Genova (2008)

Directed by Michael Winterbottom

US title: A Summer in Genoa

I was sad to learn that this beautiful film never opened in American theaters.*  After losing his wife, Firth moves his family to Italy—together: they cope with their loss; individually: the younger daughter is haunted by the car accident, the older sister faces adolescence, and the father starts fresh.

*but was released on DVD following Colin Firth’s Oscar win in April 2011.

Additional Observations (cheating): Marcel Zyskind’s images are nothing short of amazing.  Thematically and visually, I was reminded of Keislowski’s Blue and Guadagnino’s I Am Love—the scenes at the beach are like the ones in Eric Rohmer’s films (even Keener looks like Marie Rivière).

The trailer can be seen here and the whole film can be seen on Netflix streaming.

Film reviews in fifty words (2011).

The Exploding Girl (2009)

Directed by Bradley Rust Gray

Zoe Kazan is luminous in Bradley Rust Gray’s The Exploding Girl. It plays like an indie/mumblecore film filtered through the lens of David Gordon Green’s early work.  Its images—like its storytelling—are graceful and sharp. I only wish Mr. Gray didn’t tilt his camera back down at the end.

Film reviews in fifty words, a new series (2011). 
This movie is available on Netflix streaming. Oscilloscope and film website.