IFFR 1999: Day 8

IFFR 1999, day 8

Project A, Survival Guide to the IFFR 1999

Review: Last Broadcast

DIRECTOR: Stefan Avalos, Lance Weiler

Interesting mockumentary in the realtv style made with absolutely no budget exploiting new ways of distributing, by satellite dish. The makers actually downloaded the whole film and played it back using a state of the art projector. It looks like this is going to be very promising in the near future for big movie companies as well as independent filmmakers. From the discussion afterwards however it becomes clear that these ideas have yet to cristalize. But as soon as they do they can add new possibilities for the viewer as well as the filmmaker. Good.

Review: Portland street blues

DIRECTOR: Raymond Yip Wai Man

Wow, that was a disappointment. Hong Kong movies, as we all know by now, are usually very entertaining, with a dramatic plot and many actionscenes. This does not any of it, too many flashbacks (three in a row), no good plot to be found and rather lame action. But the horrible music under the 'romantic' scenes was what put me off the most.

Review: Kenoma

DIRECTOR: Eliane Caffé

CAST: José Dumont, Enrique Diaz, Jonas Bloch

It was sad to see that the projectionist fucked up by switching two reels so the first hour was absolutely incomprehensible, especially since the way the story is told isn't too clear at first. Guy walk his way to a very small town in the inlands of Brazil and falls in love with a local girl and helps someone build a perpetuum mobile. Interesting story, nicely shot, beautfilly build piece of machinery created especially for the movie, but it still was not convincing.

Review: The Apostle

DIRECTOR: Robert Duvall

CAST: Rovert Duvall, Farrah Fawcett, Miranda Richardson, Todd Allen

A religious day for me, seeing this after 'A Price above Rubies'. Robert Duvall's film gives a good view on religious life in the bible belt told through his own character E.F. who is voted out of his own church and set's up a new one somewhere else. In no way religion gets ridiculed, neither is it promoting it, but it's touching to see how the community down their deals with religion. Robert Duvall is totally convincing as a reveren and later as a self proclaimed Apostle.

Review: A price above rubies

DIRECTOR: Boaz Yakin

CAST: Renee Zellweger, Christopher Eccleston, Glenn Fitzgerald, Allen Payne

A lot can be expected from Boaz Yakin, because his debut 'Fresh' was an absolute marvel. The second isn't nearly as good but still stands out, it's a relational drama about a woman who discovers she doesn't belong in the society she's been put in, a strongly religious Jewish society. She finds back her freedom step by step. The casting could have been better, but the acting and the story make all worthwile.

Review: Following

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan

CAST: Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russel, John Nolan

Somebody asked after the movie "What's your relation to hitchcock?" And that seems like a weird question, but Christopher Nolan is capable to conjure up that kind of tension in his first feature film. This debut, nade with absolutely no money contains so much great acting, very direct photographing and good storytelling. A great start of a very promising career, now hope for a distributing deal!

Review: Jam

DIRECTOR: Chen Yiwen

CAST: Cai Xinghung, June Cai, Li Shangun

It's a god damn shame that no one in Taiwan is appreciating the movies that are made in their own country, but I guess that is a trend that is happening all over the world. Jam is a good story cut up in four parts, mostly revolving around the car which is stolen to commit a murder. Even though there are a lot of bad guys in this movie, they also get the chance to be human. Good.

Review: Scenery

DIRECTOR: Zhao Jisong

CAST: Lin Peng, Sun Feng Ying, Zhao Yun Yun

Talking about form, this is movie that is almost only about where the camera is, how to zoom in, what square to take. The story is told so slowly, with so much silence, the viewer is almost bored to death. And the viewer is, after six days of festivalling, bored very easily.

Review: Minazuki

DIRECTOR: Mochizuki Rokuro

CAST: Okuda Eiji, Kitaura Kazuki, Yoshimoto Takami, Oginome Keiko

Last years retrospective of Mochizuki Rokuro left me very impressed, so it's good to see one of his movies premier on this festival. Minazuki is quite rough for the viewer, the sex scenes are disturbing and the violence is even worse, but they are functional for the story (based on a book) he tries to tell.

Review: Mange-Kyo

DIRECTOR: Sento Naomi

CAST: Sento Naomi, Arimoto Shinya, Ono Machiko, Mifune Mika

The director of this documentary set out to examine an important task the relation of the photographer to two subjects, both from different background and her relation to the photographer and the subjects. It's a nice experiment to think about, but to see it on film it just isn't interesting. I have to agree, nice girls though.

Review: Flight of the Bee

DIRECTOR: Parzovi Zanbur

CAST: Muhammadjon Shodi, Mastura Ortiq, Tagmoimurod Roziq

There is a risk involved when going to films from countries in the former soviet union, the people making it are normally too unprofessional and inexperienced in film making. This is not the case for this film which has been made with great care in a country that is still devastated by an ongoing civil war. The talent of Parzovi Zanbur, who can tell a funny and simple story in such a clear way it sometimes even reminds me of Kurosawa, makes it all worthwile. Give this man the recognition he deserves, distribute this movie!!!