Category Archives: 6,0-6,9

“I Can’t Think Straight” by Shamim Sarif (UK, 2008)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

I can't think straight

Less audacious than her preceding movie, but better acting, a more confident direction, and a nice touch of humor

Cast: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Antonia Frering
Director: Shamim Sarif
Writers: Shamim Sarif, Kelly Moss
Music by Raiomond Mirza
Cinematography by Aseem Bajaj
Film Editing by David Martin

“The World Unseen” by Shamin Sarif (South Africa, 2007)

Lesbian love seen by a female director

 

The World Unseen

Weakness in the script, stiff acting, clumsy direction, but lots of good intention in Sarif’s debut feature: “Everyone’s breaking barriers and causing trouble in this film, or least yearning to.” Jay Antani

Cast: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Parvin Dabas, Nandana Sen, Grethe Fox, David Dennis, Bernard White, Colin Moss, Amber Ross Revah, Rajesh Gopie
Director: Shamim Sarif
Screenwriter/novelist: Shamim Sarif
Music by Richard Blackford
Cinematography by Michael Downie
Film Editing by David Martin

“Buster’s Mal Heart” by Sarah Adina Smith (USA, 2017)

Buster's Mal Heart

A typical piece of Americana with doomsayers, prophets, and believers of all kind at every corner. However, not sure what the story is all about, with its narrative marred in mysteries that lead nowhere

Cast: Rami Malek, Dj Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Toby Huss, Lin Shaye, Mark Kelly
Director: Sarah Adina Smith
Writer: Sarah Adina Smith
Cinematographer: Shaheen Seth
Editor: Sarah Adina Smith

 

“Red Sparrow” by Francis Lawrence (USA, 2018)

Red Sparrow

Inspired opening, tedious follow-up

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons, Ciarán Hinds, Matthias Schoenaerts, Joely Richardson, Mary-Louise Parker, Charlotte Rampling
Director: Francis Lawrence
Based upon the book by Jason Matthews
Writer: Justin Haythe
Cinematographer: Jo Willems
Editor: Alan Edward Bell
Composer: James Newton Howard

“Endless Love” by Shana Feste (USA, 2014)

Endless Love

Variation on a theme already found in Shana Feste’s The Greatest: a family mourns their deceased son / love introduced by a new personage brings the mourning process to a conclusion
Some good moments in an otherwise syrupy and predictable movie

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde, Bruce Greenwood, Joely Richardson, Rhys Wakefield, Robert Patrick, Dayo Okeniyi, Emma Rigby, Anna Enger
Director: Shana Feste
Writer: Shana Feste, Joshua Safran
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography by Andrew Dunn
Film Editing by Maryann Brandon

“The Greatest” by Shana Feste (USA, 2009)

The Greatest

First feature /  A family mourns their son. The arrival of the girl he loved accelerates the mourning process. See also Endless Love.

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Johnny Simmons, Aaron Johnson, Zoe Kravitz, Jennifer Ehle, Amy Morton, Michael Shannon
Written and directed by Shana Feste
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography by John Bailey
Film Editing by Cara Silverman

“Tiny Furniture” by Lena Dunham (USA, 2010)

Tiny Furniture

The pathetic days of a young woman in search of love and affection who is rejected by everyone / difficult to get emotionally involved in the lead personage
The director, her mother and her sister are playing their respective roles.

Cast: Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunham, Alex Karpovsky, Jemima Kirke, Rachel Howe, David Call
Written and directed by Lena Dunham
Music by Teddy Blanks
Cinematography by Jody Lee Lipes
Film Editing by Lance Edmands