1. Antichrist
Dir: Lars Von Trier
This film from Denmark was definitely ‘the movie’ of the festival. The story of a couple struggling to cop up with the death of their only child was in every aspect different and engaging. One reason for which I give this film the no.1 position is because it surpassed all my expectation. Few films are able to do that. More than a horror flick Antichrist is about creating fear. In the film fear lies outside, in the wilderness. We feel more comfortable when we see the couple in their room. But once they walk outside, into the woods, fear gradually creeps in. During the therapy session the female character in the film says that the "woods seem to have a strange kind of personality" and that personality we know is that of fear. Dialogues are excellent and the cinematography and background score are in tune with the dialogues. If we leave behind the fear factor, Antichrist is a psychological exploration. It is a portrayal of the guilt and the pain that its female characters suffer as a result of her child’s death. To overcome her trauma she has sex with her husband which causes more pain than pleasure in the audience. Guilt results in pain which results in fear. Fear gives way to violence which ends in a kind of catharsis. With its complex characterization and brilliant direction, Antichrist painted a picture of fear at the IFFK 09.
2. Last Life in the Universe
Dir: Pen-ek Retanaruang
Instead of focussing on a particular story Pen-ek’s 'Last Life in the Universe' was about individuals. The two central characters in the film are loners. Pen-ek brings together the lonely lives of Kenji and Noi and shows us how they find a sense of consolation in their distressed lives. Kenji is a calm and soft-spoken librarian who likes order in his life. His character reflects in his composed and limited use of water from the pipe. But even his orderly life does not restrain him from contemplating about suicide. Noi like Kenji is also a loner but unlike Kenji she is a spend thrift and lives like a pig. She speaks out loudly about her views and talks with ease. Pen-ek brings together these two lonely lives through an incident which results in both these characters influencing upon each other. He uses extremely lengthy shots which gives us an opportunity to observe the characters closely. In the film the camera is a close observer of the actions of the characters. Pen-ek’s frames are exquisite. The soft background score supports the slow pace of the film. Last Life in the Universe is about understanding individual lives, and if we are able to do that, this film takes us to another level of understanding cinema.
3. Operation Danube
Dir: Jacek Gomb
Operation Danube is a hilarious take on a Polish-Czech Republic war during the 1960s. If Antichrist and Last Life in the Universe had minimum characters, and talked about fear and loneliness, this film brings in a bunch of characters, all of them funny. Operation Danube reminded me of another film, It’s a Mad Mad Mad World Out There. The film shows us that comedy arises out of comic situations. Operation Danube is no different. In the film a Polish military tank accidently crashes into a Czech beer parlour. What follows is clash of languages where both parties are unable to understand what the other is saying. In the end they understand that only through cooperation and mutual understanding that things would work out well. The film maintains a subtle humour throughout. The treatment of the film is also different. While there are instances in the film which shows corruption and indecency among officials and local folks, the director intentionally didn’t try to give it a serious approach. Instead he mocks at them with a pinch of humour and sarcasm. Like a Priyadarshan film the serious elements are buried inside and presented in a comic manner.
4. Nymph
Dir: Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Nymph is a film which defies genres. It can be interpreted as a horror flick. It is also a psychological thriller, and at the same time is an ecological expression finding its voice through cinema. The film had everyone spellbound by the treatment of its theme. Nymph is a beautiful combination of reality and fantasy and keeps us wondering about its characters and its story even after its climax. The very first scene in the film is an instance of brilliance that explains to us, the directors hold over his medium. The film arouses in us a sense of mystery, a kind of devotion or love towards nature and a craving for individual freedom and expression.
5. Looking for Eric
Dir: Ken Loach
This film is about the life of a person named Eric Bishop whose life is torn in between his addiction for his favourite football team and his family. I liked the film for its positive point of view and at the same time showing simultaneously, the various pitfalls that one has to face in life. The film begins in an irritable tone with Eric driving his car erratically on the road and finally ends up in his house, overdosing on marijuana. As a result of the overdose he fancies seeing the legendary football star Eric Cantona. This vision changes Eric’s life and he starts to organize his life, bringing together the broken pieces in his life that he left behind. The film deserves mention for its honest portrayal of Eric. He loves his circle of friends and loves to be with them and support his favourite football club. But when it comes to personal matters he chooses to be alone and shuts himself in his room. Looking for Eric is a feel good film. The director gave lot of thought into its characterization and tone.
There were also a bunch of films that disappointed me at the 14th IFFK. Below is a list of three films that tested my patience in the festival.
1. Invisible Waves
Dir : Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Invisible Waves is an example of a good story that is badly shot. The central character Kyonji is such a complex character and at times we wonder at the decisions he take. As audience I was unable to take a position. The screening time was a bit too long. It was unnecessary when compared to its small storyline. Pen-ek’s trademark extremely long shots worked well in his Last life in the Universe. But in in this film it proved to be a bit too off the track.
2. Katalin Varga
Dir: Peter Strickland
Katalin Varga, like Invisible Waves is a film where we see a good story gone wrong due to its disappointing treatment. The film is about a woman named Katalin Varga who travels the length and breadth of Romania to find the father of her child and to take revenge on him. Unfortunately what we find in the film is an uncompromising and strong Katalin Varga getting killed by villains. All her hard work comes to a sudden end, and we think ourselves “was it for this that she had to travel such far away places and take so much pain?” The film had some stunning visuals and soulful background score. Unfortunately none of this could make up for the film’s bad treatment.
3. Broken Embraces
Dir: Pedro Almodovar
One specialty of a Pedro Almodovar film is that it tells stories within stories. That, he does well in this one too. But on the whole the film had nothing much to offer than this signature treatment of a story. The plot was weak and the humour proved to be slack. A few good visuals and the comparatively good characterization couldn't compensate for the film's weak storyline. To conclude this film had nothing much to offer. Almovovar’s Volver was far better when compared to Broken Embraces.
Dir: Lars Von Trier
This film from Denmark was definitely ‘the movie’ of the festival. The story of a couple struggling to cop up with the death of their only child was in every aspect different and engaging. One reason for which I give this film the no.1 position is because it surpassed all my expectation. Few films are able to do that. More than a horror flick Antichrist is about creating fear. In the film fear lies outside, in the wilderness. We feel more comfortable when we see the couple in their room. But once they walk outside, into the woods, fear gradually creeps in. During the therapy session the female character in the film says that the "woods seem to have a strange kind of personality" and that personality we know is that of fear. Dialogues are excellent and the cinematography and background score are in tune with the dialogues. If we leave behind the fear factor, Antichrist is a psychological exploration. It is a portrayal of the guilt and the pain that its female characters suffer as a result of her child’s death. To overcome her trauma she has sex with her husband which causes more pain than pleasure in the audience. Guilt results in pain which results in fear. Fear gives way to violence which ends in a kind of catharsis. With its complex characterization and brilliant direction, Antichrist painted a picture of fear at the IFFK 09.
2. Last Life in the Universe
Dir: Pen-ek Retanaruang
Instead of focussing on a particular story Pen-ek’s 'Last Life in the Universe' was about individuals. The two central characters in the film are loners. Pen-ek brings together the lonely lives of Kenji and Noi and shows us how they find a sense of consolation in their distressed lives. Kenji is a calm and soft-spoken librarian who likes order in his life. His character reflects in his composed and limited use of water from the pipe. But even his orderly life does not restrain him from contemplating about suicide. Noi like Kenji is also a loner but unlike Kenji she is a spend thrift and lives like a pig. She speaks out loudly about her views and talks with ease. Pen-ek brings together these two lonely lives through an incident which results in both these characters influencing upon each other. He uses extremely lengthy shots which gives us an opportunity to observe the characters closely. In the film the camera is a close observer of the actions of the characters. Pen-ek’s frames are exquisite. The soft background score supports the slow pace of the film. Last Life in the Universe is about understanding individual lives, and if we are able to do that, this film takes us to another level of understanding cinema.
3. Operation Danube
Dir: Jacek Gomb
Operation Danube is a hilarious take on a Polish-Czech Republic war during the 1960s. If Antichrist and Last Life in the Universe had minimum characters, and talked about fear and loneliness, this film brings in a bunch of characters, all of them funny. Operation Danube reminded me of another film, It’s a Mad Mad Mad World Out There. The film shows us that comedy arises out of comic situations. Operation Danube is no different. In the film a Polish military tank accidently crashes into a Czech beer parlour. What follows is clash of languages where both parties are unable to understand what the other is saying. In the end they understand that only through cooperation and mutual understanding that things would work out well. The film maintains a subtle humour throughout. The treatment of the film is also different. While there are instances in the film which shows corruption and indecency among officials and local folks, the director intentionally didn’t try to give it a serious approach. Instead he mocks at them with a pinch of humour and sarcasm. Like a Priyadarshan film the serious elements are buried inside and presented in a comic manner.
4. NymphDir: Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Nymph is a film which defies genres. It can be interpreted as a horror flick. It is also a psychological thriller, and at the same time is an ecological expression finding its voice through cinema. The film had everyone spellbound by the treatment of its theme. Nymph is a beautiful combination of reality and fantasy and keeps us wondering about its characters and its story even after its climax. The very first scene in the film is an instance of brilliance that explains to us, the directors hold over his medium. The film arouses in us a sense of mystery, a kind of devotion or love towards nature and a craving for individual freedom and expression.
5. Looking for Eric
Dir: Ken Loach
This film is about the life of a person named Eric Bishop whose life is torn in between his addiction for his favourite football team and his family. I liked the film for its positive point of view and at the same time showing simultaneously, the various pitfalls that one has to face in life. The film begins in an irritable tone with Eric driving his car erratically on the road and finally ends up in his house, overdosing on marijuana. As a result of the overdose he fancies seeing the legendary football star Eric Cantona. This vision changes Eric’s life and he starts to organize his life, bringing together the broken pieces in his life that he left behind. The film deserves mention for its honest portrayal of Eric. He loves his circle of friends and loves to be with them and support his favourite football club. But when it comes to personal matters he chooses to be alone and shuts himself in his room. Looking for Eric is a feel good film. The director gave lot of thought into its characterization and tone.
There were also a bunch of films that disappointed me at the 14th IFFK. Below is a list of three films that tested my patience in the festival.
1. Invisible Waves
Dir : Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Invisible Waves is an example of a good story that is badly shot. The central character Kyonji is such a complex character and at times we wonder at the decisions he take. As audience I was unable to take a position. The screening time was a bit too long. It was unnecessary when compared to its small storyline. Pen-ek’s trademark extremely long shots worked well in his Last life in the Universe. But in in this film it proved to be a bit too off the track.
2. Katalin Varga
Dir: Peter Strickland
Katalin Varga, like Invisible Waves is a film where we see a good story gone wrong due to its disappointing treatment. The film is about a woman named Katalin Varga who travels the length and breadth of Romania to find the father of her child and to take revenge on him. Unfortunately what we find in the film is an uncompromising and strong Katalin Varga getting killed by villains. All her hard work comes to a sudden end, and we think ourselves “was it for this that she had to travel such far away places and take so much pain?” The film had some stunning visuals and soulful background score. Unfortunately none of this could make up for the film’s bad treatment.
3. Broken Embraces
Dir: Pedro Almodovar
One specialty of a Pedro Almodovar film is that it tells stories within stories. That, he does well in this one too. But on the whole the film had nothing much to offer than this signature treatment of a story. The plot was weak and the humour proved to be slack. A few good visuals and the comparatively good characterization couldn't compensate for the film's weak storyline. To conclude this film had nothing much to offer. Almovovar’s Volver was far better when compared to Broken Embraces.
No comments:
Post a Comment