The Peasants (Poland)

 Cine Europa 2025

Cinema 3, the Red Carpet Cinemas

Shangri-la Mall

Today was the launch of the 28th Cine Europa film festival for this year. The opening film is an artistic showcase from Poland, the country where Blessed Pope John Paul II was born. This is the first time I witnessed an film styled like a mural/painting or is it the other way around? A painting that was converted into a film? Suffice to say, it was very realistically made and quite an interesting concept. 

It is the film adaptation of a 1924 Nobel prize winning novel by Wladyslaw Reymont. It is a huge feat for the filmmakers to condense into roughly two hours all the four volume novels about life in a small Polish agricultural town. A society/community where intrigues, gossip mongering, deceit, prevail in a patriarchal society with a strong feminine presence, on a daily basis. I also read that it took over 100 painters to recreate each of the live action frames for the scenes. It was so realistic that after a while, you don't notice it is a painted animation film.

The film focuses on Jagna, a beautiful free spirited 19 year old lass who tends to be both naive as well as, for lack of a better word, a sly character. The kind of person who knows she is pretty but at the same time exudes a certain innocence that men tend to fall for. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing but neither is it a good trait for a young lady.  And in the lush country side of the small Polish town, she is the center of attraction. She is of marrying age, so men of all shapes and sizes are all falling over themselves to win her. Of course in a town steeped in traditions, the one with the most wealth would be the appropriate choice as her husband.

The vivid tapestry of the changing seasons from the hot summer days, the changing color of the leaves during autumn to the freezing snowy winter nights provide a very rich background to the story of Jagna. Mostly the scenes unfold with frantic and intense tones, interspersed with laid back dragging sequences where nothing happens. Peaking towards a very fervent conclusion with "the Scarlet Letter" connotation. Suffice to say if you haven't read or heard of "the Scarlet Letter" novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you would certainly not get my drift nor understand what I am alluding to, at all.

Don't be fooled with the stunning visuals, the animated painting frames because The Peasants to all intents and purposes is quite a heavy laden motion picture. It deals with social ills, community based envy, small town intrigues and deceit, all unfolding in a period fraught with traditional behaviors, spiritual customs, and even certain controversial aspects of religiosity.  It is quite interesting but it might not appeal to the sensitivities of everybody.

Dumbo (2019)

Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton,

Danny deVito, Eva Green,
Nico Parker,  Finley Hobbins

"A Beloved Tale will Take you To new Heights"

Judging from the various reviews, most critics gave this film, a negative rating. They had numerous reasons - it was not true to the original Dumbo story line, it had weak characters, too many side plots etc etc etc. 

Me? I usually don't agree with critics. For many a films, I always found myself on the opposite side of the critics when it comes to liking or disliking a movie. Strange yet, it has happened more than once, in fact, too many times to mention.

First of all, the original and classic Dumbo was released in 1941 in an animation form or as it was known during that era, as a cartoon. It lasted merely an hour and Dumbo only flew in the ending of the cartoon. On these premises alone, naturally this 2019 offering will be entirely different but it still retained some semblance to its original plot.

Set in 1919, war veteran Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) returns to the Medici Brothers' Circus where he used to be an equestrian. But the Circus is having financial problems so Max Medici (Danny DeVito) had to sell the horses to stay afloat. 

Mrs Jumbo, a giant elephant gives birth to a calf with big ears. Holt's kids, Joe and Milly discover the baby elephant can fly by flapping its ears. Soon after, Mrs Jumbo is sold after it went on a rampage due to the bullying of its offspring. 

The baby elephant becomes part of the Circus show. During a mishap in one performance, it accidentally flies in front of the entire audience. Thus it was named Dumbo, when it was jeered and pelleted with peanuts. News of a flying elephant soon reaches V.A Vandevere (Michael Keaton), the owner of Dreamland. 

He offers a collaboration with Max Medici, they would be partners and the Circus troupe can perform at Dreamland. Vandevere insists that Dumbo should perform with trapeze artist, Colette (Eva Green), his main attraction at the amusement park. In short, many things occur at Dreamland - Dumbo flying with Colette, a damaging fire and the bittersweet reunion of Dumbo with his mother.

The costume design is colorful and vibrant. Director Tim Burton, whom I know as a director of quirky movies, did a good job in making us fall in love with Dumbo. For the most part, being a Tim Burton movie it wasn't eccentric enough, if you know what I mean. Yet again, I guess a flying baby elephant is indeed unconventional. Dumbo is so cute, adorable and has mad flying skills!

Yes, there were one too many side plots to distract you from the essence of the film. The cast composed of credible actors did well given they had to act with a computer generated flying baby elephant. I like to say, the last few minutes of the conclusion was a clever twist. One would not expect such a premise from a movie about a circus, whose main draw are the animals. I'd say, it was politically correct and so appropriate for 2019!