Movie reviews

BE POLAR FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE

PLAY SCHENGEN

Watchable. A humorous short mockumentary on the EU by Gunhild Enger from Norway. I didn't laugh but the scenes reflect the problems with communication within the structure and with the policy on border control. Clever. And yes, it does explain the institution pretty well.

The film was awfully quiet but at least had big subtitles.

BLOCK OF ANIMATIONS

THE BEAST

Watchable. This Swedish pottery doll variation on Kafka's "Metamorphosis" by Marlene Rusk focuses on psychological aspects of the metamorphosis for the guy on the receiving end and his family. Not much of a story or depth though. The dolls and house decor are plain ugly.

FREEZE FRAME

Switched off. Black and white Finnish short film by Soetkin Forstegen. Workers cut out ice blocks in which various animals run which you see as if via X-ray. Nonsensical and boring.

TIGER

Watchable. The Danish offering by Pernille Kjaer uses colours for elements of the jungle and humans and black, white, grey, beige hues for the rest. The story of people's attitudes to nature and its revenge on humans is presented in a weird way. I also didn't like the drawings much.

ON AMBITION, COURTSHIP AND PROCREATION

Switched off. Geometric forms in the Danish film by Pernille Kjaer imitate mostly penis movements and a sexual intercourse. Simplistic and vulgar.

KUHINA

Switched off. This Finnish film by Jonni Männistö is about a fat kid killing animals and making fun of it. Lots of swarming insects complete the picture. Couldn't stand it visually and plot-wise. 

NOTHING HAPPENS

Watchable. Another Finnish one. This one, by Michelle and Uri Kranot, is a highly skilled artistic depiction of people surrounded by wintry nature in a park. It looks like paintings. The tale is tongue-in-cheek since gawpers gather to watch crows and not listen to baskers. The bluish palette suits the season. I didn't like the music - sounds Klezmer.

THE BUREAUCRACY MONSTER

Watchable. All I can make of it is that the Norwegian director, Thomas Simonsen Balmbra, hates paperwork. The monster is trully disgusting. The picture is weird.

ENOUGH

Watchable. This 2-minute Swedish doll short by Anna Mantzaris depicts a series of situations where people have had enough. Of various things, e.g. a beard, a baby, waiting for a bus etc. Smart. Simplistic dolls.

All the animations were short: from 2 to 12 minutes.