Monthly Archives: September 2001

Waterboys

Waterboys (Japan, 2001, Shinobu Yaguchi, director) was another crowd pleaser. It follows five misfits who start a synchronized swimming team at their all-boys high school. Much hilarity ensues, including a flaming afro, some electrocuted dolphins, and a breathtaking Esther Williams-esque … Continue reading

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Elling

Elling (Norway, 2001, Petter Næss, director) has me grasping for words and coming up with lame stuff like “triumph” and “joy” and other stuff from the movie ads. Nevertheless, it’s amazing. Two mental patients are released to live semi-independently together … Continue reading

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Models

Models (Austria, 1998, Ulrich Seidl, director) was my first film of the festival. It was a thoroughly unpleasant tale, shot in a documentary style, about coked-up and unhappy models in Vienna. The excruciatingly long scenes alternated between existential longings for … Continue reading

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The Movies They’re Showing Downtown

Noted: “You want to know the Christians’ biggest mistake? Not recognizing the neutrality of media. You don’t like the movies they’re showing downtown? Then make some of your own. You spend all your time preaching to the choir, it just … Continue reading

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