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Reviews
Marian, Again (2005)
Excellent disturbing thriller
This two-part programme centres around a middle-aged family man who crosses paths with a former girlfriend whom he hasn't seen since their brief fling 15 years ago, when she disappeared from his life without saying a word.
When he first met her she was vibrant and fun to be around, now she is a bundle of nerves, never looking anyone in the eye and extremely pale. He can't believe this is the same person and he tries to make contact with her again using his contacts at the school where he works.
He soon discovers that she is living a terrible life with a partner that is not what he seems outside his home, and that his quest to find out about his old girlfriend is threatening his own family.
This is a gripping story that is extremely unsettling and will have you hooked from the very start.
Batoru rowaiaru (2000)
A very disturbing, very good film
Well this is an interesting concept; A class of Japanese schoolchildren are chosen by lottery under the 'Battle Royale' (BA) act to fight each other to the death on a remote island.
This BA act has been implemented by the government early in the 21st Century because there are too many children who are rebelling against society and it is hoped that this will serve as a deterent for them.
Mmm, well the plot is a little far-fetched. We are only given a brief indication that the kids are rebelling by one incident where a student attacks a teacher. The BA act seems incrediously extreme and unbelievable, but watching the film you forget all this and find yourself sucked into a disturbing potrayal of people fighting for their lives.
What is ultimately shocking is the fact that these are children, AND THEY ARE KILLING THEIR FRIENDS! The film sets the scene and the kids are told to kill, or be killed. What follows are multiple death scenes, on-screen body counts and the depiction of human nature when it is brought to this level.
I loved the film and the musical score is excellent. I can see the resemblance to "A Clockwork Orange" but not to "Lord Of The Flies" as that film was based on the change in the human character over time. This is about how people are forced to fight and about how they act in that situation.
Excellent.