criterionforum.org

BACKGROUND: My parents-in-law are conservative but adventurous movie viewers. They choose not to expose themselves to gratuitous language, violence, sex, etc. They try not to watch R movies. They are fine watching difficult subject matter (e.g. documentaries or features about impoverished or exploited peoples/nations). They are not fine when those stories are told with gratuitous violence, etc.

However much you may disagree with those decisions, I let them be and continue to encourage their movie habits with films they are comfortable with and will enjoy. They are having fun exploring old world cinema. I receive emails occasionally from my mother-in-law about "We're interested in this guy. Any recommendations? Will we be comfortable watching it?"

Because I don't carry the same objections/restrictions that they do, I have a hard time remembering whether a film would be appropriate for them. A lot of international stuff, including Criterion, is unrated because it was never reviewed by the MPAA.

I hope this thread will help me (and others, if possible/as applicable) evaluate movie recommendations for more conservative viewers. I thought one thread devoted to this would be cleaner than cluttering up individual title threads.

I just received an email from her asking about Wajda.

I would like to recommend them Ashes and Diamonds, and don't exactly recall the ending. I remember the two men given orders to murder the communist... but can't remember exactly what happens and if anything excessively bloody happens in the film. My recollection says that this is relatively safe viewing. Thoughts?

Ozu and Naruse films should be sufficiently parent safe. Imamura, probably not.

cgray wrote:I just received an email from her asking about Wajda.

I would like to recommend them Ashes and Diamonds, and don't exactly recall the ending. I remember the two men given orders to murder the communist... but can't remember exactly what happens and if anything excessively bloody happens in the film. My recollection says that this is relatively safe viewing. Thoughts?

There's a fair bit of violence at the beginning and end (especially the beginning, when someone is machine-gunned at point-blank range to the point where he partially bursts into flames), but I wouldn't have thought it was in any way excessive. Violence in Wajda's films tends to be strongly justified by the context - the end of Katyń being a perfect example.

But if you want a Wajda that's guaranteed non-violent, try The Maids of Wilko - an excellent, underrated film from his greatest decade. I believe it's out on DVD in the US.

cgray wrote:I just received an email from her asking about Wajda.

You're probably safe with Ashes and Diamonds, as the violence isn't gruesome, but you definitely want to steer them clear of Promised Land. A great film, but there are several dismemberments. I'll second Michael's recommendation of The Maids of Wilko. It should be safe for them to watch, plus it's a fantastic film.

Critcal Advice Dept: if they want to get into German mountain films, do NOT get your The Holy Mountains mixed up.

HerrSchreck wrote:Critcal Advice Dept: if they want to get into German mountain films, do NOT get your The Holy Mountains mixed up.

...and if you recommend Happiness, make sure you explain the difference between Medvedkin (1934) and Solondz (1998). Especially as the latter is infinitely easier to get hold of.

You may find various Christian movie review sites useful, as they tend to obsessively count (just like Joe Bob Briggs!) the exact number of expletives, incidents of nudity and violence with amusing, unironic detail. Generally they seem to review Hollywood swill, though I have seen a few that also review older and more challenging films, world cinema, etc.

Are they fine with films dealing with prostitution, but never showing anything sexually gratuitous? If so I would add to MK's Naruse suggestion, and also put my hat in for Mizoguchi - especially the films from the eclipse set.

Michael Kerpan wrote:Ozu and Naruse films should be sufficiently parent safe. Imamura, probably not.

Imamura absolutely not.
I'm sure that's what you meant Michael, but it's best not to mince words when giving out in-law related advice.

I suggest Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy. I have a feeling they'll love it.

I'm watching this thread with a keen eye because my mother also fits the description of your in-laws, cgray. Last Year at Marienbad was the latest (and greatest) hit with her. Other CC hits: The Browning Version, Cleo from 5 to 7, The Fallen Idol, The Earrings of Madame de....

BB wrote:Imamura absolutely not.
I'm sure that's what you meant Michael, but it's best not to mince words when giving out in-law related advice.

It was indeed what I meant.

I should have mentioned the Shimizu films as definitely safe.

Depending on how strait-laced one parents are, I'd think some of the Mizoguchi films might be dicey. Sansho would probably be safest -- of those released by Criterion.

I recently hit one out of the park when I recommended Zhang Yimou's Not One Less to my mother. It helps that she's a math teacher who longs for the adoration of her students, but she absolutely loved it. Totally mom-safe too.

My mother absolutely loved The Leopard. I mean c'mon, Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster!

swo17 wrote:I recently hit one out of the park when I recommended Zhang Yimou's Not One Less to my mother. It helps that she's a math teacher who longs for the adoration of her students, but she absolutely loved it. Totally mom-safe too.

ZY's Road Home might be even better -- at least for non-teacher mothers. And his recent Riding alone for Thousands of Miles is another film about parents and children (this time seen from the parent's side).

Michael Kerpan wrote:

BB wrote:Imamura absolutely not.
I'm sure that's what you meant Michael, but it's best not to mince words when giving out in-law related advice.

It was indeed what I meant.

I think Black Rain could easily be an exception to this. It's a film I'd personally recommend to anyone aside from folks looking for mere entertainment and/or those who refuse to see any sort of difficult subject matter. There are disturbing scenes of the aftermath of the bombing at the beginning of the film but these are not gratuitous, and most of the film takes place years later. In a number of ways, it shows some different sides to Imamura.

Gregory wrote:I think Black Rain could easily be an exception to this. It's a film I'd personally recommend to anyone aside from folks looking for mere entertainment and/or those who refuse to see any sort of difficult subject matter. There are disturbing scenes of the aftermath of the bombing at the beginning of the film but these are not gratuitous, and most of the film takes place years later. In a number of ways, it shows some different sides to Imamura.

Yeah -- but if someone liked Black Rain and decided to explore other Imamura films (expecting something similar), he (or she) might get a real surprise. ;~}

Now -- Yoji Yamada's films would be pretty safe. Too bad his Kabei: Our Mother isn't available (except for the Japanese DVD -- which is subbed, but expensive). Twilight Samurai ought to work quite nicely.

I suggest Doris Dorrie's Cherry Blossoms, which came out on Netflix earlier this year - there are a few minor sexual details (two minor characters are in a lesbian relationship, and another character looks at hentai magazines) and one subplot where the main character dresses in his deceased wife's clothes (although it isn't for sexual reasons, at all). But its an incredibly nice story with a really moving ending, and seems tailor made for an older crowd. It's sort of a German adaptation of Tokyo Story, and there's a lot of classical Japanese influences. I have a feeling they'll love it (unless they aggressively nitpick at films like those Christian movie review sites do).

My uncle & aunt are sophisticated viewers (and ferociously liberal) but my aunt really dislikes violence on-screen unless it contributes to an overall positive and/or political message. That said, she'd never watch something like Funny Games.

puxzkkx wrote: That said, she'd never watch something like Funny Games.

Because she's cursed with good taste?

I liked that film! A lot of people think the mechanics were crude but I thought it was as potent a statement on media violence as has been made.

But I meant to say she wouldn't watch a film with that much violence in it even if the violence was going towards a sociocultural/political message, as it does in that film. She's fine with sex, though - they own a copy of Anatomy of Hell, so...

My mother couldn't abide bad (screen) acting, most of all; Frank Rich, or whatever the New York Times hatchet-man is called, is only in the ha'penny pace compared to her; she could be quite scathing in her often sarcastic, yet pithy putdowns.

I remember her telling me how she and her older, then seventy-something sister, loved watching Rod Steiger in 'No Way To Treat A Lady'

They're still probably chortling at it now, in between arguing over their team strategy, in The Great Bridge Club in The Sky

Napier wrote:My mother absolutely loved The Leopard. I mean c'mon, Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster!

And add Senso as well.

For a great documentary, try Stephanie Black's Life and Debt.

Thanks for all the thoughts, especially those regarding Ashes and Diamonds. I will make suggestions to them, including many of the above. I imagine I'll post most often here when she has a direct question for me... Pretty neat that my in-laws write me emails asking about Sokurov, etc.