Tie me up! Tie me down!

Goodness this is an odd film. Not surprising it has courted controversy at various times and places; explicit sexuality, lewd photography, abduction, bondage, drug abuse, "being Spanish" (check wikipedia on that one) and goodness knows what else.
It is sort of a cross between a romcom and a horror thriller though you are never sure if it is actually one or the other - till the end. The soundtrack is often very dark, full of foreboding, Hitchcockian; but the film never delivers any horrific content more often flirting with farce, softening the implicit violence with innocence and surrealism, even pathos at times.
The tension from this ambivalence is what makes it watchable; there is something here for everyone and will certainly get folk talking and more than likely laughing. Not surprisingly it was a blockbuster in Spain when it was released.
Watch it with friends
♥ ♥ ♥

Swimming Pool

Quite an elegant film. Mostly in English but large parts in French - since it takes place mostly in the south of France.
The plot develops slowly, just like a relationship when two people are thrown together unexpectedly; trying to be civilised because of a mutual friend but not really succeeding. Mysterious events from the past are hinted at and suddenly a bloody murder is exposed bringing the two lead characters together in a perverse bond. And that would be that, except for the head-spinning twist in the tail.
A cleverly worked psychological melodrama full of artifice and a beguiling performance from Charlotte Rampling.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

A gentle story told with superb style.
Populated by real people and the spectacular plains of Mongolia.
Prepare yourself before watching, make sure you are relaxed and ready to savour the pace of this glorious film.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Sue Townsend: The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year

According to the blurb surrounding this book, the publishers owe me a cheque - I didn't laugh once.
To be truthful I couldn't be bothered to reach the end, it was that uninteresting. Perhaps trying to be too funny about things that are not even amusing but rather sad and bleak and never poignant. Avoid
♥

Days of Glory

Terrific film. Watched on an iPod which obviously lost a lot in some of the big scenes so it would be even better on a big screen. Great story-telling treading on the right side of truth without being either maudlin or brutal about war and the fate of the Algerian troops.
Go out of your way to see this one.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥