No need to break out your weak Donde esta el ba퀌�o, your Je ne parles pas Fran퀌_ais. Just practice this simple line: “One student ticket please.” And use your advantages while you have them.
So what if you’re not going to go anywhere for spring break? The glorious phenomena of film can soothe your traveling needs. You remember what films are, right? Drama, action, big screens and lots of seats?
This is not only your moment to catch up on your movie appetite, but also to go inhabit a tropical isle for a couple hours, minus the plane trip, minus the translation books and minus the hundreds of dollars.
Whether you seek to enjoy the revolutionary grounds of Cuba, the vast countryside of France or the slums of Mexico, cinematography has something for you, for cheap.
“Before Night Falls” Originally released Dec. 22, 2000, this film, directed by Julian Schnabel (“Basquiat”), takes on the account of the Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, and his life in Cuba as a homosexual poet.
The highlight of this trip: the scenery. Schnabel is a renowned artist who portrays the revolution’s evolution through the land and the architecture of the island. Although it was filmed in Mexico, the scenery is not altogether off.
And there’s something to be had in the comparisons. Schnable has Mexico act like Cuba. And the mind doesn’t really question Javier Bardem “acting” as the poet Arenas. Instead, because of its originality and beauty it accepts this “other” as real.
And, considering both the place and the actor are somewhat unavailable (Cuba, off limits, Reinaldo Arenas, dead) these will have to do.
Anyway here’s my selling point: this movie was the favorite film of the Toronto Film Festival, and gosh darnit, I trust Canadians.
“Chocolat” is one movie I’m planning on seeing this coming week. Sure it’s not raved about, sure we may have seen enough of Juliette Binoche, but come on, it’s about chocolate. Well, not essentially, but chocolate does cause all the trouble in the provincial French town it takes place in. And, shot in France, it has the appeal of romance all around.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t care for cheesy romantic movies. But I would have a hard time calling it cheesy. It’s, well, chocolaty. And it’s not for the saint. It contains sex (a couple rediscovers their sex life with the help of chocolate). It has drugs (chocolate is one last time I checked). Rock ‘n’ roll? Well, try the landscape.
“The Mexican.” This is my stretch. I imagine that most of this film takes place right here in the United States.
But how can you not want to see what “The Mexican” is all about?
Of course they’re talking about a gun, right? And the heroes are American icons, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.
This is not to knock it, entirely. What can I say? Give me a catchy title and I’m all over it. If there’s more than meets the eye, like “Fight Club,” it will be worth every penny.
Whatever you do, get out of your book-filled apartments and seek out a theater near you.