Let’s begin, with Richard Linklater’s (Boyhood, School of Rock) Before Sunrise (1995), the bulk of which takes place in the lovely Vienna, capital of Austria. Its stars Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Dead Poets Society) & Julie Delpy (Avengers: Age of Ultron) as lead characters Jesse & Céline. In June 1994, Jesse meets a young woman named Céline while travelling on a train from Budapest [Hungary]. They strike up a conversation, where it is revealed that both are heading to Vienna to board flights home (Jesse to the U.S. and Céline to Paris after visiting her grandmother first). When they reach their destination however, Jesse spontaneously asks Céline to join him in the States, intrigued by their instant connection and wanting to live in the moment. They each have no money to rent a room, so they roam around the city visiting various landmarks. After sharing a kiss at sunset, they both start to feel a romantic connection. The rest of the film follows the two learning more about each other, becoming closer and ultimately deciding what their future will be – all before sunrise.
This love fest had a positive review from every critic, gaining an extremely rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In addition, it won the Silver Bear [the award for Best Director] at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival. The film received praise in particular for its depiction of youth with Roger Ebert awarding three out of four stars, while Hali Hinson [The Washington Post] exclaimed “it is a cut above the banal twentysomething love stories you usually see at the movies. This one, at least, treats young people as real people”. Peter Rainer [Los Angeles Times] wrote, “It’s an attempt to make a mainstream youth movie with a bit more fleeing and mysteriousness than most, and, in this, it succeeds”. Before Sunrise is also often thought of as one of the best romantic films of all time, and was even followed by two sequels – Before Sunset in 2004 and Before Midnight in 2013, with Hawke & Delpy returning for both. A terrific advertisement for Vienna and spontaneous adventure, it showcases various landmarks and the city’s heritage, confirming it as a perfect venue for a short city break. It’s available to watch only on e-stream, and you can view the trailer now by clicking the link below:
Up next is the highly loved Jukebox/Musical Mamma Mia (2008), based on the 1999 book and musical of the same name, which in turn celebrates the songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA. The film adaptation was directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Iron Lady) and features an ensemble cast including: Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer, The Devil Wears Prada), Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Les Misérables), Pierce Brosnan (Goldeneye, Black Adam), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Diary, Kingsman: The Secret Service), Dame Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Paddington), Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger, The History Boys), Christine Baranski (Chicago, How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and Stellan Skarsgård (Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean). While it takes place on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, it was actually filmed across several very real and very beautiful small Greek islands [including Skopleos and Skiathos].
The premise follows young Sophie Sheridan (Seyfried), a bride-to-be, who has invited three men to the wedding – one of which happens to be her father, though strangely she does not know which one, nor does her mother Donna (Streep) know anything about the invites. Sophie understandably wants her biological father to give her away at the wedding (as tradition dictates) and staunchly believes that after spending time with each man, she will instinctively know which one is her father: Irish-American architect Sam (Brosnan), Swedish travel writer Bill (Skarsgård) or British banker Harry (Firth).
Upon meeting them, Sophie neglects to tell them why she invited them there, making them assume it’s a surprise for Donna (it certainly is!). When Donna eventually finds out, she initially shuns them in her shocked state, though her best friends Tanya (Baranski) & Rosie (Walter) vow to take care of them. With Sophie’s fiancé Sky’s (Cooper) adverse reaction to her scheming, it remains to be seen if the wedding will even go ahead and if Sophie will indeed find out the identity of her father? And will Donna heal old wounds with the former men in her life and rekindle old love herself? You’ll have to watch it to find out.
Fun, vibrant and picturesque, Mamma Mia was beloved audiences almost everywhere and was a massive box-office success. Critics however, gave it mixed reviews, citing below par singing and casting of inexperienced singers (such as Brosnan). I for one believe it has a great soundtrack and all singers put in enjoyable performances, doing the fabulous works of ABBA justice. With an abundance of sunny skies and serene blue seas, this film is a fitting portrait of a perfect holiday destination for those looking to relax in peace. It was so well loved, it received a sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018, which actually had more positive reviews from critics. Watch a clip of the rendition of the song ‘Our Last Summer’, featuring some of the best scenery of the movie, simply by clicking the link below:
We now travel from Greece to France, looking at rom-com A Good Year (2006), directed by a Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) in unusual territory. It stars Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster) in his second collaboration with Scott after the renowned Gladiator (2000), alongside: Marion Cotillard (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), Abbie Cornish (Geostorm, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride & Prejudice 2005) and Freddie Highmore (Charlie and then Chocolate Factory, The Spiderwick Chronicles). A young Max Skinner (Highmore), his parents having died in accident, spends his childhood with his Uncle Henry instead. He uses his summer holidays to appreciate the finer things in life at his Uncle’s vineyard in Provence [southern France].
25 years later, a grown-up Max (Crowe) is a successful businessman in London, though he is a workaholic and a little on the arrogant side about his success. Following his Uncle’s recent death, the vineyard is passed down to Max, however he wishes to sell it instead of running it, so he travels back to Provence intent on securing a quick sale. His plan is curtailed shortly after his arrival as, when talking on the phone while driving, he causes a woman called Fanny (Cotillard) to crash her bicycle. Things then get worse when discovers he made an error at work and is ordered to return to London as soon as possible. Taking some quick photos to aide the sale, he falls into an empty swimming pool and is unable to escape when Fanny vengefully turns on the water supply – missing his flight. Subsequently he is suspended from work for a week and decides to remain in Province a little longer.
Max and his staff are further surprised by the emergence of a young American wine lover – Christie Roberts (Cornish) – who claims to Uncle Henry’s illegitimate daughter (unbeknownst even to the man himself), making her the rightful heir to the vineyard instead of Max. Whilst working out what to do about Christie, Max must also deal with his burgeoning feelings for Fanny and whether she reciprocates them. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of southern France – A Good Year will certainly have you yearning for a yearlong holiday there. Critics reviews on the actual film however were decidedly mixed. Two of the more favourable reviews come from Stephen Holden [The New York Times], who labelled it “a three-P movie: pleasant, pretty and predictable”; and Anees Aref [The Guardian] who in his 2022 review stated that, “the film soon settles into a comfortable groove and becomes very entertaining – and beautiful, with southern France captured sumptuously by Scott”. You can watch this summer sizzler on both DVD & e-stream, plus get a sneak peek through the trailer by clicking the link below:
Our final entry of the academic year is the delightful Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007), which takes us on a journey through France. Based on the British comedy character Mr. Bean and a standalone sequel to the film Bean (1997), it was directed by Steve Bendelack (The Harry Hill Movie). The cast is led by the ever-lovable Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English, Four Weddings and a Funeral) reprising his role as Mr. Bean, and he is joined by the likes of: Maxim Baldry, Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man trilogy, The Grand Budapest Hotel), Emma de Caunes and Karel Roden (Hellboy 2004, Bulletproof Monk) in supporting roles.
The premise commences with Bean winning a holiday to Cannes, a video camera and €200 all in a raffle. Upon his arrival in France, Bean immediately causes chaos while trying to eat French seafood cuisine at a posh restaurant in Lyon. Then, while boarding a train at the Gare de Lyon, an excited Bean askes famous film director Emil Duchevsky (Roden) to film him. However, Bean is not satisfied with the shoot, continuously requesting retakes. In the end, the train leaves with both Bean & Duchevsky’s son, Stepan (Baldry) on board and Duchevsky left behind on the platform. The two bond and get off at the next station but Duchevsky’s train only passes through, not stopping at that station. What ensues is a hilarious adventure as Bean desperately tries to reunite Stepan with his father, getting help from aspiring Sabine (de Caunes) on her way to the Cannes Film Festival).
Mr. Bean’s Holiday garned mixed reviews from critics but was liked by audiences world-wide. BBC film critic Paul Arendt [referencing Bean as a character] regarded, “It’s a testament to Rowan Atkinson’s skill that, by the end of the film he seems almost cuddly.” Amy Biancolli (Houston Chronicle) gave it 3 out of 4 stars and praised the humour of the premise stating that, “Don’t mistake this simpleton hero, or the movie’s own simplicity, for a lack of smarts. Mr. Bean’s Holiday is quite savvy about filmmaking, landing a few blows for satire.” This underrated comedy gem can be found only on DVD in the Library, and you can watch the trailer now by clicking the link below:
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