Movie reviews

LUX FILM PRIZE DAYS

FOGO-FATUO (WILL-O'-THE-WISP)

The director was born in Lisbon in 1966. In 2016 his "O Ornitólogo" ("The Ornithologist") came out. He had first studied biology and wanted to become an ornithologist. I had had a chance to see that movie and remember it as weird but with a hot lead actor, often appearing naked. 

Watchable. After a stilted beginning, it turns more exciting. Still, this medium-length drama is bizarre: a political manifest, quasi-environmental, gay, mixing theatrical imagery, like speaking straight to the viewer or closing doors to divide the film into parts, with full-screen dick pictures, artistic porn and truly good dancing. The musical part plays out well. The story's consistent, acting superb, the effect weird. 

KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL

SIGNS OF WAR

Watchable  The documentary consists of one French journalist in front of the camera and the  photos he took. Barely a movie. At least informative. Shocking how many inhabitants of East Ukraine were pro-Russia in 2014, stamped on the Ukrainian flag, manifested their strength and fierce support. No wonder the world accepted the invasion and Russia didn't expect any opposition in 2022. Astonishing how deliberate each move was for propaganda's sake. With each day of the commencing war and the story recounted by the French reporter tension grows. And brutality rises. No idea why mid-titles are shown for so long. A siren is sounded during the end credits. A reminder the war is on.

Reviewed from the organizers' screener, cinematic reception might differ.

BEZDROZA (UNPAVED)

Watchable. Poor but happy. All troubled. People who've taken themselves out of the rat race. People who want to be away from others. Instead they form a tight-knit community. They live slow lives but full of duties - mostly around animals who roam the ranch freely and are truly free, unlike the people. And they love animals: "When you touch an animal outside, it touches you inside."

Reviewed from the organizers' screener, cinematic reception might differ.

FANTASTYCZNY MATT PAREY (FANTASTIC MATT PAREY)

Recommended. The cast list for this documentary screams Parowski promoted men only. It gets confirmed around the 3rd minute when a string of Maciej's co-workers list their first reads - it's so bizarre it's hilarious, a world without women. Later on you hear of some specific cases where he thwarted female authors. Sheets from the comic stories he scripted, "Funky Koval", show fully-clothed men and naked, topless, scantily clad women. Less than one hour in, Parowski reveals his rightist views. The film charts his life from his beginnings as a science university student with no knowledge of science fiction whatsoever - funny to see the pictures of him so young. It quickly becomes clear why Parowski used to say "Fantastyka" was created as a "pismo kontestacyjne" ("a dissentive magazine") or why it was so hard to buy. The magazine writers wonderfully reflect on Maciek's personality, often humorously - the selection of photos and TV footage enhance it. You often get the feeling as if Maciek was still with us. With comic book style animated bits and fantastic music it's all dynamic. The only little problem is not all utterances are audible but that's down to some protagonists' sloppy speech. All in all, it's the most comprehensive biopic you could imagine. And "Kino jest snem cywilizacji" ("Cinema is the dream of a civilization") leaves food for thought.

Reviewed from the organizers' screener, cinematic reception might differ.