Enmesh (Ambitious) - Ainur Askarov -Russia
The story of a young child in a rural village who dreams of stardom and lives for the weekly screening of a Bollywood film in the village hall. The film nicely juxtaposes daily routine and escapist dreams. The subtitles were such bad quality that we couldn't read them, but it is a testament to the film-makers that I still felt moved by the story without understanding any words.
Last Train (Ostatni pociąg) - Weronika Tofilska - Poland
My favourite of this batch of films, a high-quality production and engrossing, subtly moving story. Anthony's life is miserable - monotony of work, unappealing wife, drab surroundings - and only brightened by memories of his first love (the juxtaposition of the grey concrete of real life and the vibrant colour of memory is particularly effective). One of the best things about Henryk Niebudek has a face so full of character that he wouldn't need to say anything for you to identify with him. The whole film is available below:
Beyond - Gary Sofarelli -Australia (Sydney Film School)
A very atmospheric film that verbalises nothing, implying its meaning instead through cuts between a man trying to swim the entire length of a pool without breathing and images of a happy family. Visually impressive, this film won the Best International Fiction award.
Essai de Narration incoherent(e) - AUNVEL# -Germany (Hochschule für Film und Fernschem Potsdam)
Incoherent is certainly the right word for this film, which just left me bored. It felt like it was trying far too hard to be clever or unusual. I couldn't tell whether only subtitling half of the dialogue was a fault or a stylistic device, but I assume the later. Formed of cuts between mundane conversations between two friends, an angry drunk in a bar and an otherworldy woman who licks mud/oil/something disgusting off herself and later suffers excessively gory violence. Not recommended!
Pictures from www.ffreshfest.com
No comments:
Post a Comment