Tag Archives: religion

“Ginger And Rosa” by Sally Potter (UK, 2012)

-The Work of Sally Potter

Ginger and Rosa

Set during the Cold War in the nascent post-war world of feminism and youth activism / Another facet of the influence of a strong fatherly figure on a young girl (see also The Man Who Cried (2000)) 

Cast: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Alessandro Nivola, Annette Bening, Timothy Spall
Written and directed by Sally Potter
Cinematography by Robbie Ryan
Film Editing by Anders Refn

“Agora” by Alejandro Amenabar (Spain, 2009)

Agora.PNG

This movie shows that both science and religion are motivated by faith. Ultimately, however, religion becomes a political power, science not. It also shows that all power feeds itself on minorities!

Cast: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale
Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Written by Amenabar, Mateo Gil
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography by Xavi Giménez
Film Editing by Nacho Ruiz Capillas

“Linha De Passe” by Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas (Brazil, 2008)

Working in pair: man + woman directing

Linha de Passe

Social drama set in Brazil showing how football and religion as a source of hope ultimately prevent the poor from escaping their condition

Cast: Sandra Corveloni, João Baldasserini, Vinícius de Oliveira
Directors: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas
Writers: George Moura, Daniela Thomas
Music by Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography by Mauro Pinheiro Jr.
Film Editing by Gustavo Giani, Lívia Serpa

“The Innocents” by Anne Fontaine (France, 2016)

The Innocents2

Compelling story, sober but powerful images

Cast: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza, Vincent Macaigne
Director: Anne Fontaine
Writer (based on an original concept by) Philippe Maynial
Writer (adaptation): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer (dialogue): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer: Alice Vial, Sabrina B. Karine
Cinematographer: Caroline Champetier
Editor: Annette Dutertre
Composer: Grégoire Hetzel

“When Night Is Falling” by Patricia Rozema (Canada, 1995) (2)

When Night Is Falling (sec view)

The passion a woman feels for another woman makes her abandon all her moral certitudes.
Some weaknesses in the script / Excellent camera work on bodies and movement, when she and he make love (lights on the wall), followed by the two women making love, beautifully underscored by two female trapezists exercising.

Cast: Pascale Bussières, Rachael Crawford, Henry Czerny
Director: Patricia Rozema
Writer: Patricia Rozema
Music by Lesley Barber
Cinematography by Douglas Koch
Film Editing by Susan Shipton

“The Great Beauty” by Paolo Sorrentino (Italy, 2013)

The Great Beauty

“The haggard, inconstant flashes of beauty, and then the wretched squalor and miserable humanity”
Excellent musical choice and editing. Music by John Tavener, Zbigngiew Preisner, Henryk Górecki, Georges Bizet, and many more (this blog provides a good overview)

Cast: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, Carlo Buccirosso, Iaia Forte, Pamela Villoresi, Galatea Ranzi, Franco Graziosi, Giorgio Pasotti, Massimo Popolizio
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Screenplay: Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contarello
Music by Lele Marchitelli
Cinematography by Luca Bigazzi
Film Editing by Cristiano Travaglioli

“The Innocents” by Anne Fontaine (France, 2016) second viewing

The Innocents2

See also the first viewing

Cast: Lou de Laâge, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza, Vincent Macaigne
Director: Anne Fontaine
Writer (based on an original concept by) Philippe Maynial
Writer (adaptation): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer (dialogue): Pascal Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Writer: Alice Vial, Sabrina B. Karine
Cinematographer: Caroline Champetier
Editor: Annette Dutertre
Composer: Grégoire Hetzel

“Love Like Poison” by Katell Guillévéré (France, 2010)

Love Like Poison

A 14-year old girl tries to deal with the conflict created by her nascent sexual desire and her faith. The significant others in her life are clearly divided into two groups. The non-believers are all male (father, grandpa, boyfriend) and all clearly express their desires. The believers on the other hand (the mother, the girl, and the priest) all have to repress their desires in order to comply with the dogma imposed by their religion.
Incongruous music

Actors: Clara Augarde, Lio, Michel Galabru
Director: Katell Quillévéré
Writers: Mariette Désert (collaboration), Katell Quillévéré
Music: Olivier Mellano
Cinematography: Tom Harari
Editing: Thomas Marchand

“The End Of The Affair” (Neil Jordan, UK 1999)

The End Of The Affair

“You can’t go on fighting (God), it’s only love after all”
This version focuses on love as a transcendenting force, expressing itself in religious fervor for her and in hate for him. The discourse around religion and belief is however much less sophisticated than in the original version of 1955.

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Rea, Julianne Moore, Heather Jay Jones, James Bolam
Written and Directed: Neil Jordan
Based On The Novel by Graham Greene
Music: Michael Nyman
Cinematography: Roger Pratt
Editing: Tony Lawson