4 Responses to “Spare Parts”

• By Kirk Alex on Mar 11, 2010

  Weak cast and direction don’t quite pull it off. Strong theme, though. No doubt about it.
  
  I wanted it to have a greater impact on me emotionally than it ultimately did.

  What can you do? Not every director is a Claude Chabrol or Akira Kurosawa, and not every actor is a Chris Cooper or Seymour Hoffman or Marlon Brando. Neither is every actress a Carol Baker. Carol Baker was one amazing thespian in her time.

  Could be am being too harsh here. Not sure. That’s the way I see it so far.
  Rating: 3 / 5
• By Ronald Scheer on Mar 11, 2010

  This downbeat film from Slovenia follows the lives of two men who illegally transport third-world refugees across the border into Italy. Set against the noisy excitement of motorcycle racing and the ominous presence of a huge nuclear power complex, the danger of their own illicit work takes on a kind of dreary routine, in which death and misfortune become simply part of the cost of doing business. Lost and without a future, Ludvik has only his past glory as a racing champion to give his life some meaning. Meanwhile, mourning the loss of a young wife who has died of cancer, he chain smokes and drinks himself regularly into oblivion.

  His young assistant, Rudi, is a novice at this kind of self-obliteration, objecting at first to the callousness of the men who transport the refugees and appalled when he learns of the fate that awaits many of them. But as the film progresses, he too surrenders to the mind-numbing conditions of his line of work – an occupation that has ironically sprung into being with the birth of the European Union. At the end of the film, Ludvik ruefully observes that Hitler also attempted to create a unified Europe, though he went to “extremes,” but this trafficking in humans is no different in its effect – the death of the soul.
  Rating: 4 / 5
• By Batcivic on Mar 11, 2010

  I thought they did a great job of developing characters but I do admit there were places the acting could use some help. I thought most of the actors did a great job. Im agreeing with all the reviews to a small point but they succeed in bringing you into their world.

  I especially loved the history, politics and economy issues rolled into the movie. Maybe a five is high but the characters make it worth watching. Definately the buy. It captures a period of slovene history so brief I fear it will be forgotten.

  One of the characters even discusses it and the EU. lol
  Rating: 5 / 5
• By crash worship on Mar 11, 2010

  First off, this is a “film movement” movie. I wouldn’t have known about it except that when I was unemployed I went to the library to get dvd’s. After awhile I started to look for any dvd that was released from this dvd release club. The movies are from all around the world and they are mostly much better than average.

  “Spare parts” stands out in my mind because it blends the geography, economics, and history of Slovenia to give this story momentum forward in a naturalistic manner. The characters have a life of their own much like what the Dardenne brothers are doing with their own movies. Had a large distributer picked this movie up it would have become an arthouse favorite.

  If you liked “Rosetta,” “The Promise,” “The Child,” and /or “The Son” then you will certainly enjoy this film.

  Rating: 5 / 5

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