What to watch? The Great '20s Film List' in COVID-19 times - 3) The Party

      

 A fun and short dark comedy feature where a house party of a newly-appointed Shadow Health Minister of a political party slowly deteriorates to unravel into an unexpected and intelligent twist.

British filmmaker Sally Potter is certainly one of the big names of independent cinema. Known for a few experimental films, she takes a much sober and austere approach to tell the story of different people celebrating the appointment of Janet (a brilliant Kristin Scott Thomas) as Shadow Health Minister in a important political party. Shot in black and white with a stunning cast, the film is certainly one of the best films of 2017 though it has had quite a discrete performance at the box office. 

The brilliant script, between a borderline cinematic and theatrical experience, invites the viewer to explore these very different upper-class characters of British society where hypocrisy, greed and deceit is wonderfully hidden by courteous words and diplomatic to ridicule conversations. They say that the soul of a party are its people and the evening slowly deteriorates as each one of the characters start opening their souls and let their inner demons slowly possess the festive nature of the gathering. We are inevitably driven by the question as of what will happen at the end of the night, which will be bring a surprisingly good and intelligent twist.

 

 If you are looking for a short, entertaining and funny dark comedy supported by a great cast who have all joined under Sally Potter's wing, then we heartily recommend this film. Another one to add to your list! 

 

 

What to watch? The Great '20s Film List' in COVID-19 times - 2) Matthias & Maxime

Here we recommend perhaps one of the greatest pearls we've discovered this year. The latest film from brilliant Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan is another bulletproof showcase of his talent and a poetic story between two lifelong friends who are torn by questions after they share a first kiss. 

Xavier Dolan has one of those unique qualities to make films that take the viewer in a cinematic journey not only as a viewer but to a certain extent, as a participant of it. Most scenes in this film are illustrations of what life is all about: intimate conversations with a loved one in the kitchen or with your lifelong friends around a drink or playing a drinking game in a house party. Not only we see these simple events taking place bur we feel part of them as well and accompany two lifelong friends Mathias and Maxime in these. Suddenly, there is a disruption and everything changes. The two young men voluntarily accept to act and kiss in a short-film scene for a young, snobbish and eccentric filmmaker. 

The tone of the film slightly changes to become a new film in itself: the love story between Mathias and Maxime. We are in a new vehicle and none of the two characters know where to drive to. They are confused and perhaps ashamed to admit to each other how they truly feel. However it is in the search of answers to a storm of doubts and questions that they are able to find themselves and that is the true beauty of this film. It might take several hard hits along the way to find the answers but at some point, even when thunderstorm hits, they come along like raindrops and we embrace the rain. 

A fantastic and beautiful LGBTQ+ film that is worth adding to your filmography. Supported by a solid script and a great soundtrack, Xavier Dolan reminds us that he is one of the greatest filmmakers of the 21st century.