Change Your Image
sugarcookies-vita
Reviews
Scent of a Woman (1992)
The heart-warming story
The genre of the film is human drama. Charlie who is from not a rich family goes to a prestige school as a scholarship student. One day, he witnesses that his friends prepares for a trick and is in a difficult situation. In order to earn the traveling expenses to go back to his house for Christmas, he takes a part-time job during Thanksgiving day. The job is to look after a blind man Frank who is a retired colonel during his family's absence. Unexpectedly, Charlie goes to New York with him. He is often confused because Frank is a very difficult person and quick-temperd. However, as some time passes, he gradually realises that Frank is actually very kind and attentive. The friendship between them comes out on their journey to New York. There are so many memorable scenes in the film which I can never forget is Frank's speech in front of the disciplinary action committee and students to prove Charlie's noble character. The film shows that both of them find hope for their lives again and live their lives positively.
Witness (1985)
The film makes your heart pound.
This film is suspense made in America at 1985. A little Amish boy Samuel witnesses a murder in the station. A police officer John Book takes Samuel and his mother Rachel to a police station in Philadelphia because the boy only knows the criminal. When John Book realizes that McFee who is also a police officer is the criminal, he goes to Amish country to hide. It is not easy for Book to live in Amish country, because the life style of Amish people is completely different. As time passes, he gradually gets used to living there and is attracted to Rachel. The film is mainly suspense story, but it also can be human drama. You can also learn many cultural things at the time.
Billy Elliot (2000)
The family is finally united with each other
This is the story about a boy who succeeds in making his dream come true under difficult conditions. The boy's father makes his son Billy go to a boxing school because he wants his son to be strong man. However, Billy saw the girls who learn ballet by chance. He always likes dancing with songs in his home more than hitting people such as boxing or wrestling. He decides to join the ballet lesson in secrecy and his ballet teacher recommends him to go to ballet school in London. When his father finds out that his son learning ballet, he becomes very angry. At the beginning of the film, the family's bond is weak and looks fragile, but gradually they are reunited with each other. The film made me laugh and touched me deeply. It has great characters and the memorable stories.
Rain Man (1988)
The bond of brothers
Rain Man is the story about the bond of brothers. Charlie, who works as an automobile dealer in Los Angeles, realizes that his father died and left only his old car and roses in his garden to him. Charlie becomes angry because his brother receives multimillion-dollar estate from his father. In order to get the legacy, Charlie tries to find his brother Raymond. When Charlie finds his brother, he realizes that his brother is an autistic savant and is in a medical facility. At the beginning, Charlie is not nice to his brother and selfish. However, gradually Charlie realizes that he is caring about Raymond. The film has great characters and their acting is brilliant. I am sure that you really like this film and it touches you.
An Education (2009)
The fragility of young people
An education is the story about a teenage girl Jenny growing up in difficult condition. She lives with her parents in the London suburb in the early 1960's. Her father who is a working class really wants her daughter to be accepted into Oxford, because he wants her to have a better life. Jenny tries to do her best in her school. One day, she meets a middle-aged man David. Gradually they go out together and David shows Jenny a kind of exciting world outside of suburbs which she did not know before. He introduces many nice things such as classic music concert, posh restaurants and traveling to Paris. Jenny's life changes dramatically after she met David. Gradually Jenny is not sure why she has to try so hard to be accepted Oxford in order to have a better life, because David can give her a better life already. Jenny is caught in a dilemma between her life and education. However, finally she realises that there is no shortcut in the life and find her own life successfully. This film depicts the fragility of young people and a growth of young girl into an independent woman.
Knick Knack (1989)
The snowman inside the glass wants freedom!
Knick Knack is a computer-animated short film produced by Pixar. I always like Pixar films anyway, but this short film definitely becomes one of my favourite films! The story is about that a snow-globe snowman who finds the other travel souvenirs from warm countries in the room, which are having a party. Then, the pretty bikini girl in the group waves her hand toward the snowman, and he wants to join the travel souvenir. However, he cannot join their party so easily because the snow-globe snowman is inside the glass, and needs to get out. The way he tries to get out is really funny. I am sure that people, who may think that computer-animated films are a little immature and do not have a deep story, can enjoy this film. I would like to recommend this short film, especially, in terms of its brilliant idea and it's story.
The idea of using travel souvenir is really clever, because everyone has one or two travel souvenirs in their room, and is very familiar with them. It is very exciting just to think that your travel souvenirs might do the same thing during your absence! Secondly, the structure of the film is organised well. At a glance, you may think that this kind of film is not for adults. However, the film involves two main plot phases: complication and unravelling. This means that the main character realises that he has a problem and needs to solve it. In this short film, you can clearly that the snowman has desire to get out of the glass in order to satisfy his wants, but at the same time he encounters conflict. Considering all these facts, you will realise what you expect from a film and why there are films you can really enjoy or not! Watch it and you should check whether the snowman gets the bikini girl or not,
The Lunch Date (1989)
Gentle humour
The Lunch Date is a black and white film made in America in 1990. The story is about an old white woman who drops her belongings, because she bumps against an African American man. The guy attempts to pick up her belongings, but actually she doesn't get her wallet stolen. After that, she goes to a café and orders a salad. When she leaves her seat for a moment and comes back to her seat, an unknown African American guy who appears to be homeless sits in her seat and eats her salad. If this kind of situation occurs, some people may escape from the café because they are worried to be involved in trouble. Other people may bravely argue with him. In the case of this film, as you can infer from the title of the film, the unexpected happens. You should find out how the old woman reacts to the situation!
At that time, the problem of racial segregation was much more acute than nowadays. However, this film tries to shows us the sensitive issue in order to show how our society is constructed and how we are biased to believe a certain way. I think this film cleverly uses gentle humour to make these points strongly!
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
If you trust people, you can be happy.
The genera of this film is a science fiction and also a love comedy. The main character Darius, who cannot get along with people around her well, interns at Seattle Magazine. One day, her boss proposes to investigate a suspicious newspaper classified ad placed by a middle-aged guy Kenneth. He is seeking a companion who he can travel in time with, because he thinks he can build a time machine. At the beginning of the story, it is very difficult to think that the man can build a time machine and even go back in time. However, gradually you may be able to believe he can build it as the story goes on, although Kenneth is a little unreliable. At first glance, this film seems to focus on hidden past of people, but I felt a strong message about how to live and deal with regrets in the present time. Most people regret something that they did in the past, and sometimes are struggling with them because they cannot forget it. People in this film also have regrets about their life, but they learn how to get over the regrets and step ahead in life. Additionally, I really like the song and its lyrics sang by Kenneth. The song makes me feel at ease so much. Watch it and you should check if Kenneth really succeeds in building a time machine!
Terry Tate, Office Linebacker (2002)
An American linebacker forces employees to obey company's policies.
This film is a short comedy television series about one company that hires an American football linebacker Terry Tate in order to make the office workers obey the rules of the company. When Terry Tate finds an office worker who does not obey the office polices, he tackles and tries to force them to obey them. For example, when someone does not separate rubbish for recycling, he scares the person into obeying the policies. Gradually, the company's productivity rises dramatically because everyone is scared by Terry Tate and obeys the policies.
The visual image of this film draws the audience's attention well. In general, most people might think that an American football linebacker wearing the uniform working in an office with normal employees wearing suits wouldn't work. However, the mismatch adds interest and excitement to this film. Additionally. you will enjoy yourself watching the film because of Terry's athletic way of correcting people's behaviour. At a glance, Terry Tate looks scary because of his muscular appearance, but he is very nice to people who obey the company's policies, and is good company. After watching this film, you may want an American football linebacker in your office in order to correct bothersome annoying people!
Three Days in Kamakura (2012)
A couple who lost their baby don't get along with each other. One day the husband brings a little boy into his wife and act like a real father.
Three Days in Kamakura is a story about a couple who do not get along with each other because they lost their baby. The husband David tries to cheer his Japanese wife up, but she takes a cold attitude toward David. The death of her baby left a great void in her life. One day, David who teaches English for young children, brings a little boy to his house, because his mother did not come to school to pick the boy up. David thought his mother got involved in a train accident and is perhaps dead. On the hand, David wants to keep the boy in their house, on the other hand his wife immediately suggests calling the police in order to find the boy's parents.
The reason why David wants to keep the boy and treats him like his own son is that the boy's mixed heritage of being Western and Japanese generates David empathy with the boy. He might think that if his baby did not die, his baby will be like the boy. Additionally, he could not think how to make his wife happy anymore, because he keeps failing to cheer his wife up. Generally, it looks odd and unreasonable for most people to bring someone's child into their home and act like a real father. However, to lose your own child creates a great sense of sadness and loss in your life, and this feeling drives David to eccentric behavior. Can you guess David's final decision? What will happen to the little boy? Watch it and I am sure you will really like the ending!
Fish Out of Water (2005)
A man avoids the stressful rush hour traffic by rowing to work, but his relaxing commute is threatened
The film is a story about a man who goes to his office by boat because commuting to work makes him unhappy and anxious. However, one day when he meets a woman who is beautiful and mysterious, and his commute gradually becomes more stressful and uncomfortable. After that day, his life dramatically changes. Even though he appears unhappy, I am sure you will have a lot of fun during watching the film.
In terms of the background music of this film, it works really effectively so you can easily understand how the characters feel in each scene. It is interesting that the background music change from happy to uncomfortable and anxious. Additionally, I really like the location of the film, because of the fusion of nature and city life which I feel is perfect for the film. On the whole, I enjoyed watching Fish out of Water very much. Furthermore, I like the title of this film because it alludes to many moments in the film. You will be able to enjoy discovering the messages of the film. Can you find the connection between the title and the story?
The Gift (2010)
Science fiction
The genre of this film is science fiction and also it has some action scenes. This film is set the people having the gift. Perhaps, many questions will come to your mind while watching this film. In order to solve the questions, you need to watch this film several times, then gradually you will be able to make sense of the story. I think that this kind of intellectual process is one of the ways to enjoy films. Therefore, I would like to recommend this film, especially to people who can enjoy thinking about the story deeply even after you watch films.
Moreover, the camera-work and the sound effects of this film do a great job on increasingly adding to the tension and also keeping the film lively. For example, you will watch the car chase scene which definitely, makes you feel nervous in the film. In this way, this film is visually interesting as well as the story. The film succeeds in creating tension and thrills for viewers, so you will really want to find out what will happen next. Can you make sense of this? Watch it and discover what is happening around the gift.
Father and Daughter (2000)
The bond between a girl and her father beyond the long time
This short film is really beautiful visually and has a profound story. This story describes love and the family bond between a girl and her father. I was touched deeply by the beautiful story. One day, her father leaves her for an unexplained reason and from that day forward she goes to the same place where he left her. This film reminds me of the strong bond between family, which is beyond words. I think this film expresses that kind of simple but powerful relationship within family.
Although this film has no dialogue and even facial expressions are not clear, you can imagine well what the characters are thinking. The music has a significant effect on the story and depicts the character's emotion in place of dialogue. In terms of the visual image of this short film, the colour palette is limited but this creates a strong mood and there are many beautiful senses. After watching this films, I am sure that your heart will be filled with warmth, calm and love for your family.
Whacked (1998)
A man who feels stress at his job decides to take revenge.
This short film is one of the best short film I have ever seen. The reason is that many nationalities can understand and enjoy it. The film has a really simple story and the ending is unexpected. As is often the case, simple stories can often be predictable. However, this film is different with the abstract beginning finally making sense at the end.
The film cleverly depicts a man's stress at his work without any dialogue. Feeling unappreciated at this job, he decides to take revenge. The story surprises you because this method of taking revenge is completely unexpected. I think it is often difficult for most short films without dialogue to tell a story effectively. In this case, the camera work and acting are essential elements to tell the story. Moreover, I enjoyed this film from the beginning until the end because of the gradual way we receive information about the story. During this film, questions at the beginning that the viewer asks are gradually answered in a way that keeps you engaged. In other words, this film succeeds in drawing attention from the audience until the final revelation. Can you guess the final twist? Watch it and I am sure you will like it!