THE LEGEND OF OCHI

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Isaiah Saxon and A24 comes the story of two who would become unexpected friends because of THE LEGEND OF OCHI.

On the remote island of Carpathia, Yuri (Helena Zengel) is a young girl surrounded by boys who are being trained by father Maxim (Willem Dafoe). They are training to fight creatures that live in the forest called Ochi that they hunt at night. Yuri is going on her first hunt with Maxim and his ward Petro (Finn Wolfhard) late into the night and for the first time she sees the Ochi. As gun shots ring out, it is an infant Ochi that Yuri sees racing high into the trees while the others scatter.

During dinner, Yuri experiences a sad like contempt Maxim seems to feel and it is enough to send her out to check Ochi traps that surround their home. She notices that one of the traps has been tripped and follows a trail that leads her to the small Ochi. Knowing that she must help the creature, she is confronted by Petro who is shocked at what he sees. Clearly unmoved by her goal, Yuri sets out to get the small Ochi back to her own family. The problem is that Maxim gathers up his boy-troops and set out to find her.

The only person she did not plan to find is mom Dasha (Emily Watson) who has been living on her own isolated from people. Trying to understand why, Yuri listens to Dasha’s stories about the Ochi, especially since she discovers that she can communicate with the little one. That pushes her even more to want to return her new friend back to its family. When Petro finds Dasha’s cabin, Yuri’s parents come face to face with the decisions that made long ago.

Yuri and little Ochi’s adventures are far from over as the two grow closer to understanding one another!

Zengel as Yuri is a young girl dealing with the disconnect with her father and the unknown about her mother. It is easy to listening to her father’s side of the story but it doesn’t match with his behaviors toward the girl. Zengel gives Yuri a spark that makes it clear that she is not a girl to be trifled with and knows exactly how she is seen. It is not in what she may say but the look in her eyes proving she will not be deterred from what is right for her – and for her friend. Dafoe as Maxim is a man driven by fear of the unknown and living by the lies he perpetrated on his own. Training the young men to fight the Ochi, Dafoe has his little army that see him as a leader but Yuri has her own beliefs.

Wolfhard as Petro is a ward of Maxim’s raised to fight the Ochi. One moment he seems to be a friend to Yuri and the next he seems to show loyalty to Maxim. It is a quiet role for Wolfhard who has become a very tall but still very recognizable young man. Watson as Dasha is a mother who has her own story with Maxim and it interfered with being a mother to Yuri. She has her own story to tell about the Ochi and will not suffer Maxim a moment longer than she has to. I love Watson’s character being strong enough to stand her ground but also know when she must come out of the shadows for her daughter.

Other cast include Razvan Stoica as Ivan, Carol Bors as Oleg, Andrei Anghel as Vlad, David Baltatu as Gleb, Eduard Oancea as Pabel, and Tomas Ghela as Tudor. The vocals of the Ochi are Zoe Midgley as Mother Ochi and Paul Manalatos as baby Ochi.

A24 is an independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production based in New York City. Films such as A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III, the amazing EX MACHINA, ROOM and THE WITCH. Many of their films can be found on DirecTV Cinema and Amazon Prime. For more information, please visit www.a24films.com.

THE LEGEND OF OCHI is a story about a young girl who finds a friend who is also looking to reconnect with family. Yuri understands that at the beginning but as the story unfolds, she realizes there is more of a connection than she could have ever imagined. In all her young years, she could never have imagined that the connection to an Ochi would change her life in so many ways. It is such a lovely tale that is told with Zengel carrying a large portion of the film in spectacular fashion.

Keeping the film simple, director Saxon uses nature as the set allowing the actors to move so freely between the tough farm life and the lush green of the forest to creating the Ochi home himself. Scouring the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, he wanted to find a place that looked as mysterious as the story he wrote. Since the dialogue is minimal, it is up to the surroundings to lead us on the adventure with Yuri.

This is not a film that moves quickly, instead, allows us all to connect with the characters on our own levels because of our own experiences. It is letting the character of Yuri show us her life and the measures she takes to show her strength and do what’s right, no matter the outrageous fears of others. It is a combination of charm and understanding and I think we could all use that right about now.

In the end – it is an unexpected friendship with an unexpected friend!

 

 

On Brilliant Bluray is NEWS OF THE WORLD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K, Bluray and DVD and currently on Digital from director Paul Greengrass and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the journey that is filled with NEWS OF THE WORLD.

It is 1870’s Texas as Confederate Army 3^rd Texas Infantry Captain Jefferson Kidd (Tom Hanks) has a new career going from town-to-town reading newspapers for townsfolk who donate ten cents. He is well received as the news of the world brings so much to those who live in relative seclusion.

After one such reading, Captain Kidd is on the road again and comes upon an overturned wagon. In the tree is a man hanging and in the bushes he finds a very defiant young girl. Finding papers that identify her as Johanna (Helena Zengel), it is twist that this young blonde-haired blue-eyed girl is wearing the clothing of the indigenous people and has lost her family.

Told to take her to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, they let the Captain know that no one can care for her for months. He decides that it is his responsibility to make sure that Johanna is taken to next of kin. There are those who see it another way and want Johanna for themselves. That is their first encounter with problems and Johanna begins to understand that the Captain is protecting her.

Their journey is arduous, perilous and yet Captain Kidd and Johanna begin to understand one another and with each new day they help one another survive human and mother nature. A bond forms that is difficult to break once Johanna meets her next of kin. She is a child of two worlds, and he must decide which will bring her joy.

Hanks as Captain Kidd has once again turned in a touching performance that does not allow for a moments peace without heart string pulling. As this character he has a past of war pain and what was waiting for him when he returned. Trying to stay away from it all, he keeps busy on the road making others informed and even happy with the stories he reads. I would expect nothing less from Hanks than the performance he gives us as Captain Kidd. He is intelligent, crafty and has the heart to protect someone he does not even know. Just a beautiful character brought to life by Hanks.

Zengel as Johanna, in this performance, has already shown the wide range needed for such a young actress. She gives her character heart, fierceness and shares the same ability to think quickly through a problem for answers that save them both. What most would see as defiant, I see as a young girl trying to understand where she fits in because she truly is a child of two worlds. Zengel is a talent to be watched and appreciated in the years to come.

Other cast include: Michael Covino as J.G. Almay, Fred Hechinger as John Calley, Neil Sandilands as Wilhelm Leonberger, Thomas Francis Murphy as Merritt Farley, Ray McKinnon as Simon Boudlin, Mare Winningham as Doris Boudlin, Elizabeth Marvel as Ella Gannett, Chukwudi Iwuji as Charles Edgefield and Bill Camp as Willie Branholme.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Bonus Features on 4K, Bluray, DVD and Digital include Deleted Scenes, Partners: Tom Hanks & Helena Zengel, Western Action, Paul Greengrass Makes NEWS OF THE WORLD, The Kiowa and Feature Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Paul Greengrass.

NEWS OF THE WORLD is a roller coaster of emotions but focused on one thing – Captain Kidd protecting the young Johanna. As each event happens, his protection becomes stronger not realizing they share so much in common. Both have to come to terms with a past that is painful before they can each look toward a future they could never possible have imagined. Zengel and Hanks work together, and it looks flawless and seamless.

The cinematography is vast and impressive, and the costuming has once again added such a richness to the story being told. Writers Greengrass and Luke Davies took their time in telling the tale through writing and Greengrass allowed this story to unfold in its own time and in its own way. That is amazing directing and powerful.

In the end – find where you belong!