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Film Fluent is a full-service European-based professional film production company What can Film Fluent do for you? Once completed the film must been seen.

With combined experience of nearly 50 years in the independent film business, we can help any project at any stage in its lifecycle. Script development, finance, and pre-production budgeting and scheduling are available at the beginning. Complete production management services through shooting with 4K camera rentals available. In post, we offer a basic suite with all the top softwares available pl

us basic ADR. Post management for more sophisticated needs are a specialty. From premiere screenings to festival submissions and strategies to digital distribution and social marketing, Film Fluent wants to become a working partner in your film's success.

19/11/2023

So, in the final hours of the festival I had a few admissions left on my pass. Decided to go see Woody Allen’s 51st movie, “Coup de Chance.” Now, I have basically given up on Woody for a variety of reasons. But, final hours, grab a film, why not? At least, I could see Vittorio Storaro’s beautiful camera work.

Surprise one: the whole film is in French! With Estonian and Russian subtitles, I was out of luck. But, I did want to see the maestro’s camera work. Alas, this was surprise two. In many shots he mixed color temperatures of light. Orange-ish for interior lighting, blue-ish for exterior. Not unusual. But the differences were so pronounced and in some cases so unmotivated that I had to wonder if Vittorio was phoning this in from Italy. As for the film, I stayed long enough to realize that even with (unknown to me) French actors, Woody had assembled a group not unlike the ensemble casts from all of his films: self-absorbed, narcissistic, neurotic, adulterous reflections of the director himself. This film cured me of any further curiosity about what Woody will do in 52 and beyond. Honestly, I felt a little like Charlie Brown trying kick Lucy’s football…snookered again.

19/11/2023

If you make a film about arguably one of the most exalted names in automotive history, only makes sense to have a driver and a cruise. Adam Driver, that is and Penelope Cruz. Together they star as the eponymous Ferraris, Enzo and Laura. The is largely a slice of time about a decade after the end of WW2 when “Ferrari” would either cease production or breakthrough to become the legend.

While the film is beautiful in full wide-screen and a sound mix that puts you loudly in the driver’s seat, there was something about Driver’s Italian accent that felt as inauthentic as it was. His look was good. Same with Cruz, I’m not even sure she was attempting an Italian accent, just going with her own natural Spanish accent. And then Shailene Woodley, the “other” woman, I’m not sure she tried one much at all. Michael Mann, at 80 years of age still knows how to craft a big canvas, polished, event film. But, in the case of Ferrari, it felt like not all of the cylinders were firing.

19/11/2023

Estonia’s official submission to Oscar this year is a documentary called “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood.” It began the year winning at Sundance. So, yes. It is a very very good film.

Shot over a period of 7 years, we are introduced to the UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition of the smoke sauna. But, this is not really a film about the sauna. The sauna is one of the characters in the story. The other characters are the women who come and have these 4-8 hour long sauna sessions purging their bodies through sweat and purging their pains through confession to one another. Beautifully and sensually (absolutely NOT sexually) shot in the sauna, the true meaning of sisterhood is revealed through the steam and smoke.

19/11/2023

“The Old Oak” is the sole surviving pub in a dying (if not already dead) former coal town in northern Britain. A group is of Syrian war refugees are resettled there because the real estate is so cheap and they’ll be out of sight. The financially struggling residents if the town have strong opinions about these new residents. The bigotry feels very familiar in today’s world. But, what ultimately happens gives hope for all. The pub and it’s owner form the hub from which everything evolves. Touching and worth a watch.

19/11/2023

Time to wrap up. These last days of the festival have been a whirlwind if meetings, workshops, social events and screenings. Technically, the festival ended yesterday. But, right now I am on a 12-hour bus tour through northeastern Estonia being given by the regional film fund there. They want to show us the sights and get us to film in the region. So, let me post my final reviews.

This years festival had a special focus on films from SEE (South Eastern Europe). They opened with a Serbian film called Guardians of the Formula. Honestly, with so many films to try to see and so little time, making choices was hard. I went to see this one near the end of the festival as the film I wanted to see was sold out. Am I ever glad it was because this film was really great.

Based on real events, it recounts the story of four physicists working on a secret nuclear (bomb) reactor project in communist Yugoslavia (1958). Pushed to achieve, corners get cut and a massive radiation leak of fatal proportions is the result. The four are secretly flown to Paris and given an untested experimental treatment to try to save their lives. This is one of those films I fear many of my friends in the West will never get the chance to see. But, I really hope you can find it. It’s worth the hunt.

13/11/2023

Sorry for the delay in getting this mini-review done. As of today, I am changing gears a bit. Today we started the Industry@Tallinn phase of the festival. This is the market, networking, and learning phase. Movies are still happening and I will see a few more but now my days are filled with the real meat and potatoes.

Last night, I watched a Spanish film screening for the first time outside of Spain. “Teresa” is a re-imagining of a moment in the life of the 15th century nun, Teresa de Jesus, or more commonly known as St. Teresa of Avila. In this film she is visited by her inquisator tasked with shutting down her convent and punishing the reformer nun. The film is their dialogue as he tries to understand what makes this amazing woman tick. The film is as much a meditation as it is a narrative. The visuals are stunning and the two actors playing the leads convey so much beyond their just the dialogue. Not everyone’s cup of tea but I was fully taken in.

12/11/2023

I truly admire very few filmmakers. You know the regular suspects…Spielberg, Scorsese, Altman, Lean, Howard. But, when (if) I grow up, who I most want to emulate is the incomparably prolific and wildly funny Taika Waititi. He’s a master across the board: writer, producer, director, actor. In “Next Goal Wins” he once again does it all and with great humor and heartfelt pathos. Starring Michael Fassbender with delightful cameo appearances and a superb cast of largely unknown Pacific Island actors, this film recounts the resurrection of the abysmal national football team in American Samoa (lost to Australia 31-0). Based on true events, the story arc is not unlike that of “Cool Runnings” about the Jamaican bobsled team. Yet this story has the TaikaTwist™️ and feels fresh and real. Hopefully, you’ll laugh out loud and also get a bit misty. I did.

10/11/2023

No -festival- screening today. Instead, I took the ferry to Helsinki for the day. Why? Well, I have a cousin who lives there with his family. His oldest daughter has crafted a documentary about helicopter safety. Her dad is in the copter safety business. She works in marketing at his company. Her brother did the behind the scenes photography. Her mom is a marketing superhero. So, it was an all-in-the-family enterprise. Three big wins for me: I got to visit my wildly talented kinfolk, got to see a lovely film that helped me better understand my cousin’s business and, best of all, I got to witness the birth of a new film producer. Super proud of them all.

Tomorrow…it’s back to the darkened theaters

10/11/2023

Like a fine wine, this latest film is a great pairing. And the wine pairing metaphor is apt here. The last time Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti worked together (vintage 2009) the gave us “Sideways.”

Now, comes “The Holdovers.” Set at a tony New England boy’s prep school, it is the Christmas break and the campus us vacant…except for one boy who has been abandoned for the holiday by his Mom. Giamatti is the by-the-book stern history teacher tasked with remaining on campus to ‘babysit.’ As with most of Payne’s movies, this is a deep study into the human psyche as these two disparate humans come clashing together. Giamatti is as brilliant as ever. The script is tight. Reminds me, only a bit, of “The Breakfast Club” but with Payne’s sharp eye and ear for what makes humans tick.

09/11/2023

First feature. World premiere. All the way from Argentina. It is because of little gems like “Vera and the Pleasure of Others” that you should support your local film festival if you are a cinema-lover. This is a lovely film. Quite possibly may find a home on a streamer. But, hard to say. I’m just happy I got to see it…first.

Vera is a seemingly innocent 16 year old. Her mother is a real estate agent with many apartments for sale around town. So, Vera sees an opportunity. Using an anonymous Instagram account, she targets her school friends and rents out a vacant apartment for them to have their sexual liaisons. Business is brisk. Vera allows her imagination (and ear to the door) to nourish her own budding sexual fantasies. Without giving more away, I’ll just use the old Hollywood trope, “hijinx ensue.” Well-crafted, very convincingly acted by a 29 year-old actress(!), this tender (yet steamy) film is a fresh take on coming of age stories. Sold out crowd gave the woman and man co-directors a very enthusiastic reception.

07/11/2023

So, two more movies completed tonight. I’m a ‘mainstream movie’ kinda guy so these two films challenged me. These were not what you would call ‘popcorn flix.’

First up is “Perfect Days” from master director, Wim Wenders. This film won “Best Actor” at Cannes this year, awarded to the brilliant Takuma Takasaki. With probably less than 100 words of dialogue Takasaki delivers an actor’s master class. He portrays a simple man who cleans Tokyo’s public toilets. His meticulous simplicity and appreciation for even the smallest of things makes for a sublime meditation about what’s important in life. Riveting.

The second film, “Touched,” could not be more different. A forbidden love affair between a morbidly obese care nurse in a rehab hospital and the recently paralyzed patient starts out tenderly (though still challenging to watch) and by the end turns very, very dark. Both first-time feature actors give amazing performances (yes, the paralyzed guy is actually paralyzed in real life). These are two VERY broken people and mixed together…well. While this was difficult to watch, I couldn’t turn away.

06/11/2023

Here’s the thing about film festivals…they try to book superb films. The last one today is no exception.

I’m sure many of you have seen on Facebook or Twitter the video of an old man sitting in an audience of a TV show. The rest of the audience are the now-grown children who he helped to transport out of Czechoslovakia at the beginning of WW2. In total, Sir Nicholas Winton saved the lives of 662 Jewish children and found them foster homes in Britain. They were never able to rejoin their parents who entrusted them to Winton as most perished in the concentration camps. “One Life” recounts the events of this incredible act of humanity Sir Winton is played superbly by Sir Anthony Hopkins. This receives my 3 hanky award. I dare anyone to not cry in this film. The world is so in need of many more Nicky Wintons.

06/11/2023

Wow. Wow. WOW. This is going to be my first “must see” recommendation (so far). It’s a real heartbreak that Hollywood rarely makes movies like this anymore.

“Ezra” is a story about a young boy on the far end of the autism spectrum. His divorcing parents try so hard to cope and do what’s best for Ezra. Dad (Bobby Cannavale) is a struggling stand up. His gruff father (Robert DeNiro) is housing him during the breakup. Things with Ezra are a real struggle. I’ll say no more but Go. See. This. Movie. Cannavale gives an Oscar-worthy performance. DeNiro gives an understated knockout performance. A stellar cast and this kid! You will laugh and you will cry. And you will love this movie.

06/11/2023

“Villeneuve/Peroni” is a doc film that most certainly will appear on Netflix (my guess). If you are a fan of motor racing (F1 specifically), you will be drawn into this tragic and epic tale of ego and speed and what (and who) gets left behind. I am a fan of the sport (“Formula 1: Drive to Survive” could be the son of this movie, in a way). So, I was fascinated by this history lesson from almost 40 years ago. This is the first of two Ferrari movies I’ll be seeing.

06/11/2023

So, big day of screenings today.

First up…”Dancing Queen” is a Norwegian film in the children’s film competition. I liked this film. It was touching. Mostly due to the sincerity of the children in the main roles (and a shout out to Grandma). Sad truth is, however, this film was predictable from the start. While trying to be original, we’ve all seen “Sixteen Candles” at this point. If you find it on a streamer (frankly, kind of doubtful) it’s worth a watch if you’ve nothing else to do.

Next review…a documentary! In the theater now waiting…

05/11/2023

Okay, tonight’s film was a pleasant surprise. It’s called “Theater Camp.” Wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it. First, a little backstory…my introduction to the performing arts was as a theater kid (thanks, Mom). Until i turned 18, i was involved with community theater in Austin, TX. So, a film about youngsters in theater was going to have to deliver the goods.

“Theater Camp” has a slightly derivative feeling of Christopher Guest’s “Waiting for Guffman.” But, it is less glossy and that’s a good thing. Originating as a short film, this hilarious little film features a terrific cast of actual theater kids who are wildly talented. The adults are a bit cartoonish but in a good way. When I saw Will Ferrell’s name buried in the list of producers, I could feel his hand. If you love funny. Or, love theater. Or, love sweet, you’ll love “Theater Camp.”

05/11/2023

So, saw my first two films at PÖFF (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival). They were so excellent and unique, I’ve decided to write a short review of each film I watch (I’ll avoid spoilers).

First up, “Pot au Feu” with Juliette Binoche directed gently by Tran Anh Hùng. This is a languid summer meal in turn of the century (19th to 20th) rural France. A touching bittersweet story of love, food (so much food), profound loss, heartbreak and recovery. Yes, my eyes were a bit moist at the end. Slow but lovely.

Next was another period piece (same time frame). “Poor Things” Starring Emma Stone (utterly brilliant), Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Adapted from Alasdair Gray’s novel. If you have ever seen the Luis Buñuel short, “Un Chien Andalou” you’ll understand my analogy. This film is like Buñuel and Boris Karloff had a baby. That baby grows up to marry Jules Verne. They do a WHOLE lot of acid and then reimagine “Frankenstein.” This is as high-concept as a movie can get and remain enjoyable. An o**y of grotesque absurdism. And, damn funny.

30/10/2023

So, busy year for us. Cannes in May. Short film shoot in September. And, wrapping up with industry@Tallinn as part of the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). I'll be posting some updates about our upcoming film projects in the near future.

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