IRENA’S VOW (2024)

April 15, 2024

Greetings again from the darkness. This is based on the true story of Irena Gut Opdyke who, during WWII, vowed “If I could save a life, I would.” Directed by Louise Archambault, it has been adapted for the screen by Dan Gordon, who was the playwright for the hit Broadway play. Cinema has been utilized many times over the years to shine a light on so many who acted altruistically in protecting Jews from the Nazis. Some of these heroes saved one life, while others saved hundreds. The courage of these folks deserves to be remembered.

The film begins in 1939 as Germany invades Warsaw. A bomb drops on the hospital where Irena (Sophie Nelisse) is working. She is Polish, not Jewish, so she is sent to work in a munitions factory. Her features get her recognized by senior German officer Rugmer (an excellent Dougray Scott, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, 2011) who reassigns her to a supervisory role over Jews working in a hotel laundry. When Rugmer reassigns her again, this time to his personal villa as housekeeper, she learns the Jews in the laundry will be sent to a concentration camp.

We are fascinated by Irena’s work to rescue and then hide these twelve people … and she does so literally under the feet of Rugmer. Obviously, this puts herself and the hidden Jews in danger, but also Rugmer, who would surely be shot were they discovered in his home. Humor is scarce here. In fact, one of the most horrific scenes you’ll ever view in a movie occurs. It’s a devastating moment and one that won’t soon be exorcised from my mind. In a rare display of levity, Irena befriends an elderly servant named Schultz (Andrzej Seweryn, SCHINDLER’S LIST, 1993) whose advice to her is to keep a low profile and ‘know nothing’. Fans of the old “Hogan’s Heroes” series will appreciate the connection.

The current issue of antisemitism gives this one a bit of a contemporary feel, as does the abortion discussion amongst those hiding. At first, we can’t help but wonder if this was for dramatic effect, although the answer becomes quite clear over the end credits. Sophie Nelisse was exceptional in THE BOOK THIEF, and she is terrific here as well, playing Irena Gut Opdyke who much later in life was honored with Righteous Among the Nations … after being imprisoned for supporting Nazis. The epilogue spells out much of what happened, and all of it leaves us with the utmost respect for this quietly courageous woman.

A Fathom Events presentation on April 15 and April 16, 2024

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Drama, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

LONDON TOWN (2016)

October 8, 2016

london-town Greetings again from the darkness. The late 1970’s in London were filled with political, social and labor discontent. Director Derrick Borte (The Joneses, 2009) and writer Matt Brown (The Man Who Knew Infinity, 2015) use this backdrop, along with some cutting edge music of the era, to tell a coming-of-age story that is enjoyable despite its predictability.

Daniel Huttlestone (Into the Woods) plays 15 year old Shay (not Che) who carries the burden of babysitting for his sister Alice (Anya McKenna-Bruce) and cooking for his two-job dad Nick (Dougray Scott), as he dreams of meeting up with his free-spirited mom Sandrine (Natascha McElhone) who lives a bohemian lifestyle in London. Things start to change for Shay once he receives a package from his mom … his first taste of music from The Clash.

Soon enough, Shay finds himself chatting it up on a commuter train with wild girl Vivian (Nell Williams), who generously shares her own music from The Clash, as well as some insight into the band, and even a ticket to their next concert. After the best night of Shay’s life, a work accident puts his dad in the hospital, requiring the son to take on even more responsibility.

More than a coming of age story, this is what I call “the teenage awakening”. Once the world starts opening up to Shay, he begins to question everything. A serendipitous night in the clink with Joe Strummer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) brings some surprisingly grounded philosophy and guidance. “Some people just burn bright” is a spot-on description of Shay’s mom and a lesson to Shay that parents are people too.

The movie belongs to Huttlestone, who bounces between responsible young man, bullied teen, and anti-establishment rebel. Ms. Williams is delightful in her role, and JRM brings the necessary hard edge to Strummer. Director Borte has a really nice eye for scenes, but probably was a bit too stingy with Clash tunes. The timing for the film is a bit unfortunate, as it’s released in the same year as the similar but superior Sing Street. Still it’s an enjoyable little film with enough philosophy sprinkled in that we don’t even mind the predictable ending with “I Fought the Law” carrying us to closing credits.

watch the trailer:

 

 

 

Leave a Comment » | Drama, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

December 2, 2011

 Greetings again from the darkness. I was initially ambivalent on seeing a movie about Marilyn Monroe making a movie. My twisted thinking was that I have already seen the actual film The Prince and the Showgirl, and this particular story is based on a book by Colin Clark who claims to have had a connection/fling with Marilyn during the production phase of the film. Since I had always doubted Clark’s claim, it wasn’t until early reviews of Michelle Williams‘ performance hit Twitter that I started to get interested.

 For an actor, playing Marilyn Monroe must be similar to playing Elvis. Everyone on earth knows what the real deal looks and sounds like. What is interesting about this film is that it is chock-full of actors playing well known people. In addition to Williams/Monroe, we get Eddie Redmayne as Colin, Kenneth Branagh as Sir Lawrence Olivier, Julia Ormond as Vivia Leigh (Olivier’s wife), Toby Jones as Arthur Jacobs, Dominic Cooper as Milton Greene, Karl Moffat as DP Jack Cardiff, Dame Judi Dench playing Dame Sybil Thorndyke, Zoe Wannamaker playing Paula Strasberg (Monroe’s acting coach), and Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller (the famous writer and Monroe’s husband at the time).

 Michelle Williams dominates the film just as Monroe would have. She mimics the iconic movements, but best succeeds in capturing the essence of Marilyn. History states that Olivier was very impatient with Marilyn and struggled with her irregular schedule and “method” approach to acting (which he abhorred). It is little wonder that Marilyn struggled so with her first and only film outside of the U.S. Many have an image of Ms. Monroe as a ditsy blonde, but there are a couple of well-documented autobiographies that show a pretty shrewd business person and one very aware of her marketable and valuable public image.

 As for the film, it rates a couple of ticks higher thanks to the outstanding performances of both Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh. If not for them, it would be little more than a TV movie. Speaking of, this is the first feature film for director Simon Curtis, whose previous work has been seen on television. Personally, I would have preferred a movie that focused on either the making of The Prince and the Showgirl or a view of the human side of Marilyn. Here, we get a shortage of each.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you want to see Michelle Williams’ beautiful performance as Marilyn (she is likely to get an Oscar nom)

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you are looking for any real insight into what Marilyn was like as a real person (this one just skims the surface)

watch the trailer:

Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson