Saw some amazing features yesterday on a four movie marathon between Suncoast, Gateway and Musgrave!

Madeinusa is a stunning Peruvian film with the most incredible visuals. It's the kind of movie that immerses you so deep that you actually feel like you've been to Peru after seeing it. It is a dark, sinister story (my favourite); and was by far my top choice of the day.

The Cats Of Mirikitani: a emotionally moving documentary about a woman who takes a homeless artist into her New York apartment and endeavours to help him escape the streets. He's an American of Japanese ancestory and his story will have you on the verge of tears at many moments in the film. A beautifully shot and very inspiring feature.

The Legacy (L'Heritage) didn't exactly float the 'ol boat with me. There's something about this I didn't like, I think it's got to do with the fact that not only was the plot simplistic, but the director doesn't let you get close to any of the characters. I felt left as a passive observer in a story that I wasn't allowed to become emotionally involved in. Kind of "typical" French cinema really. A small chunk of a story. Nobody cares. Very drawn out. That sort of thing.

Cashback reminded me exactly of American Beauty. There was a very similar sad and unlikely hero narrating himself through his dismal situation, and cutaway scenes with the careful notes on the piano accompanied by a contrasting slow-motion visual scene. Still, it was an awesome movie, if not a bit out of place in the festival, that was a great un-winder after the day's films.

Yo SOL ASASSYN

coolness shot for the post - appreciate the highlights list as I have massive time constraints, and battled to locate the "must see" movies !

sweet catchya soon !

peace

KLIKTRAK
http://www.kliktrak.com

Missed most of the movies I wanted to see cause of bad timing, dammit.

Watching Cashback tonight, amped.

Yah went and watched Absolute Mexico and Chasing Dora as part of teh surf film festival.

Firstly was very impressed with Kwasuka theatre, what a cool little place

Secondly was more impressed with the turnout. It was so packed people were sitting in the aisles. Maybe Durban is shedding some of it's famout apathy

Absolute Mexico was awesome to start with, showing a beast of a wave and one guy getting a 30 second barrel. There is a segment showing Puerto Escondido at 20 feet which is just sick. The movie was pretty ordinary otherwise tho, monotonous footage of the same break agan and again, yanks trying to be cool, and a soundtrack which varied from sublime to jarringly fucking irritating.

Chasing Dora was pretty crap. 3 surfers reminisce about the good old days, and attempt to recreate the non-commercial days of surfing by building some single fin wooden boards. They seem to miss the point that there is a reason for progression, those old dogs are shit. In typical Yank style they proudly announce at the end of the movie that they have restored some of surfing soul at J-Bay. How nice for them. Pity surfing embraces hundreds of cultures across the world and no-one gives a toss about Mickey Dora. One segment was great tho, this old geezer charging JBay 6 feet on his wooden board, and then getting panelled on the rocks. Big up to him.

Is that Peruvian movie still showing? Would like to check it.

How about a top ten arthouse flick poll? Would like to see what other people rate

Saw two other movies:

Faces Of A Fig Tree is a Japanese film with fantastic cinematography. The story was a bit strange and disjointed though, the kind of movie that I think would be better understood if you're actually from Japan.

The Sensation Of Sight (USA) was long and somewhat confusing. The scene which formed the crux of the plot was only shown towards the end of the film, so for most of the time it's a bit of guesswork. It was also very sad and quite disturbing (in a bad way).

DIFF is over now unfortunately. I wish it was spread over more weeks! It all flies by so quickly.

Aren't there awards to be dished out? Does anyone know which films won?