Exotica. The Film (not political)

[amicus]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109759/

Plot Summary: The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs... written and directed by Atom Egoyan.

Mia Kirshner
.... Christina

“…What is it that gives a schoolgirl her special innocence? Her sweet fragrance... Fresh flowers, light as a spring rain... Oh, my god, my god... Or is it her firm, young flesh, inviting your every caress, enticing you to explore her deepest and most private secrets?...”

• At the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, Exotica was nominated for the Palme d'or, and won the FIPRESCI Prize.
• Don McKellar won Best Supporting Actor at the 1996 Chlotrudis Awards for independent film.
• Exotica won Best Foreign Film from the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics in 1995.
• At the 1994 Genie Awards for Canadian cinema, Exotica won Best Motion Picture, as well as awards for the best screenplay, direction, music, costume design, cinematography and production design. Don McKellar won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
• Exotica was named Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• To judge from his own account, Egoyan was quite amused by an unlikely award that this film won: the Adult Video News award for Best Alternative Adult Film of 1996.
~~~~~~~~~~~

Aside from the ‘schoolgirl’ fetish that attracts so many, this film was gripping and entertaining just to watch.

For those who write, the intricate plot, utilizing flashback, multiple character themes and both serious and controversial issues of human character was a delight for me personally to watch and try to understand at first viewing.

You need a little patience as the plot does not unfold ‘chronologically’ as one critic noted, requiring the viewer to speculate on the meaning of different scenes that seem randomly interspersed.

I made note that this was not a politcal post, but it is one of a dozen or so fine quality films out of Canada and I wonder if anyone can offer an insight?


Amicus….

 

[sincerely_helene]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109759/

Plot Summary: The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs... written and directed by Atom Egoyan.

Mia Kirshner
.... Christina

“…What is it that gives a schoolgirl her special innocence? Her sweet fragrance... Fresh flowers, light as a spring rain... Oh, my god, my god... Or is it her firm, young flesh, inviting your every caress, enticing you to explore her deepest and most private secrets?...”

• At the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, Exotica was nominated for the Palme d'or, and won the FIPRESCI Prize.
• Don McKellar won Best Supporting Actor at the 1996 Chlotrudis Awards for independent film.
• Exotica won Best Foreign Film from the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics in 1995.
• At the 1994 Genie Awards for Canadian cinema, Exotica won Best Motion Picture, as well as awards for the best screenplay, direction, music, costume design, cinematography and production design. Don McKellar won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
• Exotica was named Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• To judge from his own account, Egoyan was quite amused by an unlikely award that this film won: the Adult Video News award for Best Alternative Adult Film of 1996.
~~~~~~~~~~~

Aside from the ‘schoolgirl’ fetish that attracts so many, this film was gripping and entertaining just to watch.

For those who write, the intricate plot, utilizing flashback, multiple character themes and both serious and controversial issues of human character was a delight for me personally to watch and try to understand at first viewing.

You need a little patience as the plot does not unfold ‘chronologically’ as one critic noted, requiring the viewer to speculate on the meaning of different scenes that seem randomly interspersed.

I made note that this was not a politcal post, but it is one of a dozen or so fine quality films out of Canada and I wonder if anyone can offer an insight?


Amicus….

I found the voice of the DJ extremely captivating.

 

[Pure]

it is a fine film. the director has made a number of them, including one about the Armenian holocaust

 

[Liar]

it is a fine film. the director has made a number of them, including one about the Armenian holocaust

Ararat?

 

[amicus]

[QUOTE=sincerely_helene]I found the voice of the DJ extremely captivating. [/QUOTE]

~~~~~~~~

I loved that song that Christina danced to, reminded me of: "I'm to sexy for my shirt..." That deep voice, the repetitive lyric, that for the life of me I cannot recall at the moment....yes, the DJ has a good voice, but a crappy character until you see the ending...

thanks...


amicus...

 

[amicus]

[QUOTE=Pure]it is a fine film. the director has made a number of them, including one about the Armenian holocaust[/QUOTE]

~~~~~~~

Yes, an excellent film.

Almost sorry that my tastes in films, music and literature do not match your caricature of me, I suppose I should like John Wayne movies and Country Music and go to church to round out my neocon image?

chuckles...


amicus...

 

[Straight-8]

I made note that this was not a politcal post, but it is one of a dozen or so fine quality films out of Canada and I wonder if anyone can offer an insight?

Exotica really is an excellent film but I think you are under-estimating the Canadian film industry. To name a few:
I recently saw 'Simple Curve' made in BC and it was excellent - especially as a first film;
From Quebec there is 'Mon Oncle Antoine', 'Decline of the American Empire', 'Barbarian Invasions' and more recently 'The Seduction of Dr. Lewis';
From the North, the remarkable 'Atanarjuat' (the Fast Runner);
And then, of course there are the slightly strange, like some Egoyans, and 'Kissed' and 'Whale Song'.

 

[amicus]

My apologies, I should have said it differently as I don't make a point to search out Candian films other than on cable stations that happen to run one. I meant to say that I was impressed with what I had seen and wondered if there are more examples.

I have seen several, and of course many good British films and a sprinkling of Frence and German movies that were done with quality.

I certainly do not hold Hollywood up to any standard in film-making, I can assure you.

amicus...

 

[FallingToFly]

[QUOTE=sincerely_helene]I found the voice of the DJ extremely captivating.

~~~~~~~~

I loved that song that Christina danced to, reminded me of: "I'm to sexy for my shirt..." That deep voice, the repetitive lyric, that for the life of me I cannot recall at the moment....yes, the DJ has a good voice, but a crappy character until you see the ending...

thanks...


amicus...[/QUOTE]

Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows.

I loved this movie, I've seen it several times, and every time I find somethign I didn't remember before.

Among other things, it's about how the ripple effect works... while the tragedy that the entire film is based on (and you only find out about at the end) was only directly connected to one of the characters, that tragedy ripples out to all of the characters, and effects them in various and sundry ways - some trivial, some intense.

My mother watched it with me once, and immediately started blasted it. I remember looking at her and thinking "How damn shallow can you be? It had one element that you consider "perverted" (the strip club) and you're going to blast the story, the actors, and everything else.." She actually had the nerve to say that the direct-effect character "deserved" to have what happened to him happen, because he was "amoral."

And people wonder why I have so many issues with my mother.

 

[amicus]

Ah, "Everybody Knows.." thank you...

Not all, especially parents are 'liberated' when it comes to Lesbianism, Homosexuality overt sexuality, such as the strippers, and the rather casual treatment of adultery and infidelity between the brothers and their wives. And of course the daughter that was murdered, was black and I guess his wife was also.

The film covered all the bases I guess and sometimes that is a bit too much for some people.

Still enjoyed it immensely even if I am somewhat of a prude myself.

amicus...

 

[Xelebes]

[QUOTE=Pure]it is a fine film. the director has made a number of them, including one about the Armenian holocaust

~~~~~~~

Yes, an excellent film.

Almost sorry that my tastes in films, music and literature do not match your caricature of me, I suppose I should like John Wayne movies and Country Music and go to church to round out my neocon image?

chuckles...


amicus...[/QUOTE]

Favourite comedy is either Green Acres or Beverly Hillbillies.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Mmmm yes. I had meant to mention that "Exotica" and "Pump up the Volume" were my first couple tastes of Leonard. I wanted to tear his clothes off with my teeth whenever that deep, husky voice played through my speakers!

Though not Canadian, you guys might also enjoy "Boxing Helena" since you appear to appreciate movies with an aspect of obsession to them. Another decent soundtrack, too.