Go check out my work for www.1amsports.com
I write sometimes for this website, which specialises in coverage of US sports written by diehard fans in this country who stay up late and watch too much NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL.
I have written a piece about the retiring Pat Summitt, female head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers who retires with 1,098 wins more than any man or woman in NCAA Div1 College Basketball history.
http://1amsports.com/college-sports/college-basketball/pat-summitt-steps-down
Please read, leave comments and follow the website on twitter @1amsports where you can hear podcasts and leave your opinion.
Friday, 20 April 2012
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Chelsea v Barcelona review
Chelsea take the plaudits, they beat Barcelona at home to take a 1-0 lead to the Nou Camp next week for the vital second leg.
Barcelona could not beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in a rivalry that has been built up over the last six years as their paths have crossed in group stages and knockout matches. Barcelona have not yet won in West London. Lionel Messi has still not scored against an English side in an away match (the final at Wembley does not count as it was a neutral site).
Chelsea won in spite of giving up 79% of possession to the Catalan giants, they had three shots at goal and scored with the only shot on target - Didier Drogba's first half injury time winner as he swept in Ramires' square ball following Frank Lampard's counter-attacking thrust as he dispossessed Messi in midfield.
The reason the Champions League holders always struggle at Stamford Bridge is the small confines of the pitch measurements. Barcelona play an incisive, neat and patient passing game looking for openings in a defence which may crack under the constant pressure. Yet in contrast to the vast size of the Nou Camp dimensions, the Chelsea home is tight and so the tactic of Chelsea employing two banks of four as walls in which Barcelona had to get past was impressive.
There were fears of Gary Cahill being overawed by the occasion, yet the ex-Bolton defender had his most impressive outing yet in a blue shirt. He dived at every ball, was strong and indicative of the resilience of his teammates - John Terry, the recalled Ivanovic and solid Ashley Cole.
They were matched by the solidity in midfield by Frank Lampard, Jon Obi Mikel and Raul Meireles - a trifecta who knew they had to bide their time to make an impact. Miereles fouled a few times in the first 10 minutes as he was outwitted by the tricky of the Barca midfield. Yet when they did, Lampard made it count. A glorious ball released Ramires who laid it on a plate for Drogba, who stayed on his feet for possibly the longest all night to convert the match winning chance.
The second half was a vertiable bombardment from Barca - they hit the woodwork twice in the match, and was thwarted by Petr Cech and the do or die blocking of the Chelsea defence. The last chance in injury time summed up Chelsea's achievement - a Messi shot blocked by Cahill, it falls into the path of Pedro who strokes it to the far post, a slight deflection from Cahill makes it hit the post as Ashley Cole again goes back to the line to cover, the richochet back to Busquets is blasted over as bodies go flying. The chance of an away goal has gone, and the opportunity for parity is squandered.
This was a game of respect, usually past encounters have turned into a shouting match overshadowed by refereeing inconsistencies and controversy yet this was a game when the magic of Barcelona went missing. Their body language was lazy, not arrogant just a general ennui with the surroundings and meeting head on the defiant rearguard.
Some players were absent without leave, Cesc Fabregas' return to London was a poor one. He had a great chance yet his soft lift over Cech allowed the tracking back of Cole to easily clear away the danger, he wafted an air shot at a chance that went begging. There was always the lovely caressing of the ball, yet the gaps to slide the ball into the net were few and far between. Messi's best chance was a header from 18 yards out that failed to trouble Cech.
Oddly, it went exactly as Fabregas recalled past Arsenal v Chelsea ties, 'We would dominate the ball, keep possession, create chances and then....a counter-attack, Drogba, goal! They have a super fast counter attack', how odd that it should happen again.
You can expect more of the same next Tuesday night at the Nou Camp. It promises to be intense, intriguing and immense.
Pep Guardiola says Chelsea are favourites, this may be an attempt at psychology, nonetheless the chance for Chelsea is there to reach Munich.
Barcelona could not beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in a rivalry that has been built up over the last six years as their paths have crossed in group stages and knockout matches. Barcelona have not yet won in West London. Lionel Messi has still not scored against an English side in an away match (the final at Wembley does not count as it was a neutral site).
Chelsea won in spite of giving up 79% of possession to the Catalan giants, they had three shots at goal and scored with the only shot on target - Didier Drogba's first half injury time winner as he swept in Ramires' square ball following Frank Lampard's counter-attacking thrust as he dispossessed Messi in midfield.
The reason the Champions League holders always struggle at Stamford Bridge is the small confines of the pitch measurements. Barcelona play an incisive, neat and patient passing game looking for openings in a defence which may crack under the constant pressure. Yet in contrast to the vast size of the Nou Camp dimensions, the Chelsea home is tight and so the tactic of Chelsea employing two banks of four as walls in which Barcelona had to get past was impressive.
There were fears of Gary Cahill being overawed by the occasion, yet the ex-Bolton defender had his most impressive outing yet in a blue shirt. He dived at every ball, was strong and indicative of the resilience of his teammates - John Terry, the recalled Ivanovic and solid Ashley Cole.
They were matched by the solidity in midfield by Frank Lampard, Jon Obi Mikel and Raul Meireles - a trifecta who knew they had to bide their time to make an impact. Miereles fouled a few times in the first 10 minutes as he was outwitted by the tricky of the Barca midfield. Yet when they did, Lampard made it count. A glorious ball released Ramires who laid it on a plate for Drogba, who stayed on his feet for possibly the longest all night to convert the match winning chance.
The second half was a vertiable bombardment from Barca - they hit the woodwork twice in the match, and was thwarted by Petr Cech and the do or die blocking of the Chelsea defence. The last chance in injury time summed up Chelsea's achievement - a Messi shot blocked by Cahill, it falls into the path of Pedro who strokes it to the far post, a slight deflection from Cahill makes it hit the post as Ashley Cole again goes back to the line to cover, the richochet back to Busquets is blasted over as bodies go flying. The chance of an away goal has gone, and the opportunity for parity is squandered.
This was a game of respect, usually past encounters have turned into a shouting match overshadowed by refereeing inconsistencies and controversy yet this was a game when the magic of Barcelona went missing. Their body language was lazy, not arrogant just a general ennui with the surroundings and meeting head on the defiant rearguard.
Some players were absent without leave, Cesc Fabregas' return to London was a poor one. He had a great chance yet his soft lift over Cech allowed the tracking back of Cole to easily clear away the danger, he wafted an air shot at a chance that went begging. There was always the lovely caressing of the ball, yet the gaps to slide the ball into the net were few and far between. Messi's best chance was a header from 18 yards out that failed to trouble Cech.
Oddly, it went exactly as Fabregas recalled past Arsenal v Chelsea ties, 'We would dominate the ball, keep possession, create chances and then....a counter-attack, Drogba, goal! They have a super fast counter attack', how odd that it should happen again.
You can expect more of the same next Tuesday night at the Nou Camp. It promises to be intense, intriguing and immense.
Pep Guardiola says Chelsea are favourites, this may be an attempt at psychology, nonetheless the chance for Chelsea is there to reach Munich.
The Story of Film
When I first began to really take notice of film as a cultural phenomenon and an artform, there were few good cinema shows on television. This in a time when there were still just four terrestrial channels and little form on the satellite channels, beyond the cringing red carpet interviews and fawning behind-the-scenes footage.
There was however two esteemable men; the quintessential Barry Norman on BBC One's Film whatever the year was and the other was much younger, but just as knowledgable, Mark Cousins. Cousins, a young man with a hypnotic Scottish voice, presented BBC Two's Moviedrome - a late night showing of a rarely screened film either Robert Siodmak's The Killers or something from Japan or Iran. It opened my eyes to the work of Akira Kurosawa and Abbas Kiarostomi. I also remember his ability to interview legends and get some great material, the best being his going to Paris to inteview Roman Polanski which touched upon his career and personal background.
Cousins has continued to be a writer, essayist and curator of many film programmes and festivals. Now he has embarked upon his largest work to date and his own personal love letter to the art of cinema. The Story of Film is Cousins' epic journey around the world encompassing the art form from all cultures, the evolution from silent cinema to sound to the most popular of cultural formats today. Filled with passion and researched to the hilt, the documentary is produced by Hopscotch Films.
Originally screened on More4 last year, it is garnering a huge DVD release on 23rd April in a five disc, steel case limited edition for £49.99.
Whereas other critics who are more egotistical and arrogant (Kermode maybe) would be front and centre to any documentary, cutting back to him in front of a global landmark talking about that countries milestone moment. Cousins takes the approach as an omnipresent narrator guiding us with little nuggets of information and research to back up the classic footage, as if it is the ultimate directors commentary on the history of film.
The roll call of people interviewed is a who's who of cinema - Robert Towne, Jane Campion, Stanley Donen, Lars Von Trier, Claire Denis, Buck Henry, Kiarostami, Paul Schneider - again there is no sight of Cousins but like any auteur his voice is all over the work.
The best insight is reserved for the moment when Cousins reflects on the two paths taken by Hollywood cinema in 1939 from John Ford's Stagecoach to Orson Welles' Citizen Kane how these two filmed are unified by the deep focus cinematography of Gregg Toland; and the new film language of Italian neorealism and the work of Rosselini, De Sica et al.
That is but my favourite piece, yet Cousins has so much to talk about thanks to the richness and uniqueness in the 100 plus years of film history.
The old adage of there is something for everyone has never been truer said than in this. Whilst bound to be consumed en masse by film students and scholars up and down the country, it can also be treated as a cheats guide to all those films you haven't got to see yet.
THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY is released from Network Releasing on 23rd April 2012 in a five disc format, 15 hours running time with a £49.99 RRP
www.networkreleasing.com
www.hopscotchfilms.co.uk/story-of-film
There was however two esteemable men; the quintessential Barry Norman on BBC One's Film whatever the year was and the other was much younger, but just as knowledgable, Mark Cousins. Cousins, a young man with a hypnotic Scottish voice, presented BBC Two's Moviedrome - a late night showing of a rarely screened film either Robert Siodmak's The Killers or something from Japan or Iran. It opened my eyes to the work of Akira Kurosawa and Abbas Kiarostomi. I also remember his ability to interview legends and get some great material, the best being his going to Paris to inteview Roman Polanski which touched upon his career and personal background.
Cousins has continued to be a writer, essayist and curator of many film programmes and festivals. Now he has embarked upon his largest work to date and his own personal love letter to the art of cinema. The Story of Film is Cousins' epic journey around the world encompassing the art form from all cultures, the evolution from silent cinema to sound to the most popular of cultural formats today. Filled with passion and researched to the hilt, the documentary is produced by Hopscotch Films.
Originally screened on More4 last year, it is garnering a huge DVD release on 23rd April in a five disc, steel case limited edition for £49.99.
Whereas other critics who are more egotistical and arrogant (Kermode maybe) would be front and centre to any documentary, cutting back to him in front of a global landmark talking about that countries milestone moment. Cousins takes the approach as an omnipresent narrator guiding us with little nuggets of information and research to back up the classic footage, as if it is the ultimate directors commentary on the history of film.
The roll call of people interviewed is a who's who of cinema - Robert Towne, Jane Campion, Stanley Donen, Lars Von Trier, Claire Denis, Buck Henry, Kiarostami, Paul Schneider - again there is no sight of Cousins but like any auteur his voice is all over the work.
The best insight is reserved for the moment when Cousins reflects on the two paths taken by Hollywood cinema in 1939 from John Ford's Stagecoach to Orson Welles' Citizen Kane how these two filmed are unified by the deep focus cinematography of Gregg Toland; and the new film language of Italian neorealism and the work of Rosselini, De Sica et al.
That is but my favourite piece, yet Cousins has so much to talk about thanks to the richness and uniqueness in the 100 plus years of film history.
The old adage of there is something for everyone has never been truer said than in this. Whilst bound to be consumed en masse by film students and scholars up and down the country, it can also be treated as a cheats guide to all those films you haven't got to see yet.
THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY is released from Network Releasing on 23rd April 2012 in a five disc format, 15 hours running time with a £49.99 RRP
www.networkreleasing.com
www.hopscotchfilms.co.uk/story-of-film
Monday, 16 April 2012
Spurs v Chelsea Semi-Final review
And so it seems that the season is over...for Tottenham at least. Chelsea progress to their 4th FA Cup final in six years, and more short-term they enter the 1st leg of their daunting semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday evening full of confidence.
Chelsea did beat Tottenham 5-1. An embarrassing scoreline for all concerned at White Hart Lane, yes the analysis will point to Chelsea's second goal on 49 minutes where the referee Martin Atkinson and assistant referee, Michael McDonough agreed that a shot crossed the line when four players appeared to block the shot including the Chelsea captain, John Terry.
In terms of momentum, that changed the game. At half-time with the score 1-0 to Chelsea following an unbelievable strike from Didier Drogba - who played like his unstoppable, unbeatable past self - which came against the run of play as Spurs had a header cleared off the line and hit the post. With the game separated by one goal, the next goal was crucial to the ultimate outcome.
Even though, the referees conspired to gift Chelsea a goal. Tottenham did respond and make the scoreline 2-1 when Gareth Bale tapped in after Petr Cech upended Emmanuel Adebayor. Again controversy, should Atkinson have sent off Cech and given a penalty. Giving Spurs a chance to make it 2-1 whilst Chelsea see out the remaining half hour with 10 men.
Any referee will tell you, the game is about goals. If a goal can save you from sending off a player, then give the goal and save the integrity of the game. In this instance, Atkinson got it right. Yet momentum was lost for Spurs, as a two minute hold up in play as David Luiz was treated for an injury that saw him leave the game allowed Chelsea and interim manager, Roberto Di Matteo to regroup. The shift and balance of play ultimately left Spurs as Chelsea got the third goal.
And then the fourth and fifth to rub salt into Tottenham's open wounds - Mata releasing Malouda on 77, Lampard striking from distance with a free kick on 81 and then Ramires rounding it off on the stroke of full time.
Credit to Tottenham who saved their arguments and gesticulations for the officials until after the final whistle, whilst Scott Parker did lose his head at being kicked by Mikel in an incident similar to David Beckham's infamous red card against Diego Simeone and Argentina in 1998.
As for seasons end, for many it may feel like it has already finished for Tottenham. They have five games remaining, all winnable games and they have form in returning from a low ebb. Two years ago they lost a semi-final to Portsmouth then beat Chelsea and Arsenal consecutively to help secure fourth place, so it can happen and most of these players still exist. The games are QPR (a), Blackburn (h), Bolton (a), Aston Villa (a) and then Fulham at home on the final day of the season, May 13th.
As for Chelsea, the only chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season is to win the tournament, a daunting prospect as they face the formidable Barcelona - then either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final.
Intriguingly, if Chelsea do win the Champions League, they will become England's fourth representative in next year's competition usurping the team that finishes in fourth place. A place that could fall to Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea did beat Tottenham 5-1. An embarrassing scoreline for all concerned at White Hart Lane, yes the analysis will point to Chelsea's second goal on 49 minutes where the referee Martin Atkinson and assistant referee, Michael McDonough agreed that a shot crossed the line when four players appeared to block the shot including the Chelsea captain, John Terry.
In terms of momentum, that changed the game. At half-time with the score 1-0 to Chelsea following an unbelievable strike from Didier Drogba - who played like his unstoppable, unbeatable past self - which came against the run of play as Spurs had a header cleared off the line and hit the post. With the game separated by one goal, the next goal was crucial to the ultimate outcome.
Even though, the referees conspired to gift Chelsea a goal. Tottenham did respond and make the scoreline 2-1 when Gareth Bale tapped in after Petr Cech upended Emmanuel Adebayor. Again controversy, should Atkinson have sent off Cech and given a penalty. Giving Spurs a chance to make it 2-1 whilst Chelsea see out the remaining half hour with 10 men.
Any referee will tell you, the game is about goals. If a goal can save you from sending off a player, then give the goal and save the integrity of the game. In this instance, Atkinson got it right. Yet momentum was lost for Spurs, as a two minute hold up in play as David Luiz was treated for an injury that saw him leave the game allowed Chelsea and interim manager, Roberto Di Matteo to regroup. The shift and balance of play ultimately left Spurs as Chelsea got the third goal.
And then the fourth and fifth to rub salt into Tottenham's open wounds - Mata releasing Malouda on 77, Lampard striking from distance with a free kick on 81 and then Ramires rounding it off on the stroke of full time.
Credit to Tottenham who saved their arguments and gesticulations for the officials until after the final whistle, whilst Scott Parker did lose his head at being kicked by Mikel in an incident similar to David Beckham's infamous red card against Diego Simeone and Argentina in 1998.
As for seasons end, for many it may feel like it has already finished for Tottenham. They have five games remaining, all winnable games and they have form in returning from a low ebb. Two years ago they lost a semi-final to Portsmouth then beat Chelsea and Arsenal consecutively to help secure fourth place, so it can happen and most of these players still exist. The games are QPR (a), Blackburn (h), Bolton (a), Aston Villa (a) and then Fulham at home on the final day of the season, May 13th.
As for Chelsea, the only chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season is to win the tournament, a daunting prospect as they face the formidable Barcelona - then either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final.
Intriguingly, if Chelsea do win the Champions League, they will become England's fourth representative in next year's competition usurping the team that finishes in fourth place. A place that could fall to Tottenham Hotspur.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
The Angel's Share - Preview
Ken Loach, the award winning and critically acclaimed director, has long been admired but following on from his Palme D'or win at Cannes in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley, he is currently enjoying his most consistent and sustainable piece of bankable films.
After the Cannes victory he followed up with Its A Free World..(2007), Looking for Eric (2009) and Route Irish (2010).
Now Loach returns to Scotland, a place where he has shot films before - My Name is Joe (1998), Sweet Sixteen (2002) and Ae Fond Kiss (2004) - and continues his creative partnership with Paul Laverty, his esteemed screenwriter for The Angel's Share.
The story centres around Robbie, a young father who after narrowly avoiding a prison sentence meets three lost souls (Rhino, Albert, Mo) during community service who like him want a better life for some reason. Robbie wants to avoid his newborn child having the same trouble as him, yet like the others he cannot get work because of his criminal record.
Yet on a visit to a whiskey distillery, Robbie finds the answer may lie in drink where the most obscure and reserved whiskies are sold for huge profits at auction. Robbie and his friends have the nose.
Following in the tradition of The Full Monty or Waking Ned, the trailer promises a laugh a minute, with some insightful character observation from aspirational figures, some great cameo roles by policeman and nuns. Yet this is also a calling card for Scottish tourism also, set in and around Edinburgh the distilleries and grandeur of Edinburgh castle get a good location shots.
Yet for Loach, this may well be the most laissez-faire film of his storied career. Whilst, he has always been wise to having an underbelly of humour in his more serious films, and vice versa; he has never done an out and out comedy in this vein before.
Also helping is Loach's touch of finding young, unknown talent like he did with Martin Compston in Sweet Sixteen and years ago, Brian Glover in Kes (1969); on this occasion he has found Paul Brannigan as Robbie, a young man who has a notable scar on his face which adds authenticity to his past plight. Brannigan is shepherded by some stellar veteran actors Roger Allam and John Henshaw.
The title from the film refers to the 2% of whiskey lost to the air whenever a barrel is opened - The Angel's Share - as the tagline says, Enjoy Responsibly from June 1st.
Watch the trailer here
After the Cannes victory he followed up with Its A Free World..(2007), Looking for Eric (2009) and Route Irish (2010).
Now Loach returns to Scotland, a place where he has shot films before - My Name is Joe (1998), Sweet Sixteen (2002) and Ae Fond Kiss (2004) - and continues his creative partnership with Paul Laverty, his esteemed screenwriter for The Angel's Share.
The story centres around Robbie, a young father who after narrowly avoiding a prison sentence meets three lost souls (Rhino, Albert, Mo) during community service who like him want a better life for some reason. Robbie wants to avoid his newborn child having the same trouble as him, yet like the others he cannot get work because of his criminal record.
Yet on a visit to a whiskey distillery, Robbie finds the answer may lie in drink where the most obscure and reserved whiskies are sold for huge profits at auction. Robbie and his friends have the nose.
Following in the tradition of The Full Monty or Waking Ned, the trailer promises a laugh a minute, with some insightful character observation from aspirational figures, some great cameo roles by policeman and nuns. Yet this is also a calling card for Scottish tourism also, set in and around Edinburgh the distilleries and grandeur of Edinburgh castle get a good location shots.
Yet for Loach, this may well be the most laissez-faire film of his storied career. Whilst, he has always been wise to having an underbelly of humour in his more serious films, and vice versa; he has never done an out and out comedy in this vein before.
Also helping is Loach's touch of finding young, unknown talent like he did with Martin Compston in Sweet Sixteen and years ago, Brian Glover in Kes (1969); on this occasion he has found Paul Brannigan as Robbie, a young man who has a notable scar on his face which adds authenticity to his past plight. Brannigan is shepherded by some stellar veteran actors Roger Allam and John Henshaw.
The title from the film refers to the 2% of whiskey lost to the air whenever a barrel is opened - The Angel's Share - as the tagline says, Enjoy Responsibly from June 1st.
Watch the trailer here
Absent
Marco Berger is one of those rare beings, a voice in queer cinema, who wants to be heard upon the conscientious and stereotypical musings of homosexual cinema.
His latest work, Absent, inverts the teacher and pupil dynamic of seduction. In this case it is the pupil, Martin (Javier de Pietro) acts upon or teases the reactions of his swimming teacher, Sebastian (Carlos Echevarria).
Martin is much like a femme fatale, a person who will not stop at anything until he has crossed the unholy line - and once that line is crossed there is not turning back. As the twists and turns occur, so the expectation of desire and lust is lost, as regret and loneliness takes hold. Martin can still grow into a man, whilst for Sebastian a career and reputation can lay in tatters.
The real-time first half of the film is shot quite brilliantly, using the naturalism and testosterone filled air of a male changing room to good effect; however, the effect is somewhat lost once the changing room is left for the outside world, so to speak.
Whilst the professional Echevarria delivers a soulful performance as the emotionally fraught teacher, the newcomer de Pietro, shows himself to be a novice and does not quite convince on the basis of this performance.
However, there is a smoothness about Tomas Perez Silva's cinematography - yet for me the film was not as definely told as a German counterpart, Sasha another piece of queer cinema which dealt with the proceedings with a bit more tongue in cheek and had an all around better resolution.
Yet, Berger (who also edited and wrote the screenplay) remains a distinct Argentinian auteur to watch out for in the coming years and works.
Absent is released by Network Releasing on DVD and is out now.
His latest work, Absent, inverts the teacher and pupil dynamic of seduction. In this case it is the pupil, Martin (Javier de Pietro) acts upon or teases the reactions of his swimming teacher, Sebastian (Carlos Echevarria).
Martin is much like a femme fatale, a person who will not stop at anything until he has crossed the unholy line - and once that line is crossed there is not turning back. As the twists and turns occur, so the expectation of desire and lust is lost, as regret and loneliness takes hold. Martin can still grow into a man, whilst for Sebastian a career and reputation can lay in tatters.
The real-time first half of the film is shot quite brilliantly, using the naturalism and testosterone filled air of a male changing room to good effect; however, the effect is somewhat lost once the changing room is left for the outside world, so to speak.
Whilst the professional Echevarria delivers a soulful performance as the emotionally fraught teacher, the newcomer de Pietro, shows himself to be a novice and does not quite convince on the basis of this performance.
However, there is a smoothness about Tomas Perez Silva's cinematography - yet for me the film was not as definely told as a German counterpart, Sasha another piece of queer cinema which dealt with the proceedings with a bit more tongue in cheek and had an all around better resolution.
Yet, Berger (who also edited and wrote the screenplay) remains a distinct Argentinian auteur to watch out for in the coming years and works.
Absent is released by Network Releasing on DVD and is out now.
Monday, 9 April 2012
Las acacias
Following in the footsteps of fellow Argentinian directors - Lisandro Alonso, Pablo Trapero - to garner critical acclaim with a debut feature (Las acacias won the Sutherland Award for Best First Film at the London Film Festival in 2011), Pablo Giorgelli's debut receives a home entertainment release today on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Giorgelli co-wrote the script with Salvador Roselli (who also authored Bombon el perro (2004)), tells the slight story of truck driver Ruben (German de Silva) who delivers lumber from Paraguay to Buenos Aires. He is informed by his boss he must transport a young mother Jacinta (Hebe Duarte) and her five month old son also.
Little is informed or given to us of the two actors pasts, so we are told details about them as they learn about each other. The film refuses to leave the confines of the truck cab, not allowing location photography to overshadow the human story being told here.
Giorgelli was given the gift of De Silva, a professional actor, who uses his presence and nobility (not to dissimilar to the same acacias' he transports), to tell you more when very little is said. Duarte is an untrained actor but her striking, alluring face makes you want to know more about her.
In the same vein as his contemporaries, in terms of physical restraint and keeping narrative clues close to his chest Giorgelli portrays the blossoming of a beautiful friendship taking place between two strangers; Ruben never got to know his son that was taken away from him, so the connection between the five month old child, allows us and him to see how good of a father he could become or could have been.
Neither flashy, nor boring the film is another creative exponent of the cinematic explosion occuring right now in Argentina and surrounding South American countries with so much good viable work being released and viewed - a willingness to put individuals first with universal storylines about loneliness, isolation, love and companionship.
Las Acacias is released on DVD by Verve Pictures on Monday 9th April
My thanks to Rabbit Publicity for the disc
Giorgelli co-wrote the script with Salvador Roselli (who also authored Bombon el perro (2004)), tells the slight story of truck driver Ruben (German de Silva) who delivers lumber from Paraguay to Buenos Aires. He is informed by his boss he must transport a young mother Jacinta (Hebe Duarte) and her five month old son also.
Little is informed or given to us of the two actors pasts, so we are told details about them as they learn about each other. The film refuses to leave the confines of the truck cab, not allowing location photography to overshadow the human story being told here.
Giorgelli was given the gift of De Silva, a professional actor, who uses his presence and nobility (not to dissimilar to the same acacias' he transports), to tell you more when very little is said. Duarte is an untrained actor but her striking, alluring face makes you want to know more about her.
In the same vein as his contemporaries, in terms of physical restraint and keeping narrative clues close to his chest Giorgelli portrays the blossoming of a beautiful friendship taking place between two strangers; Ruben never got to know his son that was taken away from him, so the connection between the five month old child, allows us and him to see how good of a father he could become or could have been.
Neither flashy, nor boring the film is another creative exponent of the cinematic explosion occuring right now in Argentina and surrounding South American countries with so much good viable work being released and viewed - a willingness to put individuals first with universal storylines about loneliness, isolation, love and companionship.
Las Acacias is released on DVD by Verve Pictures on Monday 9th April
My thanks to Rabbit Publicity for the disc
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