THIS IS SHORT
NEW POINT OF VIEW
ATOMIC
Recommended. It's splendid. The visuals and the actress's voice are mesmerising. The story first enigmatic, artistic and philosophical, gains consistency and meaning once you read the film description. It gives you chills down the spine, especially when you read more, only to discover the story was true.
THE 2021 OSCARS GALA
Only http://freetvstream.in/de/tv/pro7.php worked this year on time. Brettygood.com joined shortly afterwards too but then switched to a different streaming at some point.
The gala started with references to black people's protests and the pandemic. Most nominees and their families are maskless at the venue because: "Everyone's been vaxxed, tested, socially isolated, re-tested." They are seated in small family groups at separate tables.
After introductions highlighting the backgrounds of the nominees, instead of usual jokes, "Promising Young Woman" wins the "Best Original Screenplay" - just as I hoped.
Adapted Screenplay - "The Father" - I'll have to see it finally. Unlike in the last few years, this time I failed to see most of the nominated movies, part of it was on purpose. I do hope to see them all once cinemas re-open. The winner was live in Sydney.
Laura Dern handed in the award for the International Feature Film. Vinterberg entered the stage dancing "Druk" ("Another Round") style and admitted he had always imagined the moment. He described his movie as being about letting go the control in your life and celebrating life. I loved the dancing scene in the picture but the rest was just fine. I haven't seen its competitors.
Laura Dern continued with Actor in a Supporting Role. She's also focusing on nominees' backgrounds. No jokes. Daniel Kaluuya for "Judas and the Black Messiah" - again, I haven't seen the movie but I liked the actor in his earlier roles. His speech wasn't impressive.
I love Pro7 commercials - most are the Oscar-nominated movie trailers.
Makeup and Hairstyling - I hoped for "Emma". Disappointingly, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - which I haven't seen - won. The winner thanked black ancestors who would often not even be admitted in schools, for their effort.
Costume Design - also "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom".
Humanitarian Award since it's a pandemic year: MPT (Motion Picture and Television) Fund who supported the freelancers of the industry.
봉준호 (Bong Joon Ho), right from Seoul, in Korean, consecutively interpreted from there as well, mentioned among others that the "Promising Young Woman" director, Emerald Fennell, asked at 8 what she wanted to become, said she wanted to write murder stories. Then he announced the Directing award: "Nomadland" - one I expect to see at the cinema shortly.
Sound - I hoped for "Soul", though expected "Sound of Metal" and "Sound of Metal" it is.
Live Action Short Film: "Two Distant Strangers" - haven't seen. The winner says that on average, the police kill 3 people per day, disproportionately often black people.
Reese Witherspoon Animated Short Film... I hope not "Burrow". Luckily "If Anything Happens I Love You". Still, surprising it's not Disney. The winning film's about deaths from gun violence though.
Reese is presenting the Best Animated Feature Film... I've only seen "Soul" and "Farmageddon" and loved "Soul". Some nominees are at the BFI in London or in Kilkenny, Ireland. "Soul" wins. What a relief. "It started as a love letter to jazz" - I'm happy it went beyond the style of music I don't quite like. Exploring "the purpose of life" is so much better.
Documentary Short Subject - most are heavy topics. "Colette" wins, it's on a person who ended up in a Nazi concentration camp. Others told stories of a hospital in war-torn Yemen or Hongkong protests.
Documentary Feature - I haven't seen any but hope for "My Octopus Teacher" to win, as it would highlight how intelligent the animals are. And it wins! Filmed in an ocean forest in South Africa, it also makes this year's Oscars about the most international ever. Coupled with some gala attendees abroad of course.
Steven Yeun's joke about his mum taking him to "Terminator" when he was 7 and acting as if she had meant him to see such a movie is the first that made me laugh. And one of few so far. "Tenet" wins Visual Effects. I remember loving the movie, don't recall the effects.
Brad Pitt is announcing the Best Actress in a Supporting Role - succinctly and mispronouncing: 윤여정 (Youn Yuh-Jung - as the English misspelling goes) awarded for "Minari". And she felt "honoured to meet him".
Halle Berry, with a hairstyle making her look old, introduced the nominees for the Best Production Design. I haven't seen any. "Mank" wins.
Cinematography - I would have loved "The Trial of the Chicago 7" but it's "Mank" which I haven't seen that wins. And I can't hear the winner's speech since the stream is breaking up. Refreshing doesn't help.
Harrison Ford read editorial notes he got after "Bladerunner" which helped him understand how important Editing is, "not for the faint of heart". In this category, I hoped for "The Trial of the Chicago 7" but "Sound of Metal" won. The editor's from Denmark. Truly, an international ceremony. And his speech is breaking up again.
Another Humanitarian Award. The winner, Tyler Perry from BET, gives a moving speech about "refusing hate".
Zendaya announces the Best Original Score: "Soul" and I'm happy about the win.
Original Song: "Fight for You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah".
A surprise game of whether a piece was an Oscar winner, nominee or neither: "Purple Rain", "Last Dance" by Donna Summer etc. Boring.
In Memoriam - "we live forever through what we give". "Lives lost to Covid" and "to violence" are mentioned before the list of the deceased industry people.
Best Picture: I hoped for "The Trial of the Chicago 7" or "Promising Young Woman" but "Nomadland" won - well, I've yet to see it. Frances McDormand asks viewers to watch it on the biggest screen possible.
Renée Zellwegger enters to the music of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds. Actress in a Leading Role: not my favourite Carey Mulligan. Frances McDormand wins.
Actor in a Leading Role: Anthony Hopkins - I haven't seen "The Father" but liked him in earlier roles.
K-ANIMATION
은실이 (THE DEAREST) (2012)
Recommended. Disturbing. About a mentally disabled girl who's sexually abused by a whole village. It is engaging as you discover more and more of everyone's dark secrets but it leaves you despondent, hard not to cry afterwards.
언더독 (UNDERDOG) (2018)
Watchable. Colourful, almost Disneyesque pictures conceal a dark story of abandoned dogs. Heartbreaking. The dogs were supportive of one another. I just hated seeing all the violence inflicted on them and the accidents that happened to the pack. The story's quite original, e.g. one of several places where the action takes place is the DMZ. One moment before the finale when they reach a tranquil village is soothing. But the rest is a long sequence of horrors befalling those beautiful, loving animals. Ah, as for love, the famous love scene of dogs eating spaghetti from "Lady and Tramp" is recreated at some point.
우리집 멍멍이 진진과 아키다 (MY DOGS, JINJIN AND AKIDA) (2016)
Watchable. Another heavy-loaded movie on dogs and people, this one includes selling dogs for meat. But it ends truly well and the whole story is lighter in tone, at least in comparison to the previous stuff.
Having seen all full-length movies from the screenings I'm astonished by the abundance of school topics or reminiscences of the past. I'm also puzzled by the selection - why are all, really all the films, so grim?!
KROTKA FORMA (2018)
The set of short films comprised of:
여우소녁 (FOX BOY)
Watchable. This one first appeared to be a children's cartoon, especially that no words are spoken, but the tale soon turns brutal due to a sick psycho.
WOOGA
Recommended. A cheerful tale, also wordless, of a ginger caveman and dinosaurs. Orangish hues dominate the film till a cute blue dino baby hatches. The short story has a few tongue-in-cheek twists.
PARSLEY GIRL
Recommended. A visually stunning compilation of freely available images and sounds with a fairy-tale in the background.
레버 (THE LEVERS)
Recommended. This psychological dilemma money v. morals is visually austere apart from a cigarette throwing out fiery sparkles looking like gold. The protagonist's job is shocking but that's the only dark bit.
SCRIPT FIESTA
שְׁעַת נְעִילָה (VALLEY OF TEARS) EP. 1&2 (2020)
Recommended. Archive footage is mixed with fiction - though based on the real events of the Yom Kippur war of 1973 - e.g. it mixes an archive black and white air raid with the protagonists in tanks below. The war plot tackles also cultural and ethnic issues through varied characters, my favourite being the hapless intelligence guy who's never believed by others. The end credits are accompanied by recordings from the invasion. After the 2 episodes I'm curious how the offensive is going to advance and would love to see the protagonists again.
There were English and Polish subtitles - on light backgrounds therefore not always clear from a distance.
K-ANIMATION
돼지의 왕 (THE KING OF PIGS) (2011)
Recommended. It's unfair that "기생충" ("Parasite") got an Oscar while "돼지의 왕" ("The King of Pigs") goes into the same issues much more profoundly and harrowingly. It's superbly written - both the action and the narrative. The story's psychologically insightful. 김철 (Chol) looks like Bruce Lee and is just as feisty - up to a moment. The tale is dark, shockingly brutal and leaves no hope - you can't beat the system. It puts lots of emphasis on hierarchy - the root cause of the pathology in the presented world. The plot, with its twists and turns as well as the changes of perception, is gripping.
SCRIPT FIESTA
This year's Fiesta takes place fully online. It's commenced today. All the events, except for movies, are staying on thinkfilm.pl for 2 weeks.
DIALOG NA 100%. WYKLAD MICHALA OLESZCZYKA NA TEMAT TRYLOGII RICHARDA LINKLATERA
The Polish-only lecture by Michał Oleszczyk on Richard Linklater's trilogy focuses on dialogue. The lines are often spot on, e.g. "I want to keep talking to you." is the sentence that persuades the woman to get off the train hence allowing the relationship to start. They introduce themselves to each other by names only once they got off the train which is so realistic - I can recall similar situations from my own life - the movies are organic. The lecture makes you appreciate the structure and the use of book titles or song lyrics or subtle imaging or pacing the movie with dialogue.
BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013)
Switched off. The last part of Linklater's trilogy, strangely screened first, is awfully mundane and feels lengthy. It depicts a couple so ordinary there's no need to switch on a movie to see and hear such people. OK, I know what Michał Oleszczyk meant. The couple have an exchange about breaking up, next a happy old couple is seen at their destination. Then the lead protagonist is talking about a protagonist experiencing constant déjà vu, mentions sitting next to someone, himself sitting on the shore is discussing movie "On the Waterfront" - the dialogue is smart but not cracking and certainly didn't make me curious about what's going to happen later. And it is overtalked.
With the screening volume awfully low and subtitles (Polish only) white and small, it was additionally difficult to watch.
BEFORE SUNRISE (1995)
Recommended. The first part of the trilogy. The opening credits feature wonderful classical music, I suppose Viennese since this city plays the first violin in this picture. Jesse's mention of "the poetry of everyday life" is what later proves the driving force of the whole franchise. Jesse's idea for a reality show reflects 1995 - the decade of the rise of this kind of entertainment. Luckily his vision sounds more inventive than what we have been able to see on telly since then - 365 places and their inhabitants from round the world shown over a year is about one reality show even I would follow. Also the couple move places, even inside the train, or the places move when they sit still, e.g. landscapes out the window keep passing by. The way of his getting her off the train is truly funny and creative - I'd have fallen for it myself. Jokes continue when they encounter two guys on their path shortly after: "Do you speak English?" "Do you speak German, for a change?" Ethan Hawke wonderfully acts the smart, self-confident, playful young man, Julie Delpy is gentle, sometimes cheeky, once even masculine - in the mock phone conversation. The dialogue is cracking and natural at the same time. The reincarnation question is one I asked myself. But I found an answer, a different to the one Jesse suggests. The ever-changing vistas of Vienna from dusk to dawn form an attractive backdrop completing the amiable tale.
The trilogy must have lost its momentum since the third part was nothing like the first: still camera, silly dialogue, boring people.
The screening volume was better, you could do without the subtitles - Polish only, still white and small. I watched most of it from a distance, missed some lines but the fading ones didn't seem to matter.
THE VIGIL
Recommended. Truly frightening. Just the first 11 minutes and the final 4 minutes are not horrifying. Meaning 1 hour 12 minutes scare the hell out of you. The rational opening is fascinating in the way the characters learn to live outside the Orthodox Jewish community and you discover how cultural notions can't be taken for granted, even the most minute everyday behaviours. When it turns into proper horror, its background is original for the genre too. The extended second act makes you glance over your shoulder repeatedly. I wanted it to go over faster just because I felt so terrified. The director dedicates the movie to his grandparents who passed away during the making. Creepy.
Seen online, cinematic reception might differ. But now, at least in Poland, it's only going to be available on various online platforms - from Friday, tomorrow - anyway.
EL PROFUGO (THE INTRUDER)
Watchable. Argentinians don't know how to make horrors. Or psychological dramas, since this one, in spite of adopting some typical for the horror genre tropes and structure, is hard to classify. It drags. I only waited for the ending to find out what the sound issue was. The main plot is eventually clarified but not subplots, especially the sound engineer's disappearance. And it's poorly acted. Most of the cast doesn't fit the story. The final song is catchy enough.
The Polish subtitles on mojeekino.pl were white, cursive, hardly legible from a distance. The volume was too low too.
KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL
The festival will take place 30 May - 6 June 2021 in Kraków cinemas and online. Last year's was online only. The streaming platform gathered new audience so the organizers count on it this year too. The screenings will take place at a specific time.
Among Polish offerings are:
Adrian Apanel's "Stancja" ("The Last Room On the Left") - a short horror-comedy where a student is shown around a lodging house and each room and inhabitant is weirder and weirder. The interior and exterior of the house are "acted" by two various locations.
Tomasz Wysokiński's "Spacer z aniołami" ("Walk With Angels") - a documentary shot in South Africa.
Kinga Syrek's animation "Za późno" ("Too Late") on Andy Warhol's actress Edie Sedgwick and her relationship with her father - which actually drove her miles away from home where she met Warhol - with a soundtrack by Grammy winner Robert Margouleff.
Zbigniew Czapla's "On Time" covers a Japanese topic and is a "no budget" production where he made everything himself, including technicalities.
Michał Kawecki's "Antybohater" ("Not Hero At All") is described as a hilarious film about a disabled person.
It's one of the few festivals in the world whose winners have a path paved to candidate for Oscars. American Film Academy publishes a list of festivals which allow the winners an easier access - at KFF the categories are: short documentary, short animation, short fiction and full-length documentary. In practice it means they don't have to meet all the criteria, e.g. cinema screenings in the US. Most qualifying short animations festivals are in the US. There are just a few festivals in the world qualifying in so many categories.
In spite of the pandemic, 283 Polish films (over 2500 in total) were submitted for the festival: 141 documentaries, 86 actors' movies and 101 animations. Women seem to specialise in animations. The documentaries range from: Jewish topics - common for this festival but also on MMA or persons famous in Polish history. Polish entries are watched by at least 3 selectors each, foreign ones by 2.
All industry events (for the producers) will be held online.
TVP (Polish Television) will be a patron so I assume it's only a matter of time when the (Polish at least) films will be in their program.
THIS IS SHORT
The platform (thisisshort.filmchief.com) allows to see, with just one ticket, 4 European short film festivals: Go Short, Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Vienna Shorts and Short Waves as well as a number of special releases in a few categories. Some are subject to geographic restrictions, as I've just experienced with "Sun Dog" - a Russian European Film Award candidate (I'm guessing that's why I couldn't get it started). Individual films are available usually for limited periods of time, i.e. a day or a few, the whole platform stays active till the end of June. The system is complicated but you only pay once and explore at your will. Each film is under 20 minutes.
EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS CANDIDATES
This section releases new titles, which candidated for the Awards, once a week and they are avialable that week only.
DIE BESTE STADT IST KEINE STADT (THE BEST CITY IS NO CITY AT ALL)
Watchable. An artistic and environmentally-oriented film on the issue of spreading cities. It offers some smart tricks, e.g. "If you don't mess up the space, you don't have to clean it afterwards" and suggests "an award for money unspent". It also highlights the fact that future depicted in movies is always dystopian because a catastrophe is more likely to happen therefore easier to imagine. Clear but prolonged shots make this 15-minute short feel lengthy.
NEW POINT OF VIEW - EUROPEAN ONLINE COMPETITION
This section, with each film available for 84 hours, i.e. 3.5 days, is subject to audience voting - once you finish watching, the option of casting your vote opens.
LES ANTILOPES
Switched off. A few air shots of running antelopes are first accompanied by a philosophical commentary on these animals committing a mass suicide which gets replaced by club music accompanying the images of the animals rushing to their demise. What a sick idea!
Both had subtitles on black background so perfectly legible. The screening quality was superb.
NARZISS UND GOLDMUND (NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND)
Recommended. This period drama questing who and what is essential in life is based on the novel of the same title by Herman Hesse and scripted and directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky of Oscar-winning "Die Fälscher" ("The Counterfeiters") fame. Costumes of the rich and of the poor, make-up showing the marks of the Black Death, locations in South Tirol - all depict the Middle Ages meticulously. The movie shows the extreme brutality of the time and covers all areas of everyday life from eating and drinking, travel, work and social relations. The two male leads get brilliant support from a group of actors, who no matter how small the role, put in memorable performances. Multi-layered characters, especially of the two boys/men and a typically medieval story provide for engaging action as well as offer quietly profound moments. Visually, at times it delights you, at other scares you with times past, but in the core it's timeless.
Seen online, on mojeekino.pl - the volume was excellent but Polish subtitles too small and white on all background colours, impossible to read from a distance.
WW84
Recommended. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine reprise their roles as Wonder Woman and Steve Taylor in this top-notch entertainment. Kristin Wiig, who's 47, is an anti-superhero and a proof you can pull off such a role at any age. Both her and Pedro Pascal as Max Lord excel as the superbaddies. Whether the Olympics of the ancient world or 1984, it's an alternative world. The '80s are even more colourful than they were in reality. The movie's part-humorous, part-moving but engaging from start to finish. There's an early mid-credit. Is she going to return in "Wonder Woman 3"? Might be interesting but careful what you wish for.
Seen online, cinematic reception might differ. If it ever gets a cinema release.
GLI ANNI PIU BELLI (THE BEST YEARS)
Watchable. An engaging and touching story of a friendship, and fall-outs with mates, spanning a few decades. It depicts also the highs and lows of life, career, fulfillment. Only the romantic plot is a bit far-fetched. The movie set mostly in Rome and partly in Naples reflects the Italian lifestyle: camaraderie, joy, passion. It's just pleasant to watch. Pierfrancesco Favino, unlike in "Il traditore" ("The traitor), here impersonates a lawyer, though also of an ambiguous type. Micaela Ramazzotti is suitably cast as everone's love interest. The 80s sound particularly well due to an outstanding performance of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (originally by Simple Minds).
The mojeekino.pl screening was fluent, subtitles legible and the dialogue and music audible.
OBJAZDOWY WATCH DOCS TORUN (WATCH DOCS ON A TOUR) - ONLINE
КАК Я МОГУ ТЕБЕ ПОМОЧЬ?
Watchable. The short film proves it's perpetrators' impunity that hurts victims the most. But most of the conversation excerpts deal with abstract ideas so you don't get to sympathise with the battered protesters in Belarus.
ERASE UNA VEZ IN VENEZUELA, CONGO MIRADOR (ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENEZUELA)
Switched off. It's going nowhere. You just witness day-to-day life in a village in Venezuela. The subject may have something to do with the lake being polluted with oil but it's mentioned only once in the first half an hour after which I couldn't be bothered any longer.
БУДЕТ АПРЕЛЬ (FORCED RETIREMENT)
Watchable. A short documentary about a TV journalist beaten up during protests in Belarus. The title refers to their cult comedy so doesn't carry connotations to foreigners. The protesters' injuries are presented, scars shown to the camera close-up. But what's most harrowing is when you hear that "they beat you for one minute more, till the body doesn't move"
ЧТО МЫ БУДЕМ ДЕЛАТЬ ЗАВТРА?
Watchable. The title question asked during the protests in Belarus is silly, just as is his looking for a protagonist. The chat between the director and someone else commenting who's in the image is needless too. The only point of interst in this short documentary is that you learn what it was like to be arrested for a few days when the riots started.
The subtitles were on light backgrounds and too small to read from a distance.
OBJAZDOWY WATCH DOCS TORUN (WATCH DOCS ON A TOUR) - ONLINE
CURRENT SEA
Watchable. The documentary about activists' efforts to protect Cambodian waters from illegal fishing by Vietnamese trawlers and from the most devastating electrocuting all marine life in the way is of vital importance but it's overlong, a lot of material could be easily cut out. It could have been structured better and more concise. As for such a dramatic situation, the film pace and rhythm fails to convey the tension and urgency.
The white subtitles on often light backgrounds are not always legible but most is in English and the volume is decent.
WANDA, MEIN WUNDER (MY WONDERFUL WANDA)
Recommended. So far Agnieszka Grochowska spoilt every movie she was in so I was apprehensive about this one where she is the title Wanda, especially that a tragicomedy about a Polish carer in Switzerland didn't seem enticing. But the cracking script is puckish, the plot takes a few twists and turns and is nothing I would expect. The ambiguous ending leaves it open for a sequel. Unlikely for this genre but who knows.
MARTIN EDEN
Watchable. The action of Jack London's novel is moved from Oakland, California to Naples, Italy. The classic tale tells of class struggle, ideas becoming salient with time, individualism, education, life sacrifices, making your own fate - Martin Eden epitomises a self-made man. The film conveys the message that education benefits everyone around. It depicts emerging socialism but the ideas of the period are not always comprehensible. The story a few times skips a period in Martin's life. Poverty-stricken areas are skillfully recreated and lavish interiors are used for the wealthy residences. Innovatively, archival footage is inserted where the budget didn't allow for modern enactments - the archival material at times astonishes you with how fitting it is but at times is inexplicable and feels off place. Occasionally the dialogue sounds unnatural, especially workers who'd never adapt such a lofty speaking manner for a social chat. I mean the words could stay but only uttered casually. The movie is the proverbial curate's egg. The sound of sea waves can be heard at the end of the final credits.
Both screenings on mojeekino.pl were fluent - none or little stutter and with quality sound, subtitles big and on black background.
INFAMOUS
Recommended. Every generation has their killer lovers. 1967 had "Bonnie and Clyde" - they robbed and killed when necessary to escape, 27 years later 1994 had "Natural Born Killers" - they robbed, raped, held hostage but mostly killed in abundance, their exploits followed by the mass media, another 27 years on 2021 has "Infamous" - the couple rob and kill when frightened. They take one hostage but are kind to her, just like Mick and Mallory in 1994, Arielle and Dean had awful childhoods due to their inept and dishonest parents. And just like Bonnie in 1967, Arielle first works as a waitress. It's the Internet 2.0 era so the girl posts the crimes herself. The motivation has undergone evolution: 1967 was about money, 1994 was about violence, 2021 is about fame. The shifted objective is manifested by their disregard for money and violence being accidental, while fame is deemed as priceless, among others because famous people get away with crimes. This version of the story showcases a number of colourful costumes fit for the frivolous couple and is exceptionally well acted, with outstanding Bella Thorne as Arielle and Jake Manley as Dean - he resembles young Brad Pitt, though Jake's hair is dyed blond. Thumping music, mostly by Wolf Club, matches the action well.
Seen online, cinematic reception might differ. But now, at least in Poland, it's only available on various online platforms anyway.
RAISA
Switched off. While you quickly realise it's about a Chechen woman applying for the right to stay in Poland, the camera shows some of her activities and conversations without a commentary. No idea what the point of this short documentary is. Raisa's life is also so mundane - does she only care about such basic life needs or have only such bits been picked for the film? - that I'd better follow my own, it's far more interesting.
The film is touring festivals now.
OCTOPUS FILM FESTIVAL
A FIRE IN THE COLD SEASON
Switched off. Wolves being killed in traps in cold blood revolted me first. Then the story where a poacher becomes a hero felt off. A pregnant widow was terribly cliche and made the plot awfully predictable. Then it dawned on me that the main storyline, combined with attractive music and night lights, resembled something. The film is basically a redneck version of "Drive", played by mediocre actors of average looks. This one contains lots of swearing, the protagonists lack purpose and do stuff knowing no better. It's not even sure why exactly the gangsters are after them - the pretext is barely sketched. The movie traipses from one incident to the next. Based on protracted shots, the whole thing is so slow I paused frequently to surf the net and about half an hour before the end I decided not to fool myself any longer.
OCTOPUS FILM FESTIVAL
FESTIWAL FILMOW FRANKOFONSKICH (FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL) - ONLINE
LE JEUNE AHMED (YOUNG AHMED) (2019)
Watchable. The Belgian offering is the brainchild of the Dardenne brothers whose previous work includes "La fille inconnue" ("The Unknown Girl") - also dealing with the issues of acculturation of Arabs in Europe. They retake the subject, in a completely different story, in this efficient thriller which makes clever use of both suspense and depicting the issue from a few Muslim points of view. The movie's made by the numbers, with a few twists of action. Still, the by-the-book script means it's too predictable for the most part.
LES HIRONDELLES DE KABOUL (THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL) (2019)
Watchable. An elegant animation about the Taliban rule. This moving adaptation of the Algerian novel of the same title is too poetic, with unnatural dialogue, for a film. The literary conversations between the characters remind you over and over again it's fiction.
Next time subtitles on black background, please. Both films had them barely legible on light backgrounds.
YES, GOD, YES
Watchable. Expected a raunchy flick? God forbid! It's a Catholic high school and their community retreat. The satire on how controlling the Catholic community is is a peculiar mixture: tame but with filthy jokes, even toilet humour is unavoidable. Gentle but sexual connotations are served straight in your face. Pleasant on the whole, mostly owing to wonderfully stereotypical character performances.
The movie will be available on several Polish vod platforms from Friday and is on one alredy.
FESTIWAL FILMOW FRANKOFONSKICH (FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL) - ONLINE
ADORATION (2019)
Watchable. The first act of the Belgian-French offering plods along, on the silly side, and three elements are disturbing: the bird, the kept girl and the mother but the movie livens up at the escape and, unpredictable from act two, keeps you intrigued. What did Gloria do? Is she truly sane? Can she be really dangerous? The story brings associations with "La Pazza Gioia" ("Like Crazy") - through the troubled but joyful escape and "The Snow Queen" fairy-tale - the places they visit represent various lands and, at least in a runaway's mind, turn dangerous or hide menace. Several frame-like pictures in underlit setting of varying hues are so badly in-your-face they fail to impress.
The sound and Polish subtitles are of the same quality as in "Orizont".
DE GAULLE IN EIRINN (DE GAULLE IN IRELAND) (2020)
Watchable. The Irish documentary, partly in Irish language, about a little known episode in Charles de Gaulle's life is a chance to learn about the history of France, the history of Ireland and 20th century politics in Europe. Lovely pictures of Ireland, mostly shot on the rare days of sunny weather fill the gaps between the historical trivia. As for the form, it consists of 4 parts with blackouts in between.
The sound and Polish subtitles are of the same quality as in previously mentioned films, with tht difference of a lack of black space below the picture.
TAMBOUR BATTANT (2019)
Watchable. Amusing rivalry in a small Swiss town of the 70s. Aloys is played by Pierre Mifsud whose acting chops and manner match those of late Louis de Funes. Pierre Mifsud is the star of the show. I'm not sure why his competitor looks like a porn star. The comedy is built on oppositions: old and new music, traditional and progressive social values, political right and left. But the moment I laughed out loud was when Aloys was giving a speech so fervently he hit his aide. The best scene though comes right after the shooting at the train station and leads straight to the finale. It's mostly the quality of actual music that detracts from the comedy.
No black space below the picture again. The subtitles are smaller this time, legible only from up close and placed often on light background.
FESTIWAL FILMOW FRANKOFONSKICH (FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL) - ONLINE
I've seen wonderful "Dalida" and so-so "La femme de mon frère" ("A Brother's Love") before. So I've got 6 left to see this year - the festival runs to 26 March and is free of charge.
ORIZONT (2015)
Watchable. An enigmatic but engaging crime drama. I mean, I couldn't make out who the few dodgy groups of people were but the protagonist knew how to react. May be down to my lack of knowledge of Romanian society and the movie seems to explore the socio-psychological roots of the rural underworld. The way the film cast interact with one another appears natural and the dialogue and the thugs authentic. For the most part, I thought the movie should be titled "Crime and No Punishment" but that comes in the end too.
It's loud and the subtitles are legible from a distance, apart from those on light background, shame the black space below wasn't used for that but I guess the movie was initially destined for cinemas.
NAJLEPSZE KROTKIE METRAZE 2021/VOL. 1
A set of 4 short films shown in this order:
ALICJA I ZABKA (ALICE AND THE FROG)
Watchable. Kiss a prince and he'll turn into a frog - one in your tummy, that is. Or a tadpole rather since that resembles a spermatozoon more. This artistic representation of minors' and adults' reactions to underage pregnancy draws on a number of cultural references: from Alice following a rabbit to the urban legend of a "Sun" game. The horror of being refused a legal termination gets muddled through those artistic insertions though, however visually thought-out they are.
WE HAVE ONE HEART
Switched off. Only for people nosy enough to be interested in some strangers' family relations. And you'd better like children - a kid narrates the story.
NOAMIA
Watchable. The promising set-up of a gay police officer recognising a male victim is spoilt when the crime doesn't get resolved. Instead you follow a convoluted psychological drama with some filthy remarks thrown in. Despite that, the secret love undertone makes the whole thing intriguing. It's also rare to see recognisable actors in a short film so keep an eye out for some familiar faces including Bartłomiej Topa.
WIELKI STRACH
Recommended. In Poland, you've been hearing horrifying war stories since childhood. But these events haven't been known to me before at all. At first it looks like some boring talking heads, very old and worn so hardly enticing. But as you listen to the stories, they become more and more blood-curdling. The documentary deals with post-war crimes in Podkarpacie, where Polish people murdered other Poles on a mass scale. The slaughters, often for some miserable possessions, extended till the 50s. One of the tales is about a man who deprived a girl returning after the war of her suitcase and threw her into a well - she didn't get killed instantly but kept moaning - only to discover, upon opening the case and finding photographs, that she was his daughter. Unbelievable what became of people in the result of war when destitute. Interestingly, even nowadays witnesses and fact seekers are threatened, most likely by descendants of the criminals. Leaves you in sheer horror.
Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.
KAZDY MA SWOJE LATO (EVERYONE HAS A SUMMER)
Watchable. A typical Polish tragicomedy, this one with a satirical look both at neurodegeneration occurring in elderly people and at the clash between vegetarians and carnivores. It is funny at times, e.g. when you see who gets interested in the girl the most but later, on a few occasions, turns sour. Why can't Poles create pure fun?! Nicolas Przygoda as butcher Mirek and Maciej Grzybowski as his grandfather stand out acting-wise. Each character develops within the story, there's some female nudity and it's women who provoke the men - everything's made by the traditional, sexist, Polish movie-shooting book. Engaging enough but simplistic, stereotypical and disturbing.
HER DOCS FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE - HERSTORIE NA DZIEN KOBIET
THE VIBRANT VILLAGE
Recommended. A brilliant satirical short film: when men drink in a bar, women manufacture vibrators.
I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I GET THERE
Watchable. The conversations of a young artist with her overly apprehensive mother and a police officer at some point get hilarious. But there's no point in this short film other than showing the two points of view.
NIE MASZ DYSTANSU (YOU ARE OVERREACTING)
Recommended. A wonderful short film on rape culture, using common people's and real life politicians' statements on women.
ER SIE ICH (HE SHE I)
Switched off. Strangers dissect their convoluted relationship. An avoidant man and a loving woman - bog-standard. Altogether a boring autopsy of a dead relationship.
KATE NASH: UNDERESTIMATE THE GIRL
Recommended. I hadn't even heard of this artist before and I'm still not a fan of her type of music but her life story where "the universe" would sometimes say "no" or "swing" her in a specific direction proved to be fascinating and now I'm wholeheartedly rooting for her. Kate's colourful attires, wonderful hairstyles and imaginative make-up change over and over again as you follow her highs and lows round the world. At some point the story gets criminal and you feel angry about the "badass reputation" being style in the LA music industry. Amazing how she drew on feminine powers to fight the evil ex-manager in court. It's also a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at money-making in music. Film-wise, her most adorable dog Stella is the icing on the cake.
The Polish short films enjoyed top-notch sound, I had an impression I found myself in the cinema. The general screening quality was fine, a bit annoying you have to set up an account for the Pięć Smaków platform even for the free screenings.
DRUK (ANOTHER ROUND)
Watchable. The movie tries hard to persuade you that culture is based on intoxication. I'm not buying this idea but the plot centred round a group of seemingly-reasonable adults experimenting with booze meant to improve inter-human relations and release your mind strengths is engaging. An insertion of videos of drunk politicians and mentioning anecdotes about them seems meant to justify alcoholism but also shows how easily you can manipulate public opinion selecting facts. A death would normally show danger but the film so strongly justifies moderate, even if daily, drinking, it's internally contradictory. The highlight is the magnificently choreographed finale. Can I have another round of Mads Mikkelsen dancing, please? In fact, I'd love to see him in a musical next.
POSSESSOR UNCUT
Watchable. By Brandon Cronenberg, David Cronenberg's son, so it's not surprising the movie shares some key attributes of his predecessor's "eXistenZ" (1999) - humans connecting their bodies to machines and getting lost in what's reality and what isn't as well as Andrew Niccol's "The Host" (2013) - though this mind-intruder is quite earthly. Futuristic chairs and retro glasses represent state-of-art companies. Never mind the assassin one, also Zoothroo deals in shocking data-mining via webcams. They're both evil corporations crossing boundaries of morality and privacy. That's as much is lucid even though the film's based on understatements, forcing you to connect the dots yourself. But as a horror, it fails to scare, too much ketchup-resembling gore - each assassination is splattered with fresh arterial spray. The movie may appear original to youngsters but to those familiar with David Cronenberg's work it's the same fun updated and reloaded. Just how many times can you serve the same fare?
AMMONITE
Watchable. Another costume lesbian story, hard even not to compare to "Portrait de la jeune fille en feu" ("Portrait of a Lady on Fire"), also taking place by the seaside. This one is only occasionally subtle though and far from sophistication - there's even some hot woman on woman action. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan shed their purely romantic image. Elaborate period dresses of one of the women contrast with austere ones of the other since the second bottom is a class clash. Erotic passion mixes with an admiration of a rare specimen they both seem to be to each other. Masterful sound effects render this simple tale vivid, as if you were there.
All seen online, cinematic reception might differ.
SWEAT
Watchable. I expected a flick about narcissism, envy, rivalry. Luckily the movie has defied my expectations. The protagonist, apart from her amazing looks (perfectly cast Magdalena Koleśnik: beautiful, athletic and able to express any emotion) is likeable: every dog would love to have such an owner, she has a heartfelt conversation with an old school mate, is kind to her family, environmentally friendly and hard-working. The rest of the cast acts natural, the pace is decent, the actress changes costumes frequently which, combined with pop music and rhythmic exercise, makes it just nice to watch till the finale which is a sequence of her unpredictable decisions. While watching, I was struck by the grace of Sylwia's attitude to people's weaknesses. But after the movie I couldn't shake off the feeling something was intrinsically wrong: is a man's masturbation when looking at an attractive stranger just a weakness? Can't he overcome it? Does he really have to harass her? The message the film sends is sexist to the core.
PALM SPRINGS
Watchable. A light, sun-bathed comedy based on a fascinating sci-fi set-up. Starts with college age drunken antics type of humour, some pranks are pretty pathetic, but the tale is perfectly-paced and at some point takes a more serious turn leading to a quantum leap of faith. In spite of a prankster-level plot, you don't get bored for a minute and even start analyzing the pros and cons of living a day on a loop. Light in tone but hardly funny, I only grinned at "I'm your son" scene just before the finale. Still, entertaining it is. The mid-credit ties up one loose end.
SOUND OF METAL
Watchable. My primary impression: "Le chant du loup" ("The Wolf's Call") showed it better, even though it was just a brief moment in the film. This one is admittedly comprehensive, the whole film is devoted to the niche topic of losing your hearing and it's even more niche because the protagonist is a heavy metal band drummer. On the other hand, it makes the story relevant to an audience that's into gigs. So you traipse along the musician hearing, not hearing, mishearing sounds. Riz Ahmed is sloppy in the leading role, his speech is never fully clear, not even at the beginning when he still hears at times, he sounds like a chain smoker at all times, that dryness of his larynx calls for a doctor, not a director. The drama of Ruben and the help group leader getting their wires crossed is engaging as are the practicalities of such a tremendous life change. The sound effects give the story a real feel but in a documentary sense rather than dramatic. Some behaviours of Ruben, Lou or the help group leader, who I'm not sure whether he was a priest or not, are incomprehensible. I'm not sure if it's the script writer, the director or the actors but someone seriously failed in this respect. Hard to identify yourself with people you don't understand.
Both seen online, cinematic reception might differ.
BURROW
Watchable. The Pixar short screened together with "Soul" has no words and is clearly for little children. The pictures are quite simple, yet the tale, in its simple form, deals with looking for your place in life and your place to live at the same time. So both the wee ones and adults of all ages will find a point of reference.
SOUL
Recommended. For adults rather than children since the plot is complex and multi-layered. The basic idea resembles "Coco" but the realm of the dead is more otherworldly and the tale conveys a different message, a number of messages in fact. Disney raises a bar for the animation genre once again. The afterlife is mostly translucent and pastel or black, depending on the spatial geometric forms dominating the area. Shimmering surfaces and opalescent landscapes are mesmerising. Varied animation styles not only keep you glued to the screen, they also proudly aim for an Oscar. The plot is truly moving at times, humorous at others, thought-provoking, profound and smart on several levels: from people's little foibles to the meaning of life and the clash of one's destiny and dream. As for the award-winning music, the likes of Herbie Hancock, George Spencer and 4 others are credited as cultural and music consultants and it's Atmos-recorded. Personally, I'm not a jazz fan but the music style is the least important in the story. In Poland, the dialogues and even most of the songs are in Polish. Only the last song over the end credits is in the English original. A funny, brief post-credit completes the story and is worth waiting for.
הנה אנחנו (HERE WE ARE)
Watchable. Having attended several Jewish film festivals, I associated Israeli cinema with basically three topics: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Holocaust and the orthodox community. This one is different. While the subject of taking care of an autistic son would be niche elsewhere, in this case it makes the Israeli movie versatile. And does so very humanely. It shows how a special care person is a clog in the machinery of the social welfare system which is heart-wrenching and disturbing at times. The father and son road trip is beautiful but tear-jerking. All the parts are perfectly acted so the movie tugs on your heartstrings. In spite of a satisfactory ending, it leaves you despondent.
H IS FOR HAPPINESS
Watchable. Enjoyable music, vivid colours, unmistakably Aussie vistas hold together a shambolic plot where kids, however smart, are gullible. That may be psychologically true but a girl trying to mend her extended family relations is both silly and already overused in the world of fiction. Also, it's a set of pieces which are forced to fit the puzzle - they appear so disconnected. A nice little post-credit completes the movie.
Reviewed from screeners, cinematic reception might differ.
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Recommended. It follows in the footsteps of "The Hunting Ground" - an acclaimed documentary which failed to make real-life impact. This fictitious tale is looking to break new ground, taking off the heavy tones and turning an authentic issue into a sassy thriller. Music is integral to the "Promising Young Woman"'s appeal. The movie boasts Atmos sound which enriches the music even in an ordinary theatre. Light pop songs in the like of "It's Raining Men" clash with Cassandra's (the protagonist's mythical name's certainly not accidental) peculiar hobby - as it seems at first. Carey Mulligan is fantastic as the lead. Her hairstyles, costumes, make-up play a role too. Speaking of visuals, certain scene makes you wonder if it's blood or sauce on her leg, hand and blouse. This attractive flick, made by women: produced by Margot Robbie, written and directed by Emerald Fennell explicitly demonstrates a number of stereotypes people fall victim of, implicates everyone and turns the tables - it's social psychology served as a saucy dish. There are quite a few surprises along the way and an unconventional final solution.
My first visit to a cinema since the recent thawing out the economy in Poland was great: most people wore masks properly during the screening but I had also purchased an FFP2 mask which made it easier not to worry about those who obnoxiously disregarded the pandemic precautions. Even in the middle of a week day the cinema was largely filled with an audience so the industry is on the best way to recover. Also, a surrounding 5.1 sound was like a balm on my deprived ears.
A TUBA TO CUBA
Watchable. What it's about isn't clear but it's attractive. A random assembly of professionally shot, colourful views of New Orleans and Cuba, wonderful tap dancing sound effects, conga music, jazz and comments by musicians. Kind of a tribute to instrumentalists paying tribute to their African ancestors and one particular musician's family heritage story. The documentary assumes you have background knowledge of New Orleans jazz and that you can recognize urban shots from both regions - I couldn't, only the language would sometimes indicate to me whether it's Cuba or the south of the US. Pleasant but haywire.
Reviewed online, cinematic reception might differ.
ΜΕΛΑ (APPLES)
Recommended. The Greek production is austere but engaging, something you find in this country's cinema often. The set-up is perversely familiar and relatable. When you hear that there's "no cure" and that "no one has returned to their previous life" it sounds very much like pandemic experiences. But here the disease affecting the whole society - the ill and the healthy alike - is amnesia. The science-fiction set-up is played out as a psychological drama. At some point you realize someone has a secret. The ending reveals the reason for the deception. Smartly scripted. Convincingly acted. Thought-provoking and truly original.
PROSTE RZECZY (SIMPLE THINGS)
Switched off. Why would I watch such boring people living their empty life? Both the family and the makers look scruffy, as if they've never heard of a comb and they have a toddler who is no more disgusting than the neglected adults are. An amateurish production throughout.
SLUZOBNICI (SERVANTS)
Watchable. The Slovak offering tries very hard to imitate the Polish "Zimna wojna" ("Cold War") with an element of "Kler" ("Clergy"). It's high contrast black and white, set during the Cold War and a priest protagonist ran over someone when drunk. The main plot, however, is far from the Polish hits. The Slovak one deals with the Church forced to collaborate with communist authorities. But the movie drags awfully. Never mind meticulous cinematography, e.g. a spiral staircase looking like a fossil snail shell, a white steamy bathroom or an air shot of priests playing footie resembling crows. It's style over substance.
A METAMORFOSE DOS PASSAROS (THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BIRDS)
Switched off. The opening shocks you with a close-up of a face. But what follows are musings in a narrative form which don't translate well to the screen. It's Portuguese and their movies tend to be slow. So that completes the ruin of the picture.
Reviewed from online screeners but the movies are being released at cinemas today.
BLOOD MACHINES
Recommended. Stunning visuals by writer-producer Seth Ickerman: mind-blowing CGIs, real life acting, including a hot male lead (Anders Heinrichsen), and rotoscoped naked women are complemented by awe-inspiring electro music by Carpenter Brut. Story-wise it's the #metoo rebellion on a cosmic scale. Unusual but mostly worth for the sensual pleasures of this 50-minute sci-fi video clip.
Reviewed from an online screener but I bet it'll be even better on aa big screen with cinema quality sound.
THE LOVE WITCH
Recommended. A totally female-made, entirely late-60s/early-70s-style, 2016-produced, Technicolor imitation. The costumes, make-up, hair-styling, cinematography and music are astonishing in the re-enaction of the bygone era. Skillfully shot, with always enough and never too much nudity. The 1977 version of "Suspiria" came to my mind in visual terms,"Barbarella" (1968) in terms of the female protagonist's provocative feminism sexy adventures. "Midsommar" (2019) appears to have been inspired by the scene where the couple are crowned at a Midsommar festivity which harks back to medieval times but those possible two-way pop culture inspirations and references stay on the margins of this original film. The visual fest, on a deeper level, is about the inability to attain love. And about all sorts of other relationship mishaps. Partly comical, partly criminal, thoroughly mysterious and alluring with the colours and shapes. The movie has enchanted me.
ROBIN'S WISH
Recommended. Touching from early minutes and tear-jerking even if you haven't been that big a fan, informative both about Robin Williams as a person and as an actor and about his disease: Lewy body dementia. The story takes you to and fro over his lifetime in a perfectly lucid way. Expectedly, it's a tribute to the man loved worldwide but also a documentary which puts you right into his disease, inside his paining consciousness. By the end, you've understood the film opening with Robin's disconnected speech about the human mind.
SLALOM
Watchable. Engaging but disturbing - it often feels like watching child porn. Noée Abita, known from "Ava", is now 21 but still looks underage. I just felt disgusted with the film message. The only truly impressive moment was in the end credits mimicking snow blown in one direction as if you were riding down a slope.
Apart from the movie as such, I felt both envious and uplifted seeing that a minor can walk into a pharmacy and get the day-after pill over the counter in France.
Reviewed from online screeners but the movies will be on at cinemas this (Valentine) weekend. Cinema returns with a bang.
SYMETRIA (SYMMETRY) (2003) - ONLINE
Watchable. The most iconic of Konrad Niewolski's films makes for compelling viewing and is superbly performed. Set in prison - consulted with experts so I trust its realism. Unlike his later productions, this one lacks an astonishing twist of action. In fact, it's not clear where the story's going and the film fails to answer many of the questions it poses. There's a thin line between a movie being ambiguous and being incomplete.
HUMAN DOC VOD
Available free of charge (with a handful of brief commercials to watch) and with no time restrictions. For me, a chance to see the documentaries I didn't manage to fit into my festival schedules.
CHAO (LANDLESS) (2019)
Switched off. This Brazilian documentary traipses activist farmers, presenting virtually each discussion, every work they do, but without providing full context. It drags.
PRZYJAZN W CIENIU KREMLA. JUTRO UKRAINA (FRIENDSHIP IN THE SHADOW OF THE KREMLIN. TOMORROW UKRAINE) (2018)
Recommended. First Georgia, then Ukraine, then the Baltic states and next Poland? Ukraine has come after Georgia. Curiously, Russins first arrived as "tourists" and "politicians" to research the ground. Putin, described by Saakashvili as "a faggot and a killer", is ruthless: the war that has been going on in the Donetsk region since 2015, is particularly brutal: outrageous tortures - sometimes by bloodthirsty criminals, sometimes structured by professionals who would even call and ambulance to bring a man back from clinical death a few times only to torture him further, unspeakable public opinion manipulation - 3 days can change a person's reputation by 180 degrees. The film presents so harrowing an account of tortures I was grateful for the VOD commercials since they took the weight of this heavy subject breaking the film a few times.
AFRYKAMERA ONLINE
Luckily the festival was extended until 1 January so then I managed to see the last movie. A number of films, though not the one below, are available again - till 17 January.
BAAMUM NAFI (NAFI'S FATHER)
Recommended. This smalltown family drama soon turns into a political thriller as Islam clashes with radicalism. Colourful traditional attire contrasts with white or black outfits worn by the extremists - quite apt, isn't it? For them, everything is black or white. It's basically the topic known from "Timbuktu" with engaging action and suspense - it plays out like a good thriller.
While this edition of the festival was varied, covering several African regions and topics, the number of dance films stood out - a few documentaries and an excellent dance scene in an actors' one. The mojeekino.pl platform finally worked fairly smoothly - the first festival there without a stutter. As for subtitles, when you could pick English only, they were big on black background, perfectly legible, while when both Polish and English showed at the same time, they were white and yellow and much smaller - impossible to watch from a distance. The sound volume of movie files differed a lot - some were too quiet to watch without subtitles, some were just fine, some were really loud so I needed to turn them down.
The ending of 2020 was so packed with festivals I needed to sleep it off. So below are movies still from those events:
AFRYKAMERA ONLINE
NAIROBI HALF LIFE
Watchable. An enjoyable crime drama with so many humorous scenes and lines you could take it for a comedy if it weren't for a more serious final act. The plot's rooted in real life. The city is dubbed Nairobbery for a reason. A friend of mine was once lifted up in the air by a few thugs who robbed her off. In the film, once a wannabe actor arrives in Nairobi, a few thugs lift him up to shake out his cash and precious objects. In another scene, a mugged chap is running after the robbers who, suddenly, turn back and shout "mwizi!" ("thief!") pointing at the victim - I haven't heard of such a trick but it appears plausible. The non-crime layer attempts at conveying a deeper message, e.g.: "it is a choice: to look or to look away" as he utters on the stage but dwells on ambivalence: acting saves his life but doesn't save him from a life of crime.
AU TEMPS OU LES ARABES DANSAIENT (WHEN ARABS DANCED)
Watchable. The documentary had better be titled "When Muslims Enjoyed Sensuality" since Persians are not Arabs and the film covers the Muslim outlook on the body extensively, mostly dealing with nudity in a number of contexts rather than dancing. That's probably for a reason since a dancer is almost a synonym of "a whore" in the Islamic culture. We hear of a case when a marriage proposal was rejected by a bride's family when they googled up the groom's mother's job. At the same time, the Egyptian dance instructor remarks: "Islam teaches to glide through life and be light in your step and this is dance." In a performance rehearsal, a man recites the shahada naked - that still makes him Muslim but would cause an outrage in the audience. On the other hand, you learn that a few decades ago the idea that all Egyptian women should wear hijabs was ridiculed. Still, the documentary is overtalked. It shows some beautiful dance but too little. The whole thing is humdrum.
A TASTE OF OUR LAND
Recommended. Quite an actioner but also a moral tale about gold which corrupts everyone. The ore gets filthy twice - through faeces but is also thrown into water - which symbolically purifies it. Numerous parties are implicated: corporations, the police, all foreigners, the Church. Camerawork and playing with space skillfully demonstrate how a protagonist stands up hence assumes the position of power but the Chinese man walks around his house like he owns it. Beautiful local music - joyful at the beginning and sad at the end. A proof that a low budget movie with the right script and actors, especially Peter Kye as the Chinese man, can deliver great emotions and suspense.
SOFTIE
Watchable. The film starts with a bang and bloody omens, then loses momentum to pick it up in the finale. Kenya is a country corrupt to the core. Cambridge Analytica is the least of their election problems since voters are routinely bribed even right outside polling stations, in fact, they come in droves just to earn cash, in 2017, the head of the country's digital voting system was murdered 8 days before the voting and his hands were chopped off probably to use his fingerprints biometrics to rig the results, last but not least, opposition candidates' voters were shot at and tear gas was released on them. The violence and killings continued for months. The winning opposition candidate in the meantime made a deal with the ruling party's leader ignoring those who had died for his win. With such material, it's only a shame the documentary is full-length with the middle filled with too much footage of the candidate's family. At least the campaign songs have catchy tunes.
LA NUIT DES ROIS (NIGHT OF THE KINGS)
Watchable. The night when kings come and go is a case of style over substance. This Ivorian offering is based round the tradition of oral literature passed on by griots. It's different from European storytelling. Also in the film, there's more interaction with the audience: the listeners answer the griot's questions, repeat verses, enact them - according to the tradition of West Africa. The storyline derives from the legend of Sheherezade but in a prison setting - original but the story the boy tells truly only buys him time and takes viewers' since it's inconsistent and sketchy. Songs are scarce but melodious.
POPPIE NONGENA
Recommended. Pure perfection: a Xhosa woman's personal account of the Soweto clearing. Superbly acted and shot. A simple yet powerful story, with exquisite songs in Xhosa.
KATI KATI
Recommended again. Captivating from frame one. Mystery pervades the whole film. This climate is achieved through the use of just one location as well as appropriate cinematography, costumes and make-up. Gradually, you learn how the protagonists leave the place and why they are at the spot but not why they arrive there at different times or why the time runs differently. A pool-side song says: "we never know till we try" which is true off-screen as well. Music-wise, drum beat at the basketball game is fun.
The film captions often read: "(eerie sounds continue)" or "(electronic music)" but little of the music was audible. Still, it doesn't detract from this captivating tale.
AR CONDICIONADO (AIR CONDITIONER)
Switched off. Artsy. Starts with dictionary definitions of "air" and "conditioning", next come high-contrast black and white stills of the makers and the movie pretext is air conditioners falling down and killing people all of Luanda. The ingenious idea is wasted through the plot: the characters mostly ramble through derelict buildings or stare for minutes at a time. I just didn't have Angolan patience. Especially that the ambience was created by awful jazz music.
PARA LA DOS MEUS PASSOS (BEYOND MY STEPS)
Watchable. Surprisingly tiring for a dance documentary. The Angolan dancers are superb, shame they act in such over intellectualised performances. Too much theatricality as opposed to dancing, also philosophy pervaded the interviews. In that detached way, they talk about their professional development and you hear how the city takes its toll on the countryside boys. Hectic city life is juxtaposed with the beauty and tranquillity of Angolan nature. You can admire the dancers' impressive muscles. Though horror-like choreography in a derelict building is far from enticing.
BE POLAR FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE
LOSING ALASKA
Switched off. A very close look at just one village and it's a full-length film where each part of the village is shown several times and everyone gets a say - American democratic style of documentary-shooting, so you hear everyone grumble one after another. Could be cut short to 5 minutes with no loss of actual information.
RUCH LODU (ICE MOTION: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MELTING ARCTIC)
Watchable. Pleasant cinematography offers sweeping Arctic vistas. You learn important facts, e.g. that a 10 degree Celsius temperature rise in Svalbard by 2100 is very likely and that melting polar regions will change oceanic currents unpredictably. But even though it's short, too much time is devoted to technicalities of such research.
CAMERIMAGE DZIECIOM - ONLINE
AMAZONIA
Recommended again. The monkey lead protagonist is all cuteness. Swathes of the forest, meanders of the river and phenomenal close-ups on rarely seen animals, e.g. anteaters. Also a swimming sloth, pink dolphins, a leopard shaking off water - pure beauty of nature.
BE POLAR FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE
ПРИБОЙ (SURF SIBERIA)
Recommended. Not for the surfing since it's no Australia, you get higher breakers outside Siberia. But the vistas of the Arctic, including winter ones, are mind-blowing. And the woman talking about what it feels like and how she was anxious before she started feels so genuine and un-heroic.
The whole festival was well-organized. One-off evening screenings kept me disciplined but allowed for flexibility with start times and for pausing. The audio and subtitles were usually up to scratch. The selection of recent movies was excellent - geographically and topic-wise. Many were of top quality too. Some films were available freely during the whole festival which let me see everything I wanted. I only skipped old documentaries because the world and the polar regions have changed too much over decades rendering the information out-of-date.
CAMERIMAGE DZIECIOM - ONLINE
RAOUL TABURIN
Recommended. A delightful tale about a peculiar village and individuals. Good-humoured.
I found time for just two films on Camerimage Dzieciom offer - both were perfect in every way. I only regret it ended so soon.
I saw 364 movies in 2020 in total - counting only cinema ones and those which would have had cinema releases had it not been for the lockdown.
20 YEARS OF WATCH DOCS - ONLINE
TYSIAC TOG (A THOUSAND ROBES) (2020)
Recommended. A 12-minute film on the Polish judges' protest against dismantling the rule of law in the country. Judges, both Polish and from other European nations, explain the current governmental decisions will affect the nation for generations and stress the risk the protesting law professionals are taking. Profoundly touching.
THE WORK (2017)
Switched off. You follow group psychotherapy sessions filled with therapy jargon i.e. "being in the place", "holding" or "letting out" emotions.
上访 (PETITION) (2009)
Watchable. China from an unusual perception: a decade of filing petitions with a central institution to complain about human rights violations. The petitions all fall on deaf ears and the petitioners are frequently beaten up on authorities' orders or locked up in psychiatric wards where new drugs are tested on them against their will. It's a peculiar situation since the authorities have created the institution but then they threaten the people who seek justice this way. The film shows how it ruins people's lives, families, how they spend years camping and living like homeless people in order for their complaint to be heard. When a woman running from henchmen hired by those authorities fell under a train, the gathered just collected her body parts without manifesting any shock or emotions. A totally dehumanising system. The film is a bit hard to understand at times. Shot by a Chinese who might have assumed everyone knows what is discussed.
S21. LA MACHINE DE MORT KHMERE ROUGE (S21: THE KHMER ROUGE DEATH MACHINE) (2003)
Recommended. Blood-chilling but explains the whole machinery: how the guards tortured and killed because a refusal to obey an order equalled immediate death and how they would lie to the prisoners about where they were taking them or their children to prevent protests when in fact they were about to kill them. Lots of gruesome detail but each harrowing account is followed by a quiet moment so the viewer's tension doesn't accumulate.
The post-festival VOD section was highly interesting and comprised of a selection of hand-picked documentaries on human rights issues from all over the world, scarily a few from Poland. The viewing quality varied, especially with older films. The greatest hindrance, though, was the fact they were interrupted by commercials a few times. A fair deal, the films were free, but the foreign ones had so many breaks it discouraged from watching.
AFRYKAMERA ONLINE
PETIT PAYS (SMALL COUNTRY: AN AFRICAN CHILDHOOD)
Recommended. Based on facts. Set in Burundi and Rwanda at the onset of the civil war in 1994. Brings the events home. Not very graphic, apart from two dead bodies on the road, more are mentioned in a conversation ("100 000", "no sidewalk free"). Mid-way through the story, a wedding gathering turns into a black and white photograph. On the emotional level, for the first hour children frolic, dance, enjoy good weather. The second hour tugs on your heartstrings. Fine performances all around: all the children, Jean-Paul Rouve and Isabelle Kabano as their parents and everyone else.
AFRYKAMERA ONLINE
NOTRE-DAME DU NIL (OUR LADY OF THE NILE)
Watchable. Based on the novel of the same title by Scholastique Mukasonga, it depicts life in a school for girls run by nuns in Rwanda in 1973 which serves both to present the theory of black pharaohs and a hypothesis they may have been Tutsis as well as the beginnings of discriminatory practices, e.g. a 10% quota for Tutsis as students. The story of a Hutu schoolgirl's envy against Tutsi girls and their intrigue leading to a pogrom is engaging, finely acted and shot. Only the ending referring to the situation in the whole country seems far-fetched. It looks as if one girl caused a pogrom and a subsequent bloody war. Combining a girl's novel with politics detracts from the gravity of the story. I wonder what made the producers pick the novel rather than the writer's memoirs, i.e. "Cockroaches" - that would be entirely truthful hence would make more sense.
W POLSKIM OBIEKTYWIE
4 Polish short documentaries:
TOURING CLUB DE CATASTROPHE
Watchable. Grainy footage of tourism and colonial times, French-accent English-language voiceover - probably referring to the two largest colonizers of the continent - and excerpts of sociodemographic theories which sound so abstract they can prove any theory in the absence of evidence. The opening is confusing - who is writing for who? A bizarre artistic vision and a discourse which can be seen both as a stance for racial equality and as a proclamation of colonization as a natural phenomenon.
ALL ON A MARDI GRASS DAY
Watchable. An ex-junkie talks about Fat Thursday sounding high. Partly a tale of history when runaway slaves were given shelter by Indians and hence now keep paying tribute to them via their Indian-inspired Mardi Gras costumes: lots of plumes and embroidered with smaller or bigger beads, a new costume every year, sewn all days long. Also a story of overcoming one's drug addiction. The area's ridden with drug dealers and kids with no fathers. Also some talk on the gentrification of some wards of New Orleans. Informative but unpleasant to listen to the raspy voice of an uneducated local due to the junkie voice timbre, a huge number of language mistakes and a hard accent. His chants on Mardi Gras sound the same.
The translation into Polish is poor at times.
JESTEM Z DOUMGA (I AM FROM DOUMGA)
Watchable. A personal account of a warm-hearted Senegalese who, after studies in Poland, went on to live in the country and is even on a town council. He talks about how much help he received in the past somewhat downplaying his own skills which made him win one competition after another, whether to get to a Polish university or to land a civil servant job. He presents his Polish and Senegalese extended family. Nothing new culture-wise but he's such a jovial man it was pleasant to hear his life story.
I'm skipping "Kiedy zabraknie ryb" ("Stolen Fish") which I saw at Watch Docs and wrote about earlier this month.
OBLICZA AFRYKI - AFROSZORTY
8 short films:
WARD'S HENNA PARTY
Watchable. The first half resembled an ethnographic documentary on Egyptian weddings and I wondered why I'd be interested in some stranger's wedding in the first place. But the second half highlights the culture where a man enters a woman's room without knocking, takes half her gift money and, with women's approval and beats up a female henna painter and depicts discrimination against the Sudanese. And it turns out to be an actors' film.
CALL ME NEGUINHO
Watchable. A brief impressionistic documentary on being a Cape Verdean. The protagonist mentions having spent half his life on emigration as well as the slave past of Cabo Verde. You get glimpses of capoeira and the island. That's it. Nothing is shown to support his claims about how the past has affected him, instead he showcases his daughter. The film also doesn't tell you anything you wouldn't have known otherwise.
DA YIE (GOOD NIGHT)
Watchable. The beginning with children playing was uninspiring. When a stranger, from outside Ghana, treats them to lunch and other attractions, it becomes intriguing, even more so, when he makes an unsettling phone call. The ending fails to clarify what it was all about.
COSMOTO
Watchable. Visually attractive, with great editing and an impressive story of soldiers fighting poachers in Zambia. Looks like a promotional video since it highlights their prowess, courage, endurance - not everyone manages to complete the training. Shame this short documentary overlooks to explain why a poacher turns into a wildlife protector. Still, it leaves you grateful such people exist. With the way it's shot, it reminds me of "Rambo" and of how that American feature altered the perception of war veterans by the society. This film should do the same to the attitude to forest guards. 'cause they are heroes.
TIMOUN AW (YOUR KID)
Watchable. A humorous tale of a smalltime Guadeloupean drug-dealer who finds a baby with a message it's his. Engaging but I've seen several films with a similar storyline from all over the world. An iguana on a roof and sugar cane juice are the only special attractions.
KARINGANA: OS MORTOS NAO CONTAM ESTORIAS (THE DEAD TELL NO TALES)
Watchable. A tribute to those who lost their spirits, while still alive, in the Mozambican war. Black and white, slightly poetic, solemn yet superficial. No mention of what happened at war or to the people's psyche afterwards.
RASTA
Watchable. I only waited to see what happens next. But this excessively expressive film consists of a simple story and erratic actions, the conversation with the killed rebel's mother is pure nonsense, especially: "Maybe they wouldn't join rebels if they had a mother like you." Plain stupid. I only give it credit for bringing the Ivory Coast rebellion to attention.
KAUNAPAWA (INVISIBLES)
Watchable. Picture-perfect shots mix with ordinary ones in this Namibian poetic vision of departing.
KRAINA 1000 OPOWIESCI - RWANDA
7 short films:
MUGABO
Watchable. I hated the ear-piercing high tone music. Story-wise, it's about returning to your home country after years. While you may guess the girl is a war refugee, the coming back is like from any other emigration.
I GOT MY THINGS AND LEFT
Watchable. A group of youngsters gather around the coffin of a friend who died at 27 and talks about nothing in particular. I only liked the statement that even if there is another life after this one there's no point in living preparing for it - that pretty much does away with Christianity - and the butterflies a girl has attached to her face, hair and tights. The rest just drags.
LA MAZDA JAUNE ET LA SAINTETE (THE YELLOW MAZDA AND HIS HOLINESS)
Watchable. A documentary family memoir. Peculiar the 17-year-old girl had no objections to marrying a man much older than herself. Him being a priest at the time was the least problem. The film would suit a family video album rather than a general release if it weren't for the opening when the narrator informs an opening scene speaks of the author's soul.
IBIHOZO (ROCKABYE)
Watchable. A black and white tale of a prostitute coping with her son's suffering from bullying triggered by her profession. Could be set anywhere in the world.
TORMENT
Watchable. A full-colour mock interview with a prostitute. She also has a little boy. Engaging, at the end you get to know why the young man questions her. Still, nothing I wouldn't have heard before.
WAITING
Watchable. A simple story which plays with your idea which waiting is meant in the title. Ingenious ending. But the wait for the finale feels lengthy.
LUNA
Watchable. A protracted short film about children of the street who have run from domestic violence. The story makes sense, just feels too long.
The Rwandan films show the current standard of living matches European, they have access to the same technologies too. They only have no clue how to build a story.
