Our third film brought us to the ill-fated Harvard Exit. Officially closed, this is ostensibly the final year this movie house will be hosting festival films. (I will not get political, I will not get political, I will not get political…)  Here we saw Snow on the Blades, a Japanese film made in the classic samurai style which has apparently fallen out of favor in Japan as of late. I ask you, “then why make it in that style?” Obviously not financially motivated, the director, Setsurô Wakamatsu, was on hand to introduce the film and participate in some Q&A following the screening. Based on a short story, the film is atypical in that there is not a great deal of violence or death. The focus is on the internal struggles of the characters, with emphasis on the sacrifices women make for men.

We discussed this movie afterward for much longer than the first two films. And although our overall feeling was disappointment, I always consider that if I feel compelled to talk about a film at length, then it has done something right.

Snow on the Blades’ Bechdel rating: PASS. A group of women discuss their plans for celebrating New Years, a conversation (one of several) meant to convey the many changes that were taking place as they transitioned from the Edo Period to the Meiji.

For our second film of the festival, we went a bit lighter with Canadian film Guidance. Written, directed, and starring Pat Mills, who got his start on You Can’t Do That on Television. A former child actor (an alter ego of Mills’) gets a job as a high school counselor, dishonestly, but with an honest desire to help kids. I was reluctant to like this film since it is the type of film I’m supposed to like. Indie, funny, irreverent, etc. I couldn’t help myself though. What could have been an 81 minute cliche was actually a charming and imaginative story of connection. It had a bit of a “homemade” feel to it, but the lack of slick production should not be a deterrent.

Guidance‘s Bechdel rating: PASS. But just barely. Though they don’t have a lot of screen time together, two female students talk about skipping class, and maybe some other stuff.

P. S. I just realized that my “lighter” comment could also be used to describe the overall skin tone of Guidance vs. The Connection. Ironic, for reasons I will make you watch this film to find out.

And then there were none.

Days left in the festival, that is. On the final day, the final film was They Came Together, from the minds of David Wain and Michael Showalter. Think of every rom-com cliche and skew it just a little bit to the right, left, turn it around or upside-down, and you’ve got this film. There was a chance it would go too far, into the eye-roll realm, but no, it was right on target throughout. A good chuckler to end the festival.

Looking back over the last few weeks, I think the highlight for me was Frank, although I couldn’t say I didn’t like any of the films I saw during this year’s festival. I guess I’m just really good at choosing!

After a crazy day filled with lots of driving, auto repair, beekeeping, and gardening, the cool air of the Uptown was a welcome respite. Here we nearly missed Calvary, thinking it started an hour later than it really did. The film is a very Irish endeavor, exploring the role of the Church in today’s world, which is heavy with the past. There are sweeping landscapes which are quite breathtaking, but the score is a bit overwrought. All the actors were impressive in their roles, including comedians Chris O’Dowd (apparently born in Sligo where the film is set) and Dylan Moran. This was the second time seeing Domhnall Gleeson in the festival (the first was in Frank). This could have been a very bleak portrait of the world, but it manages to not dive too deep into despair while also not delivering an altogether happy ending. It’s definitely one that makes you think.

So far, I’ve had bad timing at the Egyptian, in that I seem to be there on Sundays or evenings and the sandwich shop across the intersection is closed and I can’t get their grilled tofu sandwich. No matter, I got to see the entertaining Swedish film, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. A series of coincidences and misunderstandings give a man with a penchant for blowing things up a lifetime of adventure. It is a real audience pleaser.

Later in the day, I saw Boyhood at the Harvard Exit. Filmed over the course of 12 years, we watch as young Mason grows from a kid whose life is dictated by the adults around him, into a young adult ready to take on his own destiny. The transitions from year to year are obvious yet subtle, showing us a quite natural progression in the lives of these characters, Mason and his sister, his parents, his friends. Quite a concept, no need to find actors who look like each other to play the boy (or his sister). What an exercise in patience! And kudos to all the actors who made themselves available for the long run.

Today was a full day. I picked up my tomato starts, went to a great Sounders match, planted my tomato starts, and still managed to not fall asleep during The Trip to Italy. I’m only teasing, really, as the film was not a snooze-fest. It was pretty much as I expected as a follow-up to The Trip. I find it strange that IMDb has Rob Brydon listed as “credited cast” and Steve Coogan listed second in the “rest of cast” section. Whatever, the two men have a pretty good way of working with each other, and there are a good amount of laughs as they traipse around the Italian countryside and seaside. There is an emptiness to the film which I think can be attributed to the fact that it is all fake. The feel of the film is that these are two pals sharing a working vacation, eating great food and seeing great sights. The reality is that they are playing eponymous characters who allow glimpses into their “personal lives”. It’s entertaining in the moment, but afterward, I just feel kind of weird about it. I’m probably thinking about it too much.