My very talented friend and award-winning filmmaker, Narghi, is the first guest writer on the newsletter. Enjoy and thanks Narghi for writing this, even though I know it pains you. She also said to tell you that itās short and sweet and that sheāll write a longer āfunnerā one in the future. Iāll now hand it over to her to set-up her choices.
Since the first Video Shop newsletter I have secretly worked on Bryan to give me a guest spot to write my two weekly film recommendations. Finally, when that time came I felt too nervous, as I wanted my debut to be perfect, and kept putting it off. āNext time, one day, soonā Iād say to Bryan. Each week bowing out. Today, very last minute, I thought, screw it, Iāll just do it. It wonāt be perfect but Iāll get to share two films that Iāve been thinking about a lot lately. Itās actually very hard for a film lover to pick out only two films and send out.
Some weeks, I can watch a film a day which seems crazy to some, but I love immersing myself like this in cinema. This weekās two films donāt really share a theme. But what they do-do is immerse you into their world, quietly drawing you in and leaving you feeling all sorts.
Happy choosing, happy viewing
Narghi
FILM ONE: I AM NOT A WITCH
2017 Dir Rungano Nyoni
1 hr 33 mins
āIām Not a Witch,ā a captivating film directed by Rungano Nyoni, is set in Zambia and chronicles the journey of a young girl wrongfully accused of witchcraft. The film masterfully weaves together elements of comedy, tragedy, and magic realism. It delves into profound themes such as womenās oppression, the impact of modern tourism, the prevalence of superstition, and the corruption of local authorities. The result is a thought-provoking and haunting after taste that lingers for days, until you immerse yourself in another film.
TL;DR: A distinctive film that is a mesh of all kinds of cinema in one.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple and Amazon in the US and the UK. Also available to stream on MUBI in the UK.
Fact: The UKās Oscar submission for āBest Foreign Language Film.ā
FILM TWO: THREE COLOURS: BLUE
1993 Dir Krzysztof Kieslowski
1 hr 56 mins
āThree Colours: Blue,ā is one of the most commercially successful Art House films. Exploring grief, liberation, and the pursuit of meaning. The film follows the journey of a woman who retreats into solitude following the loss of her husband and daughter in a car accident.
The filmās visual splendour is imbued with symbolism and Juliette Binoche delivers an exceptional performance. The cinematography is mesmerising, while Zbigniew Preisnerās haunting score evokes a profound sense of melancholy. āThree Colours: Blueā presents a nuanced examination of personal and emotional freedom, leaving a lasting impact on the viewerās psyche.
TL;DR: A haunting film that explores ālibertyā through self-imposed seclusion.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple and Amazon in the US and the UK. Also available to stream on MUBI in the UK.
Fact: This is the first part of the Three Colours trilogy which should be watched in the order of the colours on the French flag - blue, white, then red.
Great Movies, add them to my never-ending list! Thank you Narghi!