Movie reviews

18TH DOCS AGAINST GRAVITY FESTIVAL

3-12 September in cinemas, 16 September-3 October online. Not all films will be available online, sometimes for licensing reasons, sometimes because the makers of the new releases want to go the full festival path first. This year one more Warsaw cinema will host the festival - Elektronik - and 3 cinemas in Lower Silesia are joining in the usual venue set. The opening will take place in screening room 1 of Multikino to accommodate all the people. 6 new sections, including crime puzzles. 7 male and 7 female director's movies are in the Main Competition, debuts and renowned movie makers' alike, various topics, e.g. one is about stray dogs in Istanbul. The Industry Zone will focus on film development. Online, apart from films, live discussions and recordings of the most interesting cinema meetings will be available. As for guests, some will appear at the cinema, some online, owing to the hybrid form, there'll be even more meetings than usual. Vitaly Mansky is coming to give a masterclass. A curious fact from the conference is that Mel Gibson's "Passion" and other biblical movies were shot in Matera, Italy. More than 30 events accompanying the festival will take place in Warsaw alone and other events in other festival towns. In Warsaw they include: abortion in Salvador, how to win the fight for climate, a self-defence workshop after "Be Water" on Bruce Lee, how to be active till 100, for children - on despair after the loss of loved ones. 

One of the documentaries to be presented at the festival is:

VARLDENS VACKRASTE POJKE (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD)

Recommended. The film was this year's Sundance sensation. I knew nothing about Björn Andrésen, not having even seen Visconti's "Death in Venice" where he played teenage Tazio. Having become an instant star, he later sang in Japan and even very recently he acted in "Midsommar" - he's the elderly man on the cliff at Ättestupa. Multitalented, adored by gays, he was a worldwide sensation. But his life is a sorrowful one and what you hear about his parents comes as a shock. The documentary shows how fame and success don't always bring happiness. Sometimes they just can't. It's impossible not to feel for the protagonist, even if you have never heard of him before. His unusual life makes for a top biopic. 

Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.

LA FINE FLEUR (THE ROSE MAKER)

Recommended. More than just a pleasant film about roses. Of course, you learn some technicalities of growing the plants and creating new but even that serves a further purpose. The story, while sticking to the rules of the genre, encompasses crime, comedy, with a laugh-out-loud bit: "You have subtle methods" (of selling flowers). But it's also a drama about coping with your legacy and coming to terms with your life hurdles. With excellent roles, especially of Catherine Frot as Eve Vernet. A drama as beautiful as a well-cultivated rose. 

SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS

Watchable. Thoroughly entertaining, executed (pun intended) by the book. With Atmos sound. Perfectly acted, with excellent special effects, an engaging, at times touching, story, a lot of successfully enacted action, including a shoot-out on motorcycles. Yet the stereotypical storyline and characters mean it doesn't stand out among other production of the genre. The opening and end titles are creative but ghastly to the point of being tiring after so much action. The mid-credit implies a sequel which I won't mind seeing.