Mesrine: Death Instinct

Jean-François Richet doesn't take any prisoners with this stylish and hugely entertaining epic about one of France's most notorious criminals. The film continues the long tradition of glorifying larger than life criminals as it galvanizes the legend of Jacques Mesrine along the likes of Al Capone and others. Richet's love for the American gangster films is evident but makes it his own like Jean-Pierre Melville did taking influence from Peckinpah to De Palma to Tarantino amongst others. While Vincent Cassel played many similar characters before, he shines in a role that's tailor made for him with all shades in tour de force performance. The star studded film includes Gérard Depardieu in a menacing role and an unrecognizable and terrific Cécile De France amongst other notable performances. The first film of the two is far superior which ends with a remarkable cliffhanger. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

It's Not Me, I Swear!

Canadian writer and director Philippe Falardeau delivers an outrageous dark comedy about a troubled young boy and his misadventures as he terrorizes his neighborhood. Antoine L'Écuyer is outstanding as the young Léon who has a mind of his own at the tender age of ten. Things turn worse after the parents separate as Léon can't cope with the situation. Falardeau hits all the right notes with unique and fresh perspective. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Crude

Joe Berlinger's gripping documentary follows the lawsuit of thousands of Ecuadorans against Chevron for one of the worst environment contamination in the Amazon where literally thousands died from the toxic waste dumped in the nature. In the David versus Goliath tale, Berlinger follows the case from the beginning through several victories in court that remains open due to Chevron's deep pockets that tries to drag it instead of doing the right thing. A powerful film that shows the corporate greed at its worst. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

For the Love of Movies

Gerald Peary's documentary takes a nostalgic look at the evolution of American film criticism. The film starts from the early days cinema at the turn of the century to the heights film criticism from 1950's when of the feud between critics Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael turned them into legends in their field before Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel brought it at every home through television and its gradual move to the cyberspace where everybody's a critic. Many of renowned critics provide insight to their profession which all started with their love for movies. The film shows how many critics have lost their profession because of the changing times when the Internet opened the gates to amateurs. An interesting film for anybody who wants to know more about the film industry and its operation that depends on the critics, specially for prestige if not necessarily profit. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

A Week Alone

Argentinian director, Celina Murga's remarkable film observes several privileged children without their parents in a gated community with a keen eye. If the children are any indication for their parents, the director shows how the children will eventually turn out. While the parents are away, they have left their children for a week alone with only a house keeper to watch out for them. Murga's manages to get across the message through subtle and nuanced performances by the outstanding cast of children. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

The Age of Stupid

Franny Armstrong's devastating and riveting documentary looks back from the future when the global warming already destroyed the earth and how humans failed to save it knowingly. Through six intimate tales on five continents and several animated sequences the director shows how we have all we need to make the significant and crucial changes in a race against time to save the planet but so far we have failed. As the film proves we indeed live in an age of stupid, ignorance and pure greed. A film everybody on earth has to see whether they want or not, everybody has been warned and everybody will be guilty. Be afraid, very afraid. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Mohandas

If you thought that identity theft is just a product of Internet age, then think again! In this riveting tale of identity theft and corruption in India, Bollywood cinematographer turned director Mazhar Kamran makes a powerful debut. A poor but educated man has been robbed of his and his family's identity because of a better job and life by a corrupt impostor and his powerful family. A cruel twist of fate for a man who has lost faith in the legal and political system. Kamran shows the scope of the corruption that runs nationwide and paints a disturbing picture of corruption in India. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

35 Shots of Rum

French writer and director Claire Denis delivers one of her most humane films to date with this beautifully rendered drama about a father and daughter relationship before their imminent separation. The film is set in Paris but not the one the tourists will ever see. The excellent cast includes many of Denis' frequent collaborators including Alex Descas and Grégoire Colin. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Zift

The debut of Bulgarian director Javor Gardev's homage to the American film noir is too ambitious for its own sake that it comes off as too pretentious. The director is more concerned about style at the cost of story and character development. However it shows potential for the confident director as well as the cast and crew for this genre piece with a strong attitude. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Chaturanga (Four Chapters)

Suman Mukhopadhyay's makes a compelling adaptation of the classic novel by Rabindranath Tagore about a man whose quest for knowledge takes him to two extremes from Western influenced atheism to Eastern mystical asceticism at the cost of family and love. The film is also cut in four chapters focusing on the major characters which is a bold move by the director because of the non linear storytelling. An excellent cast and crew help to bring the complex story to live. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Kabuli Kid

Writer and director Barmak Akram makes a solid debut with this slice of life tale set in Kabul post Taliban where people still struggle to adjust to the war torn city. After a burkha clad woman leaves her infant behind in a cab, the driver faces the daunting task to deal with child while everybody offers a different advice. The driver's journey through the city offers an honest view into the lives of people that live a life full of contradiction. Akram shows great skill with non professional cast and use of the city as a character. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

My Neighbor, My Killer

Anne Aghion's documentary follows the genocide trials in Rwanda that were a step towards forgiveness and reconciliation where the survivors of one of the worst crimes in modern history have to let the killers back in their villages. One of the questions that rises from this film is who would benefits most from these trials, the murderers or the victims? Clearly the murderers more than the helpless women who have to accept the murderers of their families again, perhaps out of fear. It's a harrowing scenario that's heartbreaking to see. Another disturbing fact is that it could happen again. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Prem Rog

Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor dominated with his family the Indian film industry for four decades as an actor, director and producer. His films rank among the best and this film is his last great film that seamlessly mixes popular entertainment with social commentary as most his films did. In this film he attacks the tradition of widows who are severely punished by the society. The second film with his son Rishi Kapoor (Bobby) who has matured as leading man. A compelling story with a great cast make this classic film outstanding. The film features as usual for Kapoor films, stunning song sequences with a classic songs. Kapoor remains the greatest showman in Bollywood whose still influences the industry.

Khamsa

Writer and director Karim Dridi's astonishing and shocking film about a 11 year old criminal in the outskirts of Marseille. Abandoned by his father, Marco must fend for himself by doing petty crimes with his cousins and friends. Dridi creates a vivid world, full of colorful characters where the adults are no match for the criminal youth. Marc Cortes gives a riveting performance as the title character who's trapped in the hostile environment. A raw film of staggering intensity that reminds of Matteo Garrone's "Gomorrah" on a smaller scale. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Gasoline

Writer and director Julio Hernandez Cordon shows promise with his debut about disillusioned youths in Guatemala. The story about three middle-class teenagers who steal gas, disrespect adults and kill innocent pederastions one night. The only problem is that the characters lack development and Cordon doesn't take the story beyond the obvious. The young cast of non-professionals bring authenticity to the story. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Small Crime

Christos Georgiou's whimsical comedy about a cop (Aris Servetalis) in a remote and idyllic Greek island who's bored dealing with petty crimes. He suddenly gets his hands full after a dead body appears. Along with the local beauty (Vicky Papadopoulou) he tries to solve the mystery behind the death where everybody is a suspect. Stunning sun drenched locations and the good looking leads make this film a delight that reminds of Hitchcock's "The Trouble with Harry." YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Bluebeard

Catherine Breillat's unconventional adaptation of the fairy tale by Charles Perrault will be something only for her die hard fans. Besides the winning performances the film lacks imagination in every aspect from writing and direction to the technical departments. One definitely expects more from the provocative director and source material but instead get a lackluster of a film that falls apart on the big screen. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Kisses

Writer and director Lance Daly's powerful drama about two kids caught in a hostile world. Dylan and Kylie, two troubled Irish kids escape their abusive small town environment to the streets of Dublin where greater danger awaits them. Daly shows with great skill and heart along with outstanding performances by Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry the perils of childhood in an hostile world before they make a journey of discovery where they find some happiness and love for music, even though it's short lived. In a wonderful sequence a Dredger captain (the excellent David Bendito) introduces the kids to the music of Bob Dylan shows that a gesture of kindness goes a long way with impressionable kids. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Wild Field

A beautiful but disappointing film by Georgian director Mikheil Kalatozishvili about a young doctor's experiences in a remote region of Central Asia. The story is told through humor about a man's existence far from civilization where the local traditions and superstitions weigh as much as the Westerns. However it's never explained why a young Russian doctor would end up in a desolate place for no clear reason when his love and interest are elsewhere. There's also a lack of interest or development for the locals except for comic relief. Writer and director Gulshat Omarova used the same region to better results in the riveting Native Dancer (Baksy). YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Troubled Water

Director Erik Boppe delivers a splendid drama with this tale of redemption full of originality and powerful performances. The story of a young man who tries to start a new life after he served time for killing a young boy. He finds a job at a church playing organ but has yet to come to terms to deal with the past, specially the mother of the death child. Boppe hits all the right notes until the last act where the film loses some of its power. The beautiful cinematography and score effectively enhance the intensity of this powerful drama from Norway. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.