Jamie passion and passionfruit!

Best Film

Nominees:

Brokeback Mountain (US 05) A poignant story of two cowboys and their gay relationship.  Correctly directed and acted, this is an important film in that it makes a gay romance into something mainstream. 

Caché (France/Austria/Germany/Italy 05) Psychological thriller of considerable quality.  Good acting, an intriguing situation and a twist at the end.  Didn’t quite overwhelm me.

Fateless (Hungary/Germany/UK 05) Haunting portayal of life in a concentration camp with the plus of a very erudite screenplay.  Artistic photography creates a very special effect.

Munich (US 05)For me, one of the most interesting Spielbergs in some time with an intelligent look at state and non-state terrorism and what it does to those inside it.

Nobody Knows (Japan 04) Kore-eda has an eye for details that speaks volumes about the characters.  This is also a sweet film with deeper implications about our natural instincts for survival.

United 93 (US 06)Quite the most energetic of the finalists – an effective reconstruction of the hijacking of one of the planes on Septmeber 11 complete with unknown and amateur actors.  An achievement!

Va, Vis et Deviens – Live and Become (France/Belgium/Israel/Italy 05)An epic story of a young African boy refugee in Israel and his fight to grow up in a Jewish culture with the secret of his background inside him.  A tale of identity and of a search for roots

Winner

Va, Vis et Deviens – Live and Become

Chosen for the fact that this is a film that enchants and will last.  It is honest and extremely moving and combines a number of issues that logistically must have been a challenge to pull off.