Veronika Decides to Die

Whether the title gives it away or not, I have to say this is not the most light-hearted film I have watched and asides from Charlie Chaplin, it is probably one of the most silent films I have ever seen- I think that's what makes it so great.

I'm not sure, but I don't know if it ever screened in cinemas in the UK. I had never seen it advertised on television or at the cinema, no posters or anything. Maybe I wasn't looking. Veronika Decides to Die was one of the many titles that Sky + Anytime had recorded on my behalf in some attempt to persuade me to watch. It worked! I cannot say the same for many of the other names that frequently appear on the list; 'Too Fat for Fifteen' and 'Cannibal Island' to name a few- they could be great, I don't know- I haven't watched them!

Released in 2009 it stars Sarah Michelle Gellar who is probably most well-known for her role as Buffy in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and although comic this probably doesn't suggest serious acting, but do not be fooled . She has really proven herself in this film as 28 year-old Veronika, who after a failed suicide attempt ends up in a mental institution where she is told by her doctor (David Thewlis) that she has a fatal medical condition that will only allow her a number of days to live. In essence this film is about a girl who during a crisis, tries to grasp a new perception and valuation of life.

My favourite aspect of this film is the music. The score was created by Murray Gold, who has been the musical director of Doctor Who, for the past six years, but takes a different turn composing for this seriously intense drama. The music drives a story with little dialogue. It's stunningly quiet and calm and it really works!

I wouldn't say it was sensational or at all thrilling but if you're looking for a relatively intellectual and moving film, I would definitely recommend!

The Secret Life of Bees

So I thought I would start off my blog with my current favourite film. (And it is also the first part of my blog's title- if you hadn't realised)!

I find many of my films of choice by simply browsing through the filmography sections of the wikipedia and IMDb pages of whichever actor or actress has taken my most recent interest, (and for those of you who know me well you will know that One Tree Hill is one of my biggest obsessions and usually my 'film-geek' style ponderings start by brushing up on the films that star any of the cast members) of which this film is no exception.

If you didn't know who Hilarie Burton is then the part she plays in the film probably wouldn't jump out at you, and although she was my sole reason for watching this film, her role was by no means the sole reason that I fell in love with it.

With a star-studded cast and a relatively recent release date (2008) it was a suprise to me that I had never stumbled across the film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, before and still I find that many people haven't. If you are one of these people, I offer you this great advice- watch it! And I am sure that you will finish watching it with the same 'sweet as honey' feeling residing in the pit of your stomach as I did and with the same energetic capacity that makes you just wan't to get up and dance to the credits (Alicia Keys "Doncha Know") - I may or may not have done so!

I have just realised that I haven't really written anything about the plot, so here goes (I told you to bear with my blogging skills). Dakota Fanning portrays fourteen year old Lilly who killed her mother (Hilarie Burton) in an innocent act when she was only four. The whole film is about her journey of acceptance and forgiveness as she travels with her nanny (Jennifer Hudson) and ends up living with the three Boatwright sisters; August- brought majestically to the screen by Queen Latifa, May- played by Sophie Okonedo and June (Alicia Keys).

Set in the 60s on a bee farm in a sunny South Carolina the film includes racial themes and the book it is based on (by Sue Monk Kidd) was a tribute to black maternity in the South. The music in this film is a key factor that truly transports you to the decade showcasing Irma Thomas' original version of 'Breakaway' performed first in 1964.

So I think that is just about everything I can sum up at 22:30 on a Sunday night but I also wanted to mention that the book is too, brilliant. The film is extremely true to the book and even contains some of the same phrases, which I have read none like anywhere else.    (This may be due to the in-extensive collection of books I have read).

And just a final note- if you're one of those people who worries about watching a film without reading the book- don't! I saw the film first, immediately bought the book and the book has still managed to end up as one of my favourites!