An under-appreciated and under-read non-fiction account of NGO aid workers throwing themselves into - and becoming addicted to - the most desperate world humanitarian crises, the novel Emergency Sex (and other Desperate Measures) has moved me since first discovering it at a bookshop in Kenyatta Airport, Nairobi. This movie nails the emotion, the frustration, the passion, the resignation and the endurance of some of our worlds' most unheralded heroes. A strong recommend.

With a perfectly dramatic opening and stylish graphics this looked very promising - then the foolish dialogue for some overly simplistic characters begins to filter through, eroding the impact somewhat. I might imagine the original novel by Paula Farias, based on her experiences as an Aid worker in the field of war, could offer a better treatment of this important topic. But, Spanish screenwriter/director Fernando Leon de Aranoa, tends to choose a somewhat clichéd juvenile approach to the otherwise thoughtful, often nasty, situations. Some scenes work well while others languish in overstretched simplicity. If any solid observances come out of this work it's the telling ineptness of the U.N. ('United Nothing' as these writers aptly label it). The cast is attractive and the cinematography is of the higher calibre. Out of several selections of 'era' music, the most moving is a curious version of Pete Seeger's 60's anti-war ballad "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" sung by Marlene Dietrich. This imparts a stronger feel for the subject - lending a better impression to the overall movie than it fully deserves. Worth a look for its depiction of the cruel aspects of modern, international political warfare and the crushing impact it has on those living amongst the carnage. It's set towards the end of the Yugoslav wars and as we are being told here, rope is a scarce commodity, as it's mostly used to hang people. Not a great deal of fun in this so-called 'comedy'.

Four things appealed to me about this film. There was relatively little profanity. I don't recall a single gunshot, and there was no car chase or gratuitous nudity; in fact there was no nudity at all. In an age where it is rare to find a movie with these qualities, I should give it a 7. But I won't. This director has talent and I hope he ups his game. I see that I need to come up with a few more lines of text for an acceptable post. One item I enjoyed was the playful criticism of the UN efforts, or lack thereof, to aid in war torn countries. I also enjoyed their dependence on locals to do their work. The characters showed a respect for the people they were trying to help.

A Perfect Day (2016) is a great comedy-drama film, lead by prominent performances. Based on true events, 'A Perfect Day' serves as a sharply made war-time black comedy. The ever-so-charming Benicio Del Toro does an excellent job as the lead role.Fernando León de Aranoa also does an stellar job directing this film. The script is well written and witty. What I liked the most about the film was its social commentary on war. The dark and twisted humor also worked for me. It is quite obvious that the film is inspired by the style of the original M.A.S.H. The biggest complaint I have about the film is the narrative. It is very messy at points. Other than that, 'A Perfect Day' serves as intelligent entertainment.