Monthly pick of foreign language films - December 2019
Here are our monthly pick of the foreign language films being released in Britain and Ireland during December 2019.
Friday 6th December 2019
Pati Patni Aur Woh Hindi
Chintu Tyagi is an ordinary, middle class man who finds himself torn between his wife and another woman.
Chintu Tyagi is an ordinary, middle class man who finds himself torn between his wife and another woman.
So Long, My Son (12A) Mandarin
Two married couples adjust to the vast social and economic changes taking place in China from the 1980s to the present.
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Two married couples adjust to the vast social and economic changes taking place in China from the 1980s to the present.
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System Crasher German
She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni ends up, she is immediately expelled. The wild 9-year-old girl has already become what child protection services call a "system crasher". And she is certainly not looking to change her ways. Because Benni has one single goal: to be back at home with her mommy. But Bianca is scared of her own daughter. Mrs Bafané from child protection services is trying her best to find a permanent placement for Benni. She hires the anger management trainer Micha as Benni's school escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. Will Micha be able to succeed where all others despaired?
She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni ends up, she is immediately expelled. The wild 9-year-old girl has already become what child protection services call a "system crasher". And she is certainly not looking to change her ways. Because Benni has one single goal: to be back at home with her mommy. But Bianca is scared of her own daughter. Mrs Bafané from child protection services is trying her best to find a permanent placement for Benni. She hires the anger management trainer Micha as Benni's school escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. Will Micha be able to succeed where all others despaired?
The Cave (15) Arabic
Director Feras Fayyad returns to his native, Wartorn Syria to follow a dedicated team of female doctors who tirelessly treat casualties in an underground hospital while battling systemic sexism. Shot from 2016 to 2018, The Cave belongs to the top rank of war films. Syrian director Feras Fayyad takes us to a subterranean landscape that feels akin to the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max (1979). With life too dangerous above ground, survivors create a network of secret tunnels under the city of Ghouta, near Damascus, for an underground hospital maintained by women doctors. In contrast to the many Syrian documentaries made from cellphone footage or shaky cameras, Feras Fayyad takes great care to visualize the landscape and its memorable occupants with artful cinematography. For anyone who feels jaded by Syria coverage, this work stands apart. The heart of the film is Dr. Amani, a young Syrian woman operating in unimaginable conditions with great humor and fortitude.
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Director Feras Fayyad returns to his native, Wartorn Syria to follow a dedicated team of female doctors who tirelessly treat casualties in an underground hospital while battling systemic sexism. Shot from 2016 to 2018, The Cave belongs to the top rank of war films. Syrian director Feras Fayyad takes us to a subterranean landscape that feels akin to the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max (1979). With life too dangerous above ground, survivors create a network of secret tunnels under the city of Ghouta, near Damascus, for an underground hospital maintained by women doctors. In contrast to the many Syrian documentaries made from cellphone footage or shaky cameras, Feras Fayyad takes great care to visualize the landscape and its memorable occupants with artful cinematography. For anyone who feels jaded by Syria coverage, this work stands apart. The heart of the film is Dr. Amani, a young Syrian woman operating in unimaginable conditions with great humor and fortitude.
Watch Trailer
The Wolf's Call (15) French
The plot of the film revolves around a young submariner who has a unique hearing. He works as an acoustics and can recognize any sound. The fate of many people depends on his ability, and a mistake threatens the life of the entire crew of the submarine. Trying to regain the confidence of his comrades, he conducts his own investigation of military provocation. It put the whole world at risk of a nuclear apocalypse. Now the elite combat team has to do everything possible to prevent a world war. They need to do the almost impossible, since the main command order is not subject to cancellation.
The plot of the film revolves around a young submariner who has a unique hearing. He works as an acoustics and can recognize any sound. The fate of many people depends on his ability, and a mistake threatens the life of the entire crew of the submarine. Trying to regain the confidence of his comrades, he conducts his own investigation of military provocation. It put the whole world at risk of a nuclear apocalypse. Now the elite combat team has to do everything possible to prevent a world war. They need to do the almost impossible, since the main command order is not subject to cancellation.
Friday 13th December 2019
Aquarela (12A) English, Russian
Water is the main protagonist, seen in all its great and terrible beauty. Mountains of ice move and break apart as if they had a life of their own. Kossakovsky's film travels the world, from the precarious frozen waters of Russia's Lake Baikal and Miami in the throes of Hurricane Irma, to Venezuela's mighty Angel Falls in order to paint a portrait of this fluid life force in all its glorious forms. Fragile humans experience life and death, joy and despair in the face of its power.
Water is the main protagonist, seen in all its great and terrible beauty. Mountains of ice move and break apart as if they had a life of their own. Kossakovsky's film travels the world, from the precarious frozen waters of Russia's Lake Baikal and Miami in the throes of Hurricane Irma, to Venezuela's mighty Angel Falls in order to paint a portrait of this fluid life force in all its glorious forms. Fragile humans experience life and death, joy and despair in the face of its power.
Citizen K Russian
The strange case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, who rocketed to prosperity and prominence in the 1990s, served a decade in prison, and became an unlikely martyr for the anti-Putin movement.
The strange case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, who rocketed to prosperity and prominence in the 1990s, served a decade in prison, and became an unlikely martyr for the anti-Putin movement.
Mardaani 2 Hindi
Shivani Shivaji Roy locks horns with the devil incarnate, a young & remorseless serial killer who is raping & murdering young women.
Shivani Shivaji Roy locks horns with the devil incarnate, a young & remorseless serial killer who is raping & murdering young women.
Sons of Denmark (15) Danish
One year after a major bomb attack in Copenhagen radicalisation around the country has intensified and ethnic tensions are running high. The next parliamentary election is near, and the extremely nationalist politicial leader Martin Nordahl is set for a landslide victory. 19-year old Zakaria gets involved in a radical organisation, where he forms a bond with Ali. The two men cannot agree with the current state of the country, which is turning on its own citizens because of their migration background, and decide to act. However, they are both just tools in the hands of people with power. As the men try to make their mark, their brotherhood will be tested and their actions will have grave consequences on their lives.
One year after a major bomb attack in Copenhagen radicalisation around the country has intensified and ethnic tensions are running high. The next parliamentary election is near, and the extremely nationalist politicial leader Martin Nordahl is set for a landslide victory. 19-year old Zakaria gets involved in a radical organisation, where he forms a bond with Ali. The two men cannot agree with the current state of the country, which is turning on its own citizens because of their migration background, and decide to act. However, they are both just tools in the hands of people with power. As the men try to make their mark, their brotherhood will be tested and their actions will have grave consequences on their lives.
Friday 20th December 2019
Sarvam Thaala Mayam (12A) Tamil
The film traces the life of Peter who is a Thalapathy fan aspiring to become a Mridangam Vidwan.
The film traces the life of Peter who is a Thalapathy fan aspiring to become a Mridangam Vidwan.
Ip Man 4 Cantonese
The Kung Fu master travels to the U.S. where his student has upset the local martial arts community by opening a Wing Chun school.
The Kung Fu master travels to the U.S. where his student has upset the local martial arts community by opening a Wing Chun school.
Friday 27th December 2019
Long Day's Journey into Night Mandarin
Luo Hongwu returns to Kaili, the hometown from which he fled 12 years earlier. As memories of an enigmatic and beautiful woman resurface - a woman he loved and whom he has never been able to forget - Luo Hongwu begins his search for her. Past and present, reality and dream interweave in Bi Gan's stunningly beautiful and highly innovative film noir.
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Luo Hongwu returns to Kaili, the hometown from which he fled 12 years earlier. As memories of an enigmatic and beautiful woman resurface - a woman he loved and whom he has never been able to forget - Luo Hongwu begins his search for her. Past and present, reality and dream interweave in Bi Gan's stunningly beautiful and highly innovative film noir.
Watch Trailer