2015

CINEMANIA FILM FESTIVAL

2015 cinemania program

THE RATINGS

So far, A & O film critic Nancy Snipper has seen the following films. Here are her reviews and ratings, always out of 4, reserving 2.5 or more for a noteworthy film, 3.5 for an exceptional film, 4 for a classic.

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2.0 -- TWILGHT OF SHADOWS, Mohammed Lakhdar-hamina
[reviewed by Nancy Snipper] Commandant Saintenac carries out unspeakable deeds in operations to keep Algerians under the yoke of France during the war. Khaled leads a small band of resistant fighters against this psychopathic French leader. A young soldier named Lambert -- new recruit -- watches in horror as Saintenac tortures Khaled who has been caught; his men were shot in the back while sent to supposedly fetch wood. The tables turn and Lambert cleverly frees Khaled and hand cuffs Saintenac while the former is driving them both in a jeep to a barren place to get Lambert to kill Khaled. But now, Saintenac is the disadvantaged on; he has been kidnapped by Lambert. Together the three of them traipse through the Sahara Desert. Verbal conflicts occur as past atrocities on both sides are brought up. The desert seemed to be used as a stage for enlightening the viewer as to the history between the two fighting sides, while the men argued. Sadly, the film fell flat. It became sentimental and unrealistic. I have to ask why in the sweltering sun, the two French soldiers did not take off their metal ID tags around their neck? Metal against the skin gets very hot, but it would seem the trio were able deal with this, despite the lack of food and water popping up along the way. The beginning of the film was too hastily put together, as were the throw-in flashbacks to the fighting. It was confusing.