Seeing how there is a general movie buzz in the air today, may I add that the European Union Film Showcase premiers tomorrow night at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Centre. Now in its 20th year, the festival promises to bring us some of the latest and award winning Euro films. If you have been to the festival before, you know there are always crowd pleasers and hidden gems. 25 European countries will be represented in a slew of documentaries, animated and feature films. Special events include guest appearances by some of the filmmakers and an opening/closing reception. It's definitely worth the trip over if you're a film buff. To get the full line up go here: http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/2007/v4i6/eu.aspx
A few previews that look interesting:
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, (4 Luni, 3 saptamni se 2 zile), Romania
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Film Festival, it deals with two friends trying to arrange an abortion in Communist Romania.
The Orphanage (El Orfanato), Spain
If you saw Guillermo del Toros' Labyrinth last year, then you may want to see this as well. He served as the executive producer to this pretty creepy looking film.
Control, UK
Anton Corbijn chronicles the life of Joy Divisions lead singer Ian Curtis. The movie is based on the book by Ian's wife Deborah. The soundtrack looks stellar and the Guardian called it "the best film of the year: a tender, bleakly funny and superbly acted biopic of Curtis."
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le papillon), France
The closing night feature looks like a real tearjerker with uplifting possibilities. Based on the memoirs of French magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby that he dictated in blinks, after a stroke left him incapacitated. Get your hankies!!!!
Persepolis, France
Life before and after Iran's revolution realised in black and white animation. Sorry but I couldn’t find any previews with English subtitles so if you don't speak French – dommage!
And one of the weirdest one so far:
Taxidermia, Hungary
Sensory Overload! Bright colors, fat people and sticky sounds abound in this film about excess. Be prepared to see a sex maniac, a speed eater and a taxidermist be gross.
Other promising possibilities:
Sugartown, Greece- A documentary about the mayor of a town who organises an expedition to Russia to get brides for the all male population.
Only for Greeks: http://trailersforthemasses.blogspot.com/2007/01/sugartown-bridegrooms-2006-greek.html
A Man's Job, Finland- A man decides prostitution is better paid then stoneworking. This one looks very interesting but the only available previews were in Finnish.
In Finnish: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnOrf_m1MRU
Kings, Ireland – The First Irish language film to be entered for an Oscar.
See you there.
God loves a cheerful giver.
I've been wanting to see "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" for a long time now. The past two Romanian movies I saw were bleakly hilarious, and this one sounds promising.
Also, note that "Control" is playing at E Street starting Friday.
Yella got tons of great reviews when it was played in Germany.
http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/2007/v4i6/yella.aspx
Control review coming straight from the Viennale tomorrow.
Check back in.
Well, I personally think that if there is one film that doesn't require reviews then it is Control. A film about Joy Division, more specifically about Ian Curtis, based on a decent book by his wife, co-produced by Tony Wilson, directed by Anton Corbjin and filmed at original places...how bad could it possibly be? I already almost cried during the two minute preview.
also co-produced by his wife. i cried several times during the film (not when you'd expect) and on the way home.
missed the romanian film, and persepolis was dubbed into german here. shiesse!