SUBSCRIBEBelgian Film Week at the SM Megamall
The advance screenings of Cinemanila continued with the Belgian Film Week at the SM Megamall Cinema 6. This time, I was able to watch three notable films last weekend:
La Promesse (The Promise) - Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne
The Dardenne brothers have a great story and film in their hands, a veritable gem that will surely be appreciated. It is somewhat dark and devoid of usual Hollywood fare, a film that favors the cinema verite style. Its about struggling for one’s principles and conscience, rising above blood relations and doing what is good.
La Femme de Gilles (Gille’s Wife) - Frédéric Fonteyne
Visuals are excellent and as for the story, it will definitely have the feminists react. But then, it is the conservative 1930s and here, Elisa, Gille’s wife, is loyal to a fault even if her husband is madly infatuated with her sister. Words are sparse but the actions rich like the photography. A film that will have you second guessing.
Ma Vie En Rose (My life in Pink) - Alain Berliner
A girl trapped in a boy’s body, and so Ludovic, the 7 year old thinks of himself. It is this basic premise that the drives the film. The norms that society imposes on itself on what is proper and normal that often, when there is one who does not follow is often ostracized or relegated to the fringes. But then, there are communities that are narrowminded and there are others that are more tolerant and accepting. It is the latter that Ludovic’s family, though not ideal and has a more middle class ring to it than their previous community, found acceptance.
