Mysterious Goat - **

Even love hides from mystery

2001, Taiwan, Colour, 98 minutes

Written and Directed by Johnny Fear (translation error?)

Starring Sam Lu, Xi Chu Lung, Lin Zia Yo

Some things never translate well, and why exactly two middle-aged lovers should feel the need to incorporate a herd of mountain goats into their weekly tryst at the Taipei Zoo still escapes me. From the frequent references to the goats during other scenes I suspect it is meant to be a metaphor but dammed if anyone was able to explain it. Still, the cinematography was fantastic, the juxtaposition on a bleak urban environment with a happy goat grazing while naked bodies writhe under a park bench is strangely enticing.

Quote – “If you don't mind, we are having a school party coming through soon and they haven't quite got to comparative biology yet.”

Reviewed by Juan Incognito

Montreal Honeymoon - ***

At last – the greatest love story ever told is told

1946, USA, Black & White, 74 minutes

Written and directed by Martin Wing

Starring Bertha Markowitz, Louis Hors

This romantic drama could have been a true masterpiece, if real-life romance hadn’t conspired against writer/director Martin Wing. Superstars Harlan Willoughby and Victoria Lacane dropped out of the project (to elope to Paraguay) and the film was dropped by Summit Studios. Wing didn't give up on his dream project, and managed to personally finance it ten years later. Opinions vary as to whether he was working as a travelling salesman to save money for his project or if he was living under a Montreal underpass and stole a camera from a news crew then cast two people living in a bus shelter (this story even claims he carried around a tattered copy of the script which he would read at least ten times a day). Still others say that he was a cinema verite master and the story of his homelessness was part of a campaign by European critics to diminish the contribution of American filmmakers to this movement. Whatever the truth is, despite the poor acting and sudden camera cuts whenever a siren is heard, the quality of Wing’s script shines through and the film is both bittersweet and unusually romantic.

Reviewed by R.P. Thunderdunk

An Absurd Touch – **

Love burns like lightning, with a touch of the absurd

2003, Italy, Colour, 97 minutes

Directed by G. Dellato. Written by Ales Mariont

Starring Jules Pertoni, Maria Kuminoz

Maree and Thomas are a lovable young couple who decide to move from a small country town to the big city in order to save their marriage. After all, if ready access to hip jazz bars and espresso joints will not revive a relationship then what will? The initial promise of this film was great, who could fail to be moved by the awkward tenderness displayed by Thomas as he eats his first pain au chocolat to the gentle amusement of his fellow customers. Sadly this is about as good as it gets, as a succession of tired clichés are trotted out for the amusement and education of the audience. The card sharp, the Big Issue salesman, the surly kebab cart owner and the heavily made up teenage girls are all paraded about like this can somehow make up for a plot, or proper characterisation.

Moment of amusement – Maree taking fashion advice from the local three card monte hustler. Turns out one can never have enough glitter.

Reviewed by Juan Incognito