The Finishing Touch (1928, Clyde Brucknan / Leo McCarey)

Who would leave the finishing touch of one's new home to Laurel & Hardy? Probably someone who wants to build a house close to a country hospital. No noise allowed in the vicinity of the hospital. Laurel & Hardy try very hard to meet the demands of the hospital's nurse. But how solid is a house that is constructed without sound?
Destructive slapstick.
6/10

Big Business (1929, James W. Horne / Leo McCarey)

Big Business and Laurel & Hardy are two different concepts. The idea to sell christmas trees might work, even in California, but James H. Finlayson is definitely not a member of the target group. The American way is to giving strength to an argument by applying physical force. Sure, violence begets violence. While Finlayson destroys the pals' vehicle, they demolish carefully and systematically Finlayson's home. Anarchist humor.
8/10

Siyabonga [We are Thankful] (2018, Joshua Magor]

Festivalscope made it happen - a film that premiered recently in Locarno can be viewed in my sitting room. This film was even nominated for a Golden Leopard. I am really happy that I have seen this film, or rather docu-fiction.
Siyabonga is the name of the main character. He is very interesting in acting. When he hears that Mr. Magor has a casting for his new film, he embarks on an adventure to be a part of that film. There are, however, several obstacles on Siyabonga's way. First he needs to find a copy of the newspaper with the announcement. Then he needs to WiFi and somebody who can contact Mr. Magor in proper English. Next problem to find enough money to get there. A friend wwant to send him to a witch, whose spell might enhance his chances. At last Siyambongo reaches the instructor and he tells his story. Will the interview be a success.
Joshua Magor says, that the story of Siyambongo nade him drop his original project and make a film about yje castee. Siyambongo tells its story in long and well-composed takes. We meet normal people, living simple and normal lifes. We see lives far from the focus of world media, lives in the present - and a young man following his dream.
8/10

Roman einer jungen Ehe (1952, Kurt Maetzig)

Wenn es auch nach dem Ende der DDR Vorbehaltsfilme gegeben hätte, könnte dieser Film einer werden. "Wie soll man bloß Stalin danken?", fragt sich Agnes Sailer, die Hauptperson dieses Streifens. Kurz nach dem Krieg war sie aus dem zerbombten Dresden in das ebenso zerbombte Berlin bekommen. Ihre Mutter hatte ihr gute Referenzen mitgegeben und hangelte sie sich im demokratischen Sektor nach oben. Ihr Pech war allerdings, dass sie sich in Jochen Larsten, einem Star des Westend-Theaters verliebte. So etwas kommt bei den Genossen nicht gut an und so dauert es denn auch nicht lange bis ihre vorbehaltlose Hingabe an die Parteilinie in Zweifel gezogen wird. Zwar ist Jochen im Grunde genommen ein guter Kerl, aber ersieht sich Zwängen im Westen ausgesetzt. Nur mit großem Widerwillen zieht er eine Nazi-Uniform in Des Teufels General an. Agnes wird eine Karriere im Westen angeboten, sie findet aber, dass Die schmutzigen Hände nicht ihren ethischen Ansprüchen genügen. Dann wird auch noch "Viktor Hartmann", der Regisseur von Jud Süß rehabilitiert. In der zerrissenen Stadt Berlin hält auch die Ehe der beiden Protagonisten nicht. Doch einmal sieht Jochen ein, dass die Zukunft im Osten liegt. Der Roman einer jungen Ehe kann fortgesetzt werden.
Es scheint, dass sogar dem Osten dies Propaganda-Spektakel zuviel war. Es besteht denn auch nur ein gradueller Unterschied. Zehn Jahre früher hätte man wohl "Sieg Heil" gerufen und nun ist es "Stalin Pieck".
4/10

Ko to tamo peva (1980, Slobodan Šijan)

April 5, 1941, somewhere in Serbia. Two men, gypsies, sing about people who wait for the sun to rise. They want to go to Belgrade for different reasons. There is a budding singer who has - as he says - an important audition. A consumptive man also needs to make the trip. Another man, later we learn that he is a Germanophile, is according to a very informative article in the English Wikipedia, modeled after a former Yugoslav prime minister. A veteran from World War I reminds us of the pending war. There are many stones on the way to Belgrade, a farmer ploughing the road, a funeral service, an extended lunch break. The closer we come to the capital, the clearer becomes the fact that the country soon will be at war. The singers already said from the beginning that the trip won't end well.
Who's Singing Over There is after 38 years still very watchable. The comic effects are well-dosed. As in most good comedies the characters seem to be close to tragedy.
9/10