Cold Fish (2010)

 

 

Shamoko (Mitsuru Kukikoshi) and his wife Taeko (Megumi Kagurazaka) run a small fish shop. One day, their daughter Mitsuko (Hikari Kajiwara) is caught stealing in a supermarket. Before the manager calls the police, the friendly owner of another fish shop, Murata (Denden) settles the issue. Later on, Shamoko and Murata become friends - and then partners. But Murata is not who he seems, he and his wife Aiko (Asuka Kurosawa) are actually serial killers. First of all, this is both strange and insane movie. There is a lot of depravity and violence throughout the film, much of it will test even the hardest stomach. But aside from the incredibly disturbing visuals, the film is furiously original and interesting to follow. The acting is superb, specially Mitsuru Kukikoshi and Denden. The cinematography, camera movement and musical background are excellent in keeping the tension and grim atmosphere. The director Shion Sono has done a great job combining extreme graphic violence and black comedy. Cold Fish a.k.a Tsumetai nettaigyo is seriously unsettling, but it’s still impressive. This movie was "inspired by true events” known as the "Saitama serial murders of dog lovers"; the convicted killers in the real-life case are Gen Sekine and his ex-wife Hiroko Kazama.

Heartbreaker (2010)

 

Alex (Romain Duris) and his sister Mélanie (Julie Ferrier) and her husband Marc (François Damiens) run a business designed to break up relationships. However, they have one rule : only breaks up couples where the woman is unhappy. But due to excessive debt, they have to break the one rule and take a job to break up the wedding of a rich man’s daughter, Juliette (Vanessa Paradis). The only problem is that they only have one week to do so. Heartbreaker or L'arnacoeur is a well made charming French romantic comedy. It makes you laugh and leaves you with a smile. The characters are loveable, chemistry between Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis are fun to watch. The storyline flirts with some clichés but actually funny and enjoyable to follow.

Priceless (2006)

 

 

Charm is more valuable than beauty. You can resist beauty, but you can’t resist charm. Irène (Audrey Tautou) knows this very well. She uses her charm to seduce and taking advantages from older and very wealthy men so she can live a comfortable life. One day she meets Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a bartender at the hotel whom she thinks a rich man. Later they spend a romantic evening together, until she discovers he's broke and leaves him. But Jean doesn’t give up, he’s falling in love and will do everything to get her. This is a light romantic comedy, the plot is simple, clichés and predictable and yet it’s entertaining thanks to the sharp performances from both lead casts. Overall, Priceless or Hors de Prix is a fun decent movie.

Potiche (2010)

A satirical comedy about emancipation, the battle of sexes. When her husband is taken hostage by his striking employees, Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) steps in to manage the umbrella factory. Surprisingly, Suzanne proves herself a competent and assertive leader. But things get complicated when her husband returns and wants to control the company again. Combine with unique characters, beautiful visual and non-Hollywood plot. Potiche or Trophy Wife is both hilarious and funny in a very French way.

Dogtooth (2009)

 

 

A movie about dysfunctional and isolated family. The children are raised by their strict controlled parents and have never been allowed to leave the house. The father is the only family member who can leave, while only one outsider is allowed to enter the house based on specific agreement. Dogtooth or Kynodontas is not easy to watch, but somehow I can’t take my eyes off it, probably one of the strangest movie ever made. It's both weird and wonderful. It offers plenty disturbing and horrific scenes, but all scenes are necessary. The film was nominated for Oscar 2011, category best foreign language film.

Katalin Varga (2009)

 

 

Katalin Varga (Hilda Péter) has been married for nearly eleven years when her husband abruptly throws her out of the house after learning he's not the biological father of their son Orban (Norbert Tanko). Then she decides to travel with her son in order to find and punish those who once raped her. The film has slow pace and the plot is quite simple, but the performances are powerful and the cinematography is beautiful. This is a well made tragic dark drama.