Film: Love and friendship – sharp perfection of Jane Austen’s prose

24 June 2016.

4 to see, and 1 to miss.

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ***

If you’re a fan of the sharp perfection of Jane Austen’s prose and the portraits of her era, you will greatly appreciate this amusing adaptation of her novella, Lady Susan, by the director Whit Stillman, known for such elegant films as “Metropolitan” and “Cosmopolitan”.

Kate Beckinsale is a delight as Lady Susan, the conniving, crafty charmer who turns any event to her own benefit.

JOURNEY IN SENSUALITY (Voyage sensoriel) ****

This hour-long documentary by the Swiss Ruedi Gerber begins at the Rodin museum in Paris, melding the sensual sculptures of Rodin with elderly American choreographer Anna Halprin’s project of training a group of dancers on the California coast to free their bodies and become the moving embodiments of Rodin’s figures.

Enchanting, illuminating and inspiring. At the GRUTLI.

L’OUTSIDER *** (vo French)

Here is the fascinating true story of the infamous financial trader, Jérôme Kerviel, who gambled in astronomical numbers, winning and losing billions for his bank, Société Générale in 2008.

One could call this a French, more sober version of “The Wolf of Wall Street”, as it recounts Kerviel’s folly and his downfall.

MERCI PATRON! *** (vo French)

This amusing, socially-conscious documentary by François Ruffin is a serious farce about the little man getting his due from one of the wealthiest men in France, Bernard Arnault, who left France for Belgium to escape taxes.

A satisfying tale, Ruffin is a sort of French Michael Moore, standing up for the common worker, or perhaps a Robin Hood? Great fun!

And the 1 to miss:
And one to miss:
ME BEFORE YOU *1/2
This saccharine-sweet English love story somewhat resembles the far-better French film, “Intouchables”. See it if you’re a fan of goo and the obvious. She is his sort-of nurse and annoyingly cheerful, he is a paraplegic wonder boy who would rather die than live in that state, played by Sam Claflin who is actually very good, but cannot save this tragic/marshmallow bomb on his own.

Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars

By Neptune

Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.

Click here for past reviews.

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