With Gael Garcia Bernal, Goya Toledo. Dogs and a cataclysmic car accident play key roles in this sometimes enticing, frequently savage Mexican drama, which weaves three stories into a sustained look at the complicated lives of a canine named Cofi and his human companions. With Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta, Paul Reubens, Rachel Griffiths, Franka Potente. With Fatemeh Cheragh, Shabnam Toloui, Azizeh Seddighi. This exquisitely filmed Iranian drama tells three separate stories focusing on women's lives.
Every episode is charged with humanity and compassion.
With Venus Seye, Mame Ndumbe Diop, Ndiagne Dia, Mariame Balde. The story touches on an enormously wide range of subjects - some personal, like the challenges of marriage in a society where men often have multiple wives, and others cultural or political, like the influence of Islamic traditions and the social uncertainties of a postcolonial African country. Sembene has opened up a whole new world of African cinema during his illustrious career, and this intelligent yet easy-going masterpiece ranks close to his best work. With Jean Reno, Christian Clavier, Christina Applegate, Malcolm McDowell. Not a great film, but high energy, good clean fun, and dumb humor keeps you laughing.