Best films *you've* never seen.
I'm guessing that these films are (undeservedly) obscure - so get over to Amazon or your favourite Bit Torrent site....

*edit to put some context to them*

1) Zero Patients. This a Canadian musical all about AIDS. Yup. A cheery sing song all about teh bad AIDS. It even features a singing arse hole. It's actually a really good look about trying to determine the origin of AIDS in the US.

I saw this during my (brief) stint as a film studies student at Carleton Uni in Canada. I'd taken film studies as a bit of a doss subject - as had many people. I was sat with guys who were making the predictable "Urgh! Gays!" noises at the start of the film yet, by the end, they were in awe of the spectacle that had played out in front of us.

The film is outrageous and fabulous and terrifying.

2) The Story of the Weeping Camel. A Mongolian "documentary" all about a group of nomads who breed camels. On of them (the camels, not the Mongolians) gives birth to an albino calf which it rejects. It then falls to the two young boys of the family to go to the nearest town to hire a man to help get the camels back together. It's the most unexpectedly lovely film you'll see.

The cinema in our little town only showed art flicks, so it was always touch and go whether that week's film would be worthwhile. Something about the name drew me to the film. I didn't know anything about it - imdb didn't (and still doesn't) have much info on it. I'll be honest, as much as I like subtitles listening to Mongolian very nearly sent me spinning for the exit. But I'm so glad I persevered. It is, in turn, a documentary, a road movie, a look at obscure culture and the tale of how you make a mother fall in love with its child.

3) The Strawberry Statement. A film all about 1960s radical students at Berkley. It's got an amazing sound track and a fantastic look at young radicalism.

I caught the second half of this on late night TV about 15 years ago. I hate coming in to a movie halfway through. Somehow I couldn't flick away. The cinematography and soundtrack just held me. I didn't even know the name until a few years later when I saw *most* of the fist half. I spent ages trying to track down a DVD (they don't exist) or a VHS (only on US eBay for exorbitant prices) or a torrent (only spam). Eventually, a wishlist on my TiVo caught it being shown on ITV7+1 or somesuch. I was almost afraid to watch it - would the whole movie live up my memories of seeing it in parts?

Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes! The movie is a triumph.

If you don't like any of those, you don't like movies.

The worst film I've seen recently was "Destricted". It was passed as a regular 18 by the BBFC despite containing "Strong Real Sex". Wahey, I thought, arty porn! Nope the film is, literally, a load of wank. There is some very good art - and very good "art" - but this is not it. Avoid at all costs. Even worse the Nine Songs.
(terryeden, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 16:00, 1 reply)

I've watched bits of the weeping camel film
Fantastic filming\scenery, and a different world entirely - must watch the whole thing soon.
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 16:01, closed)