Confetti (U)
Directed by Ann Hu
★★★★

BASED on writer-director and Chinese Academy Award-winner Ann Hu’s own story is an understated yet powerful drama about an illiterate woman who travels from China to the US with her nine-year-old dyslexic daughter to get her the schooling she needs shines a much needed spotlight on dyslexia and the obstacles that those that have it face.

The film, a US-China co-production, asks the question how far would you go as a parent to help your child? On learning that her daughter Meimei (Harmonie He) has dyslexia and there are no special schools anywhere in China that cater for her needs Lan (Zhu Zhu), an illiterate school cleaner, decides to look abroad.

The youngster who is very bright is dubbed stupid and made fun of by other kids in her class because she cannot read or write. Her mother, who is also dyslexic (as are apparently one in 10 people worldwide) and has been keeping her illiteracy a secret all her life, refuses to allow Meimei to follow in her footsteps and be treated as up-normal.

With the assistance of a US teacher (George C Tronsrue) at Meimei's school, they travel to New York where they stay with his friend Helen (a brilliant Amy Irving), a wheelchair-bound writer, who reluctantly agrees to help them.

While local public schools cater for special needs pupils Lan and Meimei find that the reality is they cannot provide the actual attention and care she needs.

When they finally find the perfect school Lan is forced to jump endless hurdles and financial hoops to get Meimei in there. It is a minefield resulting from Lan’s immigrant status and her language difficulties.

Confetti is a heartfelt and empowering film about the love of a mother and daughter with captivating performances from He who steals the film and Chinese actress Zhu as her unrelenting mum.

Hopefully Confetti will prove a springboard for discussion and a wider understanding about dyslexia and how greatly gifted people who have it are.
 

Out in cinemas October 21

Decision to Leave (15)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
★★★★

SOUTH KOREAN film-maker Park Chan-wook’s first film in six years is a deliciously seductive romantic crime thriller which reels you in slowly.

Set in South Korea it follows detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) who is called in to investigate the death of a businessman in a fall from a mountain.

He soon begins to suspect that the dead man’s beautiful wife Seo-rae (Tang Wei) may know more than she admits. As his investigation progresses so do his feelings for Seo-rae to the point of complete obsession the fact that he’s married adds to the intrigue.

Intoxicating and stylish this fascinating thriller has a Hitchcockian aura about it which brings Vertigo to mind, and the subtle study of loss which will keep you guessing until the end.

Out in cinemas October 21

Black Adam (12A)
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
★★★

AFTER more than 10 years of efforts to bring the Detective Comic (DC) anti-hero Black Adam to the big screen Dwayne Johnson has realised his dream in a role he was born to play.

Johnson brings all his screen star appeal to former slave Teth Adam who after nearly 5,000 years being imprisoned for using his new super powers for vengeance is inadvertently freed by a freedom fighter and single mother Adrianna (Sarah Shahi).

The action takes place in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Kahndaq which is being run and terrorised by the Intergang but which Black Adam has no interest in liberating.

Indestructible and built like a brick outhouse (much like Johnson himself) Black Adam’s appearance attracts the attention of the Justice Society, led by Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan looking like Don Quixote) and Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), who capture him.

This is a non stop action packed film in which an enraged and humourless Black Adam destroys almost everyone in his wake (mostly villains) without a second thought.

Johnson plays him to perfection not cracking a smile once while Brosnan brings a lightness of touch and sophistication as the doc who can see the future.

The mid end credits scene suggests a sequel is on the cards.

Out in cinemas October 21