Mountain Shadow’s August selection was a pre-theatrical release from France, “Un Son Vivant” (“In His Lifetime”). Re-named “Peaceful” for English-speaking audiences, the melodrama stars Katherine DeNeuve, Benoit Magimel, and a true-life oncologst; with a son dealing with a terminal illness. They have one year and four seasons to come together and understand what it means to die while living. To read a brief review and link to an extensive Q&A with the filmmaker, click on the link above.

“Forgive me, I forgive you, I love you, thank you, goodbye.”

“Peaceful,” the title of this film, may convey the filmmaker’s goal and intention; when dealing with the often-unwelcome subject matter of a terminal illness and death. While moviegoers are often entertained watching the good guys blow the bad guys to smithereens; but dealing intimately with the intimate nature of the timeline of our own mortality is another matter.

But that’s why the French title for this film is “De Son Vivant,” -- which translated means “in his/her lifetime” – might be more suitable. The extensive press notes provided this month provide some context for the viewer to more fully consider this film; as well as reflect on the seasons of their own “lifetime.”

Some film critics panned this film as overly sentimental. Yet, while the filmmaker readily acknowledges her intention to provide a melodrama, she does so with a mix of both actors and “real” people; lending a degree of authenticity and realism to what is nonetheless a fictional tale. For instance, the role of Dr. Sara is played by the real Dr. Sara; sharing his real-life experience. While well-known French actors Catherine Deneuve (Crystal) and Benoit Magimel (Benjamin, who portrays the role of an acting instructor) are as real as you can get. jb

Footnote / personal observation: I look forward to a thoughtful discussion with those who can join us for the monthly film discussion on Monday. And yes, the French actor looks like a young Sean Penn. And, at age 78, Catherine Deneuve still appears to be looking and doing well!

Switzerland’s Oscar submission this year for Best International Film, OLGA, is a new Ukrainian drama most relevant for our time! Olga is a talented teenage Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland, dreaming of Olympic gold anged trying to fit in with her new team in her new home. As she prepares for the European Championships, the Ukrainian people back home in Kyiv rise up in what has become known as the Maidan Revolution. To read a brief review of what was our film selection for June, 2022, click on the image above.

Gifted and eccentric horticulturalist Eve Vernet breeds exquisite roses that compete in showcases all over France; competing with corporate rivals. Banding together with a group of parolees, the team comes up with a zany and risky plan to save the business. From France, this crowd-pleasing drama/comedy was Mountain Shadow’s selection for May, 2022. To read a brief Mountain Shadow review and excerpts from an interview with writer/filmmaker Pierre Pinaud, click on the image above.

When Will Smith and Chris Rock had their on-stage altercation at this year’s Academy Awards, one might have wondered if the incident was mere theatrics, or just another act of reactionary violence. In actuality, the incident was not unlike more than a few Oscar Short film nominees; given the fact a significant number of them came with the equivalent of an R-rating warning for graphic violence. Instead, and – given the fact all the “shorts” this year had unusually long running times -- Mountain Shadow offered a line-up of only five shorts, none of them selected for an Oscar by the Academy, but still considered the “Best of the Oscar Shorts, 2022.” Click on the graphic above to read more …

Aging OUT OF AFRICA author Karen Blixen (pen name: Isak Dinesen) is a lonely literary sensation when she meets talented thirty year-old poet Thorkild Bjrnvig. She offers him a Faustian bargain and promises him stardom if he will obey her unconditionally. From Denmark, “The Pact” was Mountain Shadow’s film selection for March, 2022. Click the image above for a brief film review and commentary.

“Black Box” was Mountain Shadow’s film selection for February, 2022. It’s a mystery suspense thriller from France that Hollywood might only dream of making! To read a brief review and link to an extensive interview with the film director, click on the image above.

It’s billed as a drama / comedy. But remember, this is a French film. In an era of fake news that’s more interested in sensationalism and star ratings than informed reporting separating facts and truth from fakery and untruths, the personal toll taken is on full display in FRANCE. To read a Mountain Shadow film review of our January selection, as well as a link to an extensive Q&A interview with the film’s director, click on the picture above.

The re-telling of “A Christmas Carol” is probably as much a part of the tradition of the season as wassail, Christmas tree tinsel, Yuletide carolling and egg nog. But you’ve likely never seen Dicken’s holiday tale spun so beautifully and creatively; with narration you’ve never heard before, unless you read the book! This was Mountain Shadow’s selection for December, 2021. To read a brief commentary of the film, click on the image above.

With our October feature film, “HIVE,” the female protagonist is not only confronted with her own personal grief and loss; but must rise up against an arcane patriarchal system in order to liberate not only herself, but a whole collective of what one might regard metaphorically as her “sister worker bees.” Along with other recent Mountain Shadow selections, these films might readily be considered a post-modern genre unto themselves with a universal storyline. The central theme that they share in common is all the more impactful by the fact they occur in different times and places. To read a brief commentary of “HIVE,” click on the photo above.

On the weekend of September 27-18, 2021, Mountain Shadow Film Society held its 7th Annual Short Film Competition. Thirteen Finalists from all across the country -- selected by a 20-member Jury from a record 566 submissions this year — presented their animated, live-action and documentary films in a 2-hour virtual show. To watch a wrap-up of the show, click on the banner above.

In 2016, Mountain Shadow audiences enjoyed Grímur Hákonarson prior film, “Rams,” set in rural Iceland. While the filmmaker distinguishes the general theme of his latest film as more of a social versus relationship-based commentary, the evolutionary development of the lead character in “The County” remains central to the storyline. To read a brief review of Mountain Shadow’s selection for August, 2021, click on the image above.

Human history is replete with individuals who rise above the lowing herd to distinguish themselves in the public’s eye as extraordinary or exceptional in some special way. This could include a political orator with a gifted tongue, a charismatic preacher with a religious zeal, a scientific genius, or other-worldly mystic. Such is the case for Jan Mikolášek, and the historical drama that was Mountain Shadow’s film selection for July, 2021. Click the image above to read a review of the film.

SUN CHILDREN, short-listed for Best International Film at the 2021 Academy Awards, is the Iranian story of children who must work to support their families. To this date, there are 152 million children in this situation. International organizations are waging a desperate fight to support these young people who are subjected to abuse and deprived of their human right to education. The message of SUN CHILDREN is that we are all responsible to these children, many of whom are extremely talented and all of whom are precious. SUN CatHILDREN was Mountain Shaodow’s selection for June, and an extensive filmmaker statement can be found by clicking the image above.

“Here We Are” is a quiet, perfect, sweet little film. There is nothing grandiose or contrived about it. It takes a moment in time, with characters that give the viewer a glimpse of a kind of real life with which we might readily identify; taking us every bumpy step by step from conflict to resolution. To read the full review of Mountain Shadow’s selection for May, 2021, click on the image above.

Each year, Mountain Shadow typically brings to its audiences the “Best” of the Oscar-nominated Short Films. With the Academy Awards re-scheduled for April in the Era of Covid and screening films virtually online, our film society brought audiences all the nominated shorts. To review the list and see who won, click on the image above.

“Heist of the Century” is billed as a drama and a comedy. But like other so-called foreign comedies that are often dry, wry, subtle, or dark, such is the case with this purely entertaining 2020 film from Argentina. Beginning with its rather austentatious claim in its title, “Heist” is perhaps a cross between “Ocean’s Eleven,” and that classic Peter Seller’s farce, “The Pink Panther.” To read a brief review of Mountain Shadow’s selection for March, 2021, click on the image above.

For our February show, Mountain Shadow snagged the pre-theatrical release of Finland’s Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film for 2021. TOVE is the story of Tove Janssen, the unconventional Finnish novelist, painter and creator/illustrator of the Moomin cartoon characters. To read a short review and reflection of the film, click on the image above.

Mountain Shadow’s film selection for January was more than a fascinating look at the art world, its business and patronage. “My Rembrandt” is a real-life drama, a Shakespearean-like drama,; with the main character finding their own self in a personal quest to prove the authenticity of a master work. To read a brief comment, click on the image above.

“Master Cheng” was Mountain Shadow’s December selection to conclude the 2020 Season of exception films. It’s a film about food, friendship, and love. The plotline is familiar. A strange looking foreigner with a funny accent shows up in this Lapland town. The locals are suspicious, but separate necessities force everyone to set aside provincial prejudices and stereotypes and discover the world-wide human family all over again. To read the full Mountain Shadow review, click on the image above.

“VEINS OF THE WORLD” - Mountain Shadow’s selection for Novemeber, 2020. In a province in the middle of the Mongolian steppe, 11-year old Amra lives a traditional nomad life tending sheep with his family; until their peaceful routine is threatened by the encroachment of international mining companies, digging for gold and devastating the natural habitat. Amra is compelled to carry on a David vs. Goliath fight with his own cleverness and the tools of an 11-year-old boy. To read the full review, click on the image above.