Desperate Living ëSchizoí Depicts Hope for Teen in Bleak Surroundings of Kazakhstan by Ky N. Nguyen ìSchizo,î Guka Omarovaís debut feature, may well be the first film from Kazakhstan to receive a theatrical release in Washington, D.C. (Occasionally, Kazakh films have had repertory screenings, including a small retrospective at the National Gallery of Art.) Omarovaís mentor, Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov (ìPrisoner of the Mountainsî), produced and co-wrote the striking coming-of-age story. In Michelangelo Antonioni-like fashion, Omarova showcases the empty beauty of Almaty, the Kazakh capital. The bleak landscape is a metaphor for the lives of its poor inhabitants, struggling for survival. Yet Omarova injects a bit of hope into the proceedings, as in the recent ìVodka Lemon,î set in another former Soviet bloc country, Armenia. And thereís plenty of action to liven up the proceedings, just like in Hollywood mafia dramas. Dim-witted 15-year-old Mustafa (Olzhas Nusuppaev), nicknamed Schizo by his classmates, looks up to Sakura (Eduard Tabyschev), his motherís boyfriend. Sakura gets Schizo to find recruits for his illegal bare-knuckle boxing. When Schizo delivers a dying fighterís proceeds to the manís girlf riend, Zinka (Olga Landina), it sparks a May-December romance. ìSchizo (Shiza)î (Russian with subtitles; 86 min.) is now playing at Landmarkís E Street Cinema. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. ëWalk on Waterí: Going Native Undercover With ìWalk on Water,î New York-born Israeli director Eytan Fox (ìYossi and Jaggerî) continues his exploration of homosexual issues embedded within Israeli society, particularly the military and intelligence services. This time, he throws in everything but the kitchen sink, adding to the mix the Jewish-Palestinian conflict, international terrorism, legacy of the Holocaust, dehumanization of enemies, and loss of loved ones. Handsome, ice-cold Mossad agent Eyal (Lior Ashkenazi) is assigned to infiltrate the circle of a dying Nazi war criminal. Posing as a Tel Aviv tour guide, Eyal befriends his targetís liberal grandchildren, who are working on an Israeli kibbutz. Eyalís growing relationship with the siblings, effervescent Pia (Carolina Peters) and Axel (Knut Berger), makes him re-evaluate his beliefs, especially when Axel takes him to a gay bar, leading to a confrontation with a Palestinian Arab. The film uses gentle humor to complement the incongruity of the situations depicted in the story. It succeeds with fine acting and character development, managing to personalize some grand concepts on an individual level. That strength overcomes some shortcomings in the narrative structure, particularly the Nazi subplot. ìWalk on Water (LaLehet Al HaMayim)î (English, Hebrew, German and Arabic with subtitles; 104 min.) is now playing at Landmarkís E Street Cinema. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Danny Boyle Makes ëMillionsí British director Danny Boyle has described the visually dazzling ìMillionsî as ìTrainspottingî meets ìAmÈlie.î Evolving from ìTrainspotting,î Boyle skillfully adapts his kinetic film grammar to artfully depict a childís perspective. ìMillionsî manages the tricky balance required to be a crowd-pleaser for kids as well as for adults. Damian, a pious 7-year-old boy (Alex Etel), finds millions of pounds by the railroad tracks. As the currency will become worthless following the impending conversion to the euro, he has to spend it in a hurry. Inspired by visions of saints, the youth haphazardly tries to give it all away to the poor. Meanwhile, his older brother Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon) has more capitalist ideas and worries about being conspicuous, especially to the bad guys. Etelís charming earnestness, innocence and calmness center the chaos surrounding him. His conversations with saints are totally believable, as far as movie logic goes. Yet the moral teachings donít seem forced when combined with Boyleís sarcastic humor. One memorable scene nonchalantly shows a saint smoking a cigarette. ìMillionsî (English; 97 min.) is now playing at Cinema Arts, Landmarkís Bethesda Row, and Loews Georgetown. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Truth and Reconciliation ìIn My Country,î from veteran British director John Boorman, depicts South Africa during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings that followed the collapse of Apartheid. Boorman paints a sensitive portrait of a nation undergoing social re-engineering. Its well-meaning story is somewhat marred by improbable coincidences, stock characters and an abrupt interracial romance. Leads Samuel L. Jackson and Juliette Binoche, always reliable, deliver strong performances despite the shortcomings of the script. The graphic details of the abuses and torture committed during Apartheid, recounted verbally during testimony, take on a new perspective when depicted in this fashion. Boorman makes interesting commentary on the role of the media in depicting history. Washington Post reporter Langston Whitfield (Jackson), an African-American, is sent to cover the hearings. His preconceived notions lead to a clash with liberal Afrikaner poet-journalist Anna Malan (Binoche)ómodeled after Antjie Krog, whose memoir served as the filmís source material. With the help of Annaís black sound engineer Dumi (Menzi Ngubane), the feuding pair reconciles and becomes close. On his own, Whitfield interviews Col. De Jager, the prototypical evil police chief (Brendan Gleeson). ìIn My Countryî (English and Afrikaans with subtitles; 104 min.) is now playing locally, including Cinema Arts. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Repertory Notes AFI Silver The American Film Instituteís Silver Theatre offers an almost embarrassing plethora of cinematic riches. ìMaverick Classicist: Bertrand Tavernierî (April 1-18) features Tavernier in person with the D.C. premiere of ìHoly Lolaî on April 15. ìCherry Blossom Cinemaî (April 8-12) showcases the D.C. premieres of Takashi Kitanoís ìDollsî and Kiyoshi Kurosawa's ìBright Future.î Other great series include: ìThe Complete Feature Films of Andrei Tarkovskyî (April 16-28), ìGolden Years: The Later Films of Luis BuÒuelî (April 15-May 31), ìJohn Le CarrÈ on Filmî (April 24-May 5), and ìDemyís Monde: The World of Jacques Demyî (April 29-May 12). ((301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/Silver) Filmfest DC Filmfest DC, the 19th annual Washington DC International Film Festival, returns from April 13 to 24. Chinese and Indian films are highlighted with the theme ìFrom Beijing to Bollywood.î On April 15, Filmfest DC also participates in the ìSelling Democracyî series (see Goethe-Institut). ((202) 628-FILM, www.filmfestdc.org) National Gallery of Art ìCabaret and CafÈî (April 3-10), showcasing the over-the-top nightlife of fin-de-siËcle Paris, focuses on early cinema selections but includes Baz Luhrmannís 2001 ìMoulin Rouge.î ìThe Absurd World of Kira Muratovaî (April 23-May 8) provides an in-depth look at the original Russian directorís work, featuring three U.S. premieres. April 17ís screening of ìAsphaltî is presented in conjunction with Filmfest DC and the Goethe-Institut. ((202) 842-6799, www.nga.gov/programs/film.htm) Goethe-Institut ìFrom Hollywood to Berlinî (April 4-11) features post-WWII American films set in Berlin, including German ÈmigrÈ Billy Wilderís ìA Foreign Affairîóbanned in Berlin by the occupying Americans. ìSelling DemocracyóFilms of the German Marshall Fund, 1948-1953î (April 15-18) features propaganda films banned in the United States until a change in U.S. law in 1990. A symposium takes place on April 18 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. ((202) 289-1200, www.goethe.de/washington) Bruno Ganz Retrospective Complementing the theatrical release of ìDownfall,î from April 25 to May 11, a retrospective of German actor Bruno Ganz (born to Swiss-Italian parents) will be screened at the Goethe-Institut, the Embassy of France and the National Gallery of Art ñwith support from the Embassy of Switzerland and the Italian Cultural Institute. ((202) 944-6091), www.la-maison-francaise.org/en_cinejav.htm) Freer Gallery of Art The third annual ìCherry Blossom Anime Marathonî runs on April 2. A highlight of ìFilms on Games/Games on Film: Four from Japanî (April 15-29) is Kon Ichikawaís ìTokyo Olympiadî on April 17. ((202) 357-2700, www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp) *See International Film Clips for detailed film descriptions. Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.