Koch on Film

CINEMA

Koch on Film

By, Ed Koch

“Intermission” (+)
“Intermission,” written by Mark O’Rowe and directed by John Crowley, is a wonderful film. In style and action, it is reminiscent of Guy Ritchie’s film “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” and Robert Altman’s series of flicks with multiple, seemingly unconnected subplots that come together in the end.

Filmed in Dublin, Ireland, it opens with Lehiff (Colin Farrell) standing at a cash register in a store making verbal love to an innocent, pretty girl. He then commits an unexpected act of violence. Some of the numerous plots include: Sam (Michael McElhatton) who is leaving his wife after 14 years of marriage; Oscar who rents porno videos to pleasure himself; John who is ruining his life with petty crimes and an inability to appreciate his girlfriend, Deirdre (Kelly Macdonald); and, Deirdre’s sister Sally (Shirley Henderson) who is overwhelmed by her upper lip hairs that convey a mustache.

The acting of everyone is superb. My one complaint is that I missed some of the dialogue because of the Irish brogues. It would help tremendously if the producers of Irish and English films provided subtitles, understanding that we in America still speak the King’s English. Surprisingly, the theater was only half full on opening night. In my opinion, “Intermission” provides far more than half a loaf and you shouldn’t miss it.

“Broken Wings” (+)
This Israeli movie, in Hebrew with English subtitles, is totally different than the usual Israeli film. It could have been set in any city in the world since no Israeli customs or lifestyles are part of the plot or script.

The drama is an intimate portrait of a family headed by a single mother, Dafna (Orli Zilberschatz-Banai), whose husband died in a bizarre manner nine months earlier. She has four children: 17-year-old Maya (Maya Maron), 16-year- old Yair (Nitai Gvirtz), 11-year-old Ido (Daniel Magon), and 6-year-old Bahr (Eliana Magon). Dafna, a pillar of strength, works double shifts in a hospital to support her family. The children, as loving as they are, are bordering on the dysfunctional. Each is struggling to cope with their father’s death, their mother’s absence from the home, and their own individual daily problems. How they cope makes up the balance of the film.

“Broken Wings” is very moving and extremely well acted. The dialogue is not always first rate, but the film is definitely worth seeing.

- Ed Koch