HOUSE OF GUCCI

Recommended. It starts with cinematography looking as if the film was from 1978 when the action begins. Star cast sees Lady Gaga and Adam Driver in the leading roles and Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Jared Leto in supporting ones. Director Ridley Scott is in top form as he tells the story of a woman who lost her senses first conniving to promote her husband in the clan, next trying to hang onto the heir to the Gucci empire. She's not the only one to blame. Never wrong a woman, as they say. The brilliant line: "Father, Son and the House of Gucci" has a double meaning in the story. Yet the movie has a lucid plot. The events are accompanied by well-matching music whether it's dynamic pop or sombre opera. The rich and the famous act the rich and the famous and the plot keeps you in suspense.

DONNE MOI DES AILES (SPREAD YOUR WINGS)

Watchable. Polish dubbing sounds so warm and natural you barely notice it's a French-Norwegian co-production. This actors' film is very informative ornithologically and offers plenty of air views of barren Norwegian landscapes. The land's cloud-clad and foggy so it's not really impressive. The tale is simple and the main storyline predictable.

BENEDETTA

Recommended. An erotic movie about nuns? Paul Verhoeven does pull it off. Who else would? The "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls" creator has made a career out of racy content. This time the provocative thinker chucks his hat in the ring saying what other people are thinking about the Church and nuns. His approach is a lot more liberal than his predecessors'. It's already the third burning at the stake at cinemas this year, after "The Reckoning" and "Lux Æterna". This one's the best of the three and it's based on facts - quite accurately.To the point he never makes it clear if she's cunning or a saint. Or both? Verhoeven has a mercifully realistic understanding of the timeline dynamics of human relationships. But also of a lockdown during an epidemic, suppressed sexuality, sadism towards women, a woman being a sex predator. While based on historical facts, it can be viewed as an allegory of modern-day conflicts. Very entertaining: with suspense, intrigues, sex scenes, visual effects, but with serious undertones. Curvy Virginie Efira stars in the leading role.

ALINE

Recommended. Céline Dion's biography: informative, imaginatively presented, even hilarious at times, but most importantly totally engaging even if you've never been a fan. Superbly written, directed and acted by Valérie Lemercier as the singer. 

UKRAINA! FILM FESTIVAL

This year I watched everything online, on mojeekino.pl, in spite of the hybrid form of the event. I skipped the three I had seen and reviewed here before: "The Earth is Blue As an Orange", "U311 Черкаси" (U311 Cherkasy) and "Носоріг" ("Rhino")

МОЯ ВІЙНА (INNER WARS)

Watchable. This year's festival continues observing the people fighting in the ongoing war. It talks about war invalids and deceased ones. The bits where the protagonists react to the fact of filming them are needless, as are protracted passages between the scenes. Still, in spite of the poor concept for the documentary, it's worth learning what the Ukrainian war looks like. It's certainly not what one imagines.

РОЗИ. ФІЛЬМ - КАБАРЕ (ROSES. FILM-CABARET)

Recommended. Dakh Daughters enthrall. These petite girls have powerful voices and are amazing actresses and singers. Their costumes, make-ups, hairstyling, decorations, large scale sculptures and other visual effects are stunning. Their shows, often political, draw crowds. I'm just happy that in Poland I could see them at least in this musical documentary featuring fragments of their spectacles.

Polish subtitles were white, English greyish white and much smaller, barely legible even up close. At least both films had good sound volume.

MYSTERE A SAINT-TROPEZ (DO YOU DO YOU SAINT-TROPEZ)

Recommended. Starts with a catchy tune and there are more to come. Bright light of Cote d'Azure, the rich and playful, extravagant attires, a residence with a pool and plenty of gags. Some scenes are hilarious e.g. when Boulin nods off just before revealing the culprit's identity. The finale appears to announce a sequel, possibly set in Portofino where the baron and his wife are going. After all, the inspector has 3 days to catch the culprit's partner in crime. 

UKRAINA! FILM FESTIVAL

СІЛЬ FROM BONNEVILLE (SALT FROM BONNEVILE)

Recommended. I was astonished by the opening: black and white footage from decades ago. No, I did not mistake films. And archive footage returns later. But the documentary is contemporary and, even though I know nothing about motorcycles, whether modern or vintage, the story of two Ukrainians following their dream is uplifting and the cinematography outstanding. The film offers numerous tantalising views of the US, all breath-takingly shot.

Big white subtitles on black, yet transparent, background enable watching and reading from a distance. 

STOP - ЗЕМЛЯ (STOP-ZEMLIA)

Watchable. A complete portrayal of secondary school students' lives: school - looks like at least they teach them something useful in biology in Ukraine, friends, family, future choices, bodily changes, emotions. A bit protracted at times and with no beginning or ending but with decent music. The film is so realistic and contains to-the-camera utterances that it's almost a documentary. The music and the games they play are different from Polish ones so it's interesting for cultural knowledge. Also, it's quite warm. The bunch can rely on one another at all times. 

ЗЕМЛЯ ІВАНА (IVAN'S LAND)

Recommended. An idyllic village, Ivan's lovely naive paintings, loving dogs and kittens, natural living, artisan toys. At night his house looks like a fairy-tale hut. The artist is an admirably positive-thinking person. Soothing.

Too quiet and too small subtitles.

ЦЕЙ ДОЩ НІКОЛИ НЕ СКІНЧИТЬСЯ (THIS RAIN WILL NEVER STOP)

Watchable. This black and white documentary is a collection of impressions from Ukraine with a twist: some of inhabitants are Kurdish refugees from Syria. Little information is provided and it comes exclusively from the protagonists' conversations. Slow-paced but the spate of images is evocative enough. As for the title, a flash flood hinders going back to the country of origin.

Big subtitles, Polish only, on black transparent background.

CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN ANIMATION SET

ВІЙНА, ЩО ЗМІНИЛА РОНДО (THE WAR THAT CHANGED RONDO)

Recommended. A delightful land of a balloon-shaped person and a similar dog, with singing flowers - you just wish you could live there - destroyed by a war and then being rebuilt. Splendidly presented.

ТЕМПЕРАТУРА СПАЛАХУ

Watchable. A simply drawn story of love, running from anger, despair and a helping hand. Nothing special but nice.

НЕПОТРІБНІ РЕЧІ (UNNECESSARY THINGS)

Recommended. Science fiction based on my favourite author's short story - "The Old Curiosity Shop" by Robert Sheckley. The animation's superb, in the style typical for a sci-fi crime riddle, the story's tricky of course, as usual with this writer.

Я ДАВНО ХОТІВ ЛІТАТ (MY DREAM FLIGHT)

Watchable. A tale of family love disguised as science fiction. Engaging even though the animation style implies a children's cartoon and is on the ugly side. The family is shown delightfully warmly. 

ВІДПОВІДАЛЬНИЙ ГЕРОЙ (THE RESPONSIBLE HERO)

Watchable. Top-notch graphics and music theme, directly deriving from "Superman" but with an incomprehensible story. I've seen it twice and still don't get it.

ПРИМОСТИВСЯ МІСТ ДО МІСТА (BRIDGE TO THE CITY)

Watchable. Folk art and music in an inventive animation with no story to speak of.

ТИГР БЛУКАЄ ПОРУЧ (TIGER IS STROLLING AROUND)

Watchable. Admirably made out of trash brought back to life, it's a psychological film on self-deprecating thoughts. Sensible but artistically unsophisticated.

ЕМПАТІЯ (EMPATHY)

Watchable. A black and white animation with so many allegorical representations it's easier to understand emotionally than intellectually.

CATnBAT - ЕВОЛЮЦІЯ

Watchable. Simply drawn in geometrical shapes characters, in a handful of shades of white and grey and a tricky tale of human nature.

ГЛИБОКА ВОДА (DEEP WATER) 

Watchable. Drawn with quite simple lines unusual story, sadly a bit on the obscene side.

PAPIER-MACHE

Watchable. You can learn how papier-mâché is made. However, the visual story is incongruous with the narrative.

The 11 short animations represent a variety of techniques and subjects. Ukrainian animation has developed over the last few years impressively.

Я ПРАЦЮЮ НА ЦВИНТАРІ (I WORK AT THE CEMETARY)

Watchable. The gangster comedy parts are quirky and with some hilarious bits, e.g. when a chap rings to order for 6 people and realises it''s a cemetery, not a restaurant. However the drama about fatherhood and coping with a loss mars the fun. 

Clearly visible subtitles.

ІЗ ЗАВ’ЯЗАНИМИ ОЧИМА (BLINDFOLD)

Watchable. Watchable. A drama about living with a war in the backyard. The fact the lead woman is an MMA fighter doesn't make it a sports movie. No, it drags, there's next to none adrenaline, instead some romanticism, e.g. a guy (handsome Oleh Shulha) keeping half his shelves in the flat empty for his future other half, and a touching finale.

RIVALE (RIVAL)

Recommended. An engaging drama with a realistic story which puts a new angle on economic migration. Part of the plot is shocking but presented gently and plausibly.

MADRES PARALELAS (PARALLEL MOTHERS)

Recommended. Almodóvar's favourite actresses, typical use of colour in interiors, expressive acting are here. The plot is gripping like a thriller: deception, hiding a secret, suspense glue you to the screen. The film's relatively quiet and balanced yet ultimately profoundly emotional. Penélope Cruz is utterly convincing throughout. This story kind of sumps up why Almodóvar's creations are Spanish worlds without men but with strong women.

EL BUEN PATRON (THE GOOD BOSS)

Recommended. The Spanish Oscar candidate follows in the footsteps of "기생충"("Parasite") in terms of tackling the predicament of the lower class and the integrity of company managers. The story's presented from the boss's point of view. One using smoke and mirrors expertly. A plot full of twists will keep you interested in this tricky tale. How many weights need to be placed on a scale to achieve the equilibrium? Heisenberg's principle, often mentioned by the boss, states there's a limit in the accuracy of predicting the momentum or position of a particle. Therefore what you expect to happen does not. Even Javier Bardem acts good-natured - a U-turn from his famous ruthless villain roles. The final scene is razor-sharp. His subordinate's ambiguous gesture is spot on. 

SEANCE

Recommended. A supernatural slasher with some elite public school critique, great acting, an engaging plot and a superb twist of action explaining the killings. Entertaining and smart, e.g. when the girl is instructed to "hit him one more time" - clearly plays on the slasher kind recurring motif. Fluid genre-wise.  

PLANETA SINGLI. 8 HISTORII

TEST

Recommended. Damn smart, each line is astute, the episode written by Błażej Dzikowski is hilarious, perfectly acted, with a great music choice. I'm smitten.

DETEKTOR

Recommended. An episode with a great twist of action, lots of humorous banter in the first half and a hilarious analysis of dating website behaviours in the second. Damn smart. Perfectly scripted and directed by Michał Chaciński. Masza Wągrocka and Antoni Królikowski excel in the leading roles, but also Konrad Eleryk is brilliant as the younger policeman. 

Poor volume hindered watching. Even worse were disappearances of episodes on my account: once it was there, another time it was gone. Canal+ support didn't work at night when I needed it. 

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 

KRUDTTONDEN (POWDER KEG)

The screening was preceded by a recording of the director's introduction to the film explaining how it originated and was much needed. Basically he used "Krudttønden" as a form of therapy.

Watchable. The set-up, where the events leading to a terrorist attack see daily lives of four people whose roads are to cross on the fatal day, was promising. But the movie's poorly written and directed. Excessive close-ups are pointless. Most dialogues are either awfully mundane or tediously philosophical. Even if it's realistic, it's boring - not a way to make a movie about a terrorist attack. It could have been a captivating thriller, it is a protracted drama. Wasted potential.

Finally a festival where the English and the Polish versions of the subtitlres were the same. Usually at festivals Polish and English translations diverge and I don't know which one to read. Shame so many people weren't wearing masks and one was even coughing all the time. 

JUL PA KU TOPPEN (CHRISTMAS AT CATTLE HILL)

Watchable. Wonderful for its Christmas feel, glittering snow, an engaging story with a gnome and festive preparations. Unfortunately it's not quite clear who is who and why they do the tasks they do. But it's Pauline's rudeness that detracts from the pleasure the most. I loved the music over the end credits.

FAR FROM THE TREE

Recommended. Disney short preceding "Encanto". The little tale about raccoons is a simply drawn but deeply moving animation about motherly love. The kit is cute, the story beautifully shows how tenderness mixes with anger in the upbringing process when the parent is trying to protect the kit from dangers. A little gem.

ENCANTO 

Watchable. The opening dazzles you with a myriad of colours, fluid dance moves and shine. If only the action matched the surroundings. The story commences with a promise of magic. It does deliver but the tempo wanes after a while, mostly because of musical insertions, especially that all songs sound the same and you just wish they limited their number. Still, the family tale is pleasing to the eye. The story feels contrived but is on the warm side so you can enjoy it in spite of those little drawbacks. In Poland only a dubbed 2D version will be at the cinemas. That's a shame because the songs in particular aren't impressive in Polish.

AINBO (AINBO - SPIRIT OF THE AMAZON)

Watchable. This Peruvian/Dutch/German co-production is a bog-standard adventure animation for children. The cartoons are colourful, with various textures and Disneyesque shapes yet nothing exceptional. The story of a courageous girl, a deceitful intrigue, a quest to save the village, an evil white man bulldozing the jungle for gold and lovely sidekicks of the protagonist is consistent, enjoyable yet trite. There's some decent vocal work to enjoy.

LE LOUP ET LE LION (THE WOLF AND THE LION)

Recommended. Mai Juin Productions has a lion cub meowing in the motion logo. Cute animals, tantalising views of Canadian forest, top-notch sound, sometimes coming from the sides, sweeten the bitter, though gripping and emotional, story of humans' attitude to animals. In Polish cinemas it's available only dubbed in Polish. 

TRANSATLANTYK FILM FESTIVAL

1-5 December at KinoGram in Warsaw - cinema only, no online version. The cinema has been designed to resemble US cinemas from the 50s: with space and soft couches. There are just 532 seats on 1300 square meters. Kaczmarek's Oscar statuette was placed in screening room 7 during the festival opening. 12 films on offer were national Oscar candidates for the international category and about 20 English-language movies heralded as strong candidates for the award. "Belfast" about youth opened and "Boiling Point" about decline closed the event. Festival tickets cost 15 zl only - a stark contrast to the overpriced bar. I saw plenty of movies there, took notes on the spot and the reviews are coming shortly.

LACCI (THE TIES)

Watchable. This Italian drama about marital infidelity depicts the issue from all angles demonstrating one by one the point of view of everyone involved. Good music is a big plus. The story is not obvious but leads to one conclusion: never try to keep the one who's been unfaithful to you, especially if you have children with him. Worth seeing, even if overtalked.

MIO FRATELLO RINCORRE I DINOSAURI (MY BROTHER CHASES DINOSAURS)

Recommended. I haven't read the book it's based on so can't compare. But the movie is filled with family warmth, the story's original - about growing up with a Down's syndrome brother, the first love, your position at school, the pressure of being cool. The film is fast-paced, sometimes hilarious e.g. when Jack is dumbfounded and introduces himself as Vito while Vito as Jack, and tear-jerking towards the end. Dialogues typically come to you from the screen and music from the sides. All actors, regardless of age, give wonderful performances. Costumes deserve a special mention too - everyone, especially Jack, looks cool.

ENSILUMI (ANY DAY NOW)

Switched off. Ordinary family life, children playing with their peers and talking rubbish. The fact they are living in a refugee asylum doesn't make it any more interesting.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener. Cinematic reception might differ.

FURIA (FURY)

Watchable. While what engages the viewer are the parallel stories of Aleksandra Rola's MMA championship aspirations and her romantic relationship(s), the documentary paints a wider picture of Ola, her rocky emotional life and the MMA environment. What strikes me is how rude and demeaning her coach is, how much she relies on him in spite of that, as well as how demanding physically intensive sport is - everyone has sustained permanent injuries on top of the daily effort ranging from hard trainings to ice baths. The circle around MMA is the bottom end of the society, where violence and rowdy behaviour are the norm. That certainly explains why Ola endures the trainings and combat physically and emotionally. But I also did feel she might be better off with a psychologist instead of the coach. The film offers an insight into the world I wouldn't like to enter. The storyline is clear-cut, yet the documentary is not a sports one, more of a social picture. An ugly one and with little hope. Ola's rejection of her mother's love is also a bit disturbing. An interesting but often unpleasant portrayal of a lost person. 

Reviewed from the distributor's screener. Cinematic reception might differ.

NEDZARZ I MADAME

Watchable. No consistent storyline means it's hard to make out who the protagonist is and was. While the movie sees several occurences in an Adam Chmielowski's life - this was intriguing enough to keep watching, there's little rhyme or reason to his actions. The plot is a mess. So is the cut. Off-screen philosophical commentary doesn't clarify anything either. It's a shame because technically the film is spotless.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener. Cinematic reception might differ.

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

최선의 삶 (SNOWBALL)

Watchable. Either teenagers are so irrational or I didn't get the movie. To me it's just deplorable. The plot is all over the shop. Every character seems to have issues. The film was still interesting enough though as an image of everyday Korean culture. 

세자매 (THREE SISTERS)

Switched off. A bunch of weirdos including one rowdy drunken woman. The three sisters are: one religious, one alcoholic and hysterical and one with cancer. Why on earth would I want to watch that?! The most woeful film of the festival.

Seen online. Cinematic reception might differ. 

Only the opening and closing movies had Polish and English subtitles, all others had only Polish ones. The catalogue was wonderful: clear, informative, with text legible in dimmed light and with photos from the movies. Even weaker movies offered a glimpse into Korean culture. 

The two cinema screenings I went to were as safe as it gets in Poland: nearly everyone was wearing a mask.

WIKING TAPPI ZESTAW 2 (TALES OF TAPPI THE VIKING SET 2)

Watchable. Scripted by the author of the book it's based on. The series gains from the big screen due to the lovely colours, especially of the ground or water with bits of melting ice floating in it. The tales are very positive, even baddies are honourable so they're quite pleasant. Still, the stories being so naive and the animation simple, the films will most likely delight just the youngest children. 

THE FRENCH DISPATCH

Watchable. Not only Wes Anderson's fans will be satisfied with the movie visual quality - prepared meticulously, each image looks like a separate work of art. The star cast will be another magnet. You can enjoy spotting the big names. The narrative is perfectly recited by Anjelica Houston and acted superbly by everyone. Story-wise though, there are a few separate ones within one feature-length film, a spoken narrative in English and French lines subtitled in small print and placed in various parts of the screen, e.g. sometimes central, sometimes lateral. Both in lofty language, in long, winding sentences which make the narrative convoluted, demanding, tiring and overtalked. This documentary-style feature film is a work of art but hard to comprehend. One that 'd be easier if you could pause the movie and analyse each fragment. But then again, the print was small even at the cinema. 

The not-so-big screen at KinoGram hindered reading. 

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK

Watchable. The history of the Sopranos, the Moltisantis and their black rivals spans from the 1940s to the 1970s. Perfectly surrounding sound including songs of the time sets the vibe. A typical story of the Italian mob and and black gangs gets a broader picture here: economic inequalities, the racial divide and the position of women form the backdrop. At first that's all plot development and no real action. But once you immerse yourself in their world it becomes engaging.

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

남산의 부장들 (THE MAN STANDING NEXT)

Watchable. The account of the developments which led to the assassination of president 박정희 (Park Chung-hee) a few decades ago is a proper thriller. A bloody one. Since it's based on actual events I can't blame the plot for too many characters. But captions flashed by too fast to read which hindered watching online, I had to go back every now and then, and at the cinema I would have lost the plot early on. The gripping action is set in Korea, the US and Paris and the tension gets magnified at times by superb music. The main protagonist is an uptight busybody high up the ranks. Not even one character is a decent person. Is there any honour, loyalty or remorse among the top villains of the country? The heavy-handedness of the authorities is scary, taking into account that the story and the thinking of those involved were real. The finale gets you thinking: what if?

Seen online. Cinematic reception might differ. 

HALLOWEEN KILLS

Watchable. The movie recaps the whole "Halloween" franchise so finally there's some action. But the plot's a mess. Combat is a hit-and-miss affair. Decent music is the film's saving grace, with the best piece played along with the end credits: 2021-recorded 80s style "Hunter's Moon" by Ghost.

THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS

Watchable. This released too early Christmas-themed animation looks professional, with an increasing number of visual effects as the story develops but it never dazzles. The plot is wacky, with a few disgusting bits, but with serious undertones of reluctant adulthood, the hardships of parenting and brotherly relationship. The ending is truly touching. In Poland it's only dubbed in Polish. Tabitha's song is first in Polish and then, during the end credits, in the English original. 

60TH CYBULSKI'S AWARDS

This year's nominees to the award created by Fundacja Kino were: Maria Dębska for "Bo we mnie jest seks" ("Autumn Girl"), Piotr Trojan for "25 lat niewinności. Sprawa Tomka Komendy" ("25 Years of Innocence. The Case of Tomek Komenda"), Tomasz Włosok for "Piosenki o miłości", Tomasz Ziętek for "Hiacynt" ("Operation Hyacinth") and Magdalena Koleśnik for "Sweat" - she has won. The hardest scene for her was the one in the studio of Dzień Dobry TVN. The crew on set were all the actual film crew, e.g. the real make-up artist did her make-up, the producer was the cook. All the 5 young actors worked with 40 year old directors. "Hiacynt" ("Operation Hyacinth") director Domalewski is also an actor. Maria Dębska discovered how easy it was when in the bar scene the actors and extras danced her emotions. The actress is surprisingly petite in real life.

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

Recommended. Worth the splurge even just to be transported to Soho of the swinging sixties. The movie combines modern-day London draws as the capital of fashion, debauchery and the big lights with the city's legends: the night life of the sixties, Jack the Ripper, numerous ghosts inhabiting the city and some skeletons in the closet. Top-notch script assisted with visual effects make the parallel times blend seamlessly and to the rhythm of period hits, especially Petunia Clark's "Downtown". Anna Taylor-Joy enthralls as Sandie. The first phantoms appear accompanied by perfectly surrounding sounds. You feel mesmerised more than scared. It's British to the core hence alluring more than frightening. The story holds a few surprises up the sleeve and grips until the end. And it's the first horror ever that made me want to dance.

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

찬실이는 복도 많지 (LUCKY CHAN-SIL)

Watchable. A low-key tale about a loser: on the professional and personal level. The film is humdrum but goes from silly to damn smart. It's slightly ironic. The characters are ordinary folk you can relate to. 윤여정 (Youn Yuh-jung)'s character reflects on her lack of education: "in my times girls weren't taught because that led to promiscuity" - much-telling when you set it together with the other movie with the actress: "죽여주는 여자" ("The Bacchus Lady").

Seen online. Cinematic reception might differ. 

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

I skipped "다만 악에서 구하소서" ("Deliver Us From Evil") and "미나리" ("Minari") which I had seen and reviewed in the past. 

인트로덕션 (INTRODUCTION)

Recommended. Shot in black and white and very simple a tale but filled with so much geniality in the relationships, it was a truly warm introduction to the festival. It's basically an intimate tale of family, love and friendship. But it also showcases Korean etiquette which either refreshes your knowledge of Korean culture or introduces you to it. A perfect opening movie.

The safest screening ever. Vaccination certificates were checked on entry and only one old Polish chap was rude not to wear a mask.

CINEMAFORUM - KWESTIA CZASU (MATTER OF TIME)

MAIN COMPETITION 4TH SCREENING

The screening encompassed 4 short films:

WITNESS

Watchable. Very well acted, with decent script and cinematography. While the story's extraordinary, the image of Iran shows ordinary life like in any other country. No solution to the depicted problem is given though.

NOITE TURVA (THROUGH THE HAZE)

Watchable. I have no idea what it's about but varied pictures make it bearable.

INHERENT

Watchable. Gore fans will be satisfied but poor acting and unclear content spoil the film.

GOOD THANKS, YOU? 

Recommended. Realistic, the reactions to the rape manifest all sorts of prejudice, the camera emphasises her feeling surrounded by bigoted people as well her and her boyfriend's reactions. Excellent acting and camerawork form an effective allegory of societal vices.

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

검객 (THE SWORDSMAN)

Watchable. Opens with gruesome images flashing, some acted, some drawn but unsettling enough. But the movie is a full-blown period drama, with locations, costumes and languages reflecting the reality of four centuries ago. The political intrigue, though, is confusing, especially if you don't know Korean history well. About mid-way through the core plot is revealed. And it's only the central storyline that I understood, the complexities of the political situation as well as customs of the time were beyond my comprehension. Plenty of fights in the second half, with a predictable ending. That part is also brutal, though not to the extent Korean cinema often is. Based on actual historical events. Sadly translated from English so with some inaccuracies. 

혼자 사는 사람들 (ALONERS)

Watchable. A compelling drama which sees a call centre worker come to terms with her and others' loneliness. In fact, it's a thought-provoking societal picture of contemporary life. The story itself is a mixture of everyday and unusual - though the protagonist takes everything in her stride. You never know which way it's going to develop, even with hints the girl is gradually rediscovering herself in relation to the world. Very well acted and enacted. Cinematography is perfect all the time but also offers one particularly awe-inspiring shot of a bus ride with the street reflected in the bus windows as she's leaving the city - the bus is blue meaning suburban or longer distance. It's only the cold she and her boss exude that makes you want to distance yourself from the protagonists.

Both seen online. Cinematic reception might differ. 

CINEMAFORUM

BAFTA 2021

7 short films of good quality:

EYELASH

Watchable. OCD perfectly explained, also in relation to love.

LIZARD

Watchable. Beautifully shot - sunny Lagos and the magnificent use of perspective - contrasts the harsh Nigerian reality - that's not always lucid.

LUCKY BREAK

Recommended. Masterful plot. With a pinch of salt. Perfect cast. Steve Oram is superb.

THE FIRE NEXT TIME

Watchable. Modern-style animation where wall and ground texture is either real or a perfect imitation, visually attractive but the yobs plot is rudimentary and superficial. 

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT

Watchable. A pleasant poem. The animation doesn't look like wax, more like paintings. 

الهدية (THE PRESENT)

Recommended. Daily Palestinian life consists of humiliations and obstacles thrown in the way. Engaging.

THE SONG OF A LOST BOY

Watchable. The little wax figures are revolting but a beautiful use of light in the finale is the film's saving grace.

RUNNING FOR GRACE

Recommended. Splendid vistas of Hawaii dazzle you from the start. The tale, set a century ago, is captivating. Beautiful, verdant land, period costumes, flowers in the residence embellish a story which is warm and offers a bit of laughter, especially Jo's first conducted examination of a patient, tension when villains come to play, several heartfelt scenes and a fairy-tale ending. Gentle score, sound once coming from the right, which perfectly mimics what the 'docs' could hear leaving the patient's bedroom. Amiable goodies and awful, yet treated with a pinch of salt, baddies. A delight.

WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

죽여주는 여자 (THE BACCHUS LADY)

Recommended. An elderly lady suffering from an STD comes as a surprise, even more so when you learn what she does for a living. Oscar-winner 윤여정 (Youn Yuh-jung) in the leading role (it's a pre-Oscar film of hers). Also the kid is remarkable in the tear-jerking scene in the prison. The film tells about aging and the prospect of dying, moral choices, poverty, as wel as an untold part of history, the twisted fates of some Koreans and Americans resulting from politics high above them, as if transparent but affecting all those at the bottom the most. Never quite predictable but always consistent with the character and very humane. Powerful.

Seen online. Cinematic reception might differ.

W LESIE DZIS NIE ZASNIE NIKT II (NOBODY SLEEPS IN THE WOODS TONIGHT 2)

Watchable. The action takes place immediately after the events from part one. The surprising opening sees a period costume party but that's quickly explained. Sadly with no return - sadly as it's about the best sequence. The movie plays with the horror genre. The "Maniac Cop" poster is there by no mistake. When you hear "all her friends are dead" it's a reference to another Netflix flick with Julia Wieniawa. The fortune-teller and Jarosław scene is a smart political reference. However the monstrous rape crosses the barrier of bad taste, though just for a while, and there are too many repulsive scenes. The monsters look like they badly need a dermatologist. Luckily you get surprises aplenty, some twists of action can't be foreseen. The music is original too. There's no denying one thing: the action's engaging. The ending is partly a closing when combined with the opening of part one, partly the set-up for part three. 

Seen courtesy of Netflix. It was a bit quiet on my laptop so I relied on subtitles quite a lot. Those were white which wasn't always practical and were too small to watch from a distance. In the less than full screen mode as soon as the end credits start rolling, the system suggests other films and series to you - annoying. 

NZARA  - HUNGER

Watchable. It's a compelling performance but not a movie - it has wonderful voice actors, the sound comes from both sides and the screen but the picture is awfully static, it's just decor which changes as seldom as theatrical decor would. The thing is voiced in English with insertions from Shona. The play is based on oral literature: with repetitions and a modern version of a myth explaining the world. No physical hunger features in the content, it's abstract only. Music can be heard only in the background to speaking. I hoped for more African tunes and on their own. The film's translated by writer-director Klara Wojtkowska herself which is surprising since in her version English 'fill' ('napełnić', 'wypełnić' in Polish) becomes 'zatkać' ('block', 'clog').

Klara Wojtkowska is a musicology and African studies graduate. For the last 2 or 3 years she lived mostly in Zimbabwe but she's been an emigrant all her life. The film has its own history: She fell ill in the US, saw a Zimbabwean healer who told her: "You're in the wrong place. Speak to your ancestors" which led to: "Go to Zimbabwe." She refused but got more and more ill. She healed in Zimbabwe. It took her 3 weeks to write the play. Originally it was a theatrical play on show in Zimbabwe but after just one day the police ordered to take it down. There's actual hunger in Zimbabwe which is a possible explanation. The police didn't say why. That's how censorship works. So you won't say a lot instead of that one thing the censor picked on. She had limited time and money to make it into a film which it became out of necessity. One of the actors did electronic engineering in Poland. A theatre in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is interested in making it into a musical.

DUNE 3D

Recommended. This epic adaptation of the novel "Dune" by Frank Herbert is nothing short of spectacular and best appreciated at Imax or at least in 3D since here the depth does enhance the picture. Surrounding sound and unique music by Hans Zimmer let you immerse yourself in the universe. The suns and moons of Arrakis look magnificent. Some weapons, gadgets, aircraft and spacecraft are new to science fiction cinema. The language of the Emperor's planet imitates Amharic, the Fremen's is based on Arabic, the messiah is even dubbed "Mahdi".The plot is lucid even if you haven't read the book. The movie's captivating, builds tension gently and offers one profoundly touching moment. It's easy to feel empowered by the movie. Convincingly acted by Timothée Chalamet in the leading role of Paul Atreides but Oscar Isaac as Leto Atreides makes a lasting impression too. The pleasure lasts 155 minutes, including the end credits with their memorable score. True space opera. 

PETIT VAMPIRE (LITTLE VAMPIRE)

Watchable. I didn't quite get the historic opening, it's a mess. The contemporary part makes more sense: the undead creatures have their own outlook, e.g. they cry when monsters are killed in movies. Still, neither the animation nor the action is sophisticated. 

 I'll post all the overdue reviews as soon as I recover.

BIALY POTOK 

Watchable. All dark, as if in a shadow, and greenish. Starts with a ludicrous and obscene conversation. Next the action finally starts and involves a lot of angry people arguing, yelling and fighting. The dream scene is ridiculous and obscene again. It could have been a comedy of errors. Instead it's a pathetic tragicomedy. 

Some info form the Q&Q with director Michał Grzybowski and actress Agnieszka Duleba-Kasza:

Normally the cost of a movie in Poland is about 3-5 million zlotys. This one, from a micro budget plan, cost 700 thousand zlotys. 1.5% profit from the cinema tickets returns to PISF. Michał Grzybowski wrote the script with a colleague within 2.5 months to obtain the funds. The director didn't make any money from it: "Głównie za złe rzeczy się płaci" ("Mainly bad things are paid for"), doing something good doesn't pay, as he remarks. 

The story took place in his neighbourhood. Biały Potok is the name of the osiedle (an estate comprising of a number of houses).

The actress who was to play the pregnant wife resigned so was replaced in the last minute. She left together with her cinematographer husband. 

The director says he wanted the film to take the form of a farce but a raw, realistic one so he treated it like a drama. The picture is dark "to break the comedy", to make it naturalistic. 

In the director and garrulous actress's opinion the opening scene expresses jealousy. The actress sounded as if she really had such dumb conversations at parties.

The kid with the gun had stood in the doorway aiming at them in real life so the director decided the boy had to act in it. 

Marcin Dorociński is said to be modest. He'd come to the set on bike. 

The Mazda car cost 1400 zlotys + 400 zl to get it running. 

My own impression from the Q%A is that with good movies the makers don't need to explain the film. 

The cinema in Ursynowskie Centrum Kultury "Alternatywy" had comfy seats. 

MOSQUITO STATE

Recommended. It's like nothing I've seen before. While Aronofsky's "Pi" reverberates in this film - here the maths genius already works in the finance - the rest is unique. Masterful cinematography, studious shots, sound effects, great music and, next - in the order of appearance - an unusual tale. However unsettling the events are, the film keeps you calm, it's so captivating with style.

CEREMONIA

Watchable. The short film is partly a dysfunctional family drama, partly a realistic picture of the Polish society where people don't want to get involved when they witness violence. When family tensions are at breaking point, the puzzle is solved. Nothing special in the story or the way it was shot. Typically Polish.

Błażej Hrapkowicz, conducting the Q&A remarked the film transformed into a thriller with a riddle. The director explained it was inspired by how to build a family in case of contradict opinions, in particular the director's grandfather's cousin inspired the film character. 

PIEC DNI LEKU (FIVE DAYS OF FEAR)

Watchable. The short documentary shows a string of ordinary people confessing what they're afraid of. Rejection or death are the most common fears but also many people have their own anxieties incomprehensible to me. The division into days doesn't make any sense but the confessions give a fascinating insight into how vulnerable everyone is.

Each utterance took 2 minutes 30 seconds. There are 6 days because one woman said she feared nothing. The days serve as a division because the director needed to give a pause in between. The guy who feared he wouldn't set up a family is married and has 2 children now.

DROGA

Watchable. The short film gathers a few sorts of problems caused by men - realistic but no surprises. 

The director says the ending was inspired by "The Graduate". The film was shot before the October protests and "Wypierdalać" wasn't in the script but they left it in. A month later it was shouted by many women in the street. 

METY (FLOATERS)

Watchable. The short cartoon is on the artsy side but incomprehensible. To me anyway but I don't have floaters in my eyes.

Męty (floaters) are what some people, including the director herself, see in the eye. Someone from the audience remarked he had the same problem and had used to think he had been able to see bacteria so presenter Błażej Hrapkowicz joked: "Może zróbmy spotkanie terapeutyczne: nazywam się Maciej, widzę bakterie." ("Why don't we have a therapeutical meeting: my name is Maciej, I see bacteria.")

SYNTHOL

Watchable. The short film tells about a dim witted guy keen on bodybuilding and about how inspirational he is to people even though he's unsuccessful himself. Tongue-in-cheek, to the point and sad at the same time.

Piotr Trojan acted Eryk, wrote and directed the film himself.

WYSZYNSKI - ZEMSTA CZY PRZEBACZENIE (WYSZYNSKI - REVENGE OR FORGIVENESS)

Recommended. What struck me first was top-notch sound, surrounding at times, next evocative visual effects, e.g. when soldiers walking through a meadow dissipate into thin air or when ashes fall down. The action keeps you in suspense but provides touching moments too. Music keeps up. Wyszyński's final stride is hero-like but totally in line with the story. The note of events of 20 years later explains how the wartime experiences shaped the cardinal and is a perfect ending. 

WSZYSTKIE NASZE STRACHY (FEARS)

Watchable. Only the grandma character is fun. All other conversations are blabber, the story conveys moral preaching, the film is protracted and awfully spiritual. Much depends on Dawid Ogrodnik to keep us interested by successfully depicting the protagonist's growing inner turmoil. The actor fails miserably. The story's based on actual events and the original protagonists are pictured at the end. 

PLANETA SINGLI. 8 HISTORII

EP. 1: ZJAZD ABSOLWENTOW

Watchable. Too slow at first, the school reunion finally picks up the tempo but the ending is cheesy and predictable. Piotr Witkowski's part as the woman's date stands out. The party is frequented by a variety of characters, a memorable one is a guy who preys on every woman using the same chat-up line.

EP. 7: WLADEK I HALINA

Watchable. Less predictable, with less common in the genre elderly protagonists but with a sad subplot of a lethal disease - really, Polish people can ruin the best of fun.

HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL

MULLAH'S DAUGHTER

Watchable. The documentary looks like a chaotic mixture of home videos portraying a happy family and good living in a modern, well-equipped house with a garden offering shadow on hot days. The mullah's family is not as strict as I expected. A wonderful, though very brief song is played over the end credits. 

BO WE MNIE JEST SEKS (AUTUMN GIRL)

Recommended. CGIs are easy to spot but they create fairy-tale Warsaw of the 60s: sleek, colourful, undistinguishable from Western capitals, bar occasional jokes, e.g. a large poster with ambiguous slogan: "Partia słucha obywateli" ("The party listens to citizens"). Maria Dębska excels in the provocative role of Kalina Jędrusik. But also Bartłomiej Kotschedoff as her director and all other actors perform their parts alluringly and convincingly. Astute dialogues, wonderful characters, professionally choreographed (by Jakub Lewandowski) dance scenes sell the fable smoothly. Some bits are hilarious, e.g.: "A co ty tu robisz o tej porze?" "Telefon mi się zepsuł, więc przyszedłem porozmawiać ze Stasiem." ("And what are you doing here at this hour?" "My phone broke down so I've come to talk to Staś.") Unusually for Polish films, there's a post-credit.

HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL

LEKCJA MILOSCI (LESSONS OF LOVE)

Recommended. Jolanta Janus is always immaculately dressed, made up, with her hair done. Every scene with her is delightful. She believes women should be feminine to attract men. She surely does, easier than her daughters. Unbelievable she's a long-term victim od domestic abuse by her violent husband. The story's built out of the contrast between her abusive husband and her new, gentle and loving partner. 

The screenings were so smartly scheduled that there was always enough time to get to each film, regardless of the cinema. And the cinemas were within a short metro ride from one another. The lack of a printed schedule or catalogue was a hindrance. But at least the extremely nice and helpful staff would let me read the synopses and view trailers on their laptop. I noticed the synopses by some guy from Filmweb sometimes skipped the core topics of the films - gender bias again? Spending so much time at the cinema I was apprehensive in regards to the risk of Covid infection. Here the core team proved to follow the health safety guidelines religiously, everyone in the customer service wore a mask talking to people and during the screenings. Their collaborators, like a presenter or the interpreter ignored the rules though. As you approached the festival desk at Kinoteka you could smell a fragrant vaporizer - a fabulous accent and unique to this enterprise. Altogether, mostly owing to the awesome film selection, but also to the hospitality of the staff, it was a wonderful experience.

HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL

SILENCIO RADIO (RADIO SILENCE)

Watchable. Stunning cinematography renders Mexico City awe-inspiring. The pictures highlight immense modern buildings or glistening surfaces of the edifices or the road. The everyday reality is grimmer though, shocking even - with bodies of killed journalists or hanged drug dealers found in the streets. The Mexican documentary inadvertently reveals so much about the country authorities' wrongdoings, the drug cartels war manifested by dead bodies hanging in the streets, the army mutilating students, that I understood why the "Nuevo orden" ("New Order") director implicated the army in his feature film. It also brought to mind "Sicario" in regards to the drug crime and every day brutality. The actual story of the TV journalist was less comprehensible to me - an outsider. I loved the song over the end credits - the lyrics carry a meaning consistent with the topic and the melody is very enjoyable.

SPENCER

Recommended. British through and through and superbly acted. Kristen Stewart manages the task and so do Jack Farthing as Prince Charles, Emma Darwall-Smith as Camilla Parker Bowles, and Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and John Keogh as servants. Add the celebration of each costume and each meal. The royals do live well. But Diana - it's based on actual events, only with certain dramatisations - feels like in a gilded cage. As much as she would love to spare the pheasants, she hopes to spare herself. When the royals feel circled by the press, she feels watched by them - the pearl necklace dinner stands out, the gazes are superbly shot. Her loneliness in the world of tradition and form couldn't manifest itself better. Even the cinematography reflects the 80s. The 1986 song "All I Need Is A Miracle" by Mike and the Mechanics says it all. 

HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL

BODY AS BATTLEFIELD - set of 7 shorts:

BATTLEFIELD

Watchable. Vague black and white images. The music at the cinema sounds better than in the online trailer. No distinguishable topic or story. 

رقص الأجل عيوني (LET MY BODY SPEAK)

Watchable. The Syrian tale is unusual since it concerns a women's military school but to an outsider it's not clear if the woman is lesbian and if her schoolmates are. 

THE WEDDING CAKE

Watchable. The cake is evocative, the dolls less so. The story's shocking.

CERNOBILA (BLACK AND WHITE)

Recommended. A wonderful compilation of numerous movie excerpts.

ANKEBUT 

Watchable. Turkish. So vague it's the only thing I can say about this film.

NAPORNO (HARD)

Recommended. The film proves porn acting is the world's oldest profession. Or at least since the invention of the camera.

THERMOPLASTISCHE ELASTOMERE (THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS)

Recommended. Very informative and eye-opening: the sex-doll brothel wins me over.

MORGANA

Watchable. This full-length feature film presented at the festival projects freedom. And joy. Morgana Muses, 53 years old at the time of shooting, is neither slim nor beautiful but she's creative and her films, whose excerpts we see, range from revolting - where she has cake smeared all over her body - to beautiful - most others, bonding was surprisingly the most awe-inspiring due to its artistry. When you hear her life story and how porn work saved her from suicide, it's even inspiring. The film is exciting but you also feel for her. It's also most body-positive which is wonderful once you drop your bias. And did you know the porn industry has its own film festivals? Those people seem so warm and joyful. Good for her. I personally don't always find it aesthetic. Still, personal liberty rules. 

TITANE

Recommended. Lots of violence and sex - by a woman. Directed by Julia Ducournau and superbly acted by Agathe Rousselle as Alexia and Vincent Lindon as Vincent - both in ultra difficult roles. Both the violent and erotic bits come as shocks, even when you can foresee them - they're so brutal and graphic. While some viewers claim the second part is more timid and even see love in it, I find that part to be even more shocking and the protagonists perfidious, e.g. smiling to each other in the dance which some see as loving and I view as false. In my perception Alexia goes with the flow of Vincent's delusions to take advantage of the situation. The story is ambiguous: blood is not black, is it? For the most part I wasn't sure if she was pregnant or imagined to be. Others discover the truth hence making it clear to viewers. What I find disturbing is crossing each others' personal boundaries in the second half: starts with opening the son's door without a knocking and grows in severity, e.g. at the injection request. What follows only increases in intensity and involves a kiss like in porn. The finale is on the verge of science fiction but also sheds new light on who the rape perpetrator could have been. Just like the opening, the ending refers you to mythical Titans. Some scenes mirror each other, e.g. twerking - even by Vincent - or Alexia's spread eagle. The pictures and the music captivate you.