Mitsy's Talk

Black Narcissus

Five young British nuns are invited to move to a windy "palace", former house of the concubines of an old general, in the top of a mountain in Mopu, Himalaya, to raise the convent of Saint Faith Order, a school for children and girls, and an infirmary for the local dwellers. The palace was once called "The House of Women" and is rather ornately decorated with erotic art. In the opening scenes, we are told that an order of Brothers had attempted to do the same thing as the Sisters, but failed. After the nun's arrival their "straight-laced" behaviour begins to loosen, their discipline becomes more lax, and the foundation of their self-image begins to change. The lonely and exotic place awake the innermost desires in the flesh of the sisters?This is one of the most beautifully composed colour films I have ever seen. I did not know that this film was shot entirely in a studio. Some of the matte shots are extremely realistic, and others look more like beautiful paintings. All this serves to reinforce the struggle between illusion and reality, and also passion and chastity. So Black Narcissus is filled with magic images and haunting echoes. The "flowering of the snows" scene is breathtaking. The chapel scene is frightening and tense. The "Bell" scene is horrifying. The final view of "The House of Women", viewed by Sister Clodagha from the valley below is heart-stopping: A mist rises slowly and inch by inch blots out the Palace, until it is only a dream in your mind's eye. Then, a large leaf is seen. One drop falls and then another, like tears of regret. A black umbrella is opened. Mr. Dean sits on his pony and runs his hand through his thick black hair. He had said the nuns would be gone with the first rain, and he was right?..memorable scenes?
The extraordinary performances in this film are complimented visually with the flawless cinematography. The cast is splendid. Deborah Kerr's tortured Sister Clodagha registers every emotion, every longing, every doubt and every fear with her eyes and the set of her chin. David Farrar as Mr. Dean, Flora Robson as Sister Philippa, Sabu as The Young General, and Jean Simmons as Kanchi are a superb acting ensemble. However it is Kathleen Byron as the emotionally disturbed Sister Ruth that you will remember the most after viewing this film.
Black Narcissus brings home the point that we are all sometimes far too ambitious, vulnerable, obstinate, passionate, and alas, human. So at last if you love great films, great acting or just stunning cinematography Black Narcissus will haunt you forever.

The Time Traveler's Wife

This film was just plain disappointing, really boring, without any notion of what type of film it wants to be. Also it wasn?t funny or charming, moving or romantic. Bana and McAdams did share a pleasant chemistry; they made you feel the pain and the ultimate acceptance of their dilemma but never conveyed the magic that allows the couple to persevere through such a grand but trying love. It wants desperately to engage our hearts, but for long stretches will leave most of us scratching our heads trying to answering lot of questions? I wished it had been finished in about an hour and a half sooner. I can't remember when I've had such a hard time becoming emotion ally involved in a love story on film.

Run Lola Run (Lola rennt)

Wow I love this movie, I love the red hair girl that run and run like dancer, I loved the music I loved everything. It's too good a movie to be true. It has everything - a great story, two amazing and believable characters, an adventure, a mystery about time. And it is really fast. There isn?t moment with no action. From the start and the lightning-speed exposition to the quirky final credits, this movie grabs you by the throat and some how runs with it. The story is simple Lola (played by the wonderful Franka Potente) is in trouble. If she can't come up with 100,000 marks, her boyfriend Manni will die. But the worst is that she has only twenty minutes to come up with the money. Lola's race to save her lover is repeated three times with minor variations that lead to widely different endings. "Run Lola Run" is set in a brightly-collared fairy-tale world in which the elements of the story can be rearranged and connected at will. Direction plays with nuns, bums, guns, crooks, bankers, ambulances, and policemen is pure delight - it's as if we were granted a glance at the creative process itself, three different drafts of the same story, revised and rearranged until the final version satisfies. And the soundtrack, an integral part of Lola's full speed flight through the city, should be on everybody's dance list. But above all it's the story. So simple that you can sum up in one sentence then you know that you have a great one: "Lola has twenty minutes to come up with 100,000 marks and run through the city to rescue her true love." And she does it, and then she does it again, and then she does it again. Lola is amazing.

The Children of Huang Shi

A remarkable true story. You cant help but get attached to the story and be blown away by the fact that its based on true events. Sure, the movie isnt the best Ive ever seen, the acting isnt spectacular, but this movie is worth watching just for the story itself. It's different from other war-time movies Ive seen. I'm glad I saw, and bought this movie.

What did this movie teach me? This world is host to some incredible people, and its people like that that make life worth living.