Filmfestivalen

To summarize, why not nominate this year’s….

Best supporting actor:

Anneli Martini, Aniara

John Turturro, Gloria Bell

Jonathan Pryce, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Maxine Peake, Gwen

Best director:

Radu Jude, I Do Not Care if We Go Down in History as Barbarians

Terry Gilliam, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Kasper Kalle, Christian IV

William McGregor, Gwen

Best lead:

Ioana Iacob, I Do Not Care if We Go Down in History as Barbarians

Julianne Moore, Gloria Bell

Monia Chokri, Emma Peeters

Emelie Jonsson, Aniara

Best ensemble:

Aniara

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Christian IV

Gwen

Best animated:

Tito e os pássaros

Seder-Masochism

Funan

Black is Beltza

Best film:

Aniara

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Christian IV

Seder-Masochism

Winners will be presented further down, but first, let’s highlight this year’s….

Film film film.

Metachivalry by Terry Gilliam | 132min | ESP, BEL, POR, FRA

Absurd, yet rooted in reality, Gilliam finally, after 25 years, manage to wrap up the old classic. Witty and clever, with parallels to the past and the present, in a brilliant nod to the original novel. It’s just the right amount of meta. Adam Driver is surprisingly well-cast as Not-Really_Sancho Panza, but the shining star is undoubtedly Jonathan Pryce.

5 giant hands of 6

Spacenativity by Claire Denis | 110min | Tyskland, Frankrike, Storbritannien, Polen, USA

Visually it’s a masterpiece. Narratively, it’s at best a little contrived, but mostly confusing. Actorwise, it ranges from passable to Troll 2. I don’t know if Jessie Ross is someone’s daughter/niece or if her atrocious acting is on purpose, but if so: why? Which is the word that kind of sums up this pretentious mish-mash.

2 sexbooths of 6

Coachmovie by Kasper Kalle | 90min | Danmark

Bottle episode AND costume drama AND multi-timeline storytelling in one film? Can it be done?

Of course it can, else I wouldn’t have asked. Using competent actors, well adjusted script and Highlander level editing, Kalle makes a dying king’s last coach ride back to his castle a thrilling tale.

5 padawan braids of 6

Roadfibmovie by Olmo Omerzu | 82min | Tjeckien, Slovakien, Polen, Slovenien

Mildly amusing throughout, with a few intense, but not out-of-place scenes. Decent.

3 audis of 6

Khmerodrama by Denis Do | 87min | BEL, CAM, FRA, LUX

While the backgrounds are visually stunning, the main animation could be better. Story-wise, it’s touching and emotionally horrific, as would be expected, given the heavy subject: The Khmer Rouge treatment of the Cambodian people and families being torn apart.

4 straight lines of rice of 6

Revolutionresumé by Fermin Muguruza | 87min | Spa

Good music (which is to be expected in a film depicting the various revolutions and human rights movements of the mid-to-late 1960’s), nice animation (reminiscent of the Franco-Belgian style) and well thought-out story contribute to the best Basque animated feature of the year. Extra plus for the belly dancing scene, which brilliantly juxtaposes human desire with the philosophy of revolution. It loses momentum sometimes, and at times the story is a bit contrived.

4 trumpets of 6

Timecrimetime by Wi Ding Ho | 107min | Taiwan, CHN, USA, FRA

In the not too distant future, automation, rejuvenation and digitalisation has been developed further. Human relations are still as important as today, and betrayal hurts no matter what era. We follow the main character in three different ages of his life, chronologically reversed. The first third, when he’s older, is by far the best, and promises some interesting things to come. Unfortunately they don’t, and the next third is less rewarding than the last. Not bad, just a bit disappointing.

3 scooters of 6