10 MOST BEAUTIFUL FILMS OF 2012
1. Future of StoryTelling Films
This is a wonderful collection of films about the joy and power of storytelling, including its impact on our brains, bodies, lives, communities, societies, and the world at large. In watching them all, we see how the arc of the story changes us chemically, intellectually, and emotionally in the most beautiful ways.
2. When saw this film at its Sundance premiere, we were blown away by the surprise in the middle and were determined to keep it a secret, lest we ruin it for those who hadn’t seen it yet. But of course, once a film is out, word spreads anyway. The good news is, that even when you know the “surprise,” the film still knocks the wind out of you and keeps you entranced from beginning to end. A powerful true story about a musician’s unlikely path, hard road, and shocking redemption, Searching for Sugar Man, is a layer cake of the life of Sixto Rodriguez, a beautiful soul, set to his beautiful bet-you-can’t-stop-listening-to-it music.
3. The Sessions
A movie about Mark O’Brien, a man and Cheryl, a sex surrogate, at first blush, doesn’t sound like it will tick the “beautiful” box... but at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th blush, it does. A paraplegic virgin in an iron lung, played by John Hawkes, longs to experience sex at least once before he dies and, given his compromised condition, he finds no other choice but to hire a sex surrogate. He mulls it over with his priest, played by William H. Macy, who decides that the church’s “no sex before marriage” rule has reason to be bent, and the quest begins. Cheryl, played by Helen Hunt, expertly, yet tenderly, unwraps and unfurls O’Brien, giving him one of the most beautiful gifts in life.
4. Connected, the Film: An Autobiography about Love, Death, and Technology
One of our favorite films, this documentary runs on three parallel tracks: 1) the true life story of the filmmaker’s father, Leonard Shlain, a neuroscientist who not only specialized in studies of the brain but also experienced things firsthand as he developed a terminal brain tumor. 2) The phenomenon of connectedness brought on by digital technology and 3) the related pregnancy and birth of filmmaker Tiffany Shlain’s daughter (Leonard’s granddaughter).
Connected is beautifully filmed and animated, as it weaves the threads of connectivity in our lives. Tiffany Shlain pours out a heartfelt story and intelligent point of view, as she narrates this incredible chapter of her family’s life. It asks important questions about what it means to be connected today.
5. Chasing Ice
How do you chase a glacier? Acclaimed environmental photographer and filmmaker, James Balog, sets out to do just that as he fears the rapid loss of our ice caps with global warming setting in. Balog devised an intricate, clever time-lapse camera system that could record the change in glaciers which would prove to any doubters that climate change is real and is causing catastrophic irrevocable change to our planet.
With beautiful sweeping cinematography, dreamlike in the surreal blue imagery, with sounds from some icy orchestra as ice shifts and calves, Chasing Ice gives you lots of reasons to stand up and make your voice heard, demanding action from our world leaders, to stop the madness and save our planet from melting into oblivion.
6. “This is the story of how you begin to remember...” as Paul Simon sings in the chorus in his song, Under African Skies, from his iconic Graceland album. This documentary film, directed by award winning director, Joe Berlinger, marks the 25th Anniversary of the release of Graceland. It is the story of how Simon made this album, working with native South African musicians and singers, and how it caused a political rift among the very people Simon hoped to celebrate, black South Africans. Simon traveled to South Africa to both record and perform this music during the time of the economic and cultural boycott. He claimed that the boycott did not pertain to his circumstance, but some anti-apartheid activists strongly disagreed with him.
The film shows both sides of the emotional argument as it presents vibrant footage of the musicians and the protestors filmed contemporaneously. The music will rock you through and through, whether you know the songs by heart, as we do, or not. And you will be moved at how the people of South Africa worked through the controversy together with Simon. Beautiful visuals, beautiful music, beautiful spirit come Under African Skies.
7. Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
A short film, by award-winning documentary director, Lucy Walker, contrasts the horror of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami with the beauty of that year’s cherry blossoms. Shot immediately after the tsunami and ensuing nuclear meltdown, Walker bravely explores the unimaginable damage and the unbelievable hope that inevitably takes over. Cherry blossom petals cluster like cotton candy, then fall, like snow, icing the destroyed landscape with a beautiful sweetness that brings both tears and joy.
8. Life of Pi
Director, Ang Lee, took on a monumental task in filming the brilliant novel. Set on a tiny boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean with one actor and a tiger, and loads of special effects, Lee pulls it off with astounding beauty.
9. Cloud Atlas
Visually and cerebrally stunning, this sci-fi drama is a beautiful trip through time as souls are transformed, killers become heroes, and kindness becomes revolution. It took a trio of directors, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachovksi, and Lana Wachovski to weave this tale of mystery and intrigue across centuries.
10. Anna Karenina
Historical eye-candy, with the ever-gorgeous Keira Knightly, her sumptuous wardrobe, and her illicit passions spilling across the screen. Besides, epic love is always beautiful, in our opinion!
