Welcome to the 987th Edition of my series. This is the second annual time I have done this format. I have the recommendations as all foreign language films and the second section is a section focusing on independent film. On August 22nd, Guilty By Affiliation Wrestling will be happening at New Castle at the Lightkeepers of Henry County building. I will be ring announcing. I don't have much else happening so I will get going on the selections.
It Was Just an Accident (2025): I decided to start my travels in Iran. Jafar Panahi directed and co-wrote this psychological film. Vahid Mobasseri stars as car mechanic Vahid who is convinced he recognizes a man, played by Ebrahim Azizi, he suspects of being his sadistic jailhouse captor. Vahid is not convinced at first so he consults with others that were involved in the situation. This is a revenge film in some ways. It also has elements of dark comedy like with the group disagreeing on how to handle the situation. Panahi bases this movie loosely on his own experiences and his views against the Iranian government. This movie was shot in secret and got a lot of help from France to get it out. This is available to watch on Hulu.
The Bakery Girl of Monceau (1963): I decided to head over to France for this short film which was directed and written by Eric Rohmer. Barbet Schroeder stars a young law student and narrates his exploits. He approaches a girl on the streets and having not seen her, he visits a girl in the local bakery. He gets to a point that he must choose. Claudine Soubrier and Michele Girardon co-star in this short film. This is the first of Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" series. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Triumph of the Will (1935): I decided to hit Germany for this documentary which was directed by Leni Riefenstahl. This takes a look at a 1934 rally in Nuremberg from Nazi Germany. This takes a look at the activities going and speeches from Adolf Hitler as well as a few others. This is the ultimate propaganda making it look like the greatest place to be. I think just about everyone from Germany was in this film and was quite disturbing to see such organization among the people which I can't really explain. George Lucas has cited this as an inspiration for some of the Empire scenes in the STAR WARS films and there was a lot of resemblance. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Schneider vs. Bax (2015): I decided to go out to the Netherlands for this one. Alex Van Warmerdam directed, wrote, and co-stars in this action film. Tom Dewispelaere stars as the hitman Schneider who was planning to spend his birthday with his wife and kids. He got a phone call from his boss Mertens, played by Gene Bervoets, about a job about killing a writer named Ramon Bax, played Van Warmerdam, and is very urgent. Schneider accepts and is told it will be a quick and easy kill and he'll be right back with his family. There ends up being all kinds of complications and is not the easy kill that was promised. Maria Kraakman, Annet Malherbe, Pierre Bokma, Henri Garcin, and Loes Haverkort co-star in this Dutch film. All the complications make this movie very interesting and even funny at times. This is quite fun and bizarre and is worth taking a look at. This is available to watch on Kanopy, TUBI, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
Gate of Hell (1953): It was inevitable that I would end up in Japan at some point. Teinosuke Kinugasa directed this samurai love story which is based on the play KESA'S HUSBAND by Kan Kikuchi. Kazuo Hasegawa stars as the samurai Morito Endo who is asked to escort the married lady-in-waiting Kesa, played by Machiko Kyo. Endo falls in love with Kesa even though she is married to samurai Wataru Watanabe, played by Isao Yamagata. This is a pretty compelling story of love and tragedy. It can be a bit slow-moving but the climax is quite worth it. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Munyurangabo (2007): I decided to visit the African country of Rwanda for this selection. Lee Isaac Chung directed and co-wrote this Rwandan film with Samuel Gray Anderson. Eric Ndorunkundiye and Jeff Rutagengwa star as youth friends Sangwa and Ngabo who are on a journey of sorts and stop to visit Sangwa's family. The friends are from different tribes which brings some tension from Sangwa's family. This is the first dramatic feature in the Kinyarwanda language. This is set years later after the 1994 Rawandan genocide which plays a lot into the film. Chung is an American director and went to Rwanda along with his wife to teach film training and was able to get this movie made. It is a very beautiful and sad film with a very unknown cast which was very effective in the filmmaking. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
The Virgin Spring (1960): I go from blessing the rains down in Africa to the land of Sweden. Ingmar Bergman directed this Swedish film which was written by Ulla Isaksson. Birgitta Pettersson stars as Karin who is doing a favor for her father and takes their servant Ingeri, played by Gunnel Lindblom. Karin is raped and murdered by people she offered to help. The guilty party seeks shelter not knowing they are the parents of the young girl they brutalized. Max Von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Axel Duberg, Tor Isedal, Allan Edwall, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very subtle tale of revenge. I suppose it is revenge the Bergman way. It was also an inspiration for THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT which went in another direction. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Once Upon a time in China (1991): I decided to head to Hong Kong for some martial arts and rather early Jet Li. Tsiu Hark directed this martial arts film. Li stars as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-Hung who must protect his returning Aunt Yee, played by Rosamund Kwan, after she returns from America. Wong and his group of misfit students must also battle a government being corrupted by American westernization. Biao Yuen, Jacky Cheung, Kent Cheng, and many others co-star in this martial arts film. This was the start of a pretty long franchise. This is something I have always enjoyed from the figh scenes, the comedy worked in, and the theme song. I don't know what they are saying in that song but I have always thought that song was really cool. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
L'Amore (1948): I decided to it Italy for a trip. Roberto Rossellini directed what are essentially two short films which were written by Jean Cocteau and Federico Fellini so quite the trio there. The first story is about a woman, played by Anna Magnani on the phone with her former lover where we learn a lot about things that happened in the relationship. The other story is of a woman named Nannina, also played by Magnani, who believes she is carrying to child of Saint Joseph and Fellini co-stars in this on in a rare acting appearance. These are two very deep stories which make quite a statement. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
The Taste of Money (2012): I end my journey in South Korea. I had enough trouble in Iran, I did not want to risk going to North Korea. Im Sang-Soo directed and wrote this Korean tale of love and betrayal. Kim Kang-Woo stars as Joo Kang-Woo who is the assistant to a wealthy family who exposes an affair within the family in gets caught in a web of intrigue. Baek Yoon-Shik, Youn Yuh-Jung, Kim Hyo-Jin, Maui Taylor, On Joo-Wan, and many others co-star in this film. This is hard to really explain further. It is a very compelling tale of an extremely dysfunctional family. This is available to watch on AMC + and Sundance Now.
Well, that is it for this section but read on for my annual segment "The Indie Scene". Tell me what you like and dislike and I shall return in a couple weeks which so far includes Andy Samberg, Julianne Moore, Tina Fey, and many others.
THE INDIE SCENE
I decided to pay tribute to the independent films out there. There are 25 selections in this with some of them being independent films, short films, foreign films, and documentaries.
The Disaster Artist (2017): This is from A24 so I will qualify it for this segment. James Franco directed this film which is based on the novel by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. James Franco also stars as Tommy Wiseau and his meeting with Greg Sestero, played by Dave Franco, at a film class. They decide to move to Los Angeles thanks to Wiseau's money and eventually set out to make the movie THE ROOM which is kind of the PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE of out era if that means anything. Ari Graynor, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Jacki Weaver, Paul Scheer, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, June Diane Raphael, Megan Mullally, Jason Mantzoukas, Andrew Santino, Nathan Fiedler, Joe Mande, Sharon Stone, John Early, Melanie Griffith, Bob Odenkirk, Randall Park, Tommy Wiseau, Zoey Deutch, and many others co-star in this film. I would recommend seeing the movie THE ROOM first which is what this movie is based upon in the making of it which was quite the disaster as the title indicates. Franco plays Wiseau to perfection. You're tearing me apart if you don't watch this movie. This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
Period. End of Sentence (2018): This is a documentary short from India which was directed by Rayka Zehtabchi. A group of Indian women fight against the taboos of menstruation. For years, the women there lack pads and develop a sanitary pad machine where the women learn to make their own pads. This is a very eye-opening story on other things that poverty can affect. This is available to watch on Netflix.
The Camden 28 (2007): This is a feature documentary which was directed by Anthony Giacchino. This takes a look at the 28 people who went to some extreme measures to protest the Vietnam War. They were all arrested for attempting to break into and vandalize a draft board in Camden, New Jersey. This has interviews from people involved and discusses the trial involved. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Roy (2021): Tom Berkeley and Ross White wrote and directed this short film. David Bradley stars as the widowed Roy who passes his time by cold calling strangers in the phone book. He accidentally calls an adult hotline and forms an unlikely friendship with Cara, played by Rachel Shenton. This is a pretty touching short dealing with loneliness at a later age. This is also available to watch on Kanopy.
See This Movie (2004): This won a Grand Jury Price for the Malibu Film Festibal and was an official selection for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival so it fits here. David M. Rosenthal directed and co-wrote this film with Joseph M. Smith. Seth Meyers and John Cho star in this film as very recent film school graduates Jake Barrymore and Larry Finkelstein who enter the Montreal World Film Festival right after graduation. The only problem is they claim there is a movie but it does not exist. They do what they can to make a mockumentary as things are going. Raymond O'Connor, Jim Piddock, Patton Oswalt, Jessica Pare, Jessalyn Gilsig, Rylan Wilkie, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, and many others co-star in this independent film. This was pretty funny with Meyers and Cho making a good comedic duo. I suppose this is a satire to the independent film industry. I guess all I have to say now is see this movie.
The Forbidden (1978): Clive Barker wrote and directed this horror short film. This centers around a man transformed into an artwork. This uses a lot of imagery and has very surreal special effects. The effects looked very difficult even for today's standards. This was very early work for Barker who would go onto give us the CANDYMAN and HELLRAISER franchises. This is available to watch on Youtube.
Black Sabbath (1963): This is an Italian horror film which fits into this scheme. Mario Bava directed this horror anthology film. Boris Karloff hosts this film and co-stars in one of them. This consists of a stalked call girl, a vampire-like creature, and a nurse who is haunted. Michele Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi, Mark Damon, Susy Andersen, Massimo Righi, and many others co-star in this horror film. This has three really good short stories. This is the influence for the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Quentin Tarantino also cites this film as one of his main inspirations.
Possibilia (2014): Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert aka Daniels co-directed and co-wrote this very unusual love story. Alex Karpovsky and Zoe Jarman star as the couple Rick and Pollie who are contemplating breakup. This takes place in the multiverse where we get multiple perspectives of what is going on. You'll have to check out it out on Youtube to understand what I am trying to say. Just keep in mind, this is from the same directing partners who would put out SWISS ARMY MAN.
Mary Shelley (2017): This is produced through IFC Films so I will allow it into this segment. Haifaa Al-Mansour directed this biopic which was written by Emma Jensen. Elle Fanning stars as Mary Wollstonecraft-Godwin who would later be known as Mary Shelley and the author who would give us the timeless classic FRANKENSTEIN. This would focus on her earlier life where she meets her future husband Percy Shelley, played by Douglas Booth as well as a couple of her other big influences in Lord Byron, played by Tom Sturridge, and John William Polidori, played by Ben Hardy. Bel Pawley, Joanne Froggatt, Stephen Dillane, Maisie Williams, Hugh O'Conor, Martin Phillips, Ciara Charteris Nunn, and many others co-star in this biopic. This is a good look at this era on the hardship of women. In this case, Mary had a hard time getting it published under her name so at the time she had it published under "Anonymous". This is included on AMC +, Acorn TV, Sundance Now, Pluto TV, Plex, and the Roku Channel.
An Irish Goodbye (2022): Tom Berkeley and Ross White directed this Irish short film. Seamus O'Hara and James Martin star as estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan who reunite after their mother's unexpected death. When discovering a bucket list from their late mother, the brothers set out to fulfill it due to Lorcan's stubbornness. Paddy Jenkins co-stars in this short film. This is a pretty sad and touching story of brothers reuniting and Turlough needing to figure out what he is to do with his brother with Down Syndrome. This is available to watch on Kanopy and the Roku Channel.
Midsommar (2019): This is another A24 selection so I will allow this folk horror film on this section. Ari Aster directed and wrote this horror film. Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor star as troubled couple Dani and Christian. They decide to go to a remote Swedish village with a group of friends. It seems like a really ideal getaway at first but discover the people there are a Pagan cult with some very violent and bizarre rituals. Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, Henrik Norlen, Gunnel Fred, Isabelle Grill, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty compelling film which is not for everyone. It is hard to really put this in any more words than what I already have described. If this is for you, maybe have a double feature with THE WICKER MAN. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
African Booty Scratcher (2007): Nikyatu Jusu directed this short film. DeWanda Wise stars as the teenager Isatu who is preparing for prom. Her West African mother wants her to stick with that tradition for her prom dress, while Isatu is more American and want to go in a more American traditional way. Ebbe Bassey, Stephen Hill, and Terence Nash co-star in this short film. This is a good coming-of-age story on tradition versus the modern-day ways. There is a copy of this on Vimeo.
Past Lives (2023): This also comes from the A24 world. Celine Song wrote and directed this independent film. Teo Yoo and Greta Lee star as childhood friends Hae Sung and Nora. They are very close as children in South Korea, but things change when Nora's family moves to the states. They keep in touch through the years with video chat, but they have different lives. Hae stays in Korea and Nora is a successful playwright in New York and is married Arthur, played by John Magaro. Hae finally visits the states where they reunite and must consider their future. Moon Seung-Ah, Yun Ji-Hye, Choi Won-young, and many others co-star in this film. This is a rather simple but very effective story. The two main characters are developed very well where we are ready for that reunion. This is available on the app Rakuten Viki.
Iris (1994): Hal Hartley directed this experimental short film. Sabrina Lloyd and Parker Posey star as a couple roommates who isolate themselves in their apartment. While there, they impersonate the promised benefits and investment risks of real estate purchases. This goes along to the song of the title by the '90s alternative band the Breeders. This is only three minutes long so I suppose that is why htey call it experimental. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Crip Camp (2020): James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham directed this documentary. This takes a look at a camp called Camp Jened which was just down the road from Woodstock. This would take in people with physical and/or developmental disabilities and would make these people finally feel they are treated like human beings. This was back in the '70s where they did not have much in the way of rights and much of them would also lead a crusade that would get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. This was a very informative documentary on the camp and the efforts to get a law passed through congress. This is available to watch on Netflix.
The Fall (2019): Jonathan Glazer directed and wrote this horror short film. This is more of a visual short of a fugitive who is terrified of the grotesque masked persecutors. This is very visually stunning and very hard to explain. Glazer would go onto make many feature films and music videos. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Abigail Harm (2012): This was selected for some film festivals so this belons on this segment. Lee Isaac Chung directed and co-wrote this film along with Samuel Gray Anderson and inspired by the Korean folktale THE WOODCUTTER AND THE NYMPH. Amanda Plummer stars as the title character who seems like a rather lonely New Yorker. She encounters a mysterious stranger, played by Will Patton, who grants her the wish of love. She encounters a man who might have been created through the wish, played by Tetsuo Kuramochi. Burt Young also has a cameo at the beginning. I know nothing about the folktale to know this goes right along with it. I feel a lot of this is left to interpretation. It is an intriguing tale of finding love and I will leave it at that. This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Jellyfish and Lobster (2023): Yasmin Afifi wrote and directed this short film. Sayed Badreya and Flo Wilson star as elderly care residents Mido and Grace. They form an unlikely relationship when they make an enchanting discovery while dealing with their own mortality. This is a pretty moving short film that puts emphasis on the elderly. This is available to watch at Jellyfish and Lobster - a short film by Yasmin Afifi and is about twenty minutes.
Sisters (1972): This was made through the independent film group American International Pictures so I'm ruling this an independent film. Brian De Palma directed and co-wrote this horror film along with Louisa Rose. Jennifer Salt stars as the small-time reporter Grace Collier who is convinced that she witnessed a murder in the apartment from across the street. The murder she witnesses involves model Danielle Breton, played by Margot Kidder, who has a secret of her own. When Grace tries to report this, the police do not believe her leading her into her own investigation. Charles During, William Finley, Lisle Wilson, Barnard Hughes, and many others co-star in this film. This is a really good psychological thriller. While De Palma borrows some from Hitchcock, he makes this his own. It is best to witness this for yourself instead of me explaining further. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
The Burden (2017): Niki Lindroth von Bahr directed and wrote this Swedish stop-animated short film. This is also a musical short with apocalyptic undertones. There are no humans in this animated short and they are all animals singing and dancing. What else is there to say? This is available to watch on Kanopy.
Bad Reputation (2018): I decided I need a music documentary for this segment. Kevin Kerlake directed this documentary of the legendary rocker Joan Jett who let us know that she loves rock and roll. This documents her early days with the all-female band the Runaways which was really the first all-female band at least that would hit the mainstream. When that band fell out, she pursued her own career along with her producer Kenny Laguna. Iggy Pop, Cherie Currie, Debbie Harry, Billie Joe Armstrong and many others get interviewed in this documentary. This is a great rock documentary showing the highs and lows of Joan Jett's career and her contributions for women in rock. This is available to watch on Prime, TUBI, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel.
War is Over! (2023): Dave Mullins directed and co-wrote this animated short along with Sean Lennon. This takes place during WWI which features a carrier pigeon delivering messages between two soldiers playing a game of chess and not knowing they are on opposite sides. This has some great animation in it, and is based on the song HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) by Sean's parents John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This can be found on Youtube.
Pillion (2025): A24 gets one more selection for this segment. Harry Lighton directed this film which is based on the novel BOX HILL by Adam Mars-Jones. Harry Melling stars as the directionless Colin who meets the very handsome biker Ray, played by Alexander Skarsgard. Colin agrees to be a submissive to Ray and is introduced to a whole new world. Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears, Jake Sharp, Jacob Carter, Rosie Sheehy, Anthony Welsh, and many others co-star in this film. Let me start by saying this is not for everyone, and it was hard for me at times I admit. It was still a very good look into the BDSM and LGBQ world. This is available to watch on HBO Max but would look into the subject matter first.
Eye Ear You (2022): This is the shortest film of them all and was directed by Shona Heath. This is a surrealistic film which portrays the senses. This is less than two minutes long but is still very effective. Best thing to do is just to go to the link Eye Ear You – shona heath studio and give a couple minutes of your time.
Nevermore: The Raven Effect (2025): What better way to end than with a wrestling documentary? Geordie Day directed this documentary that takes a look at Scott Levy. Levy would also have names like Scotty Flamingo, Scotty the Body, and Johnny Polo. I think most of us remember him as the wrestler Raven. This would take a look at his dysfunctional family during his childhood into his wrestling career. We get to see some great early footage of him before he would hit WCW or ECW. We would also see his rise as the tortured soul Raven and how he put a lot of himself into that character. Lots of interviews with his peers in the wrestling world and some of his own friends. Take a look at his podcast THE RAVEN EFFECT.
