Monsieur Lazhar (2011), seen on 26-7-13

A French language film set in Montreal, Canada.

A very muted movie, but gripping all the same, is about an Algerian immigrant seeking asylum in Canada working in a primary school where children were traumatized by a recent suicide of their popular teacher in her school class room.  He connects with them and ESP with a girl who thinks that another classmate is responsible for the teacher's suicide, while the boy himself is wracked by feelings of guilt for the same event.  But the drama comes through quietly without the least drama and this is what is remarkable about this film.  The teacher is dismissed from school on complaints from parents for discussing the subject of suicide in class where, in fact, he was only helping them overcome their problems of conflict (where the professional psychologist engaged for the purpose fails).

My Left Foot (1989), seen on 26-7-13

A touching movie about the travails of Irish Christy Brown, who with only the functional left foot (the rest of the limbs having been paralyzed by cerebral palsy at birth) grows up to become a sensitive writer and painter,  although he was born in poverty and had few advantages of the rich.  Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis puts in an unforgettable performance.  Director, Jim Sheridan must be complimented.

Elena

Seen on 31-5-2013--- Abt a dutiful housewife killing her husband when he dicides to  give her nothing in her will deed except a living pension.  And she does this to help her financially strapped son by another man.  Well made.

Films seen fr July 15-24, 2013

1. 17/7. Les Miserables (2012) - disappointing.   Remember what they made of the book in 1972 "Man of La Mancha"--could never imagine one could make such a beautiful musical of Quixote's bk.

2.20/7  Social Network--in line with the trend of making real life stories, this one abt Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of FN, the Time mag's man of the year,is good but too fast. Good that we saw it after acquainting ourselves abt complications in the process of founds FB.

3.22/7. THE WORDS.  Abt a wannabe writer's false success by publishing a novel he stole.  What it means to achieve such a false success.  **g. Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons

4. 23/7. Viramaditya Motwani's  Udaan.  Liked the conception of the character of an aspiring writer standing up to his tyrannical father and even take on responsibilities not his own in his destitute state.  The attitude displayed by the boy is layered and nuanced and is admirable.

5. 25/7. Ben Afflick's Argo (2012)--3 Oscars: best film, best screenplay, best editing.  Abt American rescue of theeir embassy staff being held in Khumaini's Iran.  Good but we have had many films like this which haven't won accolades like this.

Films seen during July 10-15, 2013

1. The Iron Lady
2.  The Unforgiven
3.  Maine Gandhiji ko Nahin Mara
4.  The Final Cut
5.  In and Out
6.  Despicable Me 2