Kirpianuscus Reviews

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

in profound sense, beautiful

[1 June 2024]

Long time ago, I desired read the book. Unfortunatelly, the occasion missing and after almost two decades, I have privilege to see its adaptation, same or , maybe, more faimous than the novel itself.

Not the story itself is the source of beauty in this case , but the cast. And, off course, the performances. It is more than great to discover Gong Li,Kaori Momoi,Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe together working to translate, in fair terms, a story duty, impressive for its universal meanings.

Not exactly a film about a geisha but about vulnerability, opportunities and their use, rivalry and, sure, not last, friendship, trust , motherhood feelings and love.

Each of them makes just special this gentle - precise crafted film.

An Uninvited Guest (2020)

powerful message

[31 May 2024]

A profound powerful message about racism, hypocrisy, abuse and reactions about brutal intervention against the other.

A parable, admirable crafted, intense and , unfortunatelly, more than realistic.

A young man is invited at dinner by family of presumed his fiancee. Front to window, a man is beated by a policeman. The only reaction is of guest. With not pleasant consequence, because he becomes victim of overcorrectness of cop.

And the story offers , in inspired manner, a kind of explanation about first moments of film.

A realistic - cold image of near reality. This is the basic virtue of this remarkable very short film.

Guests (2023)

a visit

[31 May 2024]

The simple term to define this short film is precise. A Nigerian couple, living in Great Britain, hosts guests. The meaning of visit is the opportunity for husband of host to obtain a job.

The first meet of host couple, the job proposed, the reaction of proud, stubborn man and the profound vulnerability of guests front not only reaction but about a significant cultural difference, different status and social condition.

A short film impecable crafted and acted, defining- in cold - precise terms- a reality present in 2024 , like in 1972, the year of story.

A film about importance of compromises and the social etiquette. And about a visit defining, in cold terms, two so different realities.

Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)

Bela Tarr

[31 May 2024]

Difficult to say too much about this film , the name of director offering all warnings and explanations.

A young man, an isolated place, the circus.

Enough for a dark story, minimalistic, miseralistic, proposing not exactly a story but a gallery, provocative at whole, of portraits, All what you know about work of Bela Tarr is present in simple, precise manner, and Lars Rudolph offers a great performance who seems a sort of patchwork of cultural references .

In short provocative - familiar, embroidery of pretextes for explore a bizarre world, an isolated community and a young man in his precise way to a sort of personal truth.

Bortom (2014)

a mother

[31 May 2024]

Touching can be fair definition.

Admirable is the proper one. Because the director, in wise manner, explores profound sensitive themes , with care and in gentle way, defining the deep crisis of a relation in which, after long absence , a woman tries to reconciliate with her son , not ignoring than she is only in a kind of vacantion .

The dialogue mother - son near barbequt defines , in cold - precise terms, the crisis and its pieces.

Beautiful acting, powerful message, Bortom is that sort of short film who proposes to viewer not only a good crafted story but useful kick to reflection about near reality.

Piscine Pro (2022)

a poor young guy

[31 May 2024]

The story seems so familiar than it becomes, scene by scene, just lovely. Indeed, inspired by director experience , it can not be different but , surprising, it works more than well grace to bitter - sweet humor, nice acting and ordinary situation ( not ignoring be myself history teacher, so , the situation of young man is not so far by me ).

Great for dialogues and relation with boss and mates, the lovely detail is the coming to job . An idealistic historian , interested by Viking realities, discovering an ex- colegue who do what he loves, in an absurd , crazy, bizzare job , the story of young man reflected in Piscine Pro offers the old fashion humor of french commedies.

Boy Kills World (2023)

revenges

[31 May 2024]

The motif to see this film , in my case, was Bill Skarsgard. At final, he remains the basic gift , in the rains of fights, blood and moral lessons, not last , some humor.

The story is familiar, few scenes are a sort of deja vu and the final twist sounds pretty reasonable. In essence, it is just enough when you are not exactly fan of action movies.

The temptation remains to define it ...nice. Especially for remind of Michael Jackson in Thriller and for touch of Star Wars and Kill Bill. Indeed, not the most inspired etiquet, but Bill Skarsgard offers just a good job, the voices are clever ingredients, the justice, against obvious obstacles, is crafted brick by brick.

So, a powerful show, with some moral references to classics. And this is all.

Anyone Who Knows (2023)

the past

[31 May 2024]

The past as refuge and only consolation and only certitude. The dance as wise tool for translate the feelings, emotions, vulnerability of a woman who can not accept the end of her marriage, reminding old moments of tender hugs, pure love as a kind of shield against bitter reality.

One of virtues of film, from so many, remains the universal message about isolation in crisis periods and the webb of illusions as priection against truth.

But the dance offers, no doubts, more , maybe a fair -honest portrait of familiar states, always out of precise definitions.

Beautiful, no doubts. More important - familiar. And true.

Monster in the Closet (2013)

in a hotel room

[31 May 2024]

A good premise and a creepy development of it. More precise, a sort of improvisations with ambition to surprise , ignoring the too high predactibility grace to TV news, old cliches and the fake twists.

A mature man and a young hustler in a hotel room.

Sex, talks, a blackmail - revenge, another confessions and a dirty trick . And , finaly , melodramatic end .

In short, a serious fist of cliches , used not so inspired for a film having ambition to be a sort of manifesto reminding only obvious truisms.

So, nothing new and bad taste of the final. Maybe not exactly a waste of time but expression of good intentions.

After Noon (2020)

boys

[31 May 2024]

Two boys together in afternood. Talks , videos, jokes, story about presumed sexual game with a girl, outdoor game .

And the confuse feelings of one of them about his buddy.

The grace, well reflected by admirable scenes , is the main virtue of this short film reflecting the ambiguity of desire, emotions and gestures of preteens , forms for friendship and fascination about the other.

A film like a spring morning, realistic and tender perspective about the tourments of unique age, confusion and touches, sleep of other as simple affection gestures maybe same ambiguous and strange for the boy doing its.

So, two boys, in afternoon, in an apartment.

The End (VI) (2022)

special

[31 May 2024]

It reminds a theater play. A wall, top of it two windows, a presumed vacant lot, a young man, a woman, sitting on ground, leaning on brick wall.

And talking, behind the end of world.

Simple words against fear , tension, loneliness.

Simple afirmation, so familiar questions, counting the seconds.

All is more than familiar, the film reminds part of our ifs/ suppositions/ nightmares.

But the story is so precise crafted, its simplicity is more than correct constructed, the memories about plays and films and books about end of word are so gentle - wise resurrected and Sandrine Sahakians and Charles Realubit are just beautiful in skin of characters.

Indeed, a less then six minutes short film. But just admirable.

The Blue Whale Challenge (2022)

the game

[31 May 2024]

A kind story of revenge. A game , familiar couple years ago and creating serrious thrills to parents of young players of it, a young guy, the voice of woman defining 50 challenges . Before the last, the answer about choice. Exactly the familiar pieces, the fair crafted tension are the sources of interest about a presumed victim of cruelty of a lady. The end offers a right revelation, changing the accent.

In short, very concentrated story, good performances and not so unfamiliar challenges. The image is one of the good points for smart close ups creating bones for story.

So, a man, a woman, a pure dangerous game and its meaning.

Make the Call (2023)

fair ambiguity

[31 May 2024]

Difficult to define the source of seduction of this short film. I suppose , the well used/ crafted ambiguity. Because the film is just a precise constructed embroiderz of flash backs, life of a mother, surviving her daughter for who a tent in backyard is the play place, the encounter with an old friend and the try of the last to understand dark episodes from past.

The result - provocative , good kick to see the film less twice and , maybe, the remind, for part of audience, of episodes from their past.

A film about secrets and fragility who covers it . About high price of truth . And about a little girl and her games near tent. Like the scars of her mom.

Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady (1979) Season 1, Episode 5

beautiful version

[30 May 2024]

The great virtue of this adaptation is the admirable performance of Siobhan McKenna as landlady. Like the final, the tension of other versions having, in this case, profound inspired crafted confirmation.

The story of young man looking for room for night in a town , the more than kind host and the book of visitors are familiar for many, like different nice performances in the two roles but, in this case, the atmosphere, like the dialogues are just correct , in spirit of Roald Dahl short story and creepy in precise manner, scene by scene.

The result is more than beautiful but pretty fascinating.

Stillness (2023)

fragile beauty

[30 May 2024]

The fragile beauty of this short film about two couples having in common few photos and, I feel this, a common profound painful experience is the main virtue of this delicate, powerful, impressive at whole short film.

A film about way to resist to a terrible lost and to reconciliate with this lost.

Grace seems the proper term to define the story of a photographer , in a hospital, helped by familiar nurse, to a couple suffering a stillbirth.

First impulse was to remind me the photos of XIX century of death people.

But the film offers more - a sort of reconciliation , more useful, maybe , for photographer than for parents.

Well acted, it is , for so many reasons, pure gem.

Vance (2023)

Vance and Cat

[30 May 2024]

Easy to define it as a profound charming vampire short film. A young man takes care of his younger brother , looks for an eccentric tool on a shopping site, buys a bizarre drink, goes to therapist , meets a girl so different, at first sight, by him, discovers a not so comfortable truth after a terrible personal tragedy , learns about life out of his selfish perspective.

The first temptation is to applause the performance, both young actors in main roles offering a beautiful work.

Or the craft of story.

Or the atmosphere.

Or storytelling.

At the end, you discover the richness of meanings used by Vance. Indeed, a beautiful parable.

Tour to McWay (2022)

siblings

[30 May 2024]

Two brothers meet after 15 years. A bar, a not easy dialogue, a cardboard box . Its contain - the ash of their mother- represents the motif of reunion and kick for reveal the motif of leaving of one of brothers, his frustrations, the vulnerability source and old dark feelings about loss woman.

But her last wish is, against an unpleasant accident, the tool for aproach the siblings and to build their reconciliation.

A simple story, good acting and fair moral. And delicate portrait of relation with past and a touching attitude about facts easy ignored. So, a nice surprise , includig for inspired mix of humor and sensitivity.

The Landlady (2016)

correct

[30 May 2024]

Familiar story, beautiful acting and fair atmosphere for define the vulnerability of young Mr. Weaver, nice acted by Ashton Charge.

In same measure, fine job of Maggie Day as landlady, maybe too reserved by the potential of role but seductive for the correct use of the nuances of dialogue.

Adaptation of Roald Dahl short story, it works well especially for modern details, from train to smartphone , in contrast with the air of house. The result, not impressive but correct is the main virtue of this short film , proposing the good job of actors and the good remind of a familiar text .

So, nothing impressive but nice at whole.

Sígueme (2011)

nice

[29 May 2024]

A man needs to choice between his girlfriend and his sex partner. Difficult option, both being profound necessary for his happiness.

This represents an essential part of his life and the dialogues with his girlfriend, in fact, fiance, like the tourment after the discover by her of infidelity (smells are always cruel traitors ) are good points of film.

Biyarre remains the conciliatory final, portrait of pure forced happiness , in which the little son, having the name of sex partner, the attitude of lady about him and the final kiss are...eccentric .

But, sure, nice idea, not awful compromise and a happy end not very frequent for gay stories.

The Landlady (I) (2022)

names , a cat...

[29 May 2024]

I do not know the story inspiring this short film. But I was just seduced by atmosphere - beautiful Gothic one - and by the fine performance of Frances Knows. A young man, in an isolated town, looking for hotel. A mistake, a too polite - nice lady and the thrill of the cold-dark truth behind her amability.

Fair construction of a story of mysteries and precise crafted end. You feel the tension from the first scenes but the end, almost brutal cut , like by a guilottine is just precious.

Like the game of seduction of lady , reminding a spider for capture her victim.

In short, not original but pretty fascinating.

Pickled Herring (2023)

Soviet flavor

[29 May 2024]

The Soviet flavor defines this charming bitter -sweet short film about the relation between a not so young man helping his daughter affected by a kind embarassing accident, depending by her husband, later by his father help.

A film about the clash between two profound different perspectives about life and the manner to manage a relation in which the regrets and the reproches are the only obvious reality.

The accent of father and the remind of his experiences, the manner to live of his girl are the poles of painfull and correct - precise, scene by scene conflict, the affection for the daughter, ignored in her childhood , used, in almost overreacting way being the main form of reconquest of past.

So, just charming, like old Russian song.

En Dehors de Toi (2022)

realistic . in some measure

[28 May 2024]

Two young ballerinas . The secret romance defining their relation. A role and the shadows of rivalry hidding the noble feelings one by other.

The gesture of partner of winner changes everything, offering the courage to show who she real is.

The first part, sweet poetic is the realistic one.

The end reminds , too much , the soap operas or soft Hallmark. But , sure, it has the gift of good acting and romantic flavor and ballet is always a seductive frame for love stories.

Modest seems be the fair term to define this short film. But it is too severe, honest being to not ignore the few good points and the fairy tale air.

A Song for William Bird (2023)

being yourself

[28 May 2024]

A wstern very different by what you expect or suppose. A story, at the first sight, more too simple. A man looking for revenge and punishing a guy, his wife for the capture and death of his sister and for barbarian burial of her body.

Some expressions of pure cruelty, some touching conclusions and plans for new life, memories about late mother and sisters, a drop of Of Mice and men.

And the black - white image as a veil of ash on facts of men, their words and decisions.

A nice crafted film, a well constructed story, fair moral. Simple conclusions about a bitter portrait of killer and his profound truths.

A Winning Team (2023 TV Movie)

pretty eccentric

[28 May 2024]

In general, the polite term for Hallmark films, in my case, was "nice". A Winning Team is ...eccentric. For a very forced romance between outgoing/ carefree trainer, less interested by the victory of team and too ambitious young soccer player , for the unrealistic end and for the brother of soccer player lady who is more indifferent or only emotional woody or Peter Pan syndrome example .

Sure, Kristopher Polaha and Nadia Hatta. A nice couple but, maybe, only on paper.

Because the film , looking for be original, offers strange to biyarre moral lessons .

Indeed, being myself carefree, I see with obvious sympathy Ian . But a Hallmark film, I suppose, offers some examples of ideal people in skin of modern fairy tale.

So, reasonable to eccentric sounds fair to define it.

Death to My Hometown (2023)

brothers

[28 May 2024]

Two brothers in way to their father funeral. The dialogues define the tensions between young men , with roots in the attitude of their father about each of them.

Reproches, frustrations, the decision to leave the hometown and the out law facts of one of them and a beautiful end define this touching short film about precious form of reconciliation.

The mix of bitterness, a frustrating event and the hope message represents the basic virtue of film , like the good perfoormances and the fair final of a story exploring, in gentle - smart manner, the vulnerability of two young men and their powerful connection.