Pássaro do Oriente

Set in Tokyo, a surprisingly Japanese speaking Alicia Vikander, Lucy, is interrogated by police over the disappearance, and suspected murder, of fellow expat Lily. Tension grows throughout the film as Lucy grows increasingly jealous and paranoid of Lily, who slowly gets close to her mysterious photographer boyfriend Teiji.

Whilst the pace of the film is slow, Alicia Vikander is phenomenal as Lily, holding you at the edge of your seat as her mental state slowly crumbles. Time is taken to dwell on Lucy's expressions, her feelings, her psyche. Her eyes slowly welling up in one scene is magical.

The setting is a character in its own right, framed magnificently in a number of scenes- the grandeur of the mountains, the composition of the secret woodland temple, the liveliness of the festival... compared to the greys of Teiji's studio and Lucy's apartment near the end.

There is a quietness to the movie which I actually really like and unfortunately felt that the ending/resolve, which was rather abrupt did not feel right with the rest of the movie and was too convenient and expected.

Nonetheless, I found there was a lot to love about the movie that despite its pace, kept my attention throughout; with an emotional and reflective performance from Vikander, and was a much needed "quieter" film amongst all the noise of the world.

Solid movie, keeps you engaged and decent twists through to the end. The Japanese setting and cultural exploration adds an interesting element, and great acting by Vikander (if she didn't learn Japanese, her acting sure was convincing). While the story does sag in a few places, I was never bored. Not an award winning movie, but a very solid watch.

A solid but ultimately stolid mystery, super competent and quite engaging but with no flair and a lacklustre ending. Seen it all before, albeit in a different setting. #LFF

I must agree with another reviewer on this film. The people leaving low reviews must be fan-boys of action flicks. This is quality filmmaking and storytelling. If you're not willing to think, then please, just keep your sophomoric opinions to yourself.

Earthquake Bird is a very different film, it's not exactly what I was expecting having seen a trailer, but I enjoyed it. You will question events and reality as you watch Lucy plunged into a series of bizarre events, as you watch you'll ask if events were real, and if those around her did indeed exist. Alicia Vikander is absolutely terrific in the lead, so convincing. Naoki Kobayashi and Riley Keough also impress in supporting roles. The first forty minutes or so were a bit of a challenge, it took a long time to open up, but when it does it becomes a very absorbing watch. The pace won't suit everyone, some may find it a little slow, but I enjoy this type of psychological thriller.

A thumbs up from me, just stick with it, it's worth it.