Liffe

Once again the international film festival Liffe was taking place but this year I was somewhat less impressed with the program than usually. Anyway, I made my selection of movies due to my usual criteria:

• the plot: if it sounds boring then what's the use?
• the nationality: yes i do discriminate in favor of Northern European, Czech and Asian movies and will probably see them even if the plot seems a bit too plain.
  
• the genre: strongly prefer dramas, extravagant movies, science fiction and dark comedies (the darker, the better).
  

Achilles to kame: Interesting and humorous story yet a bit too long for slightly disappointing ending. The text interventions in between different parts of the movie were completely redundant, breaking one of the main rules (text shouldn't repeat what is already said by the picture). Yet the crazy plot and interesting happening still deserves a 7.5.

Boy A - A stunning drama, unbelievably strong and touching story that got me from the very first minute (I cried like a baby). Excellent screenplay supported by skillful directing and outstanding acting of Andrew Garfield uncovers unforgiving side of the society. An absolute 10 and will definitely go to see it again.

Valu: Fresh comedy presenting chase of the supposedly dangerous wild bull in a small Indian village. It was nice to see a non-Bollywood movie with a specific kind of humor that doesn't always travel. Great refreshement that definitely deserves an 8.5.

Deti noci: I didn't like the script and even the good directing couldn't take away the bad taste of insufficient development of the main character. Of course the three "small breaks" we had to have due to the projector breakdown did kinda ruin the feeling but not as much as some girls discussing what might happen next. Could have easily lived without knowing that. I'd give it a 6.

Aruitemo aruitemo: An interesting drama about family ties and it's buried secrets, spiced up with that little touch of Japan. I loved the dialogues and subtle unspoken hints for the audience to wonder about. Solid movie that deserves a 9.

Kunsten å tenke negativt: Absolutely brilliant dark comedy served exactly the way I like them. That northern European humor surely has a very specific appeal and a way to tell the story. Bizarre, funny, entertaining. A definite 10 and a note to myself to get it on DVD.

Liffe is ending today and I'm already looking forward to see the movies I skipped during the festival. Overall impression - quite good =)

I've lost control...

Irrational behavior might not always be desirable, explainable or predictable, actually it's not any of those things most of the time. But really, what feels better: doing what you think or what you feel? Naturally I don't make all the decisions irrationally, just the important ones. Being a women I don't need any other excuse for it.

Missing Control at this years film festival was almost unforgivable, so I went to see it the moment it hit the regular cinema program. Twice. There's just something irresistible in the combination of big screen, Anton Corbijn's black & white photography and Joy Division. The film is amazing and worth every minute spent on those uncomfortable seats. Intrigued?

Liffe after 2nd week

So it's over. Finally. It has been exhausting 15 days of intense film consumption: some good, some bad and some you just want to forget before you leave the cinema. This year the number of bad films I saw was a bit higher than usual but for all that I know it could have all been just bad luck. I'll go again next year to check :) So here's what I saw:

This is England: Interesting insight through eyes of 12 year old boy about skinheads, racism, British politics and first love. Story was supposedly based on director's/writer's personal experience and I must admit it revealed some new aspects, at least to me. I'd give it an 8 but probably wouldn't go to see it again.

Jar city is an excellent story that connects crime to DNA and people's pasts. Characters and relations between them are well built plus the casting was excellent. The film is typical northern European drama and has taste of bizarreness yet specialness. I loved the gradual revealing of the story as it kept me in suspense almost until the very end. I'd give it 10 and definitely go to see it again. Yes, I have a thing for northern European films.

Even though Michael Clayton has all the typical mainstream movie elements, it delivers absolutely brilliant story. Excellent screenplay is upgraded by George Clooney's marvelous acting. The story is quite simple yet somehow complicated and therefore lovable. Great directing, great feeling after the film. I'd give it 9.5 and would see it again too.

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen was somewhat confusing. Maybe I was expecting much more from Danish/Canadian crew than foggy story about Inuits becoming Christians with maintaining the distance between the audience and the characters. Maybe I just didn't understand it or it was too arty for me. Haven't got a clue who is that Knud Rasmussen character is since it wasn't mentioned at all. I'd give it a 6 for nice photography and good idea.

Viva was horribly stereotypical. I found the main character extremely shallow and annoying, dialogs seemed like patchwork of lines taken out od 60's commercials and the story felt like it wanted to be a parody, only it wasn't. It could be just me but I didn't find any real message about sexual revolution/emancipation of women in that movie. What I understood was: Liberation makes prostitutes out of housewives and rape is OK as long as it's followed by a success in the show business. Lame. I'd give it 1.

Les Anges exterminateurs has an interesting story and some really great erotic scenes. However I failed to see angels motives, their role and drive of the main character. The ending was expected but still a bit weird and somehow unfair. I'm a bit confused, I'd give it a 5 and ask the director for additional explanation.

Le Pressentiment was extremely refreshing. For most part of the movie I wasn't able to guess what is going to happen or wasn't trying to guess at all. Lovable main character, great antagonists and I loved the whole plot about lawyer who gives up his luxurious life to become a writer. The false climax was simply brilliant and I think I'd go an see it again just for that. I'd give it 8.5.

Now I think I'll take a short off cinema recovery to give my eyes a bit of R & R. Not too long though as the next film festival will begin really soon.

Liffe after 1st week

So first week of Ljubljana's international film festival is over. Here is what impressed me most - in a good or a bad way.

The Darjeeling Limited was nice and cute. It's not what you call state of the art movie, but I'd definitely see it again. It's easygoing, fun with interesting story and characters who manage to find what they were looking for in the places, they weren't looking for it at all. It's a fair 8 with special plus to Jason Schwartzman for his co-writing skills and great role. I guess he liked his characters in I heart Huckabees and Spun so much he brought them to another movie. Well done Jason, the screenplay is excellent!

XXY was surprisingly good, considering the topic it was tackling with. No big drama, no suicides or suicide attempts and no Hollywood baggage. Not to mention great directing and photography. The main actress deserves an award for totally owning the role of 15 year old hermaphrodite. I don't think I'd see it again but I still give it an 8.

Delirious was also nice, even though it had a little bit too much of Hollywood taste as far as I am concerned. Nevertheless it had few great dialogs and good directing. I'd give it a 7 and might see it again - it's a great easy movie to light you up but that's all.

Syndroms and century was the crappiest movie I've seen since Odete. Both Jotaeater and me fell asleep during it a couple of times. The story was somehow unconnected and some frames were absolutely too long to make any point at all. Two is more than generous mark for it. I can't believe this movie is competing for an audience award.

Empties is totally different story though - not only I loved the movie, I'd go to see it again immediately. It totally had my attention from the very beginning. Haven't seen such a witty story with great characters and unbelievable charm since Czech Dream and Dark horse. I'd give it straight 10, an award of the audience and best screenplay award. It's absolutely worth it!

2 Days in Paris was refreshing: good and witty dialogs, interesting characters with nice French touch. I loved the story for its slightly political tone, however I felt a bit disappointed as Julie Delpy elegantly avoided the building up of the characters and their final confrontation by explaining it all in an off voice. It was a bit of a let down to rip the audience off what could have been the best scene in the movie when she already proved she's excellent in screenplay writing. It still deserves 8.5 and I'd probably see it again too.

Goodbye Bafana was touching enough to make me cry. It's definitely not an easy Sunday movie, nevertheless it is worth seeing, especially if you life political films. Nelson Mandela's fight for freedom reminds you about true value of things, we take for granted. It also shows how personal experience can change people's values. I'd give it 8.5 .

Non-existance

There are at least two weeks per year, when I disappear for most of my friends and family. No hanging around, no partying, no coffee chitchatting or occasional wasting of time. All my every day activities are cut down to minimum and so is my answering the phone. No, it's not preparation for a concert of my life, it's Liffe. During these two weeks I'm hiding from the world in the cinema. And what a lovely place to be indeed.

Today they start selling the tickets and I have a really hard job of careful planning how to include everything I'd like to see. Naturally I want to see all or at least most of them. Especially all Danish films and most of the Extravagance section. Then of course Perspectives, Against the wind and Focus. Avant Premiers can wait till few weeks later, when they come to regular cinema. Unless of course they're showing any of the Lars candies (gimme gimme).

Movie a day keeps the doctor away? I'll take three then!