DIFF 2010 - The Father and the Foreigner

A complex character presentation of a simple story of human relationships. Two fathers connected by a common cause, their disabled sons. While one father typically considers his involvement as paternal duty leaving the spouse to fill in for the emotional building of the child, the other (Diego) accepts the disability as an extension to the son's personality. It is the story of one father's teaching to the other of the effervescence of life when you are willing to give it a chance. Beautifully made and showcasing some brilliant performances, this movie is heart-warming for the depth of hope and character that is shown. However, also interspersed in the emotional drama an underlaying sub plot, the second life of one of the fathers versus the simple starightforward lifestyle of the other. On the one hand where Diego teaches to love and accept, on the other you see him in a spate of mysterious circumstances haggling between stunning riches sometimes going underground, sometimes on the run and often doing the disapperaing act. It is at these junctions that the movie trembles and as we further into it, it begins to crack. Though the plot, movement all seem in place, the overlaps betwenn the grey and white shades of Diego's personality stay starkly different yet very blurred and almost intentionally unresolved.

Why this is may be the directors protocol or vision, but had this approach been more motivated, one would perhaps have come out feeling fuller and touched. At the moment, the film survives on its sharp execution and gripping plot somewhere between a suspense and emotion drama. Worth a watch!

10:30pm, 14.12.10 Madinat Theatre

DIFF -2010 Transit Cities

An excellent potrayal of expectations versus reality. This films shine in brilliance addressing a very simple yet disturbing issue what one call really call their own.

On the one level it is a personalized fight of 'Laila' who returns from the States back to Amman after 14 yrs, to naiively want the answers to lifes impounding compromises. On the other, it is the struggle of aspirations that one over-builds for themselves versus the strength within to carry them. Failure comes at every point in the charming film, but yet so dignified that not once does it look for sympathy. Rather you feel much empathised with the dilemmas and wish film wouldnt end because maybe it has all the answers!

Effective background score, very honest direction and a heart-warming yet witty blend of emotions from excitement to anger to frustration to defeat. Charming performance by the lead actress and a very human, believable and simple-yet-extremely layered portion of a slice of life. Good Watch!

7:15, 14.12.10 Madinat Theatre