European Films

• Review of the new adaptation of Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks at Variety: "Big-name German cast is aces, but helmer Heinrich Breloer struggles to lift his big-budget sudser to the level of epic tragedy. "
• Review of the Flemish multicultural dramedy Los (Cut Loose) at Variety: "An idealistic Flemish journo has a hard time putting his money where his mouth is in helmer Jan Verheyen's "Cut Loose," a dramedy that tackles hot-button topics such as euthanasia and immigrant rights from a strictly personal p.o.v." 
• Review of the Clara Schumann biopic Clara at Variety: "A conservative, workmanlike look at the emotional life of Clara Schumann, the object of affection of two of the greatest composers of the 19th century, "Clara" always fascinates but is handicapped by an almost schizophrenic portrait of the title character."
• Review of the Flemish box-office hit Loft at Variety: "The secret hideout of a group of Flemish horndogs comes under threat of exposure in "Loft," a tightly drawn, atmospheric thriller that has one false bottom too many to qualify as great."

• Film Focus: Swedish prepubescent vampire tale Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In), with an interview with the director Tomas Alfredson and producer John Nordling as well as a review of the film (interviews by Camillo de Marco and Annika Pham)
• Film Focus: German drama Jerichow, with an interview with director Christian Petzold and a review of the film that played at the Venice Film Festival

Three Romanian 30-somethings allow themselves to relive their gloriously lurid college days for one night only in Radu Muntean’s Boogie, a restrained and honest look at the embryonic state of the male midlife crisis. Boys will be boys -- or would like to be anyway, and it is this universal rather than any particularly Romanian message or setting that might make the latest film of the Romanian New Wave travel less well than titles such as 4 luni, 3 saptimani si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) and A fost, sau n-a fost? (12:08 East of Bucharest). Still, especially 30-something males and those interested in European films  aimed at the, er, thinking man will want to take a look. Boogie was shown as part of the Romanian Days event at the Transilvania International Film Festival.