settima

drama

하녀 [Hanyeo / The Housemaid] (Kim Ki-young, 1960)

Nov

13

Hanyeo (1960)

Adding one more ingredient. DP: Deok-jin Kim.

A memorable kitchen or cooking scene*

“Look at us. We're almost totally dependent on our maid. She cooks and washes for us, and is the first person to greet me when I come home from work. She is entirely at our service.”

– Dong-sik Kim

A housemaid works her way into a middle-class household and takes over the wife's tasks – cleaning, cooking, child rearing.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Götter der Pest [Gods of the Plague] (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1970)

Nov

12

1943

Götter der Pest (1970)

Pornography peddler Carla Aulaulu's (Carla Egerer) criminal record. She's born on November 12, 1943 in Kronstadt. DP: Dietrich Lohmann.

During one scene a perpetual calendar is visible. It's a 26th.

– Why do they call you The Gorilla? – Because I'm big and strong… and everyone has to have a name.

Bröllopsbesvär [Wedding: Swedish Style] (Åke Falck, 1964)

Nov

11

Bröllopsbesvär (1964)

Bride and groom, and resentfulness at front. DP: Rune Ericson.

A dysfunctional family*

 

On a wedding day, and night, a family's dirty secrets are laid bare.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Panique [Panic] (Julien Duvivier, 1946)

Nov

7

Panique (1946)

A child probes her dinner with a fork larger than her head while another one is all neat and proper. In the midst of them, as serious table settings require, a large man. His napkin tucked in at the neck, he leans over the first child with something to say. DP: Nicolas Hayer.

“Dead meat always attracts flies.”

– Monsieur Hire

有りがたうさん [Arigatō-san / Mr. Thank You] (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1936)

Nov

6

Arigatō-san (1936)

Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) courteously thanks someone who shares the road for giving way. DP: Isamu Aoki.

A movie that makes you want to travel*

“Arigatō! [Thank you!]”

– Mr Thank You to everyone – poultry included – he passes on his bus

Friendly and helpful, Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) is there for his passengers and non-bus travellers alike. A sweet roadmovie from a Japan now lost to time.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Jules et Jim (François Truffaut, 1962)

Nov

4

sweaters

Jules et Jim (1962)

A movie with gorgeous sweater fashion*

“She's a strange breed.”

– Jim

Throwing in a little Movember for good measure.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Na wylot [Through and Through] (Grzegorz Królikiewicz, 1972)

Nov

4

1933

Na wylot (1972)

Maria (Anna Nieborowska) and Jan (Franciszek Trzeciak) in court. The film is based on the 1933 Jan and Maria Malisz’s Case. DP: Bogdan Dziworski.

拳銃は俺のパスポート [Koruto wa ore no pasupōto / A Colt Is My Passport] (Takashi Nomura, 1967)

Nov

3

拳銃は俺のパスポート (1967)

A blurry shot of a man with a moustache in a space with chairs and a round table. DP: Shigeyoshi Mine.

 

3. November 1918 [Third of November 1918] (Edwin Zbonek, 1965)

Nov

3

1918

3. November 1918 (1965)

A calendar page for November 3, 1918. It's a Sunday. DP: Rudolf Sandtner.

Takes place on November 2 and 3.

 

I pugni in tasca [Fists in the Pocket] (Marco Bellocchio, 1965)

Nov

3

I pugni in tasca (1965)

Alessandro (Lou Castel). DP: Alberto Marrama.

“I'm a volcano of ideas.”

– Alessandro