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It helps that the characters are complex. Pampered ChaO learns how to care for someone else, even as she makes mistakes. But she must feel comfortable with Stephan to become her true self. She also faces bigotry as a non-human. And Stephan's serious childhood traumas are revealed in visceral flashbacks. These elements make the film engaging, as we root for two offbeat characters to confront issues from the past and find a new approach to today's challenge.

While a lot of things feel inexplicable, sharp themes run through the plot, such as how Stephen wants to develop an air jet to replace fish-harming propellers, but his bloated boss (Yamasato) refuses to spend extra money until it's politically valuable to him. Other ideas are much more personal and emotional in nature. The depiction of social prejudice is sometimes realistically harsh. The most engaging thing about this film is the lovely connection between these two very different people, and the way they awaken things in each other. But they have to fight for it.

themes, violence

9.Apr.26

Remarkably, even with so many people on screen, it's easy to keep track of who these women are and how they are connected. At the centre, Ranieri and Trinca offer an emotive portrayal of siblings who have been through the wars together, painfully aware of their differences. But this also allows them to see themselves more clearly. Each subplot has its own kick, including a young boy (Stefanelli) who represents Ozpetek lurking in the background, watching everything with alert eyes.

So many layers of emotion swirl through this film that it often feels overwhelmingly moving, both in sumptuous visual flourishes and more pointed story elements. But the overall tone is fizzy and buoyant, especially as these women tease each other about all of the gorgeous young men who hang around them, often in various stages of undress. They even break out in song a few times, which adds another lovely facet to their camaraderie. Indeed, the history of costume design is rich and complex. So is its present and, hopefully, its future.

themes, language, violence

9.Mar.26

Naturalistic performances create an eerie realism, especially with Sisi playing himself in newsreel footage. Each actor brings a sense of desperation, with nuanced layers of motivation guiding even the most inexplicable actions. In strong female roles, Khoudri, Triki and Dabis vividly portray women who know what they want but are held back by relentless machismo. Waked has a terrific presence as the seemingly all-knowing Mansour. His steely grip of control is genuinely frightening.

And everything is anchored by the charismatic Fares, who manages to make the elitist George remarkably likeable. Perhaps this is because he is beginning to understand the folly of everything he thinks is so important. Unable to control his own narrative, he becomes rudderless, realising that his passions are pointless. This personal story is much stronger than the political wrangling that is going on around him. Saleh reveals this in the final act, and some audiences will be frustrated that the film's real story isn't what they thought it was.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

11.Feb.26