day 18 - a movie that you wish more people would’ve seen

[ssilverfish]

Oh, there are so, so many, but if I needed to choose one, I'd go with...

City of God

When I mention this, people usually say, "Is that the one with Patrick Swayze and lepers?" No, that's City of Joy (which I've never seen, hehe...). City of God (Cidade de Deus) is a film out of Brazil about kids growing up in the slums of Rio, and pardon my

Comments

[kiwi]

We saw Children of Men in the movie theater - we're both fans of doomsday story lines (and really, that's what's at the heart of it) so it intrigued us. I don't think either of us took a breath during the last bit of that movie. It's become a favorite of mine.

I convinced my dad (also a doomsday story line fan) to watch it with me one time on TV and he didn't blink or move the entire time. Afterwards, at first, he was like "that...was bloody" and then an hour later he said "that was incredible". What a beautiful film.

[ssilverfish]

Oh boy, I envy your having seen that in the theater with a bigger audience. Some of those scenes must have taken the air out of the place.

We rented it because of the screenplay nomination, and I went in knowing absolutely nothing about it. I love being surprised by a film like that! :)

[jesshelga]

I am with you 100% on The Straight Story (even if I still haven't seen The Lives of Others...) :-)

[ssilverfish]

We've managed to get a few folks to rent The Straight Story, and they usually come back to us with, "I sort of fell asleep. Did he make it to his brother? You can just tell me." *heart breaks*

The lone exception so far: Brian's mom. It's one of her favorites now, too. She is a huge fan of John Deere stuff, so she was charmed immediately by the concept, and then, of course, the themes about family. (Sheesh, just thinking about the ending makes me want to burst into tears.)

[satellite]

Cidade De Deus still haunts me. I was in college and at a house party when I stumbled across a room where everyone was smoking pot and watching the movie. I ended up catching it half way through.

I remember trying to track it down to rent the very next day so I could see the film from start to finish.

Great choice.

[ssilverfish]

Whoa, can't imagine watching that while stoned. I'd have been hiding behind the sofa!

It is an incredible film. I'm looking for a copy of the book now.

[pointedview]

The Lives of Others is very powerful. I am genuinely embarrassed to say that I haven't yet seen The Straight Story. It's high on my list!

[ssilverfish]

After seeing The Lives of Others, I picked up the book Stasiland by Anna Funder, which is a collection of true accounts from survivors of the Stasi. Harrowing, but also powerful. I remember when the Berlin Wall came down, but I don't think I truly grasped the significance until I read this book.

As a Lynch fan, I suspect you will also love The Straight Story, too. It is beautiful!

[pointedview]

I just added Stasiland to my Goodreads list. Thank you for letting me know about it!