" Anonymous "

Year : 2011
Verdict: 9/10
Directed by: Roland Emmerich 

 


Actors: 
Rhys Ifans - Earl of Oxford
Vanessa Redgrave- Queen Elizabeth I
David Thewlis- William Cecil
  




The curtain's drawn and the stage is set, 
as the crowd filled the theatre and patiently waits for the play.  

 

This is your run of the mill Elizabethan inspired era, but to me, 
what makes this interesting is its story and the new twist of «What if ». 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I wasn't drawn to it at first, but got intrigued by the title and got more curious 
when it was featured in Dias del cine episode. 
I'm also not a fan of V. Grave, so I thought this must be another inane film about Elizabeth. 
But I was wrong. 
Of course, if you're the type who starts yawning at the sight of elaborate dresses, 
huge castles, kings and queens, the speeches of 'thou, thy and my Lord ', 
then, this isn't your cup of tea, skip it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 This isn't your usual Shakespeare story or even the dame Queen's ,
In it, Viewers were given a whole new possibility, 

What if, W. Shakespeare is just a fictional character, used as a pen name 
from a writer who comes from an influential background, but 
couldn't share his talent because, plays and theatres during that time 
were considered blasphemous. 

 


What if, Queen Elizabeth I have more (than she could count) affairs,
that at one point, engaging into having an incest relationship? 

 



What if, someone is merely pretending to be someone who's not? 









 

 


What if, all the scandals, political conspiracy, the illicit affairs, 
the rise and fall during that period. 
Maybe, there's still a dark secret that needs to be told. 

 

 

 

In the end though, 
it is still about power, revenge, betrayal and love. 
« How words will prevail greater than swords »

I think, Rhys Ifans, delivered this role, the best i've seen so far. 
He was believable and intense.
Although, I still can't help picturing him in his semi exposed butt ( excuse the word). 
If you've seen Notting hill, then you might be familiar with Hugh Grant's room mate then, called Spike, who is awfully hilarious. 
This role was  a definite 360 turn for him. 

Also, the cruel Cecil, played by David Thewlis. 
His crookedly cunning role, will made you hate him, 
but at the same time, will also feel sorry for him. 

" Black Butterflies "

Verdict : 7/10
Year: 2011
Directed by: Paula van der Oest

Starring: Carise VanHouten- Ingrid
Liam Cunningham - Jack Cope

Black Butterflies is based on a true story of an African (white) poet named Ingrid Jonker.









The film narrates about the life of a great poet, then, struggling for freedom, justice, acceptance, in search of her identity and love that she couldn't sought from her father.





It starts off with a simple childhood living near the sea, being carefree and barefoot, but all that childhood memories were shattered when her mother died and
both, here sister and Ingrid were forced to live with their father, who couldn't seem to love them, less care for them.
Distraught by his father and a failed marriage, she instantly fell hopelessly in love with writer Jack Cope.
But John, who is a political writer as well wasn't accepted by Ingrid's father, who
I think plays the President of Censorship.



John's romance with Ingrid suddenly turned bitter.
Him, still facing a messy divorce, while her, became clingy to the point that he couldn't write anymore.





Deeply affected by this, again, affecting her mental stability.
She had an abortion and life became more miserable than ever.





In the end, Ingrid's psychological imbalance got the best of her, a few attempted suicides, allegedly having multiple affairs, raising a kid.
She finally committed suicide and was found at sea.






I'm not familiar with African writers/poets, so this is an interesting film for me.
Although, her life story is a bit predictable like any other tragic artists, faced in a cul-de-sac situation of lost and sadness.

I could still say it's a good film, blended with inspiring and touching poetic verses, a nice setting esp. the beach view.
I wish the story didn't focus too much on depression and her illness but on her writings and her talent as well.





In 1994, Nelson Mandela read one of her famous poems called Die Kind= The Child, dedicated during the Sharpeville Massacre in Africa, where Apartheid was a great issue during that time.






" The child that died at Nyanga "

The child is not dead

The child lifts his fist against his mother

Who shouts Africa! Shouts the breath

Of freedom and the veld

In the shanty-towns for the cordoned heart

The child lifts his fist against his father

In the march of the generations

Who are shouting Afrika! Shout the breath

Of righteousness and blood

In the streets of his embattled pride

The child is not dead

Not at Langa nor at Nyanga

Nor at Orlando nor at Sharpeville

Nor at the police station in Philippi

Where he lies with a bullet through his head

The child is the shadow of the soldiers

On guard with their rifles saracens and batons

The child is present at all assemblies and legislation

The child peers through the windows of houses and into the hears of mothers

This child who just longed to play in the sun at Nyanga is everywhere

The child grown into a man treks on through all Africa

The child grown into a giant journeys over the whole world

Carrying no pass

" Gosford Park "

Verdict: 8/10
Directed by: Robert Altman
Year: 2001



As a hunting party gathers at a country estate. Noone is aware that before the weekend's over, someone will be murdered...twice!

It led the police baffled without specific clues, while everything seems calm and laid back, each of the guests acted mysteriousl and the servants, who seemed to know more about everything and anything that goes around the estate,made events even more confusing.
Suddenly, all of the guests seemed to have their own means and motive.
This critically-acclaimes murder mystery features a who's who of celebrated actors that leds us viewers to a surprising end.
























Inspired by novels like Agathe Christie or Ngiao Marsh for that matter.
Clearly one of the few films i'd never get tired of watching.
A story about love and hate, longing and anticipation, revenge and regret.















Set during the 1930's, the whole film revolves in and around the estate, the corridors and alleys of each floor,
the secrets that lie beneath the characters being portrayed and hierarchy between the rich and the poor.