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'the cow' is a beautiful, sad movie about a young man's life in
late 19th century rural bohemia (czech republic). the story begins
with him selling the family cow to get medicine for his dying mother
and continues with the awful tragedies, and occasional miraculous
joys, of his difficult life. i believe that to the czechs this is
also a highly symbolic and powerful film. ****
'as an eilean' (from the island) is from scotland with the dialogue
mostly in gaelic and beautiful cinematography and haunting music.
it's a portrait of a remote town, focussing on a young man who is
leaving to go to university, his ex-headmaster and the local nurse.
there is also the brooding presence of a stranger in the town who
never speaks and is of mysterious origins. it's very quiet, very
simple, but very deep and moving. ****
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