Le piège

While on line for a film on the opening day (yesterday) of the 2008 Palm Springs International Film Festival, a woman (former film professor) I knew from the previous year's Festival, raved about seeing "The Trap."

This morning I saw "The Trap" and was overwhelmed by it. Without question the most riveting film I have EVER seen. The director has perfect pitch: the story, direction, acting, photography, music are truly perfect. It's a tense thriller which addresses many moral questions. In many ways it reminds me of last year's "The Lives of Others." If you liked that movie, this one should definitely be on your must-see list.

The audience was stunned at the end of the film and after a flurry of applause, sat silently throughout the end credits.

I gave mark 10/10 to this movie. Maybe the reason is that, lately, since "Sideways" actually, I haven't seen any movie that would touch me at all. And I watch a lot of movies. This one provoked tears many times, it's overwhelming on so easy, non-pretentious way.

Let's back to the subject. The story is very true, complex, convincing. Acting brilliant. Although the movie is a bit slow, it attracts like a magnet, so you can not keep an eye out of it. There are maybe some strange coincidences, but they do not spoil anything. Sunspense and thriller is present all the time.

It raises many questions: "What would I do if I were him", "What is the limit of my love to my child"... Great psychological dilemma, makes you think all the time. It is true European movie, with some American influence, but only on a good way. If you like, at least for a moment, to escape from Hollywood crap, I recommend this movie 100%.

If you are looking for a date movie then it is not a good choice but if you are looking something with a serious, really appealing with true to life events and a strong grip on audience throughout the movie, then simply go for it. I promise it is a collection grade movie worth to be watched twice. The story, acting, direction and movement of the movie was superb. Cinematography and the expression of human behavior was so realistic that you can not leave your seat even if you have a strong desire to go to rest room. Therefore I would say it was overall a masterpiece and needs to be placed in your personal collection shelf. Give it a try you will not be disappointed.

This is yet,another tale of parental love & what they will do for the lives of their children. A 30 something couple finds out that their young son is suffering from a heart condition, and the only place that they can bring him for the surgery that can save his life is in Germany. The hitch:the price tag (we're talking thousands & thousands of Euros). The Mother puts an advert in the local newspaper that they need money for the operation. The hope comes in the form of a stranger who will give them the thirty thousand Euros they need,but with a price. The father must assassinate somebody. What follows is a taut, intense morality play with a twist. This is European film making at it's best. No MPAA rating here, but serves up lots of foul language & some violence (although nothing too gory for those with weak stomachs)

Every serious moviegoer enters each theater with the hope that this film will be that little gem that one can expect at most once a year (and some years it doesn't happen at all). This film is that little jewel; I was lucky enough to see it at its premier in the Berlinale. It asks the question, "what is a good man"? Can a man be good in some parts of his life and not at all good in others? In life, who becomes the ultimate arbiter of goodness? The film also introduces an interesting tension around traditional gender roles -- the husband/father expected to be the provider -- even while portraying seemingly modern women. This tension is an important driving force, in addition to the difficult challenge facing the main character. The resulting violence that occurs is at once completely believable and yet shocking; seemingly ancillary to the main plot is one scene of senseless violence against a street child that is quite breath-taking. There is a great symmetry to this movie, centering around a particular street corner on which that child hustles as a window-washer. We return to this place again and again, at different times and in different psychological states. Overall this film is masterfully crafted and acted with complex layers and much to reflect upon. I recommend it in the highest terms.