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On this page: CHANG'AN | INVASION | TO A LAND UNKNOWN

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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 23.Feb.25

Chang’An
Review by Rich Cline | 4/5

dir Leo Xie, Zou Jing
scr Red Clay Stove
prd Song Yiyi, Gary Wang, Jerry Li, Peter Zheng, Fu Ruoqing
voices Yang Tianxiang, Zhenhe Ling, Wu Junquan, Xuan Xiaoming, Lu Lifeng, Sun Lulu, Liu Xiaoyu, Lu Xiran, Li Shimeng, Ya Jie, Ba He, Xu Jiaqi
release Chn 8.Jul.23,
US 6.Oct.23, UK 28.Feb.25
23/China 1h48

Is it streaming?

With visually dazzling animation on an epic scale, this Chinese movie recounts a historical narrative that is tinged with both big battles and evocative music and poetry. It also features spectacular settings in a variety of landscapes, whizzy fight choreography and sparky characters who are complex enough to identify with over nearly three tumultuous, action-packed hours. And the earthy humour helps us identify strongly with the characters.

After rebellious troops attack the city of Chang'An, ageing Governor Gao Shi (Wu) is visited by Inspector Cheng (Lu Lifeng), who is looking for answers. So Gao recounts his story. As an orphaned young man, Gao (then Yang) befriends life-loving scholar Li Bai (Ling), leading to a series of freewheeling adventures. Over several decades, they become as close as brothers, even as they spend long periods apart, reuniting joyously. Then Li finds himself on the wrong side of the fight, and Gao must make a difficult decision, just as the war reaches a critical point.

As commoners with noble aspirations, both Gao and Li see poetry as a way to elevate how they express themselves. And they also need to be the best fighters around, simply to survive each skirmish, deepening their bond through wrestling matches. The thoughtful, observant Gao describes Li as the most brilliant, most childishly naive person he's ever met, reacting to the wonders of everyday life with poetic outbursts. The film features some 50 poems from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Visual details fill the screen, adding wit, energy and context to settings and characters (Gao and Li put on weight as they age, and so do their horses). Skilfully recreating the period, the beautiful designs are full of texture and depth, which would make this particularly eye-popping to watch in 3D. There are frequent action set-pieces and enormous battles that explode with colourful flourishes, plus a fabulous drunken flight of fancy.

As the story builds to its astonishingly epic conclusion, it touches on a number of resonant themes, such as the limitations this society placed on women, including those with considerable battle skills. And it's noted that officials have no respect for any artist who isn't willing to simply flatter them. But at its heart, this is a story of a long, complex friendship. Gao and Li test each other physically, verbally and, most powerfully, in earnest promises expressed through art.

themes, language, violence 21.Feb.25

Invasion Invasie
Review by Rich Cline | 3/5

dir-scr Todd Komarnicki
dir Bobby Boermans
prd Errol Nayci
scr Philip Delmaar, Lucas de Waard
with Tarikh Janssen, Gijs Blom, Ortal Vriend, Jasha Rudge, Fedja van Huet, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Raymond Thiry, Ziarah Janssen, Uriah Havertong, Jonas Smulders, Siawaash Cyrroes, Oscar Foronda
release Ned 11.Apr.24,
US 21.Feb.25
24/Netherlands 1h31

Now streaming...

janssen, rudge, scholten van aschat, vriend and blom

From the Netherlands, this slickly made thriller immediately launches into action in a range of sunny Caribbean locations as a fictional South American nation begins invading the islands. Director Bobby Boermans gives the film a fast pace, propelled by a fiercely macho tone. And the script carefully sets up every element for a payoff later. All of which makes the movie watchable in a mindlessly entertaining sort of way.

When a ship from Veragua starts inexplicably firing on a beach resort in Curacao, an elite team of Dutch marines is called to action. But their base in Aruba is also under attack, so they regroup on board a battleship. Jack (Blom) and Noa (Vriend) join a mission to extract Ambassador Caan (Scholten van Aschat), who has fled from the embassy in Veragua. Then when that team is attacked and stranded in the jungle, marines Andy (Janssen) and his brother Judsel (Rudge) concoct a daring rescue plan that involves Judsel's wife (Janssen), a tour-guide pilot.

Shifting between tropical beaches, picturesque mountains and grey offices, the film follows soldiers, politicians and civilians as they respond to this violent invasion. Mini-adventures include tough marines who take on the invaders at their base in a series of gun battles, discovering a Veraguan politician (Foronda) in lockup who will be useful in negotiations. Everything is wrapped up in a final act that's missing a big action sequence, but at least the conclusion isn't over-egged.

Janssen is likeable as Andy, who's about to wash out of marine training due to his fear of heights, but discovers his inner resolve in a major fear-conquering moment. His beefy physicality adds a kick to the action sequences. By contrast, Blom uses his supermodel looks to give Jack a steely tenacity that makes him easy to root for. And as the first female marine, Vriend's Noa is of course far tougher than the boys, offering a nice counterpoint to the masculine posturing.

With its blunt, no-nonsense screenplay, the way every plot element comes together is more than a little corny, and the overall narrative resolves far too suddenly. But set-pieces are sharply well shot, including a cool submarine moment. Character-based humour adds some engaging spark. And running through everything is the now-fantastical idea that a cooperative world order can solve these international incidents.

themes, language, violence 19.Feb.25

To a Land Unknown
Review by Rich Cline | 4/5

To a Land Unknown
dir Mahdi Fleifel
prd Geoff Arbourne, Mahdi Fleifel
scr Mahdi Fleifel, Fyzal Boulifa, Jason McColgan
with Mahmood Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Angeliki Papoulia, Mohammad Alsurafa, Monzer Reyahnah, Mouataz Alshaltouh, Mohammad Ghassan, Manal Awad, Amal Alaeddine, Chasem Lena, Konstantina Bdoukaki, Elena Ifanti
release US Sep.24 nff,
Gr Nov.24 tff, UK 14.Feb.25
24/Greece 1h45

CANNES FILM FEST
TORONTO FILM FEST

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Gritty and realistic, this Greek-Palestinian drama centres on young men who are trying to create a new life far from home. So echoes of Midnight Cowboy resonate strongly. Director Mahdi Fleifel finds a warm tone, even as the film never flinches from the darker angles of the story. This is a complex exploration of what someone is willing to do when they are desperate for a sense of security.

Living in an Athens squat, Palestinian immigrant Chatila (Bakri) and his stoner cousin Reda (Sabbah) work together to snatch handbags, saving up so they can move to Germany, bring Chatila's wife and son over, and open a cafe. When they meet 13-year-old Palestinian Malik (Alsurafa) on the street, they take him in, offering advice about how he can get to Italy to find his aunt. To help him and make some cash, they turn to local woman Tatiana (Papoulia), but things begin to escalate in unexpected directions when their mobster-like friend Marwan (Reyahnah) gets involved.

Malik laughs at Chatila and Reda, saying they act like an old married couple. But each is working through his own issues. Chatila flirts with Tatiana while worrying that his family is stuck in a refugee camp. Reda is having sex with men in the park for cash to pay his debts. Everything has an edge of criminality to it, which raises the stakes as things turn increasingly perilous. And there are some seriously wrenching moments along the way.

Performances have an earthy, internalised tone to them, anchored by the magnetic Bakri as a thoughtful guy trying to stay one step ahead of the unpredictable situation around him. Chatila hates the blurred morality of this life. And Sabbah adds nuance and energy to the scrappy Reda that brings him engagingly to life. Their brotherly affection is the heart of this film, pulling us in even as they do things that they could never imagine doing anywhere else.

These are good guys who believe that alcohol, drugs, stealing and violence are wrong, but there is also a sense that rules don't apply in this limbo. So as events spiral out of control, they are pushed from one corner into another, constantly needing to rethink their actions, justifying their transgressions because the end goal is pure. The haunting question is what this is doing to their souls.

themes, language, violence 11.Feb.25

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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL