MSPIFF log 4.27.11

Rio Sonata (2010)
dir. George Gachot
Brazil

Day 14
27th Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer

All you really need is Nana Caymmi performing and you have a captivating film. An icon of Brazilian music, Caymmi still very much has it. Footage of recent and past performances are just amazing, especially one early in her career with Gilberto Gil where you could barely hear her due to the applause. A must see for fans.






Pure (2010)
dir. Lisa Langseth
Sweden

Day 14
27th Film
(4/10) Not Recommended
Trailer

(Does not star Keira Knightly.) For the majority of this film, I was able to go along with the scenario: A trouble teenager finds an emotional well when she stumbles upon Mozart's "Requiem" on YouTube, and finds inspiration to turn her life around. It is a leap, especially given the gritty, authentic pathos the film is going for. However. Deep within the third act, the film forced me into a corner of happily-ever-after disbelief. Am I giving something away? Probably. But not the specific (and important) plot device I had an issue with.