Nordwand (Germany, 2008)

'Nordwand' may not be a very well known film outside of Europe and it even isn't outside of Germany but I should say it doesn't deserve that. The film deals about the climbing of the Eiger (Switzerland) in 1936 where an olympic medal could be won.

Sometimes the film follows a bit too much the paved roads in telling a story but it still is an enormous thrill to watch it. Beautiful scenery, great acting and a really exciting story will make you feel like you really watched an interesting film... and that is true!

Nana (Japan, 2005)

The manga of Nana was so hugely famous in Japan, a complete hype, that it couldn't take long before a film would be made about it. And yes, in this film you can see its popularity. It is a bit too poppy in my opinion. But don't misunderstand me, by all means it is not a bad movie.
The story is pretty simple, but Asians have the ability to create a fantastic film out of a not too complex story. It is in the way how they present the movie and cleverly add some emotion on specific times.

But the absolute best of this movie is Aoi Miyazaki. When she appears on screen it is like everything else fades away. She truly possesses the power to overwhelm you with her presence. Yes, she is stunningly beautiful but don't forget her acting is to a very high level as well, she really is the character she plays and that is very rare, I think she is a great actress. The chemistry between Aoi Miyazaki and Mika Nakashima is beautiful, together they really add so much power to the scenes.



Maybe Nana is not the best movie, probably it could have become a real interesting film in the hands of director Shunji Iwai. Immediately I had to think of Hana to Arisu (Hana & Alice) when I saw Nana. But, 'Nana' has been made for a huge audience and they screem for this poppy-look.

Noriko's Dinner Table / Noriko no shokutaku (Japan, 2005)

Interesting and remarkable movie, by director Sion Sono, about individualism. The story sets in the same world as ‘Suicide Club’ but from a different angle. Noriko’s dinner table is also known as Suicide Club 2 but the two movies are different completely. While the first suicide Club was filled with blood, this one is rather calm from an introspective stance. The story evolves about one family and the bizarre and weird things that happen in this normal family. The story can best be described as very strange and special, but it works in its way. It breathes a very weird atmosphere but at the same time grabs your mind. Some scenes are even hard to watch, because of the intenseness.
The acting is great, very impressive because the emotions are very deep and difficult to act but all girls managed perfectly!

Interesting!

Nomad (Kazakhstan, 2005)

Nomad is a Kazakh/French production and is directed by Sergei Bodrov and Ivan Passer.

This film could best be described as ‘Kazakh Brave heart’. The Kazakh nomads and have to face thier oppressors, the Jungar forces with Galdan Tseren as their leader.
The different kind of tribes won’t form a unity until the son of a sultan is born. Though many want to kill him, he is raised like a warrior by a Kazakh wise man, together with a group of children from all over the Kazakh steppe which the wise man has gathered. They are the hope for the Kazakh!
There is also the story of two friends who fall in love with the same girl.

The clothing is very well done, nomad clothing is pretty interesting! The time-period is rather interesting as well because though everyone still fights with swords the first artillery is introduced.
The plot of the story is too average, the acting is not outstanding either. They tried to make an epic Kazakh movie, but we still have to wait for that to happen. This movie does put much emphasis on the fact that the Kazakh nomads are proud horse-people.

It does have a morale, and it’s clear as day: Without unity there can be no prosperity
And it should be said… it’s wonderful who they pronounce the word ‘amen’!

Nobody knows (Dare Mo Shiranai) (Japan, 2004)

'Nobody knows' (Dare mo Shiranai) is a Japanese film by Hirokazu Koreeda. It's about a single mother who moves into a small appartment. At first it seems she has only one child, but two more childs are hidden in suitcases, while another child has to picked up at the train station.

This mom leaves her children to chase her own happiness and her twelve year old son has to be responsible for her children. As you can guess, money is short and the children have to find a way living without gas, water and electricity.

It's based on a true story but this film is less miserable. The children seem okay, while in real they were poorly developed (they couldn't go to school).

This film is really great. It contains all things necessary. Though it's painfull to watch there are sweet warm and funny moments. Above all it is heartbreaking to watch, luckily it doesn't rely entirely on the tragic part of the story. Though in the end it will probably make you feel very depressed.

It lacks any action, but if you wanna try some great film which you have never seen before you just have to go to get this film!

9 Rota (9 th company) (Russia, 2005)

This is a Russian movie directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk and deals about the war between the Soviet Union and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Young recruits are sent from a boot camp to Afganistan to protect hill no. 3234. It takes place in 1988 (close to the end of the war)

I guess the storyline can be compared to that of Full metal jacket. The first part of the movie the characters are introduced and being trained in a bootcamp and the second part deals about the unknown hills and caves where danger ever is to be found.

I have to say just like the heroic characters that we often see in Hollywood cinema we see people some strong fighters who wants to fight for glory but there are also characters that are scared, or one is a painter that goes to war to see the beauty of it.

I have to admit I had to grow into this film but when you do it will keep you in chains. The brilliant shots of indegineous villages were you feel the discomfort everywhere, a blind old man stares and the Russian soldier keeps shouting Haram, Haram. Is anybody to trust, even of they are old or young?

And honour to the Russians, Afghanistan was taboo for a long time in Russia. They left the country cause the Soviet Union was falling apart, but they did not win the war. They did not win, even though they knew the country/landscape. So once again the question raises, what do the Americans do in Afghanistan? This country has never been liberated and not a war against it has been won. Once again it won't happen.

I think it's great Russia seems to understand their mistakes as well, maybe in the future finally westerns will understand that Russian soldiers are also humans and I never understood why they are forgotten for WWII. All glory to the North American continent but without the Soviet union and their sacrifices at Stalingrad we would never be liberated.

Well it was a great movie with plenty of action, drama and the total nonsense of protecting some hills. Not a happy movie, but the reality of the insanity of war.