Cinema Saturday, 1/16/21

Surfing with the Enemy

Year: 2011
Runtime: 56m
Rated: NR

Director: Scott Braman, Adam Preskill

Writer: Adam Preskill

Stars: Lance Henriksen (narrator)

We’re all like family, like brothers. I imagine this happens with surfers all over the world. I think this is what happens with surfers. I hope so.

Initial: So, while puttering around on Letterboxd, I realized that I had seen a mere 10% of Lance Henriksen’s films. The man is a working actor, yo. So I thought I’d see where his filmography might take me. #LanceHenriksenProject

What Did I Think:
Last year I took a Coursera course called (something like) Sports and Society. This documentary would fit its syllabus perfectly. In a country that is paranoid about its citizens defecting by swimming/boating away, there is a surf scene. It’s small and underground, but with enough potential that the surfers kind of hope the government makes them an “official” sport so they can have freedom to train and freedom to compete. I love hearing people talk about what they love and are passionate about and that’s all over the place in this documentary.

---

Gretel & Hansel

Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 27m
Rated: PG-13

Director: Osgood Perkins

Writer: Rob Hayes

Stars: Sophia Lillis, Samuel Leakey, Alice Krige

Say that again and I will turn your tongue into a flower, to remind you how pretty and dumb and temporary you’ve chosen to be.

Initial: I had watched I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, also directed by Perkins, back in April. I was pretty intrigued by him doing a “Hansel and Gretel” adaptation.

What Did I Think:
This is only the second film by Oz Perkins I’ve watched, but after I Am the Pretty Thing…, I felt I had a good idea what to expect: slow, intentional film-making. Happily, Gretel & Hansel has more plot going on to balance out every autumnal shot that’s held just a moment longer than expected. My goodness, this is a beautiful movie, which isn’t something I say often about horror films. This retelling focuses on Gretel, being the one that needs to out-wit the witch by allowing herself to be powerful. So, yes, there is female empowerment in this movie, but not in a preachy way. I also really like the soundtrack which has a strong Goth/synth vibe. It also gives the film an anachronistic feeling. It’s a timeless fairy tale.