PLANETES (DANDELION'S ODYSSEY)
Watchable. An artistic, often photorealistic, animation about dandelions traversing the universe, an icy ocean among icebergs, battling elements, encountering a frog and its sprogs, fighting a mantis and a moth, riding slugs. No human language is spoken, the plants emit underwater-creatures-like sounds. Original, gentle music forms the audio accompanying the vivid, colourful images, using classical and ethnic instruments. It looks bizarre at times, whereas at other makes you wonder how they made it seem so real. The underwater-creatures-like voices sound childish but the music is varied and pleasant. The story is ambiguous, open to your own interpretation. It certainly never bores you.
Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.
LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL POLAND 2026
NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE
The set consists of 9 short films:
A TANGLED WEB DROWNING IN HONEY
Listenable. For some funny technical reason I was only able to hear the film audio, without the video, so all I can say is it's poetic, introspective, told in a beautiful female voice, nothing is direct, the whole thing is certainly subject to interpretations, but the pictures could help direct said interpretation.
MARCO
Recommended. A profound drama set in a posh London flat on the Thames, where scrambled eggs with sumac evoke longing as strongly as the conversation does. Tension fills the air from the opening when Omar doesn't answer the phone. When the two men meet "The Book of Disquiet" on the shelf indicates the hopes their encounter brings are too beautiful to be true. Both men have come in search of what cannot be fulfilled. Gripping emotionally and thought-provoking.
HOMECOMING QUEENZ
Watchable. An amateurish documentary with jarring background noise. The film highlights how much Israeli immigration knows about their citizens - about the only reason to see it.
SULTANA'S REIGN
Recommended. Drag queen Sultana embodies glamour: a blonde wig, 2-hour make-up, a fabulous crimson sequin dress - that's how he/she lightens up her days in depressing New York City weather. Originally from Palestine, she promotes peace with her queen lifestyle. She discusses the American divas of the 1940s and Egyptian ones from the 1960s-70s as her inspirations, though it's Madonna that helps her identify what's new in make-up. He/she also tells about her coming out and how his/her perfect hard-working-for-the-family father induced such fear he/she couldn't become him/herself. And how turning-straight psychotherapy sped up becoming fully gay. The documentary is also informative in how Sultana explains that drag has recently become half-male-half-female which doesn't suit every performer.
I NEVER PROMISED YOU A JASMINE GARDEN
Recommended. An innocuous start where two friends talk while one of them is preparing a birthday dinner for a friend leads surreptitiously to a heart-wrenching finding. It's told smartly - at first I didn't realise what that cigarette thing was during the walk, it only dawned on me half a minute later. Powerful.
VIBRATIONS FROM GAZA
Recommended. A 10-year-old remembers 2 wars. Israeli attacks intensify during Ramadan, especially at Iftar time. The surveillance drone noise is persistent, even some deaf people hear it. Sudden bombings wake people at night. Whole buildings collapse "as if they never existed". "It feels like an earthquake." Actual sonic weapons are used for the high-velocity sound to torture people and damage their hearing, especially in children. The film uses constant drone buzzing in the background, war footage and children's stories of their experiences to a hard-hitting effect.
ANTENNE
Recommended x 3. Directed, edited and performed by Bashar Murad this video clip humorously opens with comments in which people confuse Palestine with Pakistan, but it swiftly turns to rhytmic, danceable pop. The singer's outfits are the icing on the cake. I listened to the song and played the video three times. Top-notch fun with political lyrics.
Bashar Murad is going to give a concert this Friday as part of the festival.
PALCORECORE
Recommended. Free running through ruins, dancing between fires - this poetic and musical affirmation of life is steadfast resistance. The author calls herself "a war crime in reverse". Captivating, thought-provoking and visually awesome.
COYOTES
Recommended. A gripping thriller with atmosphere: night, being stuck in a desolate place among coyotes and with a great twist in the middle.
Reviewed from the organizers' screeners, cinematic reception might differ.
