stopping near-captures, shows how yearning and determination can change lives, at any age. Maturity and impassioned resolve are not the domain of adults only.

"The Italian" is both a love story and a thriller, and will expand your compassion in the viewing.

Zralok v hlave (2004)

Haunting, compelling takeoff on "the fool on the hill" theme

[10/10 · 12 March 2006]

Viewed this gem at the 2006 Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California, and was utterly captivated.

ZRALOK V HLAVE (SHARK IN THE HEAD) moves along--without being boring, despite its simple theme--due to the expressive talents of its protagonist, in conjunction with director Maria Prochazkova's skillful pacing.

Oldrich Kaiser is forever memorable as Mr. Seman, a schizophrenic man who almost never moves away from his "windows on the world" perch on a semi-busy side street of his hometown. His mother has recently died, and he now turns his attention to each and every individual who passes through his aura of influence. He offers his heartfelt gifts with no seeming motive, as he is content no matter what their responses.

Jana Krausova plays "the Lady," a breathtakingly beautiful and wise older woman who gradually "listens" to Mr. Seman with an open heart, and is possibly soothed from the sharks in her own head, through the gifts of this guileless man who is innocent of plan or purpose.

SHARK IN THE HEAD is soul food to the serious film-goer. And, hopefully more and more filmmakers will embrace this fact: people are hungering for films that linger.

Josephine Zeitlin, Actor/Los Angeles & San Francisco

Dommeren (2005)

Compelling thriller never lets you go.

[10/10 · 12 March 2006]

Just viewed the compelling Danish film, DOMMEREN (The Judge) at the Cinequest Festival in San Jose, California (2006.) I would call it a "thriller," as I was immediately swept away and never let go by the riveting acting; scenes superbly shot and edited; and the spot-on film score. There is neither a false note nor boring moment in this whirlwind adventure, which also happens to pull off being a solid character study while driving to its heartfelt climax. Peter Gantzler, though obviously well-known in Denmark, could offer much to American films, should he ever choose to go that route. I remember him fondly in "Italian for Beginners."

Josephine Zeitlin, Actor/LA and San Francisco

The Long Good Friday (1980)

A diversion, despite the heavy hand.

[21 February 2004]

Except for the indulgently too long first and last shots of the film, and a sprinkling of the same sin here and there during its course, this caper held my interest. Heart-throb Pierce Brosnan shows up in a small role at the beginning of his career in this flick, which was an unexpected treat. (He's even sexier now--and especially so when he's himself on Inside the Actor's Studio.) Definitely diverting, despite the heavy hand here and there.