Sin Nombre is a well-researched film examining issues of gang loyalty and culture. The film is set within a regional faction of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) which is a violent street gang with a strong presence

The White Ribbon is a color-washed film that skirts issues of good and evil with black and white imagery adding symbolic depth to the tale. Set in Northern Germany just prior to World War I, we are set

This 2005 Award Winning film introduces us to a hardened South African criminal named Tsotsi (Short for Tsotsitaal), who has a childish appearance that seems to contradict the intense anger that manifests

Looking at other reviews and ratings of Nobody Knows makes me realize that I must have viewed this film through an entirely different lens. I thought the film was interesting and would recommend it, but

“Honor killing” is a tough subject. It is an issue that has even manifested itself here in the United States. When I think about the paradox of Honor Killing, I think of the words of Thomas Jefferson,

Death and Aids. How do you take tough subject matter and create a warm enchanting drama? Writer David McBrayer tackles that challenge by framing the topic in the viewpoint of a young boy who has recently

Alexandra's Project is a mediocre Australian thriller released in 2003. At a cost of two million Australian dollars, the film hardly managed to recover half the production cost domestically. It has likely

It seems that I watch more than my fair share of World War II movies. There are a lot of directions you can go with the genre. Each country that participated in World War II has a unique perspective. Although

The Closet (or, La Placard in French) is an outre comedy based on political correctness in the workplace. The film takes a lighter look at the dynamics of "the office" and turns traditional thinking

Arn Magnusson (Joakim Natterqvist) is the central character in a trilogy written by Swedish author Jan Guillou. Arn The Knight Templar is the first in the series, which was adapted to screenplay format

A friend recommended Senseless to me. Four things appealed to me about this film. First, it came highly recommended. Second, it is a foreign film. Third, it was described as suspense/thriller film. Finally,

Twilight Samurai (Tasogare Seibei) should have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003. Instead, the tepid Canadian film The Barbarian Invasions won. Another excellent foreign film

Pelle the Conqueror provides an interesting character study of Swedish immigrants at the end of the Nineteenth Century. While my own Great-Grandmother arrived at Ellis Island in this same time frame at

Going in to the movie Mongol, I wasn't sure what to think. Because the movie is based on the life of the "Great Khan," I was hoping that it would not stray to far afield from a factual foundation.

All About My Mother has won numerous awards to include the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film. Based on the accolades, I was certain I would thoroughly enjoy this film. Although the film was artistic,

What secrets can be found hidden in the eyes? Do the eyes betray hidden secrets? Can love be found inside a glance? If the eyes are windows to the soul, can a mere look lay hidden desires bare? The Secret

The Dutch film Character (Karakter) examines strong characters indicating the title might be a noun. There are strong characteristics examined which surround the ambition of a rising young lawyer and what

Just Another Love Story is a Danish Noir-Thriller released in 2007. The edgy film begins with the narrator descending slowly upon a body lying in the rain, describing the elements of neo-noir. It is a

The Virgin Spring, which won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, was the inspiration for the film Last House on the Left, which I didn't care for. The latter film was made into another mediocre

The Bow (Hwal) had a story line that initially appealed to me. I was not sure what to expect, but found the concept intriguing. A captivating (literally) story that takes place entirely at sea on a small