Movie reviews

TRANSATLANTYK FILM FESTIVAL 

PAOLO COSTELLA Q&A

The Q&A followed a screening of "Per tutta la vita" - the film in which he wanted to offer viewers a chance to reflect on relationships. The story originated from the news from "Cronaca". Certain couple met a priest on holiday. A few months later they asked him to marry them off but he turned out to be an impostor and the wedding was cancelled. When I probed, he admitted he was generally suspicious of people, believing they have double lives but he was well-meaning for his characters, approaching them without judgment. He likes multithreaded, choral stories because the threads shed light on each other. That was the case also with "Perfetti sconosciuti" ("Perfect Strangers") which was written first separately, next weaving the threads together. He likes diverse films. But his movies are about one generation because it's his so he knows it best. He also thinks Italian urban middle class is experiencing an existential crisis. It's a crisis of values as well as distancing from the rest of the world - the loss of the values the class used to be based on. Church weddings aren't that obvious in real life. He's seen "Boże ciało" ("Corpus Christi") - a Polish production also tackling a false priest - he's drawn to melancholy but wanted to tackle many topics in his film. His actors' backgrounds represent various worlds too: TV, entertainment, theatre. He refused to explain the ending of "Perfetti sconosciuti" ("Perfect Strangers") insisting that the audience do their job. Both finales were to end with emotions, not events. Paolo Genovese directed the previous one, now he did, they just swapped. They both wrote together. Often the ego got the better of them but here they got on like a house on fire. Next coming is "Supereroi" ("Superheroes") about a struggle of a relationship with time and of what superpowers you need to have for a relationship to survive.

FLUGT (FLEE)

Recommended. This animated documentary is the Danish Oscar candidate. The story's incredible, with the protagonist living a secret life, having to hide the fact he has a family, now scattered all over Europe. Great music choice - Western and cheerful at happy moments of Amin's life - demonstrates where he felt good. Most importantly though, his case shows serious flaws within the asylum system. All refugee aid and protection is illusory, on top of huge numbers of people exploiting the vulnerable in the several countries they need to traverse. Powerful.

HINTERLAND

Recommended. Many returned from the Great War disturbed and changed men. So is their world. Distorted shapes and dark colours are German expressionism perfectly recreated in the 21st century. The set design and cinematography are Oscar-worthy. Even end credits transmute from German to English.