<p>One thing we did upon becoming empty-nesters was to join Netflix, which gives us access to all the foreign and independent films we’ve missed over the past 20 years! Just saw a French film whose title in English is “To Be and To Have.” It’s a very simple documentary about a group of children and their teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in the French countryside. The relationships between the people, the scenery, the closeness of farm life…all these things make it charming and touching. Very little happens, but it has a lovely quality. If you are looking for an antidote to the college rat-race, this is it.</p>
<p>Of course there are a gazillion places to find recommendations on good films to rent, especially those small, foreign films that you never hear much about, but here’s one that’s often overlooked. If you like quirky films, you might like this (if you haven’t seen it already): Local Hero.</p>
<p>The reason it’s one of our favorite small films is that we have spent much time in rural Scotland and this film captures the spirit (good and sometimes not so good) of the people and the mood of the land so well. We are familiar with all of the locations of the film and I can’t tell you how accurately it captures the place.</p>
<p>When the bath water in the film was the color of whisky, I could almost smell the peat in the water. In what other film is a red phone box one of the critical characters? There are so many little things in the movie that are never explained (webbing between the toes? that pesky motorcycle?) and yet all add up to a whole that’s fun to watch.</p>
<p>Local Hero aside, the best thing about DVDs is that you can even see some familiar films in their original glory. For example, the other night we watched Jaws - that’s been on TV so many times that I’m tired of seeing it - and I was shocked - shocked! - at how much I enjoyed it in widescreen and uneditied and without commercials and in a resolution a zillion times better that TV.</p>
<p>“I’d make a great Gordon, Gordon”
“We have an injured rabbit”</p>
<p>Am also particularly fond of “Gregory’s Girl” by the same director.</p>
<p>W and I have always loved Local Hero - we recommend it to everyone and gift DVDs of it to friends/relatives/etc. on a regular basis.</p>
<p>I have always felt kinda guilty that I don’t feel the same way about Bill Forsyth’s other movies. Robin Williams once said in an interview how great he was to work for.</p>
<p>Gordon acting as a waiter “It was a clean break - look at the bones.”</p>
<p>African-born preacher “I’m not Scottish either.”</p>
<p>ap5…You might also like “Les Choristes - un film de Christophe Barratier”</p>
<p>If you enjoy documentaries, let me recommend “Spellbound”. It follows a group of 14 year old students who went onto the 1998 National Spelling Bee held in Washington, DC. </p>
<p>This documentary has more heart than anything that I’ve watched in years. The diversity and hard work of the students and the dedication of their parents for spelling is a wonder. In its quiet way, the documentary reminds you that excellence has many faces…</p>
<p>“Les Comperes” with Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard. FUNNY. Do not rent the American remake - can’t remember who was in it.</p>
<p>Last year’s animated film “The Triplets of Belleville”. Indescribable plot involving a French bicycle racer, his grandmother, their dog, and a trio of superannuated nightclub sister singers. Just hilarious.</p>
<p>Just biding our time until the Wallace and Gromit full length movie finally comes out . . .</p>