vendredi 21 décembre 2012

Films for the holidays


I hope you don't mind another list. Partly it's because I still haven't gotten around to sorting out my photos from Vienna or Kew Gardens (autumn colours for winter coming up) and partly because I feel a little sad thinking about my first Christmas without my Dad. The time between Christmas and New Year is so wonderful for watching films you wouldn't normally have time to see. The ones on my list (in no particular order) are sometimes based around Christmas but more often they just feature it in a few scenes. Others are not at all Christmassy but just feel right for this time of year. In any case, I hope you'll find a few ideas and also share your favourites with me.

It's a Wonderful Life



I think you know this one. It's special for me as it was the first film I ever saw at the Broadway cinema in Nottingham as a 17 year old. I can remember those luxurious armchair seats, the old fashioned clock next to the screen, the ruffled curtains which came up when the trailers started. We watch it every year on Christmas Eve.

Ma Nuit Chez Maud



I love it this film for the beautiful photography, the story which flows like a piece of music and the snow falling on Clermont Ferrand. So intelligent and fresh, plus it makes you want to read Pascal.



When Harry Met Sally



Christmas only features in a little scene but it's still a wonderful film for the holidays. I'm not normally a romcom person but this one manages to be funny and sweet without becoming sentimental.



Everyone Says I Love You



I know not all readers of this blog like Woody Allen but he's one of the few people who can make me laugh. This is a musical for people who don't normally like musicals if that makes sense. It was recommended to me by Abbie and I've seen it a few times. The locations are gorgeous (Paris, New York, Venice) and I can't resist the final scene on Christmas Eve down by the Seine.




Meet Me in St. Louis



I love a good musical at Christmas, especially this one for Judy Garland's perfect version of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and because few people did set pieces as well as Vincent Minelli. Other choices could be 'Kiss Me Kate', 'Guys and Dolls', 'Singin' in the Rain' or 'Bugsy Malone'.


2046


I'm probably one of the few people who saw this before 'In the Mood for Love'. In fact it was the first Wong Kar Wai film I ever saw, in a tiny arts cinema in the centre of Annecy. I found it so strange and beautiful that I came out exhilarated into the night air. It's less perfect than the first first with Tony Leung and Maggie Chung but I like it for that. Basically it's the story of a man and his relationships with women over various Christmas Eves, mainly in Hong Kong. Even if the sci-fi bit is kind of annoying, the photography is stunning and sensual and I'm in love with the music.



The Apartment



A bittersweet antidote for those who find festive films too saccharine. It's the story of Jack Lemmon's character who lends his apartment to work colleagues for rendezvous and how things get complicated when his boss asks to use it as well. It's touching, funny but also sad and you'll never think of straining spaghetti in the same way.


Fanny and Alexander



It's nice to watch longer films in different parts over the holidays. Bergman's film makes me imagine what it's like to be part of a large family which I often longed for. There's darkness and light but also magic in the story. The image I love the most is that of Alexander on a sleigh going to church with flaming torches in the snow filled streets.


The Best of Youth



This is another long one to be enjoyed in different stages. It's an epic following a group of young Italians from the 60s to the present day, taking in political and cultural changes but all done with the kind of warmth Italian cinema does best. Not always easy to get hold of with English subtitles. I have to tell you though that there's a heartbreaking part at the end of the first segment so be prepared.




The Bishop's Wife



I mentioned my crush on Cary Grant in the last post so of course there has be a film with him over the holidays. He plays an angel who comes a help a clergyman and his wife. I saw it just the other week and found it so charming and funny, especially the ice skating scene.


Casablanca



I think I have watched this every Christmas since I was a child. My grandmother used to visit us on Christmas Day for lunch and then watched this, complaining that it used to be a much better film when she was younger. I'm sure you know its many famous lines but you'd need a heart of stone to say it doesn't make you feel romantic at all. I love the sadness in the faces of Bogey and Bergman, although Claude Rains is my favourite.


The Man Who Would be King



I don't think I've ever told you but John Huston is one of my all time favourite directors. We all watched this on Christmas Day a couple of years ago and it seemed like the perfect Christmas film, even though it doesn't feature Christmas at all. It's simply a grand adventure, beautifully told.


Lawrence of Arabia



Christmas surely deserves an epic watched on a large screen. My Dad loved this film and watched it every year. I must admit that T.E Lawrence is a hero of mine; while David Lean's version is certainly romanticised  I can't resist the music and those sweeping desert scenes.




La Grande Vadrouille



In Alsace I shared a flat with some French people who couldn't believe I had never heard of this film or André Bourvil. It was unavailable in Britain until a couple of years ago when we watched it at Christmas. Very few things makes me laugh but it's one of the funniest films ever. It's the story of some (very) British airmen who have to land in occupied Paris and the chaos that causes. All the nationalities are completely ridiculous but it keeps on getting funnier and crazier. I love the Turkish bath scene and the German chair game the best, I think

Peau d'âne (Donkey Skin)



When I was a member of the Broadway cinema in Nottingham a few years ago, I was invited just before Christmas for a free seasonal film, plus a mince pie and mulled wine. This film, based on a Perrault fairytale was one of them and it completely charmed me. Catherine Deneuve is the daughter of a widowed king whose wealth is generated by a donkey. When he decides to marry her, a fairy godmother (the wonderful Delphine Seyrig) appears to save her and she has to disguise herself with the skin of the donkey. The most memorable scene for me is the part where Catherine Deneuve makes a gâteau d'amour to win the heart of the handsome prince while singing a lovely song. I'd love the recipe.



24 commentaires:

  1. Love love love this list of yours Emily!
    I can't wait to have some down time and watch the movies I love. I can see some of them in this list.
    Every Christmas I watch "Scrooged". I have to have my Bill Murray fix :)
    Happy holidays!!

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  2. A lovely list of films I have never seen or heard of before... I really love Wong Kar Wai.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May 2013 bring you joy, happiness, health, joy and prosperity.

    Cheers,

    Rosa xxx

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  3. Many of my favourites on this list. Happy Christmas and movie-watching.

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  4. Hormis The Best of Youth que je ne connais pas, j'apprécie beaucoup tous les films que tu cites. Emily, tu es parfaite !!!! :-)

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  5. P.S. : Oh, merci d'avoir mis Barrie sur le côté ! :-))))
    Le Grand Meaulnes est l'un de mes livres fétiches.

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  6. That was quite a list! I was expecting some of them and have seen many but you have me running to Netflix for others. Have a wonderful holiday season!

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  7. Some of my old favorites and several new-to-me films. Thank you, dear Emily. I hope your Christmas is filled with films, books, sweets, and lots of love. xx, Denise

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  8. what a great list. a few gems here that i've yet to see. i'm also a woody allen fan, he's created some of the best lines ever.

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  9. Excellente liste de flms a regarder tranquillement au coin du feu. J'ai un faible pour Casablanca je dois dire.
    cette annee j'ai regarde le Seigneur des Anneaux, les films epiques vont tres bien avec cette periode aussi.
    Je te souhaite une fin d'annee douce et paisible.

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  10. What a good good list. Some are new to me and I'll be looking them up soon. Happy New Year!

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  11. I love a list and this one is spectacular and I agree wholeheartedly (especially with 2046, the best of youth, fanny and alexander and the apartment). It's not the same sort but I have been missing lately - the empty aching sort . Wishing you good things Rx ps - Kew pictures please as Kew is part of my missing

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  12. Firstly, Happy New Year at last to you all!
    @Magda - I finally saw Scrooge for the time last Christmas so thanks to you for recommending it. A Bill Murray film is a must over the holidays.
    @Rosa - I hope you had a nice Christmas. Glad to hear you're also a Wong Kar Wai fan.
    @Carina - I'm so pleased to hear that.
    @Holly - Ah, malheureusement je suis loin d'être parfaite mais je suis ravie que tu aimes les mêmes films (et je suis certaine que tu aimeras The Best of Youth). J'aime lire Barrie avant de m'endormir - ta traduction est merveilleuse. J'ai lu Le Grand Meaulnes à 20 ans et je croyais que j'étais trop vielle pour comprendre cette mélancholie d'adolescence. Maintenant je le relis chaque année et je la comprends si bien.
    @Deana - I'm so glad to see you back here. Hope you managed to see all the films you wanted over the holidays. I still have some catching up to do.
    @Denise - Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope your holidays were filled with words and good things.
    @Monica - Yes, definitely, often I lie in bed and laugh remembering some of those lines. I always watch Radio Days on New Year's Eve.
    @Gracienne - Ah oui, Casablanca, c'est un de mes films fétiches et je l'ai probablement vu 15 fois mais c'est toujours un vrai plaisir chaque année. Pourtant je n'ai pas encore vu tous les films du Seigneur des Anneaux - c'est une New Year's Resolution.
    @Alexandria - Oh thanks so much, I'm glad you like the list. Happy New Year to you too.
    @Rachel - I too love lists even though I recognise that it's partly because it takes less time to put together than a regular post. I thought that you would know The Best of Youth. I just read your beautiful post about missing England and was nodding at every word so I hope Rome is treating you well and that there is plenty of tea to lift your spirits. Kew post in preparation, promise!

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