Sundance 08 : The King of Ping Pong and Just Another Love Story Reviews by CJ Simonson

It’s ironic that I am generally not a fan of foreign films, yet 2 of my favorite movies from the festival are fall into that genre. Both give off their own vibe and feel, but are consistent in, story telling which for me is the most important aspect of a movie.

The King of Ping Pong

The King of Ping Pong is a sweetly dark comedy about sibling rivalries and the mistakes parents can make. The story revolves around Rille, an obese boy who turns to ping pong as a result of his lack of friends. He constantly is competing with his brother Erik for both ping pong and the attention of their father, who left them when they were little.

The move from real father to new-father (whose fallen for the wife) takes a toll on both boys leaving both in a state of contemplation and disgust. The movie has a very open feel as we see Rille throughout Sweden and the open fields of snow. Our problems with the characters feel like problems anyone could draw on from past family experiences. The characters don’t live in a fantasy world, but in a world where the actions they make alter other characters actions and so on. The King of Ping Pong is a great film that will hopefully be picked up for wider distribution.

Just Another Love Story

My favorite film thus far is a movie called Just Another Love Story. The movie is a take on film noir and the Hollywood thrillers as we know them today. It is done in a stylized way making the film feel dark and mysterious, similar to movies like 2007s Zodiac. The movie follows Jonah, a man whose life seems to be pretty good. He has a wife, two kids, a new apartment, and an old beat up car. While driving his family to the supermarket, his car breaks down in the middle of the road causing a woman to swerve off the road and get into a total car wreck, leaving the driver severely injured.

Jonah becomes obsessed with the woman and in order to see her he pretends to be Sebastian, the girl’s boyfriend. As the movie progresses, things change and Jonah suddenly becomes Sebastian, leaving his family behind for a stranger he’s only just met. The climax of the movie is an adrenaline pumping thrill ride that keeps you guessing even after you’ve figured everything out. The ending shot is beautifully done and completes the movie almost perfectly. The decisions of the characters either lead to harsh consequences or fantasy quality outcomes. The movie feels pitch perfect and makes further projects from the director even more exciting.

Grade – The King of Ping Pong - A
Just Another Love Story - A