Cesar Sarachu Movies
- 2009
As co-helmed by Manuel Sicilia and Raul Garcia, this CG-animated, Spanish-language children's adventure (translated as The Missing Lynx: Paws on the Run for its release in English-speaking countries) originated via the production efforts of Antonio Banderas, though his is not one of the voices on display. The premise concerns a millionaire who becomes obsessed with the idea of constructing a new Noah's Ark - and hires a hunter to kidnap untoward numbers of animals to make this happen. The film follows the animals amid their valiant attempt to escape from the hunter's clutches, foil his nefarious plans, and free their captured friends. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Robles, Cecilia Santiago, (more)
- 2007
French director Aurélia Georges's offbeat character study The Walking Man commences with the intersection of two minds and two lives: that of a photographer, and a gaunt fellow with a perpetually darkened mood named Viktor Atemian. The men meet in mid-1970s Paris, forge an enduring friendship and play Dadaist games together; in time, Viktor impulsively picks up a pen and paper and begins to write continually, irrepressibly. Viktor's success first peaks, thanks in no small part to the acclaim of his premier short story, but in time, his popularity and his money both run out - he's forced to sell his luxury Parisian apartment and eventually winds up on the street. Georges's film follows Atamian as he slides from the crests of fame to the depths of obscurity, and into the emotional and spiritual no man's land that accompanies such a state. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cesar Sarachu, John P. Arnold, (more)
- 2006
Three stories of people whose lives have been thrown into chaos come together in this drama from Swedish filmmaker Anders Nilsson. Nina (Bahar Pars) is a teenage girl whose family has recently settled in Sweden from overseas. Nina and her younger sister Layla (Oldoz Javidi) are suddenly at odds with their parents when Nina is accused of becoming too familiar with the boys at her school by chatting with them. When Nina tries to run away from home, it leads to a confrontation with their extended family. Elsewhere, Carina (Lia Boysen) is a respected broadcast journalist who has been hiding a shameful secret - her husband Hakan (Peter Engman) has a violent streak and often beats her. One day, Carina decides she’s had enough and files assault charges against Hakan. Carina’s sister (Annika Hallin) remains supportive through this difficult time, and to her surprise Hakan’s mother (Bibi Andersson) comes to her aid, but Carina soon finds her colleagues are turning their back on her. And finally, Aram (Reuben Sallmander) runs a nightspot where three angry customers who’ve had a run-in with doorman Peter (Per Graffman) return with guns and open fire on the club. Aram offers to cooperate with police in order to put the gunmen behind bars, but he learns the shooters will go to great lengths to keep Aram quiet. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oldoz Javidi, Lia Boysen, (more)
- 2006
Busted by authorities while attempting to gain entry into Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theater and subsequently transported to a remote retirement community, senile former stage director Walter Jan Malmsjo) attempts to stage a geriatric production of Romeo and Juliet in hopes of impressing ageing diva resident Virginia (Ghita Norby), who longs to assume the role of Shakespeare's ill-fated heroine one last time, in director Suzanne Osten's warmhearted tribute to the films of Ingmar Bergman. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Malmsjö, Ghita Nørby, (more)
The Brothers Quay return for their first film in a decade with this live-action story of an 19th-century opera singer who is murdered on-stage shortly before her upcoming wedding. Soon after being slain by the nefarious Dr. Emmanuel Droz (Gottfried John) during a live performance, Malvina van Stille (Amira Casar) is spirited away to the inventor's remote villa to be reanimated and forced to play the lead in a grim production staged to recreate her abduction. As the time for the performance draws near, piano tuner of earthquakes Felisberto (Cesar Sarachu) sets out to activate the seven essential automatons who dot the dreaded doctor's landscape and make sure all the essential elements are in place. Once again instilled with life after her brief stay in the afterworld, amnesiac Malvina is soon drawn to the mysterious Felisberto as a result of his uncanny resemblance to her one-time fiancé Adolfo (also Sarachu). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amira Casar, Gottfried John, (more)
- 1995
From the directing team of identical twin brothers Timothy Quay and Stephen Quay, Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life focuses on the experiences of Jakob Von Gunten (Mark Rylance), who has come to the titular institute to train to become a manservant. Amidst a series of unorthodox lessons under the instruction of brother and sister Johannes Benjamenta (Gottfried John) and Lisa Benjamenta (Alice Krige), Jakob becomes attracted to Lisa and she to him. As the magnetism between the two of them intensifies, Lisa's health declines more and more, leading Johannes to question Jakob's influence on her. The screenplay was adapted from the novel Jakob von Gunten by Robert Walser. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Rylance, Alice Krige, (more)
