12 February 2016.
CHOCOLAT **1/2 (vo French)
This bittersweet tale is based on the true story of a black circus performer in the France of the late 1800s. It features Omar Sy of “Les Intouchables”, and James Thierree, a grandson of Charlie Chaplin who has an uncanny resemblance to the famed comic. Actor/director Roschdy Zem has created a both colorful and tragic film about the thirst for fame, the rise of a talented duo, the racism of the era, and a man’s search for identity and respect. One could call this a more entertaining but dramatically lesser-cousin of the powerful “Black Venus” of a few years ago.
THE LOBSTERÂ **1/2 (vo English)
Shown in competition at Cannes last year, where it took the Jury Prize, here is a strangely placid film with an intriguing subject. Done in a surrealistic manner and set sometime in the future, it is basically about the ostracism of single people in a sort of an asylum where they are forced to find partners, or else…
Colin Farrell plays a dullard in a role completely against type, along with Rachel Weitz, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux and John C. Reilly. This is a weird, perplexing conversation piece.
A film to avoid at all costs:
DIRTY GRANDPA – This filthy, unfunny, below-the-belt “comedy” should be simply boycotted. How the great Robert DeNiro could stoop to such garbage is incomprehensible. Save your time and money!
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.
Neptune at the 2015 Locarno film festival in Switzerland
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