#won foreign film

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980). This is a life story of three girlfriends from youth to autumn ages. Their dreams and wishes, love, disillusions. Different careers. And big late love.

There’s a lot to like in this melancholy movie about three women trying to get by in Moscow, especially in the first half where the film operates as a sort of slice of life character study. Unfortunately, it falls apart in the second half. It ditches two of the women’s narratives almost entirely and instead focuses on a ‘love’ story with a new, poorly drawn character that feels almost silly compared to the nuanced portrayals of other dynamics. It’s a real bummer, especially as the first half feels pretty special. 7/10.

The Tin Drum (1979). In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this movie, but it’s one that I’ve thought about a lot in the few days since I watched it, so that alone says a lot. It’s certainly interesting, and it really leans into its surrealism in a way that feels refreshingly bold. It’s wild to think it was nominated for an Oscar, because I can’t see the Academy responding to something like this today. 7/10.

Mephisto(1981). In early-1930s Germany, a passionate stage actor finds himself before a dilemma: renounce his apolitical stance and comply with the Reich’s doctrine, or face oblivion. But, Faustian bargains never end well. What is the price of success?

This one really didn’t quite work for me, in no small part because it felt like it applied retrospective opinions on a story that felt very much of its moment. It created this disconnect between what the character was doing as he submerged himself in his art and I don’t know - - it rang a little inauthentically to me. Great performances though, particularly from the lead. 6.5/10.