A Prophet (2009)

OK - if you like movies, or gangster movies, or French movies, or movies with fantastic acting, or prison movies, you'll like this one. This is the total package. It also makes you think (if you let yourself).

The kid who is "A Prophet" enters prison at 19. He has no family on the outside, no friends, nobody to wire him money, and he's half Arab. He does not fit in with the Muslim prisoners or with the Corsican gang that runs the prison. However, the Corsican leadership decides to use him, and he thrives. He is not rehabilitated, a word regarded as a joke, but he does learn to read, plus he develops life skills. Those skills are not usable in an honest job, but he really doesn't have many options as his time in prison passes. He adapts.

I highly recommend this movie.

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1970)

Isn't this a fancy title? I thought it would go with a fancy movie, maybe along the lines of the original Solaris (so complicated I have no idea what happened in the movie, yet so slow-moving I was bored).

But no. The bird with crystal feathers is in a Dario Argento film. This film is so well known it has two discs - one for interviews alone. Please check out the interview with Dario, as he has the worst dark circles under his eyes that I have ever seen. I couldn't pay attention to what he was saying because of those bags under his eyes.

Anyway, this is a schlocky horror film with bad effects, really bad acting, almost bad everything. But the script it pretty good. You can figure it out if you want to, but I suggest you don't try. It is much more fun if you just let this unfold. Argento worked most of the time in the "Giallo" genre of horror, or Italian thrillers / horror. He influenced many directors, and if you like horror, you should check this out. I cannot say it is a good movie, but most horror is not. Maybe that is the appeal?

My Father's Glory (1990)

This movie actually comes before My Mother's Castle, and it's probably just as good. Because I saw it second I suspect I didn't like it as much. They are very similar. If you have kids, are in the mood for a charming family film, or want to practice your French, check these two out.

My Mother's Castle (1990)

Well, I am going to make an exception to one of pet peeves. I generally hate movies that make everything pretty and fake, but this movie proved me wrong.

My Mother's Castle is an auto-biographical tale from director Marcel Pagnol, born in 1895. As a boy he loved the hills of Provence, where his family spent their holidays, and he was desperate to spend more than just vacations there. His mother understood, and figured out a way to get to Provence more often, and his father agreed. In this family, all is smiles, or at least compassion, all the time. I never saw the children dirty as they ran around the hills, or the country house full of spiders with a tipped over outhouse. Nevertheless, this movie is a charming memoir. There is a second piece, My Father's Glory, which is on its way. I'll let you know, but if it's like this one, I'll be happy.

A word on Monsieur Pagnol. He was the first French director to be elected into the French Academy. He was on the jury at Cannes three times. He wrote Jean de Fleurette and Manon of the Spring as well as many other films. It looks like he stopped directing in the 60's.