HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA (Germany 2010) ****
Directed by Werner Herzog and Dmitry Vasyukov

German Master director Herzog has recently turned into making documentaries in recent years.  His latest HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA is another yet fascinating piece about people that are strange to the normal world.

THE SALT OF LIFE (Italy 2011) ***
Directed by Gianni Di Gregorio

THE SALT OF LIFE is a bittersweet little Italian movie about old age in which nothing really happens.  It is curious why a film like this get released when other foreign hits (say France’s major commercial hit INTOCHABLES) remain untouched.

LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME (Canada 2009) **
Directed by Mark Hug and May Charters

Written, directed and starring Mark Hug and May Charters, LOVE IN A DANGEROUS TIME is a small budget ok made little romance that is stuck in smallville just as its two leads are stuck in small town mentality.

THE VANISHING SPRING LIGHT (China/Canada 2010) ***
Directed by Xun Yu (Fish)

Supposedly the first of a 4-part series (wonder what the other 3 are about), THE VANISHING SPRING LIGHT deals with one traditional family that has continued the ancient Chinese way of life despite China’s modernizations.

BULLY (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Lee Hirsch

It’s a tough world for kids in term of bullying.  There is always one kid on the block tougher and bigger.  BULLY tackles the problem with bullying outlying certain solutions by focusing on 56 victims.