Black Orpheus ( Brazil, 1959 )

Country: Brazil
Direction: Marcel Camus
Starring: Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn
Language: Portuguese
Year: 1959

This will be the first Brazilian film introduction in FilmBulb, but not the first South American film. We have already discussed films like Maria Full of Grace, Machacha... Black Orpheus is a romantic genre film, based on the Greek mythology- Orpheus and Eurydice.

As legend says Orpheus is the greatest musician. Both Orpheus and Eurydice are happily married. Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies. Heart-broke Orpheus plays mournful music to which the gods take pity on him and let him to travel underworld. The gods let Orpheus to take Eurydice with him, but under a condition that he shouldn't turn back and see her till they reach the upper world. They travel, with only Orpheus in the upper world turns back in excitement, whereas Eurydice is still not in and so she is lost for ever.

The film doesn't take the entire legend as such, but it is modern version mixed with the Brazilian samba music in the backdrop of the Rio Carnival.

On the eve of the Rio Carnival, Orfeu (Breno Mello) meets Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn). This is love at first sight. Eurydice is visiting her cousin in Orpheus’ neighborhood. Orpheus wants to get rid of his money minded, nagging girlfriend Mira. He finds a sense of warmth with Eurydice, who in turn is followed by a ghost like figure, which she calls Death. In the day of the carnival Mira gets to know about their romantics and tries to assault Eurydice. Followed by the Death and Mira, Eurydice runs for her life in the midst of the carnival. Did their love succeed is the story.

Right from the titles to the end credits it's music all the way. Almost all the characters dance. The story is so simple and because it is visually filmed very well one can watch the film even without subtitles. Even if you are not aware of the Greek legend (as I wasn't), you’ll like this film for its story telling. Towards the end it might be haunting.

The locales of the neighborhood- call it as a ghetto or the Rio suburb looks different. Do people live in such places!. It’s a hilly place, but still near the city. This acts a wonderful and scenic backdrop.

Marpessa Dawn as Eurydice has to be one of beautiful faces that the cinema ever produced. As the film, she is has a innocent looking beautiful face. It's pity that she didn't act in more films. Contrary to the Greek legend there are twists and turns in the film.

Trailer 

Blue is the Warmest Color ( France, 2013 )

Adele is the major strength in this film, she is the one who puts the film on track always with her subtle variations in her expressions.

Language - French | Starring - Adele Exarchopoulos, Lea Seydoux | Genre - Romantic | Director -  Abdellatif Kechiche | Country - France | Year - 2013

The first thing that caught my attention in this film is the title (You have to believe me!!). My favorite color is blue. Long before Indian cricket team started sporting in blue, my school uniform had blue. Blue is the color which gives a cool feeling, but how can it give warmth. I still have to figure out why this title was chosen, I have to think about it, but before that I’m stuck with the wonderful performances in this film.

Director

Film running time is 2 Hrs. 52 mins. - You might say, well… critically acclaimed films run longer and it becomes boring as these films are only for hardcore film buffs and critics. But you are wrong, I didn't go with any expectation, and I didn't get an iota of thought the film was dragging or boring. Adele Exarchopoulous as Adele is the major strength in this film, she is the one who puts the film on track always with her subtle variations in her expressions.

Simple Story telling- The way in which the story is told is simple, but not artless. There is no fancy edits, no non-linear narrative to confuse the viewer, in fact no actual background score (except for songs in party scenes). 

LGBT Issues- I couldn't see the main feature in this film is LGBT issues, but it was Adele character only. Every shot and scene revolved around her. First few minutes, I went through this uncomfortable close-up shots, but as minutes passed, I felt this is how the film is shot, extreme close-ups capturing expressions of the Adele. For example, take a look into these screen grabs, this shot is right after a major heartfelt moment in her life; she is now dancing with her school-kids, all these expressions run through her face in split-seconds (Edits!!).

Unwanted Shots- With such a long running time and the controversial theme, one might feel the film will be full of unwanted shots, but I didn't feel any shot was unwanted nor there were any sexual exploitation shots, except one, which could have be avoided or not needed.

“Blue is the color which gives a cool feeling, but how can it give warmth.

The film hardly travels with other characters, even not with Emma (Lea Seydoux), who is Adele’ partner. As mentioned before, it doesn't discuss or takes us in insights of the homosexuality or heterosexuality; I felt it portrays the coming of age of Adele, from a college going girl to a matured adult.

Coming back to the title, Emma sports a blue hair color, does it mean something!

Trailer

For More Check- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Is_the_Warmest_Colour

Summer Palace ( China, 2006 )

Language - Mandarin | Starring - Lou Ye, Guo Xiaodong | Genre - Romance | Director - Lou Ye | Country - China | Year - 2006

Last time when I tried to watch a Chinese film, I ended up by seeing a Hong Kong film, Mad Detective. Searching for a Chinese film, made in main land lead me to Summer Palace directed by Lou Ye.

The synopsis read like this ‘A romantic story in the back drop of Tiananmen Student agitation’; this line set me in watching this film. As you can see in the FilmBulb posts, most of the movies are set in war, revolution, agitation, political changes.

The other thing that caught my interest is the movie poster, which said ‘..it got great female character..’.

Plot

The film starts in a small city named Tumen. Yo Hong (Hao Lei) just finished her schooling is working in her father’ store. She has a close relationship with Xiao Jun (Cui Jin). To persuade her higher studies she moves to Beijing. Through her hostel mate Li Ti (Hu Lingling), she befriends Zhou Wei (Gua Xiaodong). As days progress the relationship between Yo Hong and Zhou Wei becomes close, both are in deep love and we get a chance to see how deep they are in some intimate scenes.

Yo Hong and Zhou Wei

When the student’s agitation is in its peak, their relationship is broken. Yo Hong moves back to Tumen. After several years, we see Yo Hong living in Wihan, Central China and Zhou Wei in Berlin, Germany. Both, normally indulging in their daily activities, satisfying their physical needs but there is a void inside them as they miss each other badly. Did they unite is the rest of the story?

Li Ti and Yo Hong

“One of the great female characters in recent years

My Take

Considering the story it is a long film (140 mins.). I was expecting lots of political atmosphere, but it was limited (China, I can understand). Sexually explicit scenes containing female frontal and male rear nudity dominates, these scenes were little bit of too much, but a romantic film will always come with love making scenes.

The usage of news footage to show the time travelling is a pop idea- end of the cold war, Berlin wall, handing over of Hong Kong to China.

A video clip from Summer Palace-

Li Ti character shares almost the same screen space s as Yu Hong. When both seek for Zhou Wei’ love- Yo Hong chooses a much rational and wise decision, but Li Ti takes a different decision. Yo Hong is week by her looks, but hard mentally, while Li Ti is quite opposite.

When Washington Post said “One of the great female characters in recent years”, I couldn't agree more.

Extras-

Chat Transcripts from the director' interview- Click Here.

Trailer with English Subs-

**Any comments are welcomed and if you have seen this films, let me know your views.