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Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna
Director: Carlos Cuaron
Category: Foreign
Rated: R

Beto (Diego Luna) and Tato (Gael Garcia Bernal) Verdusco are brothers who work at a banana plantation and also play soccer for the village team. Nicknamed “Tough” because of his personality and football style, Beto dreams of becoming a professional soccer player; Tato’s dream is to be a famous singer, and both share the dream of building a house for their mother, Elvira (Dolores Heredia). They have a change in luck when “Batuta,” a soccer talent scout, discovers them accidentally. Tato is the first to move to the big city where he becomes the star goal scorer for the prestigious Deportivo Amaranto. His baroque playing style earns him the nickname of “Corny.” Although Beto feels he has been betrayed and left behind, he soon travels to Mexico City to become the goalkeeper for Atletico Nopaleros (Nopaleros Team). At the peak of glory, they forget all animosity, although it does not last long. At the very real possibility of fulfilling all of their dreams, the siblings must face an innate rivalry as well as their dreams, the siblings must face an innate rivalry as well as their own demons and limitations. Beto is a gambler and allows his addiction to drag him down. Tato is unable to recognize his true talents and squanders every opportunity by pursuing a false idea of celebrity status. The dream seems to slip through their fingers. And it is at their worst moment that the brothers find forgiveness trying to help each other while casting headlong towards their individual destiny. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: *** (out of four)
Rolling Stone: *** (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

Starring: Francois Begaudeau
Director: Laurent Cantet
Category: Foreign
Rated: PG-13

Francois and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. As amusing and inspiring as the teenaged students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher’s enthusiasm for the low-paying job. Francois insists on an atmosphere of respect and diligence. Neither stuffy nor severe, his extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Rolling Stone: ***1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: ***1/2 (out of four)

Overall: ***1/2 (out of four)

Starring: Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze
Director: Guillaume Canet
Category: Foreign
Rated: Not Rated

Based on Harlan Coben’s international best selling thriller about pediatrician Alexandre Beck who still grieves the murder of his beloved wife Margot Beck eight years earlier. When two bodies are found near the scene of the crime, the police reopen the case and Alex becomes a suspect again. The mystery deepens when Alex receives an anonymous e-mail with a link to a video clip that seems to suggest Margot is somehow still alive and a message to “Tell No One”. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: *** (out of four)
New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
Rolling Stone: ***1/2 (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein
Director: Philippe Claudel
Category: Foreign
Rated: PG-13

Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) and Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) are sisters. The film begins with Lea, the younger sister by fifteen years, picking Juliette up at the airport. We soon realize that the two sisters are almost complete strangers to each other. Juliette has just been released from prison after serving a long sentence. Lea was still a teenager when Juliette, a doctor, was sent off to prison. Lea contacted Juliette when she was released and suggested that Juliette come to live with her. Juliette had no particular desire to see her sister again. Luc (Serge Hazanavicius), Lea’s husband, is quite reserved, almost hostile, about Juliette’s presence under their roof. Luc and Lea have two adopted Vietnamese daughters, who are 8 and 3 years old. Luc’s father, Papy Paul (Jean-Claude Arnaud) also lives in the house. He’s a charming old man who spends all of his time reading since a stroke deprived him of the power of speech. Life together isn’t easy to begin with. Juliette has to relearn certain basics. The world has moved on and she often seems confused. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

New York Post: *** (out of four)
Rolling Stone: ***1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: *** (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

Starring: Karl Markovics, Au gust Diehl
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky
Category: Foreign
Rated: R

“The Counterfeiters” is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon “Sally” Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. When thrown into a concentration camp, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: ***1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: *** (out of four)

Overall: ***1/2 (out of four)