LeRoyMarko

I must admit this is the first movie I see from Mikio Naruse. And I was pleasantly surprised. It's very well acted and filmed. It offers a sombre look at life, relationships, love and all of that.

Beware of spoilers even though it's hard to spoil this one. This is funny stuff. I mean, take a bunch of regular Joes and have them walk naked on a quiet suburban street. Other men are tempted to follow them, to get into the sect if I can say. Women are trying to save their men from the insanity. Children are horrified and the ice-cream guy doesn't know how to resist. Very funny short film that's having a second life on the internet. A very catchy song makes you want to see it once in a while. Great sense of humour by the British once again.

Seen at home, on the Internet, on June 16th, 2007. I saw it for the first time at a friend's house in Sudbury a few years ago. Lots of laughs.

I didn't know much about Armenia and was very interested to learn more. And the movie works on that front. It could almost be used as promotional material by the country's tourist bureau. But beside the fact that we get to know more about this small country, there's not really any point to see this film. Yes, it talks about the relationship between father and daughter and also about the feelings of those who live in exile, but everything stays on the surface. And, you know, there's just some little things that bug me: the daughter that picks up the language a little bit too fast or the father who seems to be known by everybody even though he hasn't set foot in the country for decades. Just small details that plays in the balance when it's time to rate a movie.

Seen in Toronto, at the Royal, on April 1st, 2007. Shown during Cinéfranco.

72/100 (**)