Far from Men (2015)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Fresh and Exciting

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

A quiet and touching study in love, respect, and morality beautifully acted by Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb. As the world swirls around each of them, each facing violence and death in their own universe, fate brings them together and each is saved by the other. A wonderful meditation on setting aside hatred and violence to reach the inner core that each of us carries within.Do not let the pace frustrate you; parts move as snails, which is what Viggo's parents were called by the French. Set in and amongst the bloody Algiers civil war of the 1950's, one comes to appreciate the need to reach out, not only to those with whom we interact, but to teach the children the universal humanity of us all.This movie, like the great Japanese movie Departures (2008), asks us to put aside the petty hatred, twisted customs, and violence of much of what we call life, and appreciate the beauty and love we can share with our fellow humans.An absolutely lovely film.

There are those who fight and even kill for something as little as wounded pride. As ridiculous as this may seem, there are many situations and places where revenge the only option. Revenge is not just expected, it is demanded or even mandated. It takes an extremely strong and courageous person to break the cycle of violence."Far From Men" takes viewers into the misty Atlas Mountains of Algeria in 1954 and the lives of two men who are trying to break the revenge cycle. It is the beginning of an uprising against the French. Daru, a local school teacher as well as a World War II veteran, is tasked with transporting a prisoner, Mohamed, to a nearby town for trial. Daru chides Mohamed for weakness and cowardice in not attempting to escape or doing much to resist those who hound him. "React!" screams Daru, "aren't you a man?!" Yet things are not so simple. As the two men travel in the moonlight, rainfall and cold of the night, Daru gradually understands the difficult and challenging choices that Mohamed faces. Daru may be able to help Mohamed, yet at what price?Viggo Mortensen plays Daru and represents him extremely well. I really enjoy the roles that Viggo plays. Usually, as here, Viggo's characters struggle for justice, truth and dignity against formidable odds. All the actors do a fine job in this film. The film images, organization, dialogue, depth, directing, themes and storyline, are also very well done. Really the only things lacking are a fabulous soundtrack, a certain amount of depth to each nuance of the film and, perhaps, a love interest. Far From Men became available on Netflix this week.

This is an action movie of the mind, of the soul. Based on Albert Camus's short story The Guest, this in effect sums up the writers philosophy with clarity and insight. It was shot in Algeria which presents a perfect backdrop - both because it was where Camus grew up and because the stark but beautiful scenery fits perfectly with the story.(It even hints at Camus's own life in Algeria. He was of the working class - real working class, like working with their hands - and with Spanish heritage.) It takes the Camus story a bit further - but always with elements that was in fact part of Camus's life. For anybody who fondly remembers existentialism and how it analysed our human predicament, this movie will be a reason to celebrate. For those who does not know it, but is clever enough to agonize over our predicament - like how do we save our humanity when life forces us into situations that show that we are NOT " fully in control of our destiny" - start here. The acting is superb and the directing is brilliant - and obviously done by someone who understands Camus. Do not expect special effects or action hero stuff. This story goes deeper than that. Far deeper. It is in French but as the dialogue is on the sparse side, the subtitles for English speakers are easy. A movie of a great idea wherein the message, the dialogue and the filming merge together into a powerful statement.

I have been to Algeria a few years ago, so I was compelled to watch this movie. The movie starts slow, which was not a problem. The mood of the film didn't capture me right away, so I postponed the viewing of the second half of it. But it didn't get better, it got worse. The more sentimental conversations between the two main characters I had to witness, the less I was able to feel interested about their lives or their history. The movie seems to try to use everything - desert, music, story - to make us feel sorry for Mohamed and emphasize with Daru, but it just didn't work for me. Most of the movie seems to be about the two companions staring into the wide landscape with a melancholic look on his face. The last Mortensen movie I watched was about a male character who had to lead his son, a young boy, through a post-apocalyptic scenario, into safety. It was hardly watchable due to it's sentimental onslaught. This movie is the same, just in the Algerian desert.