#films: 7 Overlooked Films from Around The World.
Broad Peak. Unknown Origins. Intregalde. The Stranger. The Strays. I'm Your Woman.. Blood and Gold.
POLAND
In 1988 the Polish mountaineer Maciej Berbeka was persuaded to climb the Karakoram Mountain of BROAD PEAK, a harrowing experience that he barely survived. Years later, Berbeka discovered that his journey to the mountain’s summit had been incomplete so, in 2013, exactly 25 after his first attempt to climb Broad Peak, he decided to finish what he had started.
As someone who gets vertigo in thick socks, I found Leszek Dawid’s film Broad Peak to be visually impressive, tense, gripping and involving. Ireneusz Czop’s stoic performance as Berbeka, lynchpins the tightly-told-tale, but the small supporting cast - including the ever-excellent Lukasz Simlat - are also impressive. Broad Peak is well-worth checking out, preferably with a glass or two of mulled-wine, or a mug of hot chocolate. Recommended, of course.
SPAIN
David Galán Galindo’s Unknown Origins is a smart and decidedly arch Spanish spin on serial killer tropes wherein the murderer takes out his victims by recreating various superheroes’ origin stories.Unknown Origins is a very well-acted and well-told yarn full of action, humour and pathos. A corker!
RUMANIA
Radu Muntean’s Întregalde is a tense, armospheric and beautifully acted drama with some great performances. Highly recommeded.
AUSTRALIA
THE STRANGER is bloody intense and brilliantly acted crime fiction drama, based on true events. It’s very highly recommended, but not for those of a sensitive disposition.
ENGLAND
In THE STRAYS, an unhappily married woman leaves her family home and starts a kind of Stepford life in a bland and twee English suburb. To say any more would probably lead to plot spoilers. However, I will say that THE STRAYS is one of the most intelligent and off-kilter horror/ thriller/ dramas that I’ve seen in ages. It’s gripping, odd, engrossing, chilling, sad, unnerving, thoughtful, and very bloody discombobulating. The acting is first class and the film’s pacing is spot on. I loved it. Highly recommended.
USA
Despite its drab title, I’m Your Woman is a fantastic, ‘70 style crime drama complete with great performances and a cracking soundtrack.
GERMANY
Writer/ director Peter Thorwarth is probably best known for his brilliant, action-packed vampire film Blood Red Sky (2021). With BLOOD AND GOLD, he gives us a fast moving and brutal WW2 set heist/ Spaghetti Western mash-up which packs an emotional clout as well as being very, very violent. Great stuff!