Keane and Moolade at The New York Film Festival

I really hate it when my computer crashes when I am in the middle of a post. I felt compelled to share that with you.

Keane: Lodge Kerrigan’s films usually aren’t for me. I’m into weird films but never quite that weird. This film, however, is a pleasant exception. I don’t want to tell you anything about it mainly because it isn’t heavy in plot so once I tell you anything, there won’t be any real surprises. I will say two things:

1. The film is a downer and therefore, not a first date movie. Alcohol (or coffee) afterwards is a good idea.
2. The first half hour is pretty brutal emotionally but hang in there. It gets better (and the hand held camera calms down). Danielle and I were cursing the film and then suddenly we got really into it.

I have a really morbid fascination with films that really get into the lead character’s skin no matter how miserable a skin it might be. Plus, I love seeing small films that are fantastic and totally makeable. I get really inspired and like making a narrative film is within my grasp.

Moolade: My friend, Seke, says that Ousmane Sembene (who is 81 by the way!) is one of the greatest filmmakers in the world. (If I am misquoting him, he will let you know.) Honestly, I had never heard of him but figured I should see what the fuss is about.

Moolade is about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). I feel I must tell you this because many friends have told me that they just can’t see movies about that. There is nothing graphic but it is still tough to watch. Colle takes four girl in, after they escape from their purification ceremony. She casts a spell on them to protect them. This act starts a chain of events that changes everyone's lives forever. (And I'm not just saying that because that's what people usually say. In this film, it's actually the case.)

I loved it and was just amazed at what how gripping a story it was while tackling a controversial social issue. I think American filmmakers aren’t as good at melding their politics with their story telling. The performances are incredible and I just haven’t seen a film celebrating the strength of women in a long time. I was really inspired by Colle. It's a real Joan of Arc type story.

Comments

[neil]

angela, i too grew to like keane and over the following days kept coming back to think about this provocative film..i thought the performance by lewis was a tour de force...missed you last night at the closing night film...hated sideways - trite, conventional, transparent. Went for drinks after at cafe luxembourg (pinot noir of course)..tried to ring you, but you must have been at the after party.

My films of the festival in order of preference:
1. Palindromes
2. Bad education
3. Vera Drake
4. Keane