Wednesday, November 14, 2012

CIFF 2012: The Bella Vista

Doc about the Bella Vista club, originally a sports (soccer) clubhouse and team. The building, having fallen into some disrepair, was bought up by a woman who made it into a nightclub with transvestite barflies who dance and flirt with male clientele.

Although for the most part the bar seems okay, neighbors and the now middle-aged soccer players petition a judge to turn the club back over to the soccer team, who have formed a board to oust the transvestites. It appears they dislike the sexual orientations of the Bella Vista's employees rather than have a real, legal complaint against them.

A couple of the transvestites are interviewed. One is married to a man and has adopted the son of a woman who couldn't afford to keep him. The birth mother appears still distressed that she had to make this decision, but the film shows the adoptive mother is a loving and doting parent. The film does not dig into how the birth mother feels about another woman raising her child (although she does have other children she kept), much less a transvestite. The transvestite's husband is not shown or interviewed at all. She later reveals that she had a problem with a silicone implant.

Another barfly seems to want romance and fantasizes about a long-term relationship with a particular guest, even coercing a young bar patron into playacting as the guest. The young guy falls for her but his friend makes fun of him. The bar owner berates her for spending too much time with the young guy and not spending more time with other men who want her attention.

Prostitution at the club is suspected by the soccer guys but the film does not show any evidence of this.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Free event: The Prize

The Chicago Public Library continues with their Global Lens series of films.

This week, playing at the Harold Washington Library Center, is The Prize.  In Buenos Aires, a young girl keeps a secret she doesn't fully understand.

You can find out if The Prize is playing at your local branch or o a later dat, here.

The Prize
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State Street

CIFF 2012: The Cleaner

In Lima, there is a plague that has decimated the population. Middle aged Eusebio (Victor Prada) works as a biohazard cleaner, mopping up blood and disinfecting the homes of people who have died. In one such house he finds a survivor, a boy named Joaquin (Adrian Du Bois).

Not knowing what to do with the kid, Eusebio tries to get help from social workers and doctors. But they are either unhelpful or overworked. Eusebio takes Joaquin home where, in distress, Joaquin hides in the closet. Eusebio continues with his life and job, trying to draw Joaquin out of his fear and at the same time trying to locate a relative of Joaquin's to take him.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Past seven days

A very busy work week so I haven't been taxing myself with a lot of foreign movies.  But...

Pirates! Band of Misfits
Portland to Portland
Silver Linings Playbook

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Past seven days

My slowest week--one film! Too busy watching some tv shows on DVD.

Nobody Walks