Jamie passion and passionfruit!

Nominees:

 

Away from Her (Can 07) – Telling portrayal of what happens to an Alzheimer’s sufferer and more than anything to those around her

 

In the Valley of Elah (US 07) – This is more a mystery than anything else but it opens up many issues about military procedures and the Iraq war in the process.

 

Indigènes (Algeria/France/Morocco/Belgium 06) – Almost a historical document on the role of the pieds noirs from France’s North African colonies in fighting for France in WW2

 

La próxima estación (Argentina 08) Moving and well constructed documentary on the decline of the railways in Argentina and the corrupt and inefficient role of the state in allowing this to happen.

 

Persepolis (France 07) Cartoon story of an Iranian girl who defies the revolution to do her own thing.  Conveys a lot of information and feelings in a humorous way

 

Sicko (US 07)  Michael Moore goes for the US health system and despite his usual excesses he makes some excellent points

 

Still Life (China 06)  Although this is fiction, it plays as a documentary on the plight of those living and working in the Three Gorges River Valley in China where entire towns are being destroyed as they build the world’s biggest dam and plan to flood the whole area.  Very moving and very real.

 

The Band’s Visit (Israel/France 07) A simple tale of an Egyptian police band stranded in a desolate Israeli town and how they communicate with the locals.  A small gem on lessons for humanity and how we are all alike.

 

Winner  

 

The Band’s Visit