Last week I built This Weekend's Film Festival's lineup around some of the best films of 2007, which I caught first on DVD. Having recently seen Paul Verhoeven's BLACK BOOK, I saw a theme build around another of 2007's best, RESCUE DAWN. Both films tell harrowing tales of survival during war. So I searched the archives and found three other great films that chronicle the trials and tribulations of enduring a war. Two films follow Jews trying to survive the Nazi plague. Another film looks at WWII from a child's point of view, as well as Japan. The other film is a futuristic survival tale, which also revolves around children. Some of these films will thrill, while others could leave you emotionally transformed.
I decided to kick off the lineup with Vietnam War survival story, RESCUE DAWN. Based on a true story, Werner Herzog's film is simply a tale of survival plain and simple. It doesn't take stands on Vietnam, the current war or war in general. Embracing the randomness of existence, the story of Dieter Dengler shows the fragileness of life and death. Dengler, born in Germany, was inspired to fly by seeing the American jets bombing his town during WWII. He immigrated to the U.S. and joined the military with the sole intention to gain his wings. When he was shot down over Laos during a secret bombing campaign, he did reject his new homeland for leaving him stranded as a prisoner in the jungle; he only thought of how he would gain his freedom. His determination in the light of terrible conditions inspired the other prisoners. Denglar's focus is brought to screen in another dedicated performance from Christian Bale. Supported wonderfully by Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies as fellow prisoners, Bale again transforms himself physically to show the harsh affects of starvation. Knowing the outcome of this true-life tale doesn't diminish the power of the story, which is bittersweet, while inspiring at the same time. As I said in my original review, "If there is any additional message to be taken from this film it's that joining the military doesn't inherently make you a violent person or political. Some soldiers are only victims of violence and politics, when all they want is to do what they love, whatever that may be."
The opening Saturday film, GRAVEYARD OF THE FIREFLIES, is an animated feature from Japan. But this is certainly not a Saturday matinee for the whole family. Director Isao Takahata's "heartrending feature is the most emotional devastating feature I’ve ever seen," to quote my original review. The story follows 14-year-old Seita and his 4-year-old sister Setsuko as they endure the firebombing of their city, the death of their mother and their increasingly harsh life living on the streets. Based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel, the tale stands as a condemnation of all wars. By seeing the hardships through the eyes of these young children, we are drawn into the emotional heartlessness of violence and how it changes people. Sheltering his young sister from the cruelty of the world is Setsuko's main goal. In their simple love for each other, we are shown the true power of hope, as well as great despair. You will leave this film changed by its emotional power as it blindsides you with the importance of one single human life. As I said in my original review, this film is "one of the best animated features I’ve ever seen.
For the closing Saturday film, we move into a futuristic world that contains a bleak view on life, but at the same time shows children as the great hope for the future. Alfonso Cuaron’s CHILDREN OF MEN is a sci-fi story set in a near future where humans have lost to the ability to procreate. Wars have taken over the world, and now the U.K. is a police state where the military battles rebel fighters. Disillusioned former activist Theodore Faron (played wonderfully by Clive Owen) is drawn back into the underground where he finds himself one of the few people who is dedicated to truly protecting Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), the only pregnant woman on the planet. Like GRAVEYARD, this P.D. James adaptation is also anti-war. Additionally, "the themes touch on many current hot button issues like immigration, pandemic disease, big brother and insurgent war. However, in a world where people have even forgotten what babies look like, the film’s chief statement is the miracle of a single life," to quote my original review. With a bittersweet ending, this production is more upbeat than GRAVEYARD, but no less thoughtful or emotional.
For the opening Sunday film, I said in my original review, "Lots of films have been made about the Holocaust, however none has transported me into the experience more than this film." Director Roman Polanski's THE PIANIST tells the true-life survival tale of famed Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman. In an Oscar-winning performance, Adrien Brody brings a gripping authenticity to his portrayal of a man who desperately tries to hold onto some of his humanity under the worst conditions imaginable. Polanski uses the full palette of cinematic tools to paint a portrait of what it was like to live through Szpilman's ordeals. At its best, cinema can transport us into other worlds that we have never experienced and this classic survival tale makes us emotionally connect to a harrowing nightmare. THE PIANIST is easily Polanski's best work since his classic CHINATOWN and represents one of the best films on the Holocaust ever made.
Like THE PIANIST was for Polanski, BLACK BOOK serves as the best work director Paul Verhoeven has made in decades. Not as emotionally arresting as THE PIANIST, this WWII thriller set in the Netherlands does portray the dehumanizing nature of war as does many of the other films in the lineup. Another similarity to Polanski's masterpiece is the powerful performance of the central actor. Carice van Houten gives a star-making turn as Rachel Stein, a singer, who joins the resistance and engages in an affair with he head of the Gestapo. Jolting and refreshing, the controversial portrayal of Nazis as sympathetic characters and resistance fighters as conniving bumblers shows Verhoeven's tradition of challenging audiences with taboos, but doing so in an intelligent way. As I said in my original review, "Those that find this wrong deny that Nazis, as evil as they were, were also human beings." To close This Weekend's Film Festival, BLACK BOOK is a gripping thrill ride that stands as one of the best films of 2007.
With three four-star films alongside two of the best films of 2007, this is a great lineup of films. So it's that time again — head to the video store, update the rental queue or check out Zap2It.com for your local TV listings. And when you're done, please check back and post your feelings about these films or add your favorite survival tales.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
