Theme of the week was adult movies about kids or from kids’ points of view, and skipping a bunch I’ve already seen (like Never Let Me Go, Pan’s Labyrinth, Empire of the Sun, and so on).
Super 8 (2011): kids try to make a movie while adults deal with other issues. J.J. Abrams directed. Skippable.
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965): Mom runs off with her lover, and the kids object. Unexpectedly lighter than the setup implies. I won’t say this is great, but I appreciated it for what it is. If you like older movies (pre-1970s), it is worth a view, but skip it if you prefer post-1980s movies.
Drowning by Numbers (1988): Kids count and adults get murdered. I love Greenaway. Arty. Nudity. Self Mutilation. You can skip for those reasons or because it (like all Greenaway) drags on and on so he can use the camera like a paintbrush.
The New Boy (2023): Australian kid gets sent to Catholic boys school while nuns struggle. There’s a thing about native/catholic miracles and Nick Cave contributions to the score.
The Assessment (2025): This is a stretch because it doesn’t match the theme, but I didn’t realize that going in. If you don’t mind another dystopian world, I might recommend this film.
Central Station (1998): Unlikable duo (kid and retired teacher) distrust one another but get stuck having to deal with their circumstances. Recommend because there aren’t enough stories where the leads are meant to be unlikable.
The Young and the Damned (1950) (Los olvidados): Luis Buñuel groundbreaking work, so required viewing, but a modern audience will be reminded of all the copies that came later and may consider this a less effective tale of impoverished street kids (Salaam Bombay! / City of God, etc.). Note the dream sequence for comparison with other Buñuel work.
Off-theme:
Taking Venice (2023): History packed documentary on how artist Rauschenberg won the 1964 Venice Biennale with the help of USIA in their work at pro-U.S./anti-Commie soft-power moves.
Manchester by the Sea (2016): Since there was a community post/review on it, I figured I better catch up on modern movies I missed! Good flick, but y’all know that already.
Theme of the week was adult movies about kids or from kids’ points of view, and skipping a bunch I’ve already seen (like Never Let Me Go, Pan’s Labyrinth, Empire of the Sun, and so on).
Off-theme:
I wanted to see The Assessment but missed it in theaters. It seemed comparable to The Lobster to me, is that accurate?
Yup! Off the top of my head, that seems like the most accurate comparison.