A highly stylized and emotionally charged film, I Killed My Mother is one of the programming committee's favorite films this year.Program 37 begins at 1:30 at the Dryden Theater.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Program 37: I killed My Mother
A highly stylized and emotionally charged film, I Killed My Mother is one of the programming committee's favorite films this year.Program 37 begins at 1:30 at the Dryden Theater.
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22 comments:
While teenage angst can be a tedious thing, the writer/director showed amazing maturity and insight! The mother's character was very well written, and there was a certain level of sympathy for the mother, despite all the anguish the teen was feeling.
I was very apprehensive about this film because it's a French film. While they can be artsy and beautiful, they tend to fuck your mind without a condom.
This film is still a French film at heart. I thought the teenage drama between the son and mother was fantastic, in a horrible way. It's so my mother and my sister - no matter what either does, they will never be good together. It felt real.
Where I walked away confused with was the title. Normally I get the ungettable films, but this one had me scratching my head by the end. He didn't kill his mother. He wrote an assignment called 'I killed my mother,' but we never know what that assignment was or what he wrote. It's rare that I think a movie should be longer, but I think this one was missing about 30 minutes somewhere.
Overall, it was beautifully written, directed, and acted (all by a 19 year old, which is astounding at any age). I just wish I knew a little more.
I enjoyed the film. Yes, it presented teen angst but it also showed how relationships do function and that they are not always happy.
I also feel the title worked on several levels. It would have been nice to know the substance of the paper and that may have further illustrated why the mother and the son operated in the manner they did.
Check out this film! It's definitely worth it.
I first want to say, this was a great movie. I think the bigger issue was the disconnect between the teen and his immediate family. His father barely knew his name, and the mother really didn't know (or care) what was happening in his life. She was far too concerned with her own life, and rather bi-polar. (The scene at the video store nailed that one pretty squarely, but other parts were there too.)
Overall, I'm glad I saw it, and I saw lots of clear ties to reality in the film itself. Unlike many French films, this has somewhat of a directed ending, with many of the loose ends being at least pointing in one direction, if not resolved.
OK first of all I want to say that yes this film is in the French language but it is from Quebec, not France. So it's really a Canadian film :)
I needed the English subtitles but understood enough French to giggle at times because to a certain small extent it reminded me of the fights I had with my mom when I was that age. (Just a little, it wasn't quite THAT bad!)
I think the title is metaphorical. (And it is a literal translation from French to English.)
I do think the film moved at a slow pace sometimes. It tends to drag.
I also enjoyed learning some "Quebec french." Like, car is "char" in Quebec? In France and most of francophone Europe, everybody says "voiture." lol...
From the ballots:
Tres bon!
From the ballots:
It was funny, sad and intelligent. Very entertaining but it really made me think too. Awesome.
From the ballots:
Best film so far. Beautifully shot.
From the ballots:
Great writing, great acting, beautifully shot. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Full of artistry and personality. Really glad I came to see it!
From the ballots:
Excellent.
Amazing in scope but too frequently rigid without nuances.
From the ballots:
Brilliant, moving, and wonderfully written and acted. It made me proud of my Canadian roots. It's in my top four for the entire festival.
From the ballots:
I need to get a copy to send it to my mother and brother! [smiley face]
From the ballots:
Quite an accomplishment! Interesting framing and editing.
From the ballots:
There were parts that were VERY enjoyable. But I feel like it needed more to the story.
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[Had] very realistic parts ... interesting movie.
From the ballots:
It was a very "real" narrative. It made me think a lot about my own relationships with my parents.
From the ballots:
Incisive and intensely personal but a bit messy. Derivative formalism is a mixed bag.
From the ballots:
Good.
Excellent use of the sublime. Excellent acting. Loved the relationship between the 2 boys.
What brought the grade down? Very slow pace -- it really dragged at times.
From the ballots:
IT was OK ... I liked it the least of what I've seen. The best was FROZEN FLOWER.
From the ballots:
Need more time to think about this. Good but need to unravel it.
From the ballots:
Best in Festival!
From the ballots:
One of the finest films I've ever seen. I need to rate this higher than "excellent." I could write forever about every situation in this film, but I need some good smoke and good drink with close friends to get it all out! Why can't we make films like this in the U.S.A.?
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