The Mystery of the RABBIT TRAP

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital such as Apple TV, Fandango, Prime Video and more from writer/director Bryn Chainey, Magnet and Magnolia Pictures is the journey with the RABBIT TRAP.

Darcy (Dev Patel) and wife Daphne (Rosy McEwen) have left the London life finding a cottage in the isolated forest of Wales. Spending time together, the couple who look for acoustic inspiration, they record the sound of the world that they find interesting for art. One afternoon Darcy finds a faerie circle that has drawn him in with the unusual sound frequencies. When he comes to after not understanding what has happened, he sees a young child (Jade Croot) who claims he lives nearby and was drawn to Daphne’s music. The boy enjoys being around Darcy and Daphne and makes it a point to visit their cottage often.

In the meantime, Darcy is having strange dreams and Daphne is aware that something is bothering him. She also embraces the young child taking who takes into the forest and shows what he knows about the natural world. Darcy wonders what the child is doing to the couple with shadows, whispers and changes that are dangerous with his pushing of boundaries. There is a psychological event happening to the couple and Daphne is starting to understand her husband’s worries.

When it comes time to face every moment that has happened, Darcy and Daphne try to find a way to embrace their lives and the spiritualness of the forest around them.

Patel as Darcy is a man who is plagued by a sadness that haunts his nights. He loves his wife and all the things they do together, especially going into the forest and recording the sounds. When the boy comes into his life, it is almost as if Patel’s Darcy can not hide his past at all without the whisperings being as strong as his nightmares. I have long been a Patel-fan and adore that he takes risks in all the roles he plays. In this film he dares to allow this bit of a thriller to expose, at it were, his emotional range in the turmoiled world that is created unexpectedly.

McEwen as Daphne is a woman who is just as creative as husband Darcy as they share the wonder of sound. She gets a bit emotional not totally understanding what causes his pain but the love is absolutely there. When the child comes into their life, Daphne is enjoying their experiences together but the relationship has moments where she wonders what is controlling everything. McEwen gives the same intensity as the script asks of her and pairing with Patel is really beautiful.

Croot as the young child is charming and innocent looking but there is something under the surface. There are moments of jaw drops as Croot gives a performance that is truly stunning, ethereal, dark and made me jump once or twice. As the story goes deeper down the rabbit hole, Croot ramps up the intensity until the very last scene.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

Magnet Releasing specializes in films from the vanguard of horror, action, comedy, and Asian cinema. It is also the home of classics like Tomas Alfredson’s LET THE RIGHT ON IN, Ti West’s THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, Andre Ovredal’s TROLLHUNTER, Neil Marshall’s sword and sandals bloodbath CENTURION and Tony Jaa’s ONG BAK trilogy. To find out more of what is to come please visit www.magnetreleasingfilms.com.

The film debuted at Sunday and RABBIT TRAP was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best European Fantastic Feature Film by the Festival Europeen du Film Fantastique de Strasbourg (FEFFS). The score for the film done by Lucrecia Dalt was inspired by electronic musicians Delia Derbyshire and Daphne Oram. It is a stand out in the film absolutely offering another layer to the story that Chainey was telling.

Using the Welsh folklore or the tylwyth teg that is drawn to children is a reason to want to dig deeper into it all. Chainey uses the fairy ring of mushrooms and milk to bring myth to the forefront of the story. I loved every moment of the mythology being show in such a dark way and the effects of humans. Producing the film is a list of names that are recognizable with Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah, Lawrence Inglee, Elisa Lleras, Alex Ashworth and Sean Marley.

This is the type of mystery/fright/mythology films that I have to have popcorn with. The story moves at its own pace, like the pace of the forest and surrounding nature giving moments to stop and take it all in. It is beautiful, ethereal and also filled with secrets and shadows that will reveal themselves when least expected. I enjoyed the pace of the film, loved the setting and keeping the cast to Patel, McEwen and Croot was nothing short of astounding.

In the end – folklore follows them home!

 

 

 

The Lesson is DANCE FIRST

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from director James Marsh and Magnolia Pictures is the telling of a life that reminds us to DANCE FIRST.

Samuel Beckett (Caleb Johnston-Miller) is a young boy living with over bearing mother May (Lisa Dwyer Hogg) and supportive loving father William (Barry O’Connor). Reaching his late teen years and hearing how everything affected only her, Samuel (Fionn O’Shea) decides that leaving is the best thing he could possibly do. His goal them becomes to meet the one writer that has affected him the most, James Joyce (Aidan Gillen).

Working with Joyce on translations, he has an amazing friendship with Alfred Peron (Robert Aramayo) and a love affair with Suzanne (Leonie Lojkine). Soon problems with Joyce’s family become dangerous and the war breaks out sending Samuel out to do his part with the French Resistance. After the war, Samuel (Gabriel Byrne) and Suzanne (Sandrine Bonnaire) work together to bring his work to the world.

When Samuel meets translator Barbara Bray (Maxine Peake) and a love affair begins as she brings reason to his work. Trying to live in a writer’s world, Samuel writes what he knows and looks back on his life riddled with questions. Suzanne wants to him live in a struggling world and pushes guilt as his writing finally brings awards. In his life, he knows the conversations that need to be had, but only within himself.

Byrne as the elder Samuel is absolutely stunning in this role. As a man who is dealing with his own inner demons, he has to take stock of where he came from and how it all finds its way into his work. Watching Bryne’s Beckett struggle with his own duality is a sight to see and his delivery of emotion is so strong that I was taken in immediately. What a challenge that he has taken on brilliantly.

Bonnaire as elder Suzanne has been with Samuel since the war and became intertwined in his work. As the years progressed, Bonnaire’s Suzanne became hard and he begins to see someone from his past reemerging. I’m not actually sure how I feel about this Suzanne but if it was to also see a familiar attitude then Bonnaire pulls it off.  

O’Shea as Samuel is just so well done front his young man years until the change to Byrne. The following of Joyce, the craziness that almost cost him everything and the struggle of war, O’Shea sets the groundwork of his life and the words that come from it. Aramayo as Alfred, although a smaller role, is poignant in the life of Samuel Beckett. Clearly the friendship meant everything and the impact was strong. Aramayo’s portrayal of Alfred was so endearing.

Peake as Barbara is immediately struck by Beckett and feels strongly about his work. Wanting to help him succeed in the literary world, she is also someone key to his life. Peake’s character doesn’t rock the boat or insert herself but instead has a place in his life that no one can touch. I truly enjoyed the strong role Peake plays because she has a sense of herself that is powerful in its own right.

Other cast include Bronagh Gallagher as Nora, Caroline Boulton as Sylvia Beach, Grainne Good as Lucia Joyce, Andrew Hefler as Leon, Julia Szasz as Mania, and Szabolcs Kelemen as Prudent.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com. 

DANCE FIRST is an absolute thrill of a film done in black and white that embraces the era of Beckett’s memory of his life. From the events of his childhood, interaction with his parents that caused him to make early life decisions, discovering those he admired had a magazine rack full of issues of their own to the price to be paid for fame is all brilliantly done in this telling.

Beckett’s emotions come through in so many ways and that is all thanks to O’Shea and Byrne. These two actors (and it’s not because I have an Irish background either!) seem to embrace the story of this writer with such intensity and longing to make things right. When the elder Beckett is given moments of reflection, no one else could have done it better than Byrne.

Samuel Beckett is most noted for Waiting for Godot, Molloy, Dream of Fair to Middling Women as well as the trilogy, non-fiction, novels, short prose, poetry, translation works, cinema, radio and theatre. Take a moment to look up his work and you will see that DANCE FIRST is a stunning look at an extraordinary life.

In the end – in life always dance first!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She is the One and Only THELMA

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this week from writer/director Josh Margolin and Magnolia Pictures is the story of a woman on a mission with THELMA.

Thelma (June Squibb) is an elderly woman living on her home since the death of her husband. Spending a lot of time with Thelma is grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger) who helps where he can and teaches grandma something about the computer world. One morning Thelma receives a distressing telephone call that Daniel is in trouble and needs a large sum of money sent immediately to free him.

Being a good grandmother, Thelma immediately sends the funds in the mail. A bit later, she begins to wonder what she has done and calls Daniel to discover that he is fine and she has been scammed. Running over to question her is Daniels parents Gail (Parker Posey) and Alan (Clark Gregg). Beginning to wonder whether Thelma can continue to live alone, she has other ideas.

Taking off to see Ben (Richard Roundtree) to borrow his super-scooter, Thelma decides she is going to go to the address and get her money back. Now, Daniel, Gail and Alan are on the chase to find Thelma with the help of Detective Morgan (Chase Kim). Nothing is going to stop her from getting to those who underestimate the power of senior anger!

Squibb as Thelma absolutely slays in this role! Look, you don’t have to be 93 to want to put a criminal in his place and that’s exactly what Thelma does. Squibb’s voice might sound like that of a helpless senior but when the going gets tough, the tough snags a scooter! I just adored watching this story unfold because, if it be told, I’d probably want to do the exactly same thing. Squibb gives us a peek into the possibilities and, at the same time, understand her feelings of friendship, loss and being alone at her age. Just a wonderful performance!

Hechinger as Daniel is a truly kind grandson who wants to help grandma as much as possible. Even when she bucks, he makes it clear that he wants to be of service. At the same time, he is going through his own issues of breaking the cord between his parents and finding out what he is really made of.

Posey as Gail and Gregg as Alan are indecisive and a tad senior-judgmental people who don’t really understand Thelma and understand Daniel even less. They are all over the place and although their hearts may seem genuine, its hard to understand what makes them survive day to day. That’s not a bad thing, I’m just the outsider looking at them with a huge question mark over my head and then laughing.

Shout out to Roundtree as Ben living in a senior facility (are we not allowed to say nursing home anymore I wonder) and seeming to enjoy it. He also has a secret thang for Thelma and before he has a chance to say ‘bob’s your uncle’, Thelma has him caught up in the adventure and not so sure he’s enjoying it. I enjoyed watching Roundtree and, along with Squibb, show that one senior is good – two is a force to be reckoned with.

Other cast include Shela Korsi as Gloria, Annie O’Donnell as Grace, Zoe Worth as the Theater Director, David Giuliani as Starey Gary, Ruben Rabasa as Winston, Nicole Byer as Rochelle, Quinn Beswick as Colin, Coral Pena as Allie, and Bunny Levine as Mona.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

THELMA is so much fun to watch and it is because of Squibb and her ability to pull of comedy. I have always enjoyed her performances but this one might by my favorite. She takes the lead and holds it the entire film with her charm, sweetness (until further notice), and focus on the task at hand! To my mind, criminals need to be on notice when someone like Thelma is around.

The underlying story is also quite touching as Thelma lives alone and doesn’t realize how that has had her feeling till she visits friends. Seeing for herself that there is a sadness for people her age. Thelma has made a life for herself but forgot to let others into that life to enjoy the years that pass all too quickly.

In the midst of all of this mix is pure comedy gold. Squibb and Roundtree together had me laughing so much. The adventure could never have been what Thelma imagined but it certainly didn’t stop her from the finish line. Watching everyone else run around like mad to save Thelma from herself, its too bad they didn’t understand that she had things under control, well, in her own special way and that’s all that matters. What a wonderful story that writer/director Margolin has brought to the screen so if you are looking for heartwarming, adventurous fun, then let THELMA take you on a ride.

In the end – revenge has never been sweeter!

He Believes in THE PROMISED LAND

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Nikolaj Arcel and Magnolia Pictures is a drama of power, love and a belief in THE PROMISED LAND.

It is Denmark in the 18^th century as Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen), giving twenty-five years of military service, asks his King for land to farm and create a settlement on the Jutland. Fighting others in the King’s court, he tells them that his own money will fund the farming in exchange for land and title. This is enough to be allowed a patent as he gathers supplies and heads to a remote piece of land, he deems farmable to begin.

Unhappy about it is Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg) of Hald Manor, a spoiled man and heinous landowner who believed the land Kahlen has taken actually belongs to him. Especially when two of his indentured servants, Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin) and Johannes (Morten Hee Andersen) have made a run for it. Needing help to start the farm, Kahlen takes in the two servants and also tries to hire Romani Tatere upsetting Schinkel further.

That is when De Schinkel decides he will do whatever it takes to force Kahlen off the land. What he doesn’t realize is that the woman he is suppose to marry, Edel Helene (Kristine Kujath) wants Kahlen to help her get away. By becoming a nobleman, he would be able to marry her instead. The quiet Captain wants to be able to make his dream come true and moves forward with his settlement plan.

When Ann Barbara’s life changes, so does that of the young Anmai Mus (Melina Hagberg) who is taken in by Kahlen. After hard work, the first crop comes in of potatoes and it impresses the King so much that he grants him funding and settlers to expand the farm. Schinkel is so angry; he puts a plan in place that puts them all in more danger than they could have imagined.

They have never met a man more determined than Kahlen.

Mikkelsen as Kahlen is just sheer perfection in this role. A quiet man who is quite stubborn and refuses to take no for an answer from just about anyone. Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Kahlen is strong, determined and doesn’t hesitate to protect what he is trying to do and, eventually, all those who help him get there. Personally, I have always enjoyed the characters that Mikkelsen has chosen to play as no two are even remotely alike. Here he shows the resilience and eventually a heart that understands what human beings are capable of, both good and evil.

Bennebjerg as De Shinkel is a greedy, brutal and power-hungry man in a place where no one would ever think to stop him. Living remotely away from the king’s power base, he is free to crush anyone that gets in his way. Living that way for so long, a man like Kahlen sets him immediately on edge and offers him a chance to be even more cruel to everyone around him. Bennebjerg does an exceedingly good job at his role because I certainly didn’t like De Shinkel in the slightest and thought Kahlen showed great restraint.

Collin as Ann Barbara knew of De Shrinkel’s cruelty and experienced it firsthand. It is clear why she ran and quickly made herself indispensable to Kahlen, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Taking charge of his household, Collin’s portrayal of Ann Barbara is strong and is the one person who could reach Kahlen at his peak of stubbornness. She stayed by his side and did what ever it took to keep everyone safe.

Hagberg as Anmai Mus is a young girl who is turned on by almost everyone around her. Protected by Kahlen and Ann Barbara, she grows up to become part of the land and as life grows, so does she.

Other cast include Jacob Lohmann as Trappaud, Olaf Hojgaard as Preisler, Gustav Lindh as Anton Eklund, Magnus Krepper as Hector, Morten Burian as Lauenfeldt, Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Bondo, Soren Malling as Paulli.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

THE PROMISED LAND is based on the book by Ida Jessen entitled The Captain and Ann Barbara. The film’s cinematography is just stunning as it also plays a character in the film. Open, spacious, rugged and eventually forgiving, it lends itself to the story of a man determined to bring about a new life for himself.

What I love about this story is that the dialogue isn’t run-on but instead lets the actors take control of their characters. It is in their actions that I found myself drawn to the story completely. Mikkelsen and Collin are astounding as their lead characters believe there is life to be had from the ground up.

The film premiered at the 80^th Venice International Film Festival in August 2023 and an entry for Best International Feature Film as the Danish entry for the 96^th Academy Awards. There are nominations all over the spectrum of festival and each win is well deserved.

In the end – he is taking on so much more than the land!

He lives in DALILAND

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Mary Harron and Magnolia Pictures is the tale of one of the 20^th century’s most acclaimed artists who lives in DALILAND.

Salvador Dali (Ben Kingsley) lives in a world all his own in the 1970’s. Along with wife Gala (Barbara Sukowa), he makes his art while Gala tries to keep their financial head above water. Coming to be a part of Dali’s world is the young James (Christopher Briney), who becomes his assistant while James also tries to break into the art world.

Attempting to help Dali create art and prepare for a new gallery show, James discovers that the world he wants to become part of is filled with pitfalls. Assisting Dali, he become aware that the artist is one way in public and another in private but both are disjointed and have history.

Yet, James wants to protect Dali from anyone or anything that gets in the way of his being able to create more astounding art. When the relationship between Dali and Gala call into question loyalty, James begins to understand what he has become involved in.

Art is not always a beautiful thing.

Kingsley as Dali puts in every bit of his ability as a wonderful actor into this character. He shows us the intricate, complicated and traumatic relationship with wife Gala. She is his reason for basically living and Kingsley shows that from each up and down the film shows. It is clear that Dali was a complex man but also seething with insecurities, issues and the inability to see the inappropriateness in the treatment of those around him.

Sukowa as Gala is a woman who, on the outside, seems quite removed from Dali’s antics. As the story digs deeper, there is so much more to her. Keeping Dali where he needs to be requires emotional acrobatics that Sukowa makes look effortless. Even when Gala has had just about enough, she is never loud, just sure of what needs to be done and how to make that happen.

Briney as Christopher is about to get a life lesson and crash course in dealing with people in general but mainly a maladjusted artist. In awe that Dali would make him an assistant, he quickly realizes that it is not all he thought it would be. Loving the art is one thing, loving the artist is another and loving when those two things clash is what Briney must reconcile.

Other cast include Avital Lvova as young Gala, Rupert Graves as Captain Moore, Alexander Beyer as Christoffe, Andreja Pejic as Amanda Lear, Mark McKenna as Alex Cooper, Zachary Nachbar-Seckel as Jeff Fenhold, Joella Hinson-King as Donyale Luna, Merce Ribot as Rosa, Jack Shalloo as Demond Carter, Gavin Spokes as Gilbert Hamond and Suki Waterhouse as Ginesta.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

The film had its world premiere in September of 2022 at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. It has been nominated by The Golden Linden Aware for director Mary Harron at the Golden Linden International Film Festival.

DALILAND is an interesting and thoughtful look at the life of a man who clearly could not be left to his own devices, even his art was under watchful eyes. Dealing with a magazine rack full of issues, Kingsley navigates through them with the skill of a master painter – oh wait, he is! The emotional roller coaster had me dizzy which probably best describes Dali’s life.

The filming is actually quite wonderful as director Harron captures the constant free-falls of Dali’s life. As a film about art and an artist, the colors of the film are vibrant and sullen at the same time which is also characteristic of the lives in the film. What the story does is consistently leave the viewer guessing as to what is going to happen next.

The ending is absolutely jaw droppingly sad yet, there is a space in the brain that says there was no place else the story of Salvador Dali could go.

In the end – he is Dali!

I LOVE MY DAD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently in theatres and On Demand from writer/director James Morosini  and Magnolia Pictures comes the story of a father doing whatever it takes to make up for mistakes with I LOVE MY DAD.

Chuck (Patton Oswalt) has managed to cause a distance between himself and son Franklin (James Morosini). Son Franklin is dealing with his own issues of depression and feeling isolated from the world. Trying to remove struggles from his life, Franklin blocks his dad on social media.

Not knowing how to stay in his son’s life, after a suggestion from a friend, Chuck creates a fake online account. Using a girl named Becca (Claudia Sulewski), Chuck begins a conversation with Franklin, and it takes no time at all before they are talking all the time.

When Franklin wants to talk on the phone, Chuck tries to enlist the help of girlfriend Erica (Rachel Dratch) but it all goes south quickly. There is no other choice when Franklin feels the need to finally meet Becca in person. Mom Diane (Amy Landecker) is not thrilled with the idea that Chuck agrees to drive his son to meet the elusive Becca.

But when Erica discovers how far it is all going, Chuck has some explaining to do!

Oswalt as Chuck is inconsistent, a bit of a storyteller, has more excuses than I’ve ever heard and still loves his son deeply. Trying to stay connected any way possible, he is shocked when discovering that he has been blocked from son Franklin’s online life. As an insecure parent, Oswalt gives us a man who just can not seem to get it right. The shovel he uses digs him such a deep hole that there is no turning back! Well done!

Morosini as Franklin is a young man who, if you think about it, is just as insecure and inconsistent as his father. Angry with him for his own reasons, instead of finding his way out of that hole, he also digs it deeper with being self-destructive. Finally seeing light at the end of a very dark hole because of Becca, it is cringing to watch father and son just dive into places that are uncomfortable and hilarious.

Sulewski gets a chance to come to life in an unusual way playing both a ‘real’ character and the one in Franklin’s imagination that is created by Chuck. Confused? It’s a fun thing to figure out though.

Shout out to Dratch as the very unusual boss/kinky girlfriend Erica and Howery as Chuck’s friend Jimmy. Both roles are funny, heartwarming and well done.

Other cast include Ricky Velez as Derek, Sarah Helbringer as Haley, Patrick Klein as the Counselor, Sheri Fairchild as Suzanne, and Lil Rel Howery as Jimmy.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

I LOVE MY DAD is a quirky film about parents, their children, relationships, and the mess that social media has created with the reality of life. Life was easier when you met someone face to face and got to know them. That made it a tad easier to spot trouble or incompatibility. Social media means people have become experts at cat-phishing and lying about who they truly are.

The trouble here is that Oswalt’s character know exactly what he is doing wrong and continues to do it to find a way into his son’s life. Sometimes doing things out of love can make a dad do nutty things and Chuck certainly qualifies for doing the nuttiest things of all. Not sure I could do it but as a parent, who is to say?

I guess only Chuck and Franklin know the answer to it all.

In the end – parents do silly things for the love of their kid!

 

 

 

 

A TASTE OF HUNGER

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from writer/director Christoffer Boe and Magnolia Pictures is life and A TASTE OF HUNGER.

Carsten (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is an up-and-coming chef looking to open a place of his own someday. He meets a very wild spirited Maggie (Katrine Greis-Rosenthal) and there is an instant connection that not only sparks their love of creating food but a life together.

Opening a restaurant together, the goal becomes beginning the chase of the ever-elusive Michelin star. Years have gone by and now the restaurant is a reality and Carsten is spending lots of time keeping it running smoothly. Maggie is running the household, taking care of daughter Chloe (Flora Augusta) and son August (August Vinkel) and their lives are hectic.

Working hard, Carsten becomes engrossed in every aspect of being a chef and Maggie sees him begin to push away. Out of frustration, she tries to relive her wild days all in one night, but the consequences are long lasting. It comes about when a mysterious letter arrives for Carsten, but Maggie finds it.

A few words on paper could destroy the journey to the stars, especially if there are too many chefs in the kitchen!

Coster-Waldau as Carsten is a driven chef and Maggie is his reason for it all. This character gets so wrapped up in a single drive that he forgets love, his family and those who have been there for him. It is a journey of hard lessons and Coster-Waldau makes sure we see every bit of it. The frustration, fear and everything in between.

Greis-Rosenthal as Maggie is drawn to Carsten and discovers they share such a vision together. She is a bit wild and that is an attractant to Carsten. There beginning is so filled with dreams, but Maggie also gets lost along the way. As a wife-mother, Greis-Rosenthal’s character tries to have it all and the ‘all’ goes to far until the consequences come due.

Augusta as Chloe is a young girl caught up in grown-ups’ games. This young actress shows such believable emotions that she stunned me with her performance. Trying to forgive parents that seem to be going a million miles an hour and are making huge mistakes, it is young Chloe that is keenly aware of it all.

Credit to Charlie Gustafsson as Frederick; a hungry sous chef who wants what he wants and will use people to get it. Frederick takes advantage and Maggie has to set it straight but, a rat is a rat.

Other cast includes Nicolas Bro as Torben, Maj-Britt Mathiesen as Pia, Dag Malmberg as Stellan, Rasmus Hammerich as Frank and Magnus Bruun as Andus.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

A TASTE OF HUNGER shows its duality from beginning to end. Of course, it is a film about the beauty, brilliance, and hunger of chefs not to mention their struggles to succeed. Constantly having to be more creative, more inventive, and just, well, more – the stakes are extremely high.

The other is the hunger for life, family and love which also includes trying to fill emptiness with whatever looks good to make the pain go away. In this case, both Carsten and Maggie have to decide which beast to feed. More importantly, be willing to accept the consequences when they choose wrong.

The story of Carsten and Maggie is peppered with all the flavors with bitters mixed in. Beautifully done and lovely to watch, A TASTE OF HUNGER is an amazing piece of storytelling and simplistic filmmaking which made me enjoy it even more.

In the end – prepare your plate with perfection!

 

THE QUAKE Will Rattle Nerves!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director John Andreas Andersen and Magnolia Pictures comes the story of a family trying to recover from one tragedy only to face THE QUAKE.

Kristian Elkjord (Kristoffer Joner) is still reeling from the wave that hit Geiranger three years past and it has caused him to stay away from wife Idun (Ane Dahl Torp), son Sondre (Jonas Hoff Oftebro) and daughter Julia (Edith Haagenrud-Sande). Idun has returned to work at a hotel in Oslo yet still wishes Kristian would return home.

Keeping his family at bay is easy when Julia visits her father and sees the wall of people her father feels he could have saved. Kristian becomes curious when a geologist colleague speaks out about what is happening under the city of Oslo. When he dies in the Oslofjord tunnel, Kristian can’t help but get involved in finding out why, especially when he suspects a natural disaster coming.

Gathering up the research, Marit Lindhblom (Kathrine Thorborg Johansen) sees Kristian’s reaction and begins to take him seriously. It isn’t long before he tries to get the attention of former colleague Johannes Loberg (Stig R. Amdam) to convince him that a quake is coming.

Everyone thinks that Kristian is reliving the fear of what happened before – they have no idea what’s to come!

Joner as Kristian is a man who is completely out of control with suspicion and sadness. He doesn’t want to believe that he is the flag waver of disaster but the evidence of the quake proves otherwise. I’m thrilled that Joner once again has taken up the role of Kristian because no one else could have made this story flow from one disaster to another. He may not say allot but when he does…pay attention!

Torp as Idun also returns as a woman who is trying to raise her children while Kristian figures out where he wants to be. It is easy to forget that she also is trying to keep the trauma of the wave in perspective but it’s there right below the surface.

Oftebro as Sondre is grown up and in college and hasn’t given up on his father. Letting things flow as they are going to, he is happy to see his father when he does show up! As THE WAVE focused on Sondre, this time it is Haagenrud-Sande as Julia that takes up a bit of screen time. Wanting her father back home, Julia makes the effort to show that he is loved and missed. It is when the quake hits that she once again experiences the trauma of mother nature.

Johansen as Marit isn’t all that interested in the research about the ground below Oslo, but when Kristian shows up she gets interested pretty quick. Although, I’m sure dangling off a 30 story building wasn’t in her plans. Amdam as Johannes wants to believe his friend about the quake but he is a man of proof and he’s about to get an earth rattling ton of it.

It is no secret to anyone that I am a huge fan of disaster films and not just because of the disaster (although sometimes its pretty epic stuff). I like the films also for the human aspect of it all, watching characters develop into the choices they make. Is there anything new here? Not really, although I did hope the actual ‘quake’ would be more of a shake up instead of a few moments of rattle. When the actual quake does appear the earth isn’t taking any prisoners that’s for sure.

I also truly loved that the original cast family came back together to once again go through something traumatic. There is a moment (no spoilers here folks) that I was totally jaw dropped and am still not happy about but that’s to be expected. You can’t crack and roll the earth with an outcome that’s good for all.

Director Andersen gives us the human emotion of Kristian and his family and never lets us forget for a second that they survived something pretty horrific in THE WAVE. Bringing back the original cast brings the viewer in quickly to the story. Now with THE QUAKE he challenges the same family one more time with an ending that had to be.

So if you are ready to join the family once again, may I suggest you prepare yourself for THE QUAKE.

In the end – the signs are there!