though.

really great playing and ON’s arrangements/orchestration are superb.

sympathetic, compassionate view of Mr Bush. I wonder if in reality Mr Bush and Mr Cheney shared a more accurate and honest understanding of who exactly was in charge. Somehow I doubt that their relationship was as depicted in this film.

I’d’ve liked to be able to read what was on the T-shirt W. was wearing in the depiction of the pretzel choking incident. There was a Scottie dog emblazoned on the shirt.

The Tony Blair segment was funny. The Tony part was written like he was a callow youth in comparison to W.—which is probably correct. In reality Tony Blair always looked to me to be very uncomfortable in Mr Bush’s presence.

Knowing very little about the subject, and if there is any truth in saying that the true judgement of a man lies in looking at his spouse, then at least from this depiction of Laura Bush, Mr Bush may be a decent man after all (although he fails miserably in projecting this in his words or actions as President of the USA).

The soundtrack was crap, and confusing I thought. Maybe one or two exceptions.

I didn’t really get it but it was interesting to get a glimpse of a different culture (not so different really and worlds apart at the same time).

So that was Bicycle Thieves—very good!

Wonderful film.

I liked his comment to the autograph hunters, “You don’t need it so I won’t give it.”

This is a good Ken Loach film. Not sure what makes the difference; different production values; the Spanish language; the passion and idealism of the people in the anarchist militias, and of the peasants; the light. Anyway it has some really good scenes where people are debating the best way to carry forward the revolution and beat the fascists. It brings to life some of the things I’ve read in George Orwell about the divisions between the different left wing factions involved in the Spanish Civil war.

One funny bit is where the main character, Liverpudlian David Carr, who has now gone over to the communist side, aims at an anarchist sniper and hits an old lady’s shopping bag and then shouts “Sorry!”. It’s believable.

Thanks Coupland for the suggestion.

There’s a good page here about this movie. I must admit that at the end of the film I was thinking that Rémy was lucky to have started a relationship with a woman we’d seen briefly earlier in the film at a party and who looked both very attractive and interesting. Not that I didn’t like Louise or feel some sympathy for her. Saying “The one experience I’ve missed is loneliness, and the pain it causes”, and then desperately phoning people in her phone book when her plans for a Saturday night fall through shows that she doesn’t really know herself all that well though. Maybe after what happens in the course of the film that would change for her.

At the start of the film my heart sank at the sight of some dreary suburban setting. The setting is part of a joke against Rémy. I don’t watch French films to see some dreary suburban setting I thought. But pretty soon we’re in Paris and the scene is a bit more interesting even if it is the 1980s.

A good, interesting movie.

Unfortunately the copy of the DVD that I got from the public library didn’t allow me to see the last 10 minutes. Up to that point I was enjoying this movie which is more of a meditation on…I don’t know what exactly (there are some good reviews at imdb by more articulate reviewers) but I was engrossed in what was unfolding on my 19” monitor (it must be even better in the cinema).

I was enjoying being made to feel uncomfortable as well. Reyogadas has a comment to the effect that he makes movies for people who go to the cinema to experience life not to forget about it. Very slow pace, little dialogue, hints of religious meaning, scenes which will shock you, good choice of music for the soundtrack. I’m glad that people are still making films like this one.