VYPUSK'97/ВИПУСК '97 (GRADUATION '97)
Recommended. Very likeable characters. Well recreated reality of the 90s. A TV aerial "from Poland" - understood as high quality - is so sweet! But the main subject of this short film is loneliness of the about-40-year-olds. Chances lost professionally and personally drive them to the edge. Or at least make them do things they wouldn't have at young age. Deep psychology with fondness of the characters has created a delightful film.
ШТАНГІСТ (WEIGHTLIFTER)
Watchable. The core of this short film about a sportsman, his girlfriend, his coach and his mate is the troubled relationship with, his and hers, fathers and their impact on them as adults. He tries to make it in life but is as damaged as hers - she's used to abuse and he is aggressive. His actions are a bit erratic so hard to understand. In one of final scenes he drowns cats - I heard "Kurwa" ("Shit") and a gasp from the audience and, during the end credits, a group sigh of relief when we read: "No animals were harmed in the making of this film."
Watchable. From Gdynia Film School - the school which actually teaches film makers not to bore the viewers. It does not. Still, the story is far-fetched, both in the terms of travelling from Ukraine via Poland to Sweden for a drug rehab and regarding the policeman and the girl taking to each other. The wallet is also found miraculously.
This film was nominated in Cannes, selected out of 2000 other films, 13 totally diverse ones were shown.
The lead actress is multilingual: Polish, Ukrainian, Lemko and Boyko and similarly multi-cultural. She's from a musical school.
This film was nominated in Cannes, selected out of 2000 other films, 13 totally diverse ones were shown.
The lead actress is multilingual: Polish, Ukrainian, Lemko and Boyko and similarly multi-cultural. She's from a musical school.
MUSTAFA/МУСТАФА
Watchable. From 1944 (first the Tatars were exiled from Crimea by Stalin) to 2014 - Crimean Tatars' history in a nutshell. Presented in a variety of forms: archive footage, contemporary interviews, bits of animation and enactions with actors. Lets the layman understand the issue. Still, I'm not into the topic so it wasn't so engaging for me. I felt envious of the man though: Mustafa himself is a man of small posture but enjoying a huge respect and is very resilient to pressure.
The director was invited by activists to make the documentary, it was their idea, not his. They tried to show the picture in Russia but didn't succeed.
The director was invited by activists to make the documentary, it was their idea, not his. They tried to show the picture in Russia but didn't succeed.
KIBORGY/КИБОРГИ (CYBORGS)
Watchable. At first it appears to be just a war movie, with a group protagonist in that, but the conversations are quite in-depth and tackle the topic of what builds the national identity, on how flimsy pillars it's built in Ukraine. Part of it bears similarities with current Poland versus European Union conflict - is it best to go right preserving the national identity and creating hostilities or left giving up the nationhood? Professional cinematography, close-ups bring you close to the events.
ШЛЯХЕТННИ ВОЛОЦЮГИ (NOBLE TRAMPS)
Watchable when seen again. Lets you catch more details in the event-rich plot.
To sum up the festival, presented films contained plenty of Polish references this year. Poland is seen as a Western country, almost a paradise on earth. I had an impression that many films were scripted or directed by women - in reality only 20% but even that gave the illusion of plenty. This year's presenter, Piotr Szygalski, created a warm, open atmosphere and was polite to the audience. The atmosphere at the whole festival was good owing to the staff, even if they, just like the movie makers, were incompetent at times. The only significant minus was organising a meeting with a director and actor of a great film at the same time another movie was starting.
To sum up the festival, presented films contained plenty of Polish references this year. Poland is seen as a Western country, almost a paradise on earth. I had an impression that many films were scripted or directed by women - in reality only 20% but even that gave the illusion of plenty. This year's presenter, Piotr Szygalski, created a warm, open atmosphere and was polite to the audience. The atmosphere at the whole festival was good owing to the staff, even if they, just like the movie makers, were incompetent at times. The only significant minus was organising a meeting with a director and actor of a great film at the same time another movie was starting.
LOOK AWAY
Recommended. Not scary so hardly a horror. A psychologic drama/thriller rather. With amazing roles of India Eisley as Maria and Harrison Gilbertson as her love interest. Excellent cinematography. Set among beautiful people eating healthy food, living in large modern houses in an upper-class neighbourhood and attending a clean, well-equipped high school. Can be interpreted in different ways. The reflection in the mirror may be her true self, her dark nature, an evil creature or her biologic twin enchanted into glass. The mirror scenes captivate and give you chills since we're used to the world where the mirror shows exactly what we are. Or maybe it still does in the film? Is it better to look away? And from what? The truth? The lies we're feeding ourselves with? Our dark side? Or the light part of our personality believing in everyone's benevolence? Great music. The family not accepting their beautiful, sensitive daughter because of her perceived imperfections and her best friend bitching her out of jealousy of her boyfriend should see themselves in the mirror of the film.
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