This movie is not your typical type of environmentalist documentaries focused around the earth's beauty and or the circle of life. Indeed, filmmaker Werner Herzog makes it a point to state his disinterest in making "another film about penguins". The key word in the title is not the 'End' of the world, but the 'encounters' at the end of it. Herzog documents his journey to Antarctica where he delves into the lives of the inhabitants on the continent. The focuses of the film are the eccentric characters present amidst the harsh climactic conditions, their stories, and the passion that drives them through their oddly surreal lifestyle. However this is not to say that the documentary does not document the environment and nature in Antarctica. In fact, contrary to Herzog's statement, the filmmaker does question an expert about penguins and their antics. The film is a hypnotic and serenely beautiful take on what life is like down in Antarctica and achingly calls out to the humanity and spirituality of the viewer.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Tuesday, After Christmas
(2010)
A Unique Cliché
21 July 2013
Although the movie appears to be a modern day cliché in film making just by reading the plot summary, it is anything but. Yes it's a story about a much used concept of love triangles, yes it's a story about heartbreaks and infidelity, but seldom does one see a movie taking out the time to delicately develop the situational markers, the palpitating tension and the deep-rooted feeling of guilt and remorse. This movie paints an unadulterated picture of love, disloyalty and heartbreak. Where other movies include this concept as a plot enhancement or twist, director Radu Muntean sketches a brilliant exposé on a man's struggle between his love and his guilt amidst the delicate balance of family.
Perfect Sense
(2011)
Vibrant and Convincing!
23 May 2013
When it comes to apocalyptic films, David Mackenzie's Perfect Sense tops everything I have ever seen before. To classify the movie as sci-fi would be folly; indeed assuming that the plot centers on the epidemic and its progress would be but a disservice to this masterful art piece. If one would only read the plot summary and synopsis for this movie, one would expect a fast paced movie with humanity struggling to stop the chaotic consequences of an unstoppable epidemic. However, the movie is so far from that description, that it is almost amusing, as if an under- representing plot summary is intended as a humorous ploy by Mackenzie.
What the movie portrays as the real beauty of life- the barely noticeable (often regarded as trivial) novelties and eccentricities life has to offer- is the central plot of this movie, where the subtlety Mackenzie's genius highlights what we hold for granted. The film's distinctiveness doesn't draw from a more commonly seen human struggle to save mankind from an apocalyptic state, but from an acceptance of fate, and from striving to cope with rapidly changing realities. Amidst ongoing strife is a romantic saga between a man and a woman, and their journey together in search of love. The movie strangely depicts humanity in a very animalistic and primitive nature where in spite of protecting crumbling modernity, humanity strives to hold onto its instinctive and carnal nature. The ending of the movie is aptly tragic, yet terrifyingly beautiful, with humanity in perfect sense with what really matters.
What the movie portrays as the real beauty of life- the barely noticeable (often regarded as trivial) novelties and eccentricities life has to offer- is the central plot of this movie, where the subtlety Mackenzie's genius highlights what we hold for granted. The film's distinctiveness doesn't draw from a more commonly seen human struggle to save mankind from an apocalyptic state, but from an acceptance of fate, and from striving to cope with rapidly changing realities. Amidst ongoing strife is a romantic saga between a man and a woman, and their journey together in search of love. The movie strangely depicts humanity in a very animalistic and primitive nature where in spite of protecting crumbling modernity, humanity strives to hold onto its instinctive and carnal nature. The ending of the movie is aptly tragic, yet terrifyingly beautiful, with humanity in perfect sense with what really matters.
Cell 211
(2009)
What a cornered beast looks like.
20 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Cell 211 is a brilliant drama thriller that centers on rebellion and riot against the status quo. The movie quickly develops the characters with flashbacks and side stories and sets the premise and circumstances early on in the movie. The one thing that comes to mind while watching the movie is Murphy's Law; if something can go wrong, it will.
Cell 211 is about two men, both of them in stark contrast with each other: one has everything to live for while the other has nothing to lose. It's a story of how a person falls victim to circumstance and ironically, ambition. The plot is set in a prison where the protagonist- a newly recruited guard- is caught in between a staged riot and is forced to pose as an inmate. Amidst the ulterior motives of the riot and the threat of a mole within the prison inmate foiling the riot attempt, the movie strikes a tense balance between control and chaos, where the protagonist attempts to maintain his impersonation in face of certain death.
The movie is written spectacularly and portrays feelings of both betrayal and loyalty, and depicts how people show their true colors in face of changing circumstances to protect their own motives. The movie is a gradual portrayal of a man whose life changes in a day while inadvertently he himself changes with it. Cell 211 is an admirable movie which pulls viewers in quickly and keeps them on the edge of their seat, rooting for the main characters. A must see foreign film.
Cell 211 is about two men, both of them in stark contrast with each other: one has everything to live for while the other has nothing to lose. It's a story of how a person falls victim to circumstance and ironically, ambition. The plot is set in a prison where the protagonist- a newly recruited guard- is caught in between a staged riot and is forced to pose as an inmate. Amidst the ulterior motives of the riot and the threat of a mole within the prison inmate foiling the riot attempt, the movie strikes a tense balance between control and chaos, where the protagonist attempts to maintain his impersonation in face of certain death.
The movie is written spectacularly and portrays feelings of both betrayal and loyalty, and depicts how people show their true colors in face of changing circumstances to protect their own motives. The movie is a gradual portrayal of a man whose life changes in a day while inadvertently he himself changes with it. Cell 211 is an admirable movie which pulls viewers in quickly and keeps them on the edge of their seat, rooting for the main characters. A must see foreign film.
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