Tania Maria
It’s an odd film, but one that is literally bursting with the mise en sense of Latin America at its most threatening , where life is cheap and where the city feels one step away from being Sodom and Gomorrah.
A simple pit stop at a country petrol station is laced with tension as the police stop our hero fully aware that a thief has lain dead in the forecourt for almost a week, a shark is killed with the remains of a police killing in its stomach and where a Jewish holocaust refugee is pointless mocked by a police officer.
Moura is impressive in the lead role, always sad, but wise, but I was tired after three hours of complicated political shenanigans.
After the movie we treated ourselves to mac and cheese( bloody lovely)
And I came home and watched the final episode of Call The Midwife ( spoiler alert). Now I have to be honest here I have never watched one episode before ( it’s gone on for 15 seasons) but this one featured the death of an elderly nun Sister Monica Joan ( Judy Parfit) whose death scene had me blubbering all evening ….when she asks the ghost of Sister Evangelina who has thoughtfully come to collect her“ What’s it like where I will go?” I was in buckets…….
John I’m getting a vibe from your last several posts that all is not well with you health wise.
ReplyDeleteI very very much hope I’m wrong.
Much love to you.
I’m not unwell anon and I’m not waiting for a wisecracking nun to collect me just yet
DeleteI do apologise John, and am glad the nuns have been stood down.
DeleteNo apology needed, I know I’ve been more reflective and the last two winter months have been a struggle against what I believe is a post viral lethargy x
DeleteI've not seen every episode but Call the Midwife has been a terrific tv show, as it as transitions through years and religion became less relevant. Thanks for the spoiler. The final episode has not been shown here yet.
ReplyDeleteApologies
DeleteI’ve put in a spoiler alert x
Deletemac and cheese looks very mouth wateringly good
ReplyDeleteIt was bloody BLOODY lovely
DeleteOh gosh it seems you went from one extreme to the other with your weekend viewing. I have watched every episode of Call the Midwife, the early ones were fantastic. It bowed out well for it's long pause, as they all seem to be calling it. Later this year there is to be a prequel in the form of a three part war years special, which should be really good.
ReplyDeleteI loved the all women bbc drama TENKO when I was a. Young gay …so you would think I’d like this but it never appealed….i think it’s the births…I could not stomach childbirth when I was a student nurse ( I witnessed 5
DeleteI loved Tenko, I have the boxset somewhere, I bet it will look very dated now.
DeleteThe movie sounds complicated maybe exhausting. I have seen probably 10 seasons of Call the Midwife. For the most part it is brilliantly written and produced. There is an underlying moral to almost every episode. When you have time, it is worth the binge.
ReplyDeleteThe film was complicated, because the director took his time to set the “ feel” of the time as well as on the plot
DeleteKrayolakris
ReplyDeleteI meant to write, that everything in your post was so very appealing - especially the mac n cheese!
DeleteMy Springfield friend xx
DeleteThat movie sounds way to complicated for me and am glad you recovered from it!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I never could get interested in Call The Midwife. Go figure.
Happy Tuesday, John!
Hugs!
I did nod off for two minutes and totally lost the plot
Deleteplease make that 'way too complicated'. Ta. No coffee yet is my excuse.
ReplyDeleteI needed two coffees this morning
DeleteNot my type of film, too complicated for me. I'd struggle to follow the plot! I've never watched Call the Midwife, either. I can see, though, how, if you're feeling a little emotional anyway, it could tip you over the edge. That's one good reason why I don't think I could watch it. I don't have enough tissues! xx
ReplyDeletePolitical thrillers in countries you know little of means that you are totally always on catch up
DeleteYou had me at 1970's South American shenanigans (which are still going on, look at Milei). A tad long, but intriguing....
ReplyDeleteXOXO
I’ll be interested to read your review
DeleteI've always enjoyed Call the Midwife. I figured Sister Monica Joan would be going one of these days. I'll have to watch for these episodes...
ReplyDeleteThe actress is 91 , hardly a shock
DeleteI'm almost afraid to finish watching all of the episodes of Call the Midwife because just knowing that there are even entire seasons I have not watched yet is comforting to me. My son and his wife did the same thing with a series called Reservation Dogs. They have not yet watched the last episode because they do not want it to be over. I understand. I loved that series too.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been going for 15 series ( seasons in the USA ..:) I’ve never understood the difference
DeleteAI says
Delete“ UK TV "series" typically consist of short, 6–8 episode runs produced as complete, creator-driven packages, whereas USA "seasons" are usually 20–26 episodes designed for long, year-round broadcast schedules. While US shows often require multi-year contracts, UK shows may have irregular gaps between series or end after only one or two, placing more focus on tight, high-quality production over syndication volume.”
Judy Parfitt who plays Sister Monica Joan is a great actress. She had, without doubt, the most complicated lines in the show. At 90 years old she is due her retirement.
ReplyDeleteI loved her in jewel in the crown
DeleteShe's also from Sheffield, a lovely woman - Bel Ami
DeleteI have watched every one and loved it. It was an emotional ending and it portrayed birth, wedding and death. I have loved sister Monica Joan and shed a tear at her ending.
ReplyDelete❤️😢😢😢😢
DeleteI cringe and cry through every labour and birth scene in Call the Midwife, remembering the hell that birth-giving was even when pronounced "normal," but otherwise it's a lovely show and thanks for the heads-up about Sister Monica Joan. I'll be prepared. -Kate
ReplyDeleteApologies for the spoiler
DeleteYes, I also got tearful when Sister Evangelina turned up to collect Sister Monica Joan. Having witnessed my mum on her deathbed sit bolt upright, looking at something I couldn't see and reaching out to it, I hope a similar scene was played out to her.
ReplyDeleteI hate complicated plots. I never know what is going on. I follow along on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI watched a bit of the programme but not to the end. Now I wish I had stuck with it. Very moving!
ReplyDeleteI love Call the Midwife and particularly love Sister Monica Joan played so brilliantly by Judy Parfitt. However, the fanciful ending was a bit much,in my opinion, the Sisters coming for her. It was quite sad to know that the character has gone from the show. I also find the narration by Vanessa Redgrave sad, she sounds so very elderly now. We are all getting in now.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong fan of Vanessa Redgrave - I first saw her work when I was just seven years old and I have been a massive fan ever since - I do find it difficult to accept that she now seems so very frail. It's a bit like watching the glorious Bette Davis in her final days, still a remarkable person but somehow just a shadow of what she had been - Bel Ami
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