Detachment (2011)

Directed by Tony Kaye
Written by Carl Lund
Starring Adrian Brody, Sami Gayle, Christina Hendricks and Betty Kaye

A substitute teacher who drifts from classroom to classroom finds a connection to the students and teachers during his latest assignment. During his stay with this school, he meets a young girl who is living on the streets, showing him just how bad it can be for those who never have anyone that cares for  them. Even if it is just a teacher.

A love letter to teachers everywhere, this film shows just how stressful and emotionally draining being an educator can really be. In a "No Child Left Behind" world, where state-wide testing is everything and the failure of a single student is the fault of their teacher, this is a display of just how frustratingly backwards the American mindset on education is.

Adrien Brody gives an amazing performance as a career substitute teacher trying to make as much of an impact as he can in a short period of time. Yet he keeps himself distant as to not have an emotional breakdown like the permanent teachers that surround him every day. This film will truly give you respect for those you took for granted during your school days.

In his biggest release since "American History X", Director Tony Kaye has taken his voice and style of film making and has shout it through a megaphone. The power of this film is one that is hard to find in the endless sea of movies released every year. To say that it is gripping is an understatement. It is rare that a film grabs you and keeps you hostage such as this one did. With a star-studded cast, where recognizable names clutter the line-up, this is a movie that anyone who values education should watch.

My Rating: 10/10

The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012)

Directed by Felix van Groeningen
Written by Carl Joos and Felix van Groeningen, based on the play by Johan Heldenberg and Mieke Dobbels with collaboration from Charolette Vandermeersch
Starring Johan Heldenberg, Veerle Baetens, Nell Cattrysse and Geert van Rampelberg

A religiously devout tattoo artist and an atheist banjo player obsessed with bluegrass music form an unlikely romance and instantly fall in love despite their differences. Years later, their daughter becomes ill, putting new strains on their relationship.

A heartbreaking story about the stresses of having a child with cancer, this film explores that terribly common scenario with a couple who have two separate views of the afterlife. In a brutally honest, yet with a hint of reverence, the filmmakers tackle such controversial topics as religion, stem cell research and the separation of church and state.

The two leading actors give painfully sincere performances, depicting the parents who may lose their only child. And the fact that the two performed the music throughout only adds to the impressive feat. The way the director uses delicately chosen songs to push the plot forward, while also giving more insight to where the characters are at emotionally, is truly a task that should not be overlooked. It is impeccable how well these songs say so much, yet don't bring the flow of the film to a screeching halt.

And the songs are pretty damn good, too.

One of the most unexpected thing in this movie is the performance of the little girl who plays their daughter. It is rare that a young actress such as herself can be convincing in their performances. I found myself thinking that they had hired one of their daughters to play her, but that was not the case. She just seemed so natural with them.

While the story is a heavy one and it may be hard to watch at times, "The Broken Circle Breakdown" is one of the more powerful films I have seen. And although it has only been about three years since it's release, I can tell that it is a timeless story that people will be able to connect with decades from now.

My Rating: 8/10