NORM OF THE NORTH: FAMILY VACATION

Watchable. Made with Chinese funding so a trip to China is obligatory in the plot. As is grandiosity: "Elizabeth and the kids" are the family of the Chinese living like a king. Animation-wise, colours of the snow and ice as well as of the skies, not even mentioning occasional aurora, are varied, though without subtlety. 

ALBATROS (DRIFT AWAY)

Watchable. Despite the initial shock of a body falling off a cliff, the movie is not about that. Set in quiet Normandy, it's a typical French drama going into every detail of everyday life. I watched it piece by piece, it was hard not to get distracted by anything livelier than the movie. The lead policeman is so amiable you must sympathise with him when his life breaks down in an instant in result of a fatal error - mid-way through the film. So it's heart-wrenching when his daughter sees the accusations and when she consoles her father. Very pleasant and competent colleagues from the police are another reason not to switch it off. 

Reviewed from the distributor's screener. Cinematic reception might differ.

WATCH DOCS ONLINE

МАРШРУТ ПЕРЕСТРОЕН (THE ROUTE RECALCULATED)

Recommended. The film depicts a number of passengers of two taxi drivers: one pro and one in the opposition to Lukashenko. Minsk from the two taxis looks beautiful, neat, clean, orderly. Ordinary political conversations are juxtaposed with a harrowing finale of burning streets and a list of who was arrested or forced to flee the country.

MAMO, WIDAC MNIE? ZONA 2021 (MUM, CAN YOU SEE ME? ZONE 2021)

Watchable. It doesn't show, it rather tells about refugees at the Polish-Belarussian border through an activist's narrative as she reminds her son to wear gloves, tries to heat her house and walks with children through the Białowieża forest spotting bisons. A clear indication at the migrants, known to hide in the forest and sometimes freeze to death, without saying that directly. 

CRIME + PUNISHMENT

Watchable. A thorough presentation of the NYPD questionable methods of soliciting funds, of how to use media coverage and of how rebellious officers are retaliated against - step by step.

Is it federal funding that promotes the use of quotas? The documentary never ventures into that domain. With its nearly two-hour duration, I'd expect delving deeper into the reasons. 

WSZYSCY WSZYSTKO ZJEDLI (EVERYBODY CLEANED THEIR PLATES!)

Watchable. Too amateurish artistic but about a bunch of very positive people and one strong woman. It's fascinating how her personality has transformed from a Chechen one into a European type.

The volume on Player.pl was excellent but small, white subtitles forced you to watch right in front of the screen.

AFRYKAMERA ONLINE

THIS S NOT A BURIAL, IT'S A RESURRECTION

Watchable. Poetic narration - well translated into Polish - and painting-perfect images - owing to Pierre de Villiers' cinematography - depict mourning but also the sense of life. The movie's gloomy, slow-paced and the events not always comprehensible. Traditional songs from Lesotho and landscapes of this tiny yet evocative country grace the film. Mary Twala Mhlongo as Mantoa is aptly cast - her muscles show power in the shocking final scene.

THE SLEEPING NEGRO

Watchable. Another American feature at the festival. About a black American crazed by the ideas from "Get Out" to the point where he brings up the black issue everywhere, whether it has anything to do with the situation or not. "Saw" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" references mean the cultural associations are quite broad, comprising the past and the present, and complex at the same time; even when you take "Saw", the black game is specific. What you see on TV is: "How did you get here?" "I was kidnapped." The word here is understood two-fold: kidnapped like slaves in the past and by the corporation now. The conclusion is: survive those who can best manage change. The film is visually attractive but overly philosophical.

ALOE VERA

Recommended. This Ghanaian comedy, shot in Dabala in the Volta Region, is much more than bewitching colours of the masterful set decoration and costumes. It's hilarious. With African chants, delightfully warm, superbly acted. Kofi Adjorlolo as Papa Aloe is the best comic actor, resembling Pascal N'Zonzi's character of André Koffi, the African father in "Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu?" ("Serial (Bad) Weddings"). The whole thing is meticulously enacted, up to the choreography along with the end credits. Totally uplifting.

Mojeekino.pl distorted colours - they still looked awesome but Aloe was purple rather than blue. No tech support over the holidays whatsoever - they got back to me about the films stuttering after the festival had ended.

SING 2

Recommended. After exquisite part one the question was how to sex up the sequel. Well, U2, Eve, BTS, Steve Miller Band ("Abracadabra"), Billie Eilish can be heard in the songs - which have been kept in English. Bono additionally voices Clay Calloway - only in the English original. But it's not just about celebrities. It's a cosmic scale show - purely visually. The film is sometimes moving, e.g. the producer's daughter's story, often funny e.g. when the downtrodden characters polish the floor and next some VIPs slip on it or when Rosita unleashes her piglets. Early end credits are accompanied by some tap dancing. 

DZIEWCZYNY Z DUBAJU (GIRLS TO BUY)

Recommended. The world of top end escorts, based on facts. Similar to Vega's movies but made by women so with a loud and clear message: it's only women who get punished for prostitution and pimping, not men, Their clients can do anything. At the same time this sexy movie, with hot actors and actresses - and even one genuine love story - dazzles you with the riches of the spoilt Saudi princes,leaves no doubt as to what the girls are made do and leaves the question open: what's your price? Smart. 

That completes my long overdue (due to a series of disasters in my life) list of movies seen in 2021 - 455 in total.

AFRYKAMERA ONLINE

TOORBOS (DREAM FOREST)

Recommended. Shot in Afrikaans and presenting an obscure piece of South African history. 

It tells about a deforestation of nearly a century ago, the dignity of ancient trees, female power, a beautiful love story - an unusual plot. The woman's love for the forest is greater than her love for her caring and handsome husband (Stiaan Smith in the role of Johannes). The film is slow-paced but captivating with its calm. An unsettling and simultaneously atmospheric recurring music theme is as extraordinary as the movie. 

RESIDUE

Watchable. American. The protagonist roams the hood and reminisces about the past. Dialogues are often barely audible against street noises which renders the film realistic. The story is fictitious, though shot this way it imitates a documentary. Problem is it drowns the words. It's a bit on the slow side, some shots appear to be heavily inspired by "Moonlight", though technically they're rather poor, as is the rest of the film. This one fails to move but delivers some food for thought. In the past, gang violence was the norm as much as loud music was. The white and black realities only occasionally overlap, superficially. 

MOTO TAXI (BENDSKINS )

Watchable. I'm not sure of the facts but the film boldly claims Michael Jackson copied Manu Dibango's song and Shakira's "Waka Waka" copied  Zangalewa. The movie is comical, e.g. when a passenger keeps talking about those who disturb the driver with their chatter, but protracted at times.

AFRICA MOVING

I enjoyed the set of 5 short dance films at the cinema so much I decided to see it online again but on a computer they were all much less impressive.

FAR FROM THE TREE

Recommended again. The short film preceding "Encanto". Even with limited, modest colours, these big-eyed raccoons are Disney-style cute and the story captivates you with the strength of motherly love and teaches you how hard parenthood is.

ENCANTO

Recommended when seen again. A celebration of Colombian culture: colourful clothes, flowers, a loving family, a friendly community, mouth-watering food and riveting music. Add plenty of magic and superpowers, as well as lovely donkeys and fun rats. The story is touching and witty, e.g. "I'm not hungry!". The Oscar-nominated Atmos-recorded soundtrack makes you want to dance. The title of one of the two main songs "Colombia, mi encanto" reveals the house falling apart, in need of uniting is in fact Colombia. 

I'm quite sure that what detracted from my experience the first time was too small a screen at KinoGram. Cinema City is much better. 

DE CLUB VAN LELIJKE KINDEREN (THE CLUB OF UGLY CHILDREN)

Watchable. This Dutch sci-fi flick is social-political fiction. The set-up is impressive both as a vision of a society and visually where the whole set and costume design represent order. The plot, however, is based on running and chasing. It's well-acted, especially by lead Sam Huismann as Paul, yet pretty standard after a while. Surrounding sound means it's worth seeing at the cinema.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Watchable. The animation is loosely based on Jules Verne's classic novel: only 80 days and the bet remain. The rest is: animals and invented lands resembling real ones. The main characters have completely different personalities and motivations than the original ones. I was mostly spotting the differences since the plot is quite average. 

AFRYKAMERA ONLINE

LA FORET DE DJIBRIL  

Watchable. 40-minute-long yet meandering a story from Burkina Faso. Scarcity of water leads to conflicts, young workers abuse drugs in gold mines, cons take place, hostile or indifferent people, litter on the ground. A bleak picture. The finale brings hope, yet doesn't explain where the water comes from. An environmental non-documentary. Depressing on the whole. 

SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

Recommended. I'm not into R'n'B, gospel or jazz but this documentary, recorded in surrounding Atmos quality, made me want to dance. Yet it's moving with more than the rhythms, even though the music extends over the credits and culminates in a part-musical, part-banter post-credit with Stevie Wonder. Yes, Stevie Wonder, B. B. King, Gladys Knight, Hugh Masekela and plenty of others feature. But Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, the Black Panthers are part of the picture too. More than colourful clothes and more than the landing on the Moon, the Harlem festival was the ultimate black power and unity experience. 

DON'T LOOK UP

Recommended. Big colourful lettering of the names in the opening and closing credits. Star cast, awesome visual effects of the outer space. And lots of contemporary references. Trump's presidency is mocked - here the president is female but it's clear it's a Trump mockery. 23% people don't believe in the comet - clearly based on the experience of the pandemic. Conspiracy theories, politics, media, a billionaire - a smart and entertaining reflection of what you find in the news every day. With a post-credit. 

PSYCHO GOREMAN

Watchable. 90s-style class B horror and teenage flick mockery. The title tells you almost all you need to know. I'll only add that the plot, though full of gore and ripped bodies, is childish, as if meant for kids. The lead child actress (Nita-Josée Hanna) overacts annoyingly. The inept parents are infantile too. The film's moronic but unpredictable owing to twists of action. Stupid monsters. Good disco music. There's a mid-credit - with a little twist and taken with a pinch of salt.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

SAMIEC ALFA (ALPHA MALE)

Watchable. Starts with making fun both of complex buildings where you can never find your way and of personal development courses. Well cast, including hottie Konrad Eleryk as Andrzej. But each of the actors, whether famous or not, whether ugly or not, performs the distinct characters suitably for the comedy you expect. The problem is it's a drama. One with an incomprehensibly violent third act. Although there is an inside joke: Bojanowski is the producer's surname. While the contrived story is internally consistent, I wonder what and who it's for.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

ARTEKINO FESTIVAL 2021

I'm skipping Ukrainian "Моя війна" ("Inner Wars") which I have seen and reviewed here before. 

WOOD AND WATER

Watchable. The German offering is a slow movie which juxtaposes forested Schwarzwald with high rise ultra urban Hong Kong. The story is simple but pleasant, soothing, due to amicable protagonists. It feels like sightseeing.

NOCTURNAL

Watchable. They got the numbers wrong. He must have been 15, not 17. Other than that, it's a story engaging from the start. Set among working class people. British.

GLI ULTIMI A VEDERLI VIVERE (THE LAST TO SEE THEM)

Recommended. Ominous music by Ben Roessler and a road about which you're informed in the beginning that's going to end for the family abruptly. Hence you're watching like on a time bomb. The movie's German, just set in Italy and recorded all in Italian in Basilicata.

PETIT SAMEDI

 

Watchable. Belgian. Appears to be a documentary by the man's sister. About addiction, mostly from the point of view of a worried mother but also the addict's own, e.g. when he talks about an emotional overload when sober or the need to stay busy to reduce the amount of drugs he consumes.

SAMI, JOE UND ICH (SAMI, JOE AND I)

Recommended. The Swiss offering is a coming-of-age drama where three immigrant girls have to deal with male domination, manipulation and coercion manifesting itself in a few ways. Shockingly true to life experiences of many young women. 

LOMO: THE LANGUAGE OF MANY OTHERS

Recommended. German. Another coming-of-age drama - this one from a 17-year-old middle class boy's point of view. An original, entertaining story which is like being led blind, you never know where it's going to take you. It's saucy, crime and business world are extra attractions. Jonas Dassler excels in the leading role. 

LICORICE PIZZA

Watchable. Paul Thomas Anderson meticulously recreates the 70s: fashion, trends, laws, music, mentions of the Vietnam war or Barbra Streisand. Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper grace episodes. Only the story, though engaging and well shot, with just the right dosage of close-ups, goes nowhere. OK, I do admire Gary's flair for business and Alana's high self-esteem, but the story, eventful as it is, is just a sequence of not always connected or concluded developments. 

ARTEKINO FESTIVAL 2021

OAZA (OASIS)

Watchable. I think it was inspired by "Plemya" ("The Tribe"). The documentary opening of this Balkan production implies the drama is going to be about retarted people. It does not. They're smart. It's not clear what's wrong with them. Also, the story could take place among ordinary, healthy people too. Disturbing how the caretakers deprive the patients of all freedom, including that of love lives. The protagonists are touchingly inept at relationships. Arabic rhythms in the songs are pleasant. But the film is slow-paced and the unusual setting only makes the plot implausible.

JIYAN 

Recommended. German-made, Turkish-spoken multifaceted look at being a refugee in Germany, where the laws sometimes leave them in dire straits. The film is warm, also in colours.

All films had yellow subtitles but too small to watch from a distance. At least finally a selection of truly good films was offered.

MARATON MATRIX 2021 (2021 MATRIX MARATHON)

THE MATRIX (1999)

Watchable. The 90s: dial-up Internet, hackers are glorified, bodymorphing and CGIs in general are a novelty, Cronenberg rules the cinemas with humans' rough connections with machinery, fast-track learning through devices put on your head is the rage, gloomy fashion with long coats and clothes looking like out the dumpster, acid pills. Jefferson Airplane's song "White Rabbit" appears to have inspired the fantastic part of the plot too. The song, in turn, was inspired by Jonathan Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". These are deeply ingrained in the movie structure. No wonder it became a cult film of the time. Most of that image of the world is gone. The movie still impresses with some CGIs and the combat sequences. But you know the plot is nonsense. 

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

Watchable. The opening is great. It tells you where Neo is now - working for the gaming industry. Colourful suits bring a fresh look. This time Neo travels the worlds through a mirror, i.e. like Alice again, but in the second book. The protracted middle part is a let-down. Neo and Trinity move like elderly people even though they are just middle-aged. In fact, their age is continually stressed and they move as if they suffered from chronic back pains. Tenuous fights, no new special effects, the 'real world' looks the same as before. Generally, only the Matrix is good, the 'real world' is lame. Priyanka Chopra as Sati doesn't help, I loved her in Bollywood but Hollywood doesn't do her any favours. Other than some savvy remarks, e.g. on originality valued in the past v. sequels being in the vogue these days, on Facebook or on 'sheeple' who want certainty, not freedom, the middle act doesn't offer much. The ending is fun, though not as much as the beginning. I loved "He was definitely asking for it" - definitely an update to the series. On the other hand, I was disappointed not even a rainbow appeared in the new world which the protagonists had discussed. There's a post-credit - another sign of the times. On the whole though, even "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" was more fun and livelier.

RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY

Watchable. A decent make: first omens appear, next comes tension. There are 5 survivors and a time countdown. Clues are given at some points like in a game - after all the film's based on one. As usual in such stories, some of the protagonists are meant to become cannon fodder and some to survive the game. So you get e.g. police chief - selfish but smart or a rookie. Trigger-happy police play a part too, like in all monster movies. With Clara Scodelario and Avan Jogia leading the cast, both good-looking and acting well, it's fun to follow the story. Visuals often look like copied from "Venom", "King Kong", "Alien", "Chucky" and the character wearing rags from "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". In the mid-credit Wesker's brought back to life by Ada Wong. About the best movie in the series I've never taken to.  

DYRID (LAMB)

Recommended. Based on an original concept. The story develops slowly but steadily. First it's weird, then gently beautiful, the chilling finale is a quiet horror. No screams, even a sense of justice but it's not what you hope for. The three lead actors are spot on in conveying the emotions of the film. It's also finally an Icelandic production which makes use of the landscapes - the plot is set in the interior and the vistas magnify desolation. The film explores our ambivalent relationship with animals. Both the tale and the means of expression are simple yet powerful in the end. 

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

AFRYKAMERA

AZA KIVY (MORNING STAR)

Watchable. It takes time to realise what the film is about. It provides half the facts we know from last year's "Stolen Fish" but lasts 77 minutes instead of Gosia Juszczak's 30. In between the lines it states quite clearly how the economic colonisation of Africa by China is possible: "We, poor people, steal from one another". Yet here the community decides: "Our children should not be blamed" and is fighting back against Base Toliara - the Chinese mining company damaging the environment and livelihood of the fishermen. Eponymous 'kivy' means 'courage'. The people set the example of how to oppose foreign giants so the documentary is quite uplifting. Set against the struggle is their culture, landscapes with endemic plants, oxen, food habits, happy lives on the sea, underwater hunting. Interestingly, the condoms which the men carefully pack at the beginning turn out to be used to protect torches in water - a superb idea. Lovely cinematography is the highlight: beautiful pictures of milky blue waters off the Madagascan coast, exotic fishes and other sea creatures. Local music sounds good too.

Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.

MARCHER SUR L'EAU (ABOVE WATER)

Recommended. The documentary's shot in Niger so you get to see traditional architecture, attires, lifestyle, bleating goats, Fulani cattle care methods, Islamic beliefs, hierarchy in the family, though the village of Tatiste is quite progressive. Beautiful cinematography, delightful clothes, pleasant music, stunning, even if arid, landscape engulf you. Mesmerising pictures in this tale on climate change let you acquaint yourself with and take delight in the nature and culture of the region from as close as if you were living with the protagonists' family. The documentary also shows how the change of just one element influences the economic, family and social reality. The scarcity of water alters their lives completely: food supply, cleanliness, family life, safety, school, wildlife. But the film conveys a constructive message that we're not helpless when faced with environmental challenges. 

Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.

As I was in the documentary jury and three Honourable Mentions were awarded, I'd best clarify that each came from a different juror and this one was from me.

FAHAVALO, MADAGASCAR 1947

Watchable. The documentary presents the little known historical events of the 1947 fight for the independence of Madagascar. Contemporary testimonies by the elderly are intertwined with archive footage. Magic mixes with weaponry in their accounts - the uprising was typically African. But so many details they provide are names which mean nothing to outsiders that it's hard to follow. There's a mid-credit.

Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.

The 2021 festival was characterised by everything being too late: schedules, even the catalogue was delievered to the cinema one week late.

WATCH DOCS ONLINE

NATURE IS MY HOMELAND

Recommended. I've seen plenty of nature documentaries and a number of environmental ones. But this one's different. The way of looking at nature at the micro and macro scale is like never before. Fellow deer kind-of worshiping a tree? Sated wolves next to grazing deer inducing no fear in those? Plants moving all the time? And the notion that nature is about to feed off ourselves.

كما اريد (AS I WANT)

Recommended. A frightening documentary about the scale of sexual violence in Egypt. Harassment is daily.

70/30

Watchable. Not enough nuts and bolts of the transformation from carbon to green. Too much blabber at the meetings. And too much of everything, it's simply too long.  

You could choose the language of the subtitles on mojeekino.pl. They could be a bit bigger though, regardless of language.

AFRYKAMERA

MAKI'LA

Watchable. Kinshasa half-world. Two really good songs. The story's African in terms of children of the street and sorcery practice - no results of the latter to be seen. Simplistic ending. 

NEPTUNE FROST

Watchable. The plot's a mess. Inspired by coltan mining, but lines make no sense, costumes look amateurish and theatrical. Only special effects are even attractive, e.g. levitating rocks or a pink sun. Most of the songs in this musical sound like copied and pasted, Western in that, only occasionally do you hear anything resembling Africa. 

AFRYKAMERA

THE BIG AFRICAN BLUE - 4 SHORT DOCUMENTARIES:

ULWANDLE (THE OCEAN)

TURTLE FRIEND

PHEFUMLA (BREATHE)

HLULEKA

All watchable. Overtalked documentaries about fishermen not catching enough fish nowadays. Occasional glimpses of blue water or of fish or lobster reward your effort to some extent. 

WATCH DOCS ONLINE

WATCH SHORTS 2 : BELARUS. THE TURN OF THE SCREW 

The set of 3 short films comprised of:

ARTYKUL 293 (ARTICLE 293)

Recommended. Harrowing, tear-jerking at times. Footage of brutal pacifications of protesters mixes with testimonies and shots of their massacred bodies. The doctor's behaviour stands out as particularly callous. It's clear there's no return to ordinary life in Belarus after that. 

МУРЫ (WALLS)

Recommended. A tear-jerker based on the unknown, e.g. when parents wait outside prison walls to enquire about their son, are let in and never come out. On the other hand, you get some hearsay about Lukashenko's past - dismissed from the army because of his rowdy and aggressive behaviour. 

GENERATION 328

Recommended. Incredible how tough Belarussian law is on drug possession. You get to see the impact on families and their stance. 

And outside the set:

OSTATNIE POKOLENIE (THE LAST GENERATION)

Watchable. The 59-minute Polish documentary about young climate activists portrays the people and how they, and partly the film, miss the point. One of the activists smokes all the time. Maybe she should read about its impact on climate change. When a campaigner says: "she could live in a 3-room flat", it presents narrow-mindedness - mine is smaller than that, for one. The film lacks showing their non-consumer - I hope - lifestyle.

AFRYKAMERA

AFROSHORTY 

The set of 8 short films comprised of:

A YFIRBORDINU (ON THE SURFACE)

Watchable. On the surface physically and metaphorically. Basic form, the content a bit unusual for African cinema since it deals with the hardship of giving birth.

DORLIS

Watchable. Hard to decipher but most likely about sexual abuse in childhood.

الست (AL-SIT)

Recommended. Colonial versus traditional, mysterious and ambiguous - open to a few different interpretations, only women's power is certain. Also visually attractive when the cotton wool swirls in the air.

THE SHACK

Watchable. Only an interior and text to read. The tale is empathetic though.

HEAVEN SOUNDS BORING

Recommended. About a girl who's seriously ill, probably with AIDS. The topic of animalistic beliefs versus Christianity enriches the tale. 

ستاشر (I AM AFRAID TO FORGET YOUR FACE)

Recommended. Mysterious and moving when you realize the depth of the man's love.

THE DARK ONE

Recommended. A documentary looking at the issue of skin whitening from all angles. Enlightening. In an engaging form, with great pictures and sound.

خديجة KHADIGA 

Watchable. Off screen sounds of a train and of children form a powerful backdrop to the main story which is hard to comprehend and poorly acted. 

And, outside the set, a feature film:

HAINGOSOA

Watchable. Entertaining local Madagascan music and dancing accompany an average tale of a wannabe musician. Pleasant. Actress Marina Christine Amagoa is an amazing dancer. You also get a chance to snatch a few glimpses of 'Tana' (Antananarivo).

WATCH DOCS ONLINE

IMAD'S CHILDHOOD

Recommended. Shocking how badly you can corrupt a child. A 4-year-old in love of rifles and slaughtering dogs who finds killing "normal" - after two years with ISIS. Can the damage be reverted?

E STATA LA MANO DI DIO (THE HAND OF GOD)

Recommended. As usual in Paolo Sorrentino's movies, it's not about the story but stunning  images and memorable scenes. Sensual Patrizia acted by Luisa Ranieri, excellent Filippo Scotti as Fabrizio are the engines of the tale. The World Cup of 1986 enlivens the time. The scene where the director tells the boy he needs to have something to say to make movies should be shown in all film schools as an instruction tool. Stunning views of architecture of and of the Bay of Naples are entirely compelling. Cinema topography, acting, the 80s make this movie irresistible. 

WATCH DOCS

I'M SO SORRY

Watchable. I learnt that: 20 cm of top soil was removed in the Fukushima cleaning, living being severely deformed is agony, mass abortions were conducted after the Chernobyl catastrophe, people who stayed there were living alone for 30 years. But the whole thing drags badly.

THE CAVIAR CONNECTION

Recommended. It'll get you immediately interested in Azerbaijan. And Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. You'll hear of international singers who get $1m for a three-song gig, of how the rulers bribed the European Council, their dynastic presidency where the family members own the oil, hotels and major industries, foreign observers describing ballot stuffing as well as organized elections. An eye-opening, top-notch investigative documentary, with excellent cinematography and good pace. 

WATCH DOCS ONLINE

ENEMIES OF THE STATE

Watchable. Who trumped up evidence? US secret service or the hacktivist? Is he a master of deception himself? Or both a hacktivist in possession of secret information and an Internet pedophile? Engaging, well-paced. A bit convoluted though and open-ended.

The file was a bit too quiet at times, I had to resort to subtitles. 

EL SILENCIO DEL TOPO (THE SILENCE OF THE MOLE)

Watchable. On the slow side. It details the work of a real life of a double agent too humdrum to thrill. Several scenes are pointless, don't bring anything to the narrative, just protract it. The film definitely could do with some trimming. Family memoirs and long passages should go.

IN HIS IMAGE

Watchable. Shocking from the start but for most of the film you trudge after widows and grieving parents. The whole process of getting the baby conceived appears only to prolong the mourning. Extracting someone's sperm after his death - possible up to three days, reaching out to a bereaved family to suggest such an extraction, having 6 children and considering it normal by the society - an effect of the ongoing war? The whole motivation to  have children is appalling as well: "otherwise what's the point of meeting each other".

החייל הטוב (THE GOOD SOLDIER)

Watchable. The film's not entirely clear and it's only gradually that you learn who the Break The Silence are and how they operate.

THE KING'S MAN

Watchable. A touching opening leads to a Bond-scale blockbuster. Some scenes render the cliffhanger term an understatement. As with previous parts, it's a comedy. Though some jokes are heavy handed, there are plenty of better little gags, e.g. with accents or the hilarious climb. Historical events are woven into the action, e.g. the attempt to poison Rasputin with cyanide. Meticulously enacted reality is seen and heard also in the period language or uniforms. Too many protracted fights didn't quite appeal to me. There's a mid-credit - luckily a sequel's on the cards.

AFRYKAMERA

JUJU STORIES

Recommended. Set in Lagos. Based on juju news from newspapers. 3 totally different, yet all engaging stories. The tummy trope combines the three. But the film plays with its own structure also with props: in the first story she pays for mortuary water, in the second he picks it up. Top-notch acting. Surprisingly Vivaldi's score is played out at some point. Riveting and unusual in its form.

A Hausanist's presentation followed. The golden era of Nigerian cinema was in the years 1950-1980. Later Nollywood came in: hand-held camera, edited while shooting, without post-production - 1000 such films per year. "Juju Stories" were shot like back in the golden era. The Africanist went on about magic in African culture. A curious fact is that Nigerian politicians wear fetishes from a babalao round the arm.

 

STOP FILMING US

Watchable. Barely. I do agree some things are unacceptable, e.g. filming a child naked. There's an interesting mention of the Congolese who wouldn't believe Ebola was real, thinking it was invented by the white man to make money. The main topic of who should film and photograph Africa and how poses a vital question. Silly it's discussed years after Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "Decolonising the Mind". The whole thing though is overtalked. At some point you think they're going to compare two directors' footage - that does not happen. They rabbit on about it again. It drags awfully, made as if they haven't heard of cutting. In fact, this is a very French way of making films, especially documentaries. So they haven't decolonised their own  minds.

LOKATORKA (THE TENANT. YOU CAN'T BURN US ALL)

Recommended. Gripping from the opening and repeatedly shocking with the scale of lawlessness. Łukasz Targosz's music is unnoticeable but builds tension almost surreptitiously. Perfect cast. Creepy baddies, even Piotr Głowacki acts and is made to look evil, like an apex predator. The story's harrowing, on the edge of being tear-jerking. Worst of all, it's based on facts. Skillfully written witty banter is even more impressive in the context. A curious fact is the tenant is watching "Wieloryb z Lorino" ("Whale from Lorino" in one of scenes - a documentary I've written about before which depicts a very poor community in the north of Russia which is abandoned by the system just like the eponymous tenant. 

JULLEMANDENS DATTER 2 (ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU)

Watchable. The first instalment was very pleasant but lacked the touch of magic. This one is a mixed fare too. The first half comprises of a quest. The characters are quite stiff and even the good ones, including the mum, look hostile. At least the Santa Claus academy has a fairy-tale location: Harry-Potter-like, even an owl and cats are there. The second half takes place in an icy land, where the Sami save the protagonists' lives. Yet the best bit is a subplot of a mother with a spoilt kid - a great depiction of contemporary narcissistic mother kind.

AFRYKAMERA

MOTHER, I AM SUFFOCATING...

Watchable. An artistic, poetic slow film. Shot in black and white, it makes use of contrast, e.g. in the mesmerising shots of swaying crop, but also of light and texture, e.g. mud on the road glistens. The content is a letter of a refugee to her motherland. Evocative acting adds to the atmosphere. Imagery draws on Christianity, sound on Islam but also VR porn is implied at some point - it taps into Africa of many cultures. It encourages a search of interpretations. Still, its ambiguity and slow pace make it a difficult watching and it was no surprise when many viewers walked out in the middle. 

WATCH DOCS

ARICA

Recommended. The documentary watches like a thriller. Outrageous how hard it is to obtain justice. It also ruins your image of Sweden as a state in the forefront of environmentalism and equality. Frightening how manipulative and callous Boliden's managing minds are. Hidden racism may partly explain the indifference to the victims.

AFRYKAMERA

LINGUI, LES LIENS SACRES (LINGUI: THE SACRED BONDS)

Watchable. A Chadian drama showing that women can only rely on each other. A positive message makes it heart-warming. Beautiful attires. Cinematography occasionally makes use of perspective which renders the images almost 3D.

WATCH DOCS

ON THE DIVIDE

Recommended. While the documentary presents both sides of the abortion divide, the picture that emerges is one of hypocrisy and even hostility of the 'pro-life' activists and of the Church community's superficiality. Certainly the pro-lifer who used to be a tattooist is all about appearances - up to a point. On the other hand, the pro-choice folks seem more inclusive socially and more commonsensical in their thinking. The film is undoubtedly some food for thought. 

AYA

Watchable. I'm not sure how much of it is a true documentary and how much is staged. It portrays a lazy teenager living an idyllic life, except for minor family squabbles, on the island of Lahou which is going to be devoured by the rising sea. Her new life in Abidjan is fun again. Aya's vexingly numpty which hinders the environmental message. The images of human remains which need to be moved from the flooded cemetery are stronger. Songs and local customs depict unhurried, traditional life. Still, my biggest problem with the film is showing Aya's naked breasts - how old is Marie-Josée Kokora for real? Anyway, she plays a teenager so her nudity just feels inappropriate.

AFRYKAMERA

MAKONGO (CATERPILLARS)

Watchable. An ethnographic documentary about the Pygmies living on the border of the Republic of Central Africa. You learn about their lives. That's it. Ah, I enjoyed their music.

AFRYKAMERA

AFRICA MOVING

The set comprised of 5 short dance films:

ZOMBIES

Recommended. Techno mixed with African rhythms, flashy costumes, humour, e.g. when a hairdresser comments on a  spiky hair-do: "With your hair you could receive TV."

MUDANCA (UPHEAVAL)

Recommended. Poetic, hypnotising, with beautiful golden make-up.

INABITAVEIS (THE UNINHABITABLE ONES)

Watchable. The Brazilian film deals with homosexuality and the actors aren't particularly attractive. But the history behind it is thought-provoking: rebels got killed, other slaves stayed

MATATA

Recommended. Astonishing use of waste: flares in a scrap yard, wonderful dancers. Bizarrely exciting.

COMECA A FICAR TARDE (UNTIL LATE)

Recommended. History of the Congo depicted with artistry, appealing cinematography.

The set of 5 short films included as many as 4 mesmerising dance videos - wonderful on the big screen, less impressive when I tried to see them again online.

KING RICHARD

Recommended. The incredible true story of Venus and Serena Williams, who went from neglected by the tennis world black area dwellers to sports superstars, is brought to the big screen in an engaging family biopic. Sport tension is there. But it's years of hard work and planning ("If you fail to plan, you plan to fail") and the incredibly (I'm using the word on purpose) strong Richard's motivation not to have his daughters junked-up on the streets of gang-ridden Compton that make an impact. His viewpoint not to mind others but to make others mind you as well as tactics in career planning prove the best bet for success. Will Smith adopted original Richard Williams' stance, posture and speech manner (with the help of a dialect coach).

1970

Watchable. The first half of this Polish documentary is tedious, you need to listen hard to the 1970 phone conversations recordings, with no clue of who is who in the authorities and no certainty of what they're talking about. Doll animation doesn't show much - just people on the phone.  Archive footage is not that clear to a modern viewer either. But mid-way through the film you realize how dispassionately they're discussing the use of chemicals, firearms, letting people burn alive, their only concern being how Western media will show it. The archive footage doesn't reveal much of the massacre. The written information at the very end describes the full scope of the cold-blooded pacification.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

WATCH DOCS

THE TROUBLEMAKER

Recommended. A video manual on how to organize a rebellion. Sadly, it's only going to work in a democratic country. Air view images make it visually attractive as well.

Seen online, cinematic reception might differ.

GDY KWIATY NIE MILCZA (WHEN FLOWERS ARE NOT SILENT)

Watchable. Frightening stories of torture in imprisonment and violence at protests. Very informative and down to earth. Incredible how supportive of each other people are in Belarussian prisons. Only babies crying in one of the homes mar the film. It's black and white but that's perfectly sufficient. Shot in 2020-2021.

Director Andrei Kutsila says now shooting with a normal big camera in the street would be impossible. The protests are over too, out of fear of violence or jail - 5, 7, 10 years for nothing. But the determination is still there. No one will forget it now. People feel Lukashenko's over. Only uniformed forces support him. Sometimes OMON or the police refuse to obey an order.

AFRYKAMERA

أميرة (AMIRA)

Watchable. Shot in Jordan, set in Palestine, scripted and directed by an Egyptian, it's a rare take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The storyline offers all possible reactions and solutions to the presented identity drama within one movie which is engaging but feels over the top all the time. At the same time the guard's motivation remains unknown.

NOFINOFY (DREAM)

Watchable. It drags awfully and is all over the shop. The main story revolves round a barber and his dream to own a salon - like anywhere in the world. What stopped me from walking out were occasional bits of Malagasy life reaching the viewer from the backdrop: music - mostly Arabic rhythms, news broadcasts - the piece about 400 workers dismissed for an industrial action and made take off their uniforms and walk home naked is so outrageous it deserves its own documentary, climate: frequent rain and a flash flood from a swollen ocean, police brutality, prisons serving as money-making machines, a lesson on bringing up an unruly child. What should be in the front is in the back of this film. Pathetic.

WATCH DOCS

EN ROUTE POUR LE MILLIARD (DOWNSTREAM TO KINSHASA)

Recommended. The Kisangani's Six-Day War of 2000 was fought by Rwanda and Uganda over Congolese resources. More than 1000 locals were killed and 300 maimed. The disabled are fully functional - just watch the lady pounding food with the trunks of her arms, wear beautiful, colourful clothes, sing, dance - joie de vivre. Clear cinematography by director Dieudo Hamadi is stunning. The first half shows their inner strength against adversity, the second wrenches your heart at the indifference of those in power. 

AFRYKAMERA

ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA

Recommended. I want Polish movie makers to travel to Wakaliwood and learn how to shoot action comedies for $200. They look more like computer games rather than films from a Kampala ghetto. The presented actors' movie scenes are tongue-in-cheek, just like the documentary itself. It blends genres, it's almost a documentary comedy. Top entertainment and proof that true talent knows no limitations - penye nia pana njia, as a Swahili proverb says. The film plays with cinematography, e.g. makes use of human silhouettes against spectacular landscapes and awe-inspiring light, "Coming soon" is written on two goats and Isaac Nabwana shoots "Bruce U" in China.

UN FILS (A SON)

Recommended. Curiously shot in area of Tataouine. This time it's not "Star Wars" but the story focuses round fatherhood too. It's not Tunesian law that shocks you in the film.

LE DERNIER REFUGE (THE LAST SHELTER)

Watchable. The last shelter is the Caritas centre in Mali. The title pertains to the fact only 1% migrants cross the Sahara successfully. The documentary is slow, though that reflects the slow pace of life in the centre and occasionally you're rewarded with picture-perfect shots of the desert at day or night. The migrants are between 16 and 48 years old and, especially the young ones, are so naive some go on to traverse the desert, though some return home, instead of risking being robbed, whipped or raped in Algeria or getting lost in the vast sands.

SNEKKER ANDERSEN OG DEN VESLE BYGDA SOM GLOMTE AT DET VAR JUL (FORGOTTEN CHRISTMAS)

Watchable. The set-up is a hamlet of awfully forgetful people. This unusual plot is marred by partly inadequate cast and by Polish dubbing. The film has all the Christmas atmosphere: a quaint village covered in snow, an Advent calendar, a big Christmas tree and people, Norwegian way, dancing round it. And here comes Santa - one of the worst ever: looking like a drunk and speaking, in Polish dubbing at least, in high pitch. Some other dwellers look and act too hostile for a tale for children. The quirky story saves the picture though. And you also get to hear a Norwegian Christmas song. 

ANIMAL

Recommended. Even the opening of this documentary consists of gruesome images of animals being killed. But the documentary is much more than the shock factor. Some serious food for thought about humanity.

HUMAN DOC

NOWE MIASTO

Recommended. A beautifully shot documentary about a futuristic project of moving Metro Manila to New Clark City, i.e. protecting the capital from earthquakes and typhoons while creating a smart city without current problems of Manila like traffic congestion or smog. But the dazzling facade hides very basic problems of resettling the deprived. Will the poor foot the bill of this amazing transformation? And who'll benefit? The documentary asks valid rhetorical questions.

UKRAINA! FILM FESTIVAL

ПЛОХИЕ ДОРОГИ (BAD ROADS)

Switched off. It drags and consists of people standing and talking or sitting and talking in humdrum voices, going round in circles on whatever the conversation subject is. 

ZHANYM, TY NE POVERISH! (SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT)

Switched off. Remember "Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"? This actually Kazakh comedy represents the same level as the American flick of 2006 which mocked the Kazakh nation. Gross, less sexual, more class B horror style brutal, yet equally dumb. 

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL

Watchable. Woody Allen dissects romantic relationships again. The lead is a neurotic man who's into classical black and white movies which he relives as his night dreams mixed with his own fears. So, if you're fond of French or Swedish classics, you can play spotting the references. But at face value it's just your regular Woody Allen all over again. With summertime San Sebastian in the background. 

TRANSATLANTYK FILM FESTIVAL

BOILING POINT

Recommended. A mastershot of behind-the-scenes of a posh restaurant. Very realistic as numerous work issues mix with the staff's personal problems. Totally engaging since it's also a picture of customer behaviours. It becomes so heated I thought I was going to pass out myself. The post-credit shows the picture of the group selfie from the film.

The festival all took place conveniently at one cinema. KinoGram was a comfy choice since you could stretch on a couch - and try not to fall asleep. Sadly, the festival staff, though courteous, rarely wore masks and basically flouted all Covid safety rules. As for the films seen by me, 12 were superb - an exceptionally high percentage. However, most translations from English were off, sometimes translators wouldn't even get the tenses right. There was no catalogue. The printed schedule clearly demonstrated which movie or event took place where and which overlapped. The problem was with the legibility of small print on colour backgrounds in the dimmed light of the concourse.

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.

TRANSATLANTYK FILM FESTIVAL 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD

Watchable. Set in sunny No Ho but the coming of age issues and dilemmas the boys face are the same as anywhere else in the world. The film presents a very masculine world but the life choices necessary to take at such an early stage: career, friendships, love interests, family objections are versatile. Only the fracases and altercations aren't everyone's norm. At the same time I was impressed by how maturely the boy speaks to his father in one scene. Altogether it's an intimate look, sometimes annoying, sometimes touching, always understandable. 

TOUT S'EST BIEN PASSE (EVERYTHING WENT FINE)

Watchable. Not as emotional as it would seem. Factual rather. If you're a rich French person willing to commit an assisted suicide, you'll learn what to do. It doesn't sound exciting and it isn't, even with the father's dry sense of humour.

L'EVENEMENT (HAPPENING)

Recommended. What suspense! Keeps you on the edge of the seat as you follow Anne for 12 weeks during which she's trying to get an abortion in France of the early 1960s when it's illegal. She's impeccably organized and determined. The film's quite graphic: from female nudity to the umbilical cord but never crossing the barrier of good taste. I nearly closed my eyes at one point and had tears in them a few times, so intense it was. 

PIG

Watchable. It's like having haute cuisine served by a chef with a beard with dried up blood on it. Literally. It's in the movie. Sophisticated dining, illegal fights in the basement of an old hotel and exchanges about power and hierarchy - masculine cinema for sure but also a serving of a clashing mixture of ingredients. The music is also a peculiar combination of nostalgic songs and classical bits. Yet the whole dish is surprisingly palatable. Nicholas Cage endears you to his character: mentally stable, determined, devoted. The picture's dark but his personality brightens it.

STILLWATER

Recommended. Whether you followed the case of Amanda Knox or not you're going to understand this gripping crime drama. It's inspired by the case but the action takes place in Marseilles, France, not Italy.