Talk to Her

Wonderful film directed by Pedro Almodovar. Quirky bizarre dramatic tragic and superb. Oh so moving story of two women in comas and the men who support and love them.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Didn't really want to see this film - but I'm glad I was persuaded
The first part is too much of a polemic. British oppression/brutality against the plucky Irish. I didn't engage with the principal characters enough. But then suddenly things perked up - you could begin to feel the tensions of creating a new country - the compromises that were required. The paradoxes inherent within a very conservative rural society.
There are some powerful scenes - exploring the political debates of the early 1920s, and this is a well filmed, almost beautiful film. However, it is flawed. You end the long film detached from the central characters - Damien and Teddy. I do not have a heart of stone, but the ending scenes failed to move me.
A pity

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

It isn't often that I go to see a Mongolian film - in fact this is a first! Delightful is the best word to describe this documentary about a family of five living a nomadic life. This is a way of life that will surely become extinct before long. The plot is minimal but shows how the family copes with herding and living, picking up a few Mongolian folk stories along the way, and a dog that turns out to be a hero (of course!). Extremely enjoyable and fascinating stuff. The family are so natural and non-Hollywood - something to be admired!