Billy Elliot Live & DVD

BETM Live Poster On 28-Sep-2014, a special presentation of Billy Elliot The Musical was held on a Sunday at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London and beamed live to movie theaters across the UK and other parts of the world. Subsequently, replays of that “live” presentation were shown in other theaters around the world and this month will be shown in still other global markets, including the United States. A complete listing of past and future showings of the presentation can be found on the BETM official website and for showings in the United States, at the Fathom Events website.

This special presentation features a pre-show introduction by BETM director Stephen Daldry, and is performed by BETMUK’s current cast, led by Elliott Hanna in the title role, with a special one-time appearance by original Billy Liam Mower, in the role of Older Billy. A special mash-up Finale includes 25 past and current Billys dancing to the spectacular choreography of original BETM choreographer Peter Darling.

Special DVD/Blu Ray Release on November 24th

In addition to the in-theater showings, it was announced that Billy Elliot the Musical Live will be available, beginning Nov. 24 in the U.K., on Blu-ray and DVD. Here’s the trailer taken from the Live footage of the show:

Credit: Video by WhatsOnStage

Prior to the November 24th release, the DVD and Blu-ray discs can be pre-ordered through such outlets as Amazon.com. It should be noted that for this initial release, the DVD will only be playable by those living in Region 2, unless they possess a “region free” DVD player. For a description of the international region codes, go here. It is expected that the release will be expanded to other regions at a later date.

On the September 28th weekend, when the show was beamed live into theaters across the UK, the popularly of the show, which has been seen by over 9.5 million people worldwide, was again on display as it topped the UK and Ireland box office, a first for an event cinema release. The special screening took in a record £1.9m.

Liam Mower (Older Billy) and Elliott Hanna (Billy) Dance in Dream Ballet

Pure (2002)

I’m not sure what made me pick this film for my DVD collection. Maybe it was that the cover looked promising – a simplified design usually associated with the drama genre and a face that looked familiar. It was the actor Harry Eden’s face, who I remember for his roles in The Lazarus Child and Polanski‘s adaptation of Oliver Twist. At first, I didn’t realize that Pure was the very first feature film the young actor starred in, but then the opening credits announced: “and introducing Harry Eden.” That’s when I knew that I had made the right choice.

Pure’s action occurs in East London, where the ten-year-old Paul (the central character in the film) lives with his younger brother and mother. After his father’s death, Paul looks after his mother – taking care of the cooking, the shopping, the washing and, when she needs it, he even helps her prepare the “medicine” that their “Uncle” Lenny brings her when he comes over. Little does Paul know that this “medicine” makes his mother an addict, a junkie as the older children don’t hesitate to call her. Paul doesn’t know what a junkie means being, but he refuses to accept that his mother is one – until things get out of control when he finds out from a family friend. When the person who explained to him what’s behind the slang term dies from an overdose, Paul realizes that his mother has been lying to him. He confronts his mother and makes her promise that she will ” give it up, stop using it. ” He promises her that he will be there for her no matter how hard it might get. But will they manage? Will Paul’s mother ever be Pure again.

At its core, Pure is a powerful and heart-wrenching coming of age drama. The story is told from the young Paul’s point of view, who witnesses the horrible consequences of drug usage and the hardship of withdrawal. The film has received an R rating because of the controversial subject matter – something I can’t fully agree with. While some of the scenes can be clearly labelled as disturbing, the film’s message has the potential of reaching far more young people than any school lecture ever will (those are usually ridiculed by high school students anyway).

The soundtrack of the film is brilliantly conceived. Sometimes, when you watch a film, the music chosen to accompany the scenes can feel out of place or totally inappropriate or distracting. But in Pure, the music score does what it’s supposed to do – enhance the visual experience by adding emotion and rhythm to a film. The mixture of orchestral strums and drum ‘n’ bass tracks exemplify the real purpose of using music to accompany the scenes on screen. The last time I was so impressed with the music score was when I watched Ivan Noel`s En Tu Ausencia ).

Harry Eden as Paul / Pure ( 2002)

When it comes to the actors – though all deliver good performances, the real star is the young Harry Eden, who, as noted earlier, debuted in a lead role in this film. Young Mr. Eden outperforms many actors with years and years of experience in front of the camera. There are no flaws in his acting. His facial expressions (especially his eyes) convey a whole range of human emotions, which, in turn, brings honesty and realism to his portrayal of the young Paul. It’s young talents like Harry Eden who bring real magic to the coming of age genre, regardless of whether they are starring in entertaining adventure or fantasy films or powerful dramas with a social message like Pure. Harry Eden’s performance will leave a long-lasting impression on anyone who sees him in Pure, and you will likely seek out the other films in which he stars.

Note: The following trailer from the movie contains scenes portraying drug usage.Parental discretion is advised.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308772/

Pure (2002)

In short

Pure is a powerful and heart-wrenching coming of age drama.

4.2

OUR RATING

Where to get

Amazon

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾

I used to think that Diary of a Wimpy Kid was as funny as it gets and then I stumbled upon a book written by Sue Townsend titled The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾.

One can not help being astonished by how well a woman author is able to describe the teenage mindset of a young boy, especially during such a turbulent time in his life. For a book that was first published more than thirty years ago, everything described in it feels surprisingly contemporary. I guess some things – like Coming-of-Age experiences — never change.

“…Came home, nobody was in so I played my Abba records at the highest volume until the deaf woman next door banged on the walls…”

The entire book is filled with witty remarks and observations about the weirdness of adults and life in general, made by its 13 ¾ year old protagonist Adrian Mole. He methodically wrote everything that has happened to him in his diary, which turns out to be not so secret. After all, it’s been published for you to read hasn’t it? But then again, true geniuses have to make themselves known. That being said, I found an abundance of uncanny similarities between Sue Townsend’s character and myself: we are both intellectuals and so full of ourselves! Plus I finally have an excuse for my many sleepless nights. In Adrian Moles’s words:

“Us intellectuals keep anti-social hours. It does us good.”

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole is a true masterpiece. Written in a diary style, it allows the reader to read short sessions at a time (although I have to admit it is hard to put down) and the first person narrative is nothing short of enchanting. Readers get to co-experience the splendid charm of adolescent worries such as pimples, girls ,love, uncooperative parent figures, bullies, physical changes (like the size of this or that thing) and, of course, making plans for a glorious future:

“I am at the Crossroads in my life. The wrong decision now could result in a tragic loss to the veterinary world. I am hopeless at science. I asked Mr Vann which O levels you need to write situation comedy for television. Mr Vann said that you don’t need qualifications at all, you just need to be a moron.”

Young readers, just like their parents, will find Adrian Mole’s diary entries hilarious, delivering a joyful reading experience from cover to cover. It did not come as a surprise when I read in Wikipedia that the book was a best-seller, and had sold 1.9 million copies by November 1985. Most of the humor in it seems innocent enough (considering the age of the protagonist), yet there is a lot of clever satire that addresses some pretty serious topics – like politics and religion – not to say that growing up isn’t dead serious all on its own.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ gets the highest of recommendations from TheSkyKid.com.

You can find the book at Amazon.com

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4

Agostino (1962)

Movies are considered classic when they have passed the test of time. Such is the case with the Italian film Agostino based on the book first published in 1944- seventy years ago. To mark the anniversary of Moravia’s masterpiece, Simon and Schuster published a special edition of the novel curated by Simone Casini and we are offering you a review of the 1962 film.

Some of the best films I know were the ones made in the 60’s and 70’s. Agostino, directed by Mauro Bolognini, is no exception. The film is based on the novel of the same name, written in 1945 by Alberto Moravia.

Set in Venice, the film’s opening scene shows a beautiful woman (Ingrid Thulin) and her young son (Paolo Colombo) on vacation. Almost immediately, it becomes clear that the son and the mother are very close. Later in the film, this closeness helps us understand why Agostino, who is used to receiving his mother’s undivided attention, feels betrayed when she decides to go out with one of the local gigolos. She is a wealthy and beautiful widow, which explains why the local men are pretty fond of her, despite spending almost all of her time with Agostino around.

The film contains a variety of nuances and subtle hints, compared with unmistakable symbolism. From a blurred childhood vision, the film transforms itself into a pretty clear image of the harsher realities of adulthood. The Coming-of-Age experience for Agostino allows the viewer to observe his progressive detachment from the fabulous atmosphere of childhood and his confrontation with the real world — observing his moments of anger and confusion in the process of growing up.

That is why Agostino immediately takes on a vaguely morbid tinge. It is not the story of just any boy. It is the story of a boy predisposed to a certain kind of experience.

Scene from the movie " Augustine " - Directed by Mauro Bolognini - 1962 - Actor Paul Colombo with other children — Scene from the movie *Augustine.* Directed by Mauro Bolognini – 1962 – Actor Paolo Colombo with other children

I was astonished by the acting performance of Paolo Colombo, whose facial expressions and attitude contributed significantly to the illustration of his character. The rest of the actors also did an excellent job in portraying their respective characters. In addition to that, the film displays excellent cinematography, which, despite being in black and white, is guaranteed to make quite an impression on its viewers.

I want to express my gratitude to CVMC for providing the DVD of the film Agostino. This review would not have been possible without their support.

Mercy (2014)

The countdown to Halloween has begun and, if you’re looking for a classic horror story featuring demons and evil powers, look no further than Peter Cornwell’s 2014 film Mercy. The fact that the film is based on a short story from Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew is enticing enough to attract the attention of both fans of the horror genre and those of the Coming-of-Age genre. Regarding the latter, mainly that’s because the best of Stephen King’s stories feature a young protagonist who struggles to overcome powerful forces and usually the experiences he/she goes through change their characters and take on the world forever.

Having two of today’s most prominent young actors in the lead roles, Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead), is an enticing factor on its own. In particular, Chandler’s effective, natural and moving performance gives the story an edge, making up for its somewhat clichéd development.

Admittedly, seeing Chandler in the film almost makes one expect a walker (OK — a zombie) to sneak in. But, instead, one gets a chance to see why the young actor has such a vast following — considering the fact that in Walking Dead his character has episodic appearances. His talent for portraying emotions (being the method actor that he is) shines through in Mercy. Something in his eyes makes one easily identify with whatever character he is portraying.

As a bonus, the story is told from his point of view, with a moral lesson learned at the end, assuring a feast for fans of the Coming-of-Age genre.

Chandler Riggs as George in Mercy — Chandler Riggs as George in *Mercy*

As far as genre stereotypes go, Mercy has them all. Everything from a spooky setting to a socially reviled protagonist charged with the task of reestablishing normalcy (with a mentor figure/apprentice relationship (in Mercy’s case it’s a young girl who appears like an invisible friend of George (Chandler’s character). The film also has cinematography that makes use of shadows and low-key lighting, as well as an abundance of off-screen sound effects. All of the above are combined with a soundtrack designed to increase the anxiety and make the viewer feel unease.

The only disappointment comes from the fact that the remake of a classic story about witches and demons is not very original and the “scariness” of the film, as well as its overall cinematic value, is somewhat diminished as a result.

That being said – Mercy is a film that deserves a watch – especially around Halloween — even if one doesn’t make it a highlight of the evening.

Mercy Official Trailer

You’ll Be a Man (2013)

You’ll Be a Man (Tu seras un home) is a delightful French film that, among other things, focuses on the conflict between conventional and unconventional lifestyles. As a person of an unconventional nature myself (my own assessment), I found the filmmaker’s manner of addressing the subject quite intriguing.

Twenty-year-old Theodore (Jules Sagot) has it rough. Failing to get accepted into a Parisian drama school, he faces not only the prospect of not being able to pay his bills, but also of losing his girlfriend (who did get accepted and is soon to depart for the French capital).

He solves some of his problem by getting a job as the babysitter of 10–year old Leonard (Aurelio Cohen), whose life has been altered by an accident he had when he was just five-years-old. His serious, hard-working dad wastes no time in warning the baby-sitter about his son:

“He is not like the other kids. He doesn’t swim, run or ride a bike. But he reads a lot.”

Although ten years older than Leonard, Theodore is a boy at heart and he soon wins Leonard’s friendship and appreciation by treating him as an equal. Director Benoit Cohen juxtaposes the relationship that develops between the two boys with that of the one between Leonard and his father who, while trying his best to provide for the family, dismisses most of the accomplishments of his son as juvenile, rendering them inferior in value in comparison to his own important professional life.

You’ll Be a Man is filmed predominately using an indirect subjective view, but also with an abundant use of close-up shots that allows the viewer to become more intimate with the feelings and emotions portrayed by the characters on screen. The focus lies mainly on the development of Leonard’s character as the result of his being treated as a person instead of “a prisoner in his own home“ – which is just about his status as a result of the overprotective parenting practiced by his father. The role of voluntary prisoner is assumed by another person who also inhibits the house …

Leo ( Aurelio Cohen ) and Theo (Jules Sagot ) in You’ll Be a Man — Theo (Jules Sagot and Leo ( Aurelio Cohen ) in *You’ll Be a Man*

Theodore becomes not only a friend but also a role model for the young boy. Yet the father (Gregoire Monsaingeon), who initially encouraged closeness between the babysitter and son, soon grows envious as he feels he has been replaced as an object of appreciation by Leo. Additionally, being a serious, hard working man like himself, he begins to view the cheery flamboyant nature of the babysitter as a threat to his son’s future development.

The story of the film and its conflicts are quite true to life and Director Cohen impresses by managing to showcase the dramatic importance in even the simplest everyday decisions. Aided by skillful editing and a moody soundtrack (that features great songs with both English and Spanish lyrics), he also managed to capture the essence of the emotions that his characters feel in the situations in which they find themselves.

Cohen cast his son Aurelio in one of the lead roles of his film – a justifiable decision based on the charm and talent of the young actor and the chemistry between him and Jules Sagot. The rest of the members of the cast also deliver excellent performances.

You’ll Be a Man is a film that leaves the viewer charged with positive emotions, especially taking into account that not all of the happenings in the film are of a happy nature. The film is a mixture of several genres – a bit of comedy, character study, drama and it’s also a road movie. It doesn’t excel in any one genre in particular nor does it carry important morals of truth about life (other than the need to find balance in everything we do), yet it still remains a pleasant film to see.

As a person who opposes conformity, I found the film more entertaining than people who believe in a strict following of social rules. That might be another factor you may consider when you make the choice of watching the film or not.

You’ll Be a Man Official Trailer ( in French )

Puberty (2014)

Puberty is accompanied by a great deal of physical and emotional change that could really confuse the person going through them. Naturally, some of the films with a Coming-of-Age thematic focus on puberty such as the Swedish 1980’s film Children’s Island (Barnens ö), Céline Sciamma`s Tomboy and the classic My Life as a Dog. (It comes as a surprise that there are not that many films one can list that focus exclusively on puberty).

Eleven-year-old Zach Shire wrote, directed and edited his own short film on the changes that inevitably occur in a boy. The title of his film is Puberty and, though it’s listed on IMDb, it can be seen on YouTube.

The aspiring young director’s target audience is primarily kids his age — who are more likely to listen to one of their peer on the subject.

The short film has a few flaws, but one should not judge it too harshly, keeping in mind that people who have grown up to become multi-million-dollar directors all started when they were young – just like young Zach.

TheSkyKid.com is committed to supporting young talent and we hope that the young director (and lead actor) of Puberty will continue to improve his art. In his film, he bravely addressed a theme that many kids his age would feel hesitant to and, what’s more, did it so he can help them understand that their confusion is normal and they should not be ashamed of discussing the changes that occur to them with their parents ( who have been through the same and survived).

Sipur Hatzi-Russi (2006)

When you have a film about life, about the magic of dance, about care and devotion – there is no more suitable title than Love and Dance.

Little Chen (Vladimir Volov) lives in Israel with his father and mother. His father is Israeli, but Chen’s mother is Russian, which makes him half Russian and, as such, naturally predisposed to the magic of dance. Yet, when the film opens and the viewers observe how Chen grows and learns about life — of what it means to respect a person; of what it takes to follow your dreams; of how to impress a girl and fall in love – in love with the music, in love with the dance and last, but not least, in love with a girl. The Coming-of-Age experience of the young actor, as well as that of his parents, teachers and friends, is essential to the story and truly rewards the viewer with a lot of knowledge and insights of what it means to stand up for yourself and chase your dreams.

[pull_quote_right]Courtship is a game. Show me that you know the rules[/pull_quote_right]

Love and Dance is a tender and emotional film. In some respects, the story line reminds me a bit of the one of the much touted film Billy Elliot (2000). If you have seen one of the two films and liked it, you’re going to the love the other one. The cinematography was excellent and the soundtrack tasteful and moody. The scenery chosen for most of the scenes features impressive pictures on rooftops and on the beach of the desert province town of Ashdod. Those shots are breathtaking. The magic of the dance is so skillfully captured by the camera that most viewers will be inspired by it. The plot of the film requires some scenes to be shot by a hand held camera, which adds a nice touch to the film as it makes the story more intimate and personal.

Sipur Hatzi-Russi Vladimir Volov and Jenya Dodina — Vladimir Volov and Jenya Dodina

One of the best aspects of Love & Dance is the wonderful acting performance by its entire cast (leads and extras). Drawing another parallel to Billy Elliot and the performance of Jamie Bell as Billy, Vladimir Volov, who made his debut in the film, captures the hearts of the viewers by his natural charisma and emotional portrayal of his character.

Dancers, and everyone who appreciates the art of dancing, will like this film as it portrays (and I would like to stress this) the importance of dance as a language — as a tool for transmitting information, emotions, feelings. And, indeed, through it Chen discovers his inner self. In addition to that, the viewer can observe how human feelings, expressed through dance, are able to break down barriers, which many times society imposes (cultural differences, gender stereotypes…etc) . While the story focuses on the children, audience members of all ages will enjoy this film as, like often is the case with coming of age movies, we see a portrayal of our society through their eyes.

Love and Dance is written and directed by Eitan Anner. The film was released in October, 2006 in Israel under the title Sipur Hatzi-Russi. This film receives a high recommendation for anyone who wants to relive the wonders of first love and feel the magic of music and dance.

Introducing Hasan and Ibrahim Ignatovi

More often than not TheSkyKid.com introduces young talent who come from English speaking countries. Yet this does not mean that we don’t keep our eyes open for outstanding performers internationally.

That is how we happened upon two young musical prodigies from Bulgaria: Hasan Ignatov and his identical twin brother Ibrahim.

The young pianists come from a musical family. Their father, Denis Ignatov, plays gadulka (a traditional Bulgarian bow stringed instrument) in a folklore Shumen ensemble, while their older sisters sing traditional folklore songs. Yet Denis, who supports his sons in all of their musical endeavors, states that the musical pedagogue of the school they attend, Mariela Marynova, has played a crucial role in both the discovery and development of the twins’ talent. “She is the person who opened a window to the world of classical music“ for the boys, he states.

The boys started to play the piano in 2011 when they enrolled in the high school Sava Dobroplodni in the city of Shumen, Bulgaria. In just three years, they have become true professionals. Their favorite composers are: Franz Liszt, Beethoven, Mozart and Pancho Vladigerov.

Hasan and Ibrahim admit an affinity towards the hardest compositions of their favorite composers. They find modern music somewhat meaningless, reasoning that often in such music there is just one harmony and the music does not evolve. The complexity and beauty of classical music has won them over and they hope to do their part in bestowing its magic to their audiences.

Hassan Ignatov – Musical moment – Rachmaninoff

http://youtu.be/-U_9csuA6Q8

The boys appear rather shy during interviews, but on stage they play with such skill and passion that it casts a spell on their audiences. While their peers play on the computer or are playing sports outside, the twins practice on the piano 3-4 hours a day — true to the maxim of Albert Einstein “Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work”.

The brothers have won a variety of competitions in their home country, but they owe a great deal of their popularity to their appearance on the bTV program Slavi’s Show (one of the most popular talk shows in Bulgaria).

In just a few weeks, the boys will take part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest – Malta 2014. There they will accompany Krisia Todorova who will sing her song Planet of the Children. Audiences from all the European countries participating in the contest will be able to vote for their performance on the 15^th of November when the contest will be broadcast live from Malta.

Krisia, Hasan and Ibrahim – Planet Of The Children

You can watch more musical performances by Hasan and Ibrahim on their official YouTube channel.

Hassan and Ibrahim on Facebook

Book Review: What They Always Tell Us

What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson is an interesting young adult’s novel which focuses on the family life and rite-of-passage of two brothers who live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Its narrative is character driven and, while it includes coming-out themes with regards to one of the brothers, the duality with which the story is presented provides something of interest for everyone.

Author Wilson presents the life of the two brothers in parallel, having each chapter devoted to one of them so that the reader is able to get a grasp of their own subjective take on the events that happen to them and their lives as a whole.

The first person narrative by the two brothers (16-year-old Alex and the slightly older James) ensures that anyone looking for a kid’s eye view of the world and a recollection of Coming-of-Age experiences will not be disappointed.

“It dawns on Alex that Henry is sort of a younger version of himself—an outcast, a misfit. A weirdo. And he’s not even in middle school yet.”

An intriguing character in the book is 10-year-old Henry who suddenly moves into a nearby house with his mother. He is a sensible and smart kid who manages to strike up a friendship with Alex.

“A kid friend is better than nothing.” – that’s what James thinks about their unusual friendship.

As far as character development is concerned, Wilson leaves little to be desired. One gets a pretty good idea of what’s inside the mind of a teenager – with all the typical ingredients: a struggle to fit in, a desire to be appreciated (loved), school and aspirations for the future …etc. Teenagers reading the book, especially those in the US, will find it easy to associate with one or more of the characters in the book.

“Some secrets parents can never know. They wouldn’t want to know, probably.”

The author wrote it true to life, with little or no pretense, controversy or sensationalism. Being used to reading adventure books filled with plot twists or that feature uncommon themes, I was initially afraid that I would be bored by a narrative presented in the manner of a television teen drama queen soap opera. Yet, What They Always Tell Us grew on me as I felt I began to know the characters better and better with each chapter, and then I found myself wanting to see how it all tied together in the end.

One could say the novel won me over with its “normality”. It won’t move the reader to tears or otherwise provide for much emotional involvement, but it’s a good story focusing on important issues such as social isolation, peer pressure, teen sexuality, friendship and self-discovery.

Unlike other books I have read, I haven’t come up with many intriguing quote worthy phrases, yet the book premise promised and then delivered a decent reading experience for me, which is why I extend to you my recommendation for it.

Kisses (2008)

When you kiss you give or you take

Kisses, directed by Lance Daly, is a 2008 Irish film released in the USA two years later, in 2010. The lead protagonists are two 11-year-old runaways, Kylie and Dylan (Kelly O’Neill and Shane Curry).

Through their eyes, we see what life in the suburban outskirts of Dublin can be like — when there is a lack of understanding from parents and peers, and verbal and physical threats are mundane.

In that kind of neighborhood, kids discuss what they can become when they grow up, always concluding that it won’t matter much as long as they get to move away from their grimy neighborhood.

After a major scandal in Dylan’s house, during which he hits his father to protect his mother, he tries to run for his life but would not have been able to go far if it was not for the neighborhood girl, Kylie, who heard the screams from her bedroom windows. Finding themselves in big trouble, Kylie and Dylan decide to run away and attempt to make it on their own.

The film’s character development is mostly through dialogue, revealing a poignant mix of childhood playfulness and an awareness of the grim reality in both young protagonists.

Viewers can’t help but notice the Director’s play with the photographic properties of the shots—their tone is set by the usage of colours, which sets the mood in the film. The first and last scenes are shot in black and white, with a creative shift to bright colours occurring when the young protagonists embark on their journey full of hopes for a change to a better life.

The soundtrack of Kisses has a significant meaning in relation to the narrative structure of the film. Many of the backing tracks are songs performed by Bob Dylan, whose song, Shelter From The Storm, can be perceived as a theme song for the film, as that is what Dylan and Kylie are looking for – happiness (or at least a temporary shelter from the world that surrounds them). As with most Irish films, the viewer needs to be aware of the noticeable accent spoken by the actors. While this won’t be a big hurdle for most native speakers of English, others may find the dialogue hard to follow.

The characters in Kisses are very believable, as both the young leads (who are on screen almost all the time) are newcomers to the cinema, which results in their acting being poignant and realistic. The Director chooses to introduce them and their mentality with background noises—the unmistakable sound of dysfunctional families. Both Kylie and Dylan find themselves actors in a play they never rehearsed for—either ignored or blamed for the failures and problems of their relatives.

Kisses is the third film directed by Lance Daly. Both of his previous works The Halo Effect (2004) and Last Days in Dublin (2001) share similar settings. One can even quickly draw a parallel between the main idea in Kisses (getting away from the mundane suburban life) and the personage in The Last Days in Dublin (2001), who is also embarking on a coming-of-age journey to world and self-discovery. A more detailed analysis of the film may link it to masterpieces such as the French Les Diables or the Ken Loach film Kes.

The use of slow-motion in the last scenes emphasizes the undecidability of a final resolution for the young protagonists, sending them back to their stygian world. The film`s story is not unique. I have seen other Coming of age films with similar themes, such as Moonrise Kingdom, Fish Tank, and I Don’t Love You Anymore. Still, the way it is told reminds us that true escape is far more elusive than a single night’s adventure. The acting performances, the coming-of-age story, and the clever use of colour make the film well worth watching.

Official Trailer :

Title:   Kisses
Director:   Lance Daly
Country:   Ireland
Runtime:   72 Min
Cast: Kelly O’Neill, Shane Curry, Paul Roe, David Bendito

Get Kisses on Amazon.com
Kisses

Kisses (2008)

In short

Character/Acting

Score/Soundtrack

Cinematography

Storyline/Screenplay

Production

Direction

Reader Rating0 Votes

3.6

Our rating

The Rocket (2013)

the rocket poster — A poster of the film from Thailand

Why does cinema exist?

To tell stories of course! And it’s even better if the stories come from enigmatic exotic lands like Laos. The 2013 Australian film The Rocket, written and directed by Kim Mordaunt, invites its audience to journey into a land little known to the world: foreign customs and traditions, a distinct living environment, still surprisingly familiar traits of humanity and of the power of determination.

Ahlo, a young Laotian boy, is kept alive by his mother despite the superstitions of his tribe against twins (expressed through his grandmother, who helped with childbirth). The superstition seems that one of the twins is supposedly a reincarnation of evil – so no twin is usually allowed to live within the tribe. Later on, in Ahlo’s life, a tragedy strikes, and the superstitions and fears are remembered.

When Ahlo is ten, his family is forced to move by government forces, as a new dam is to be built, and the valley they occupy is to be submerged under water. The move brings unexpected consequences.

The plot of the film doesn’t shine with originality. We have all seen numerous Coming-of-Age tales about a young protagonist who, faced with a sudden change in his life, has to find in him/herself the strength and determination to overcome seemingly impossible barriers (prejudice, tragic death in the family, social and physical limitations – to name but a few).

So once the challenge is revealed (in The Rocket, it is a rocket launching contest), the ending to the film becomes quite predictable. Yet, the beautiful cinematography, set locations, and, most of all, the performance of the young cast make the film worth seeing.

"Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible." Mao Zedong — “Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible.”
Mao Zedong

The charismatic Sitthiphon Disamoe vividly portrays the character of ten-year-old Ahlo. A first-time actor, he has a similar life story to that of the renowned Brazilian actor Fernando Ramos da Silva, who starred in Pixote (1981). A film director chooses a street kid from one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods to be in his film. The director recognizes the boy’s raw talent and naturalness in portraying emotions, as opposed to obviously acting. Disamoe appears to have been as equally unruly as De Silva was. I stumbled upon an article in the Bangkok Post that stated that he had run from home and “has been found in an internet cafe in Bangkok nearly two weeks after he disappeared“.

Disamoe is witty and full of energy. It is not an overstatement to say that the director managed to display the essence of boyhood (with its ups and downs). For example, in one of the first scenes, he is shown laughing on a tied swing. It’s a scene filmed with a slow-motion technique that ensures that the viewer immediately establishes a connection with the character on screen.

Sitthiphon Disamoe and Loungnam Kaosainam as Ahlo and his best friend ( sidekick ) Kia in The Rocket — Sitthiphon Disamoe and Loungnam Kaosainam as Ahlo and his best friend (sidekick) Kia in The Rocket

The other significant child actor in the film is Loungnam Kaosainam in the role of Kia, a little girl who becomes Ahlo’s best friend (and his guiding light metaphorically). She also delivers a credible performance – fully capable of melting the audience’s hearts with her sweet, innocent appearance. The character development in the film for all but these two child actors (and sometimes even for them) is somewhat weekly executed as many things about the characters are implied in a more confusing than explanatory manner.

While everyone could benefit from an inspirational, feel good-story, young audiences (especially boys – because, hey – playing tricks and launching a rocket is somehow so boyish) are likely to enjoy the film the most while associating themselves with the young protagonist and cheering him on the way of achieving his goals.

The Rocket – Official Trailer

Watch the entire film on Amazon Instant Streaming:

The Rocket (English Subtitled)

TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

Special DVD/Blu Ray Release on November 24th

When you kiss you give or you take