Bienvenido a Farewell-Gutmann (Welcome to Farewell-Gutmann)

A classic drama full of words and tight performances that follows three top executives that run for their promotion after the head of the Human Resources Department director (Ruiz) dies at the multinational pharmaceutical company. The film totally looks and feels like a stage play which makes it at times hard to watch as becomes a little boring to follow all the cliché power struggle between them that is filmed in a quite claustrophobic way that does not add to the narrative but makes it tiring to watch.

The Xavi Puebla film basically tells about the productive Adela, who fights for the recognition she’s been denied during years because of the dead director machismo; Lázaro, Ruiz’s left-hand, despises Adela professionally though he tries to sleep with her whenever he can and Fernando, lost in his alcoholism since his wife left him, does not have enough self-esteem to think of himself as a candidate. Their fragile relationships change when eccentric executive Luger arrives from the headquarters to choose who is going to lead the Department. But the not so imaginative twist is that each of the executives is interviewing prospects and what they do to them is similar to what Luger does to each executive.

The movie was around the fest circuit mainly in Europe where won 5 awards and had 11 nominations including Ana Fernandez (Adela) winning the Silver Biznaga at the 2008 Malaga fest and Xavi Puebla and Jesus Gil Vilda winning the Best Screenplay at the 2008 Montreal fest and at the 2008 Gaudi Awards. Perhaps the screenplay is not that bad, but I believe that the way the movie was constructed was not interesting or engaging thus making Puebla a not so good storyteller.

I cannot recommend this movie as definitively was not pleasant to watch, but if you like to see heavy and wordy stage dramas in the big screen perhaps you should give it a try. Still if you’re interested in movies that deal with high executives struggles I recommend you watch La Question Humaine that has a more interesting plot.

Estômago (Estômago: A Gastronomic Story)

As some may recall I’m a little scared of Brazilian films but decided to watch this movie that definitively has a very suggestive name, Stomach. Well not exactly what I imagined as seems that prison movies are “following” me. Yes this is a prison movie too but is in a male Brazilian prison that honestly looks worst than prisons from Argentina. Anyway the movie was quite surprising as is truly entertaining; it starts in the prison but soon crisscrosses to the past, so you have basically two movies that look and feel quite different one from the other.

Inspired by the short story “Presos pelo Estômago” by Lusa Silvestre this film directed by Marcos Jorge tells the story of Raimundo Nonato (João Miguel) that if the story was told sequentially will start with him arriving to the big city from a small city and finding that he has an extraordinary talent for cooking when he starts cooking at a small shop, he's so good that soon he’s “stolen” to a upper class Italian restaurant where he learns haute cuisine and the art of mixing ingredients. But something happen (and you will not know it until the end) and he ends up in a small prison cell with other 10 inmates, the only way he gains respect and ascends the ranks is to start cooking for his cell mates, so he does and the most exquisite dishes are prepared in that tiny cell full of men.

One word of advise, if you decide to watch this movie I strongly suggest you do it with a full stomach or you could get really hungry even when there are some dishes prepared in the most unclean conditions. But as you imagine this story is not only about cooking, is also about sex and power, and definitively Marcos Jorge is a great storyteller that found the most interesting way to tell this very unusual story.

The movie is funny especially because the amazing performance by João Miguel that really looks like a lost-in-the-city peasant and for those familiar with Brazil, let me tell you that the character comes from northern Brazil and people from that area are the object of many jokes, just as the ones that come from Galicia, Spain (Gallegos' jokes). So, he’s really funny both for the way he looks as for what he says. This is his film as he’s almost in every scene.

The film as a film has two different cinematography’s done clearly on purpose to show the lower and higher environments but honestly you do not pay much attention to the above production values as you really get into the story and your eyes follow the unbelievable Raimundo Nonato. But there are some moments in the movie that somehow made me recall the style of Fellini, especially in the most grotesque scenes. The films has 12 wins and 4 nominations in mainly Latin American and Spain festivals, including winning the Golden Spike, Best New Director, Youth Jury Award and Best Actor for Miguel in the 2008 Valladolid fest.

I tend to believe that this film is not for all audiences and probably is best suited for those familiar with Latin American traditions and cinema, as what you will see in the screen looks and feels like raw realism and those scenes that not is because they are really harsh. So definitely I’m unsure if I should or shouldn’t recommend it and if you decide to give it a try do it at your own risk.

I liked the movie even when I found the story quite predictable (many say the opposite, so go figure) and soon enough I guessed most of what happens, but the ride was entertaining and funny.

Enjoy!!

2009 Teddy Awards Jury

If you’re curious about whom the Jury members for this year awards are, then take a look at their brief bios.

Justine Barda born in 1970, is a programmer for the Seattle International Film Festival and a programming associate for the Sundance Film Festival. Previously she served as Director of Special Initiatives for Hedgebrook, a literary foundation and writers' retreat. She was also the director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, which produces the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Barda has a Ph.D. in English with a specialization in Cinema Studies. She has written numerous film reviews and is currently working on a collection of short stories. She divides her time between Seattle and Paris.

Manny de Guerre born in 1972, works for the Side by Side International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Saint Petersburg, Russia. She organizes and coordinates both their film programming and special events. She holds a degree in Cultural Studies and a Master’s degree in Russian Studies. Manny has carried out extensive research in Russia on the social, political and psychological significance of arts and culture. She has done volunteer work for a local LGBT community in the UK, designed and managed a regional community group’s website, as well as organizing various cultural events including an LGBT film society.

Rudi Fürstberger born in 1969, is the Programming Director of the Queer Film Festival Verzaubert, touring four German cities every year (Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Berlin) and the Fantasy Film Festival Berlin. Before working for Sundance and publishing several articles on film, Fürstberger took drama classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York. As a PR-Adviser he worked for the New York based agency Jeremy Walker & Associates, responsible for marketing such films as “American Psycho”, “Presque Rien”, “L.I.E”. and “Monster’s Ball”, as well as for NewFest, LGBT Film Festival, New York.

Stephen Kent Jusick born in 1969, is the Executive Director of MIX New York City Film Festival. He has been curating experimental film since 1989 and making films since 1992. In 1995 he founded Fever Films to distribute experimental film and video for public exhibition. Some of Jusick's Super-8 film work can be seen on the “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” DVD. Jusick's Super-8 documentation of bands include: the Scissor Sisters, Fischer Spooner, Le Tigre, Lou Reed, and Moby. In January 2001 he founded the CineSalon in New York City, which inspired John Cameron Mitchell’s film “Shortbus”, that Jusick appears in.

Mercedes Martín born in 1976, is the head of the International Film Festival on Gender and Sexual Diversity Llamale H, Uruguay. The festival was founded by Francisco Dalmao in 2006. It provides Uruguay with the opportunity to both participate in LGBT film culture and to exhibit queer cinema from all over the world. Martín Mercedes graduated with a degree in Psychology and Psycho-Drama.

Cosimo Santoro born in 1973, is the Programming Director of the Torino LGBT Film Festival, Italy. He graduated with a degree in Critical Film Theory in 1998. Since then he has published several articles and essays on film, collaborated with the Turin Media Center of Italian Independent Cinema, and worked for CinemAmbiente -Turin International Environment, Documentary in Europe, Cervino International, and Torino Film Festivals. He has curated queer programmes for the Madrid International, Batik Film Festival in Perugia, and for LGBT Festival Diversa Buenos Aires. He has served as a juror for LGBT Film Festivals at Frameline San Francisco, Mezipatra, and Queer Lisboa.

Kyle Stephan born in 1974, programmes for the British Film Institute’s London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She served as Guest Curator for the 2008 MIX Brasil Film Festival in São Paulo and as the Curatorial Fellow at SF Camerawork Gallery in San Francisco. She is a Los Angeles based curator, producer, and author, specialized in Latin American cinema, experimental film, and media art. As a producer, she has successfully developed numerous media art projects that have exhibited at various international festivals and venues. She is currently producing a feature-length documentary on the history of the Feminist Art Movement in the US. Her critical writing on film, art, and culture has appeared in numerous publications.

Emina Trumic born in 1986, is one of the four organizers of the first Queer Sarajevo Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trumic is an activist in Organization Q, the only active LGBTIQ organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She studied English and German and works as a freelance translator for Q and other organizations and events. Currently she is studying Radiological Technology in Sarajevo. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with others, she formed the caravan theater “Dromedar“ performing across Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Germany.

Now you know.

2009 Belinale Forum Lineup

Here is the incredibly long list of films that will be screened in the Forum section of the fest. There are more films in the Forum Expanded, Forum Expanded Shorts, Forum Expanded Exhibitions, and Forum Expanded Talk and Show.

Main Forum

(*)Aguas Verdes (Green Waters), Mariano De Rosa, Argentina, 2009
A Historyof Israeli Cinema, Raphaël Nadjari, Frane and Israel, 2009
Ai no mukidashi (Love Exposure), Sono Sion, Japan, 2008
Araya, Margot Benacerraf, Venezuela and France, 1959
Beewax, Andrew Bujalski, USA, 2009
Calimucho, Eugenie Jansen, Netherlands, 2008
(*)Cea mai fericită fată din lume (The Happiest Girl in the World), Radu Jude, Romania and Netherlands, 2009 (must be seen)
Chin yan (The Beast Stalker), Dante Lam, Hong Kong and China, 2008
D’Arusha à Arusha (From Arusha to Arusha), Christophe Gargot, France, Canada and Rwanda, 2008
Die koreanische Hochzeitstruhe (The Korean Wedding Chest), Ulrike Ottinger, Germany, 2009 (Yes this is the new Ottinger film!)
Die wundersame Welt der Waschkraft (The Wondrous World of Laundry), Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany, 2009
(*)Eoddeon gaien nal (The Day After), Lee Suk-Gyung, South Korea, 2009
Filmmakers Against Racism, various directors, South Africa, 2008
Generasi biru (The Blue Generation), Garin Nugroho, John De Rantau, Dosy Omar, Indonesia, 2009
Hashmatsa (Difamation, Yoav Shamir, Israel and Austria, 2009
Hayat var (My Only Sunshine), Reha Erdem, Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria, 2008
Heosuabideuleui ddang (Land of Scarecrows), Roh Gyeong-Tae, South Korea and France, 2008
H:r Landshövding (Mr Governor), Måns Månsson, Sweden, 2008
(*)Jangryesigeui member (Members of the Funeral), Baek Seung-Bin, South Korea, 2008
(*)Kan door huid heen (Can Go Through Skin), Esther Rots, Netherlands, 2009
Langsamer Sommer (Slow Summer), John Cook, Austria, 1976
La Sirena y el Buzo (The Mermaid and the Diver), Mercedes Moncada Rodríguez, Mexico, Spain and Nicaragua, 2009
L’Encerclement (Encirclement), Richard Brouillette, Canada, 2008
Letters to the President, Petr Lom, Canada and Iran, 2009
Ma dai fu de zhen suo (Doctor Ma’s Country Clinic), Cong Feng, China, 2008
Man tänker sitt (Burrowing), Fredrik Wenzel and Henrik Hellström, Sweden, 2009
(*)Marin Blue, Matthew Hysell, USA, 2009
Material, Thomas Heise, Germany, 2009
Meotjin haru (My Dear Enemy), Lee Yoon-Ki, South Korea, 2008
Mitte Ende August (Sometime in August), Sebastian Schipper, Germany, 2009
Mubobi (Naked of Defenses), Ichii Masahide, Japan, 2008
Ne me libérez pas, je m'en charge (My Greatest Escape), Fabienne Godet, France, 2009
Polamuang Juling (Citizen Juling), Kraisak Choonhavan, Manit Sriwanichpoom and Ing K, Thailand, 2008
Rachel, Simone Bitton, France and Belgium, 2009
Schwitzkasten (Clinch), John Cook, Austria, 1978
Seishin (Mental), Soda Kazuhiro, Japan, 2008
Semaan Bil Day’ia (The One Man Village), Simon El Habre, Lebanon, 2008
Soul Power, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, USA, 2008
Sumashedshaya pomosh (Help Gone Mad), Boris Khlebnikov, Russia, 2009
Sweetgrass, Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash, USA, 2009
The Exploding Girl, Bradley Rust Gray, USA, 2009
Treeless Mountain, So Yong Kim, USA and South Korea, 2008
Un Chat Un Chat (Pardon My French), Sophie Fillières, France, 2009
When it was Blue, Jennifer Reeves, USA and Iceland, 2008
Winterstite (Winter Silence), Sonja Wyss, Netherlands and Switzerland, 2008
(*)Wu Shen Feng Ling (Soundless Wind Chime), Kit Hung, Hong Kong, China and Switzerland, 2009
Yanaka Boshoku (Deep in the Valley), Funahashi Atsushi, Japan, 2009
Zum Vergleich (By Comparison), Harun Farocki, Germany and Austria, 2009 (a movie without dialogue… must be seen for me!)

(*) From the 25 films nominated for the Best First Feature Award, seven (7) come from the Forum section and the asterisk identifies them in the above list . By the way the members of the Best First Feature Award Jury are: screenwriter Diablo Cody (USA), producer In-Ah Lee (Germany) and director Rafi Pitts (Iran/France).

For those not familiar with this section here is a brief description.

The International Forum of New Cinema – or Forum – is the most daring section of the Berlinale programme. Avant-garde, experimental, essays, lengthy observations, political reportages and yet-to-be-discovered cinematographers: in the Forum everything new or unconventional comes together and finds an audience known for its enthusiasm and discerning cinematic eye.

The Forum places emphasis on young filmmakers and works that push the limits of the medium and perception itself. Appropriately, all formats are welcome. Documentaries and feature films are treated equally. The Forum programme reflects a desire for a radical, impartial exploration of the grey area between genres. The Forum also shows unusually long films that would have little chance of being screened elsewhere. More than a few unforgettable late nights belong to the history of the festival. The Forum has always explored the boundaries between art and cinema.

Definitively one of the most interesting sections of the Berlinale (especially all that come from France and one from Romania) and a section that is screening many interesting films as the ones listed above, but there are many more that you can browse by going here and filter by Forum.

To check The International Forum of New Cinema own site go here. Also check the mobile guide here that definitively is a must have if you’re one of the luckiest people to visit Berlin during the festival.

Le Premier Jour du Reste de ta Vie (The First Day of the Rest of Your Life)

This is that type of movie that as you continue watching totally grows into you, as slowly not only develops the story but also takes you inside the story to become, in this case, another member of the family. In the beginning I kept on wondering -what is this? as “nothing” was happening in the screen. But started to notice that this movie is about milestones in regular/normal lives and the little/big dramas of everyday life, that’s when the movie began to totally captivate me.

There are not many movies about normal families (against that many about dysfunctional families) so this movie looks and feels like a fresh breeze that makes you feel real good, as probably you will be able to see you and/or your family members in this film. Well, you don’t have to be literal as this is a very French family, but all that’s is told is very international like the day your eldest son (or brother) leaves home to live alone, the time you (or your sister) believe she was in love and had sex for the first time, when a grandparent dies, the first sibling to marry, when your father (or husband) dies, etc.

But what amazed me more about this Rémi Bezançon film he wrote and directed is that this light drama has -especially in the beginning- the peculiar French humor and made me laugh quite often. That’s highly unusual, as I do not like French humor… even less than American humor, lol! But the story/movie is so nice and sweet that totally relaxes you and allows you to highly enjoy the ride. That does not mean that this film is sugary, not at all as there are some moments quite dramatic.

When watching the movie I also was wondering why this movie is nominated for the top Cesar award; but as soon as was over I totally understood. It is outstanding how a common/normal story could make you feel emotions and this is only possible with an excellent and out of the ordinary storyteller and actors’ outstanding performances. Definitively this movie has in Bezançon a remarkable storyteller that was able to transform a well-traveled story into an emotional and entertaining film, plus a cast of not known to me actors that all are highly credible and remarkable in whatever they do in the screen.

Just check the post of the César Award and you will find that the complete Duval family (except the mother and many are “upset” for her not being nominated) is nominated for an actor award, as well as the director and film. Unfortunately my vote for best actor goes to Vincent Cassel (up-to date) and I still have to see a few more movies to cast my vote for supporting roles and newcomers; but I particularly liked Marc-André Grondin (Raphaël the family middle child) performance and probably he will get my vote.

Not a masterpiece but an excellent and different “make you feel good” film that definitively is not common in French cinema and I highly recommend to those that know and like this country cinema, as we do not have to forget that definitively France has a particular (great) film style that this movie totally has. It is worth to mention that this unusual film has a clear beginning and end, plus you do not have to fill any gaps or think a lot about what you’re seeing, which absolutely makes it more accessible to international audiences.

Enjoy!!!

23rd Teddy Awards Lineup

Here is the list of films (up-to-today) that will be competing for the Teddy Awards at the 2009 Berlinale.

Feature Films

Ai no mukidashi (Love Exposure), Sono Sion, Japan, 2008 Section: Forum (it's a 237 min film! Check trailer here. Seems it has some lesbian interest scenes!)
Forced to confess his sins by his priest father, Yu devotes himself to wrongdoing and becomes a legend of sneak photography. Then he meets Yoko, and becomes involved with a mysterious religious cult… Takahiro Nishijima, Hikari Mitsushima, and Sakura Ando make a splendid ensemble in this epic love story.
An Englishman In New York, Richard Laxton, UK, 2008 Section: Panorama (The later years of Quentin Crisp's life in NY, gay interest, starring John Hurt, Cynthia Nixon... hmm!)
Ander, Roberto Castón, Spain, 2009 Section: Panorama (gay interest)
El Niño pez (The Fish Child), Lucía Puenzo, Argentina, France and Spain, 2009 Section: Panorama (is a Puezo film that makes it must be seen for me, but better as is of total Lesbian Interest!)
A desperate love story between two young girls of extremely social backgrounds who, unable to find a place for their love in the world they live in, are pushed to commit a crime.
End Of Love, Simon Chung, China, 2009 Section: Panorama (gay interest??)
Fig Trees, John Greyson, Canada, 2009 Section: Panorama (AIDS, gay interest?)
Fucking Different Tel Aviv, many directors, Israel and Germany, 2009 Section: Panorama (all Fucking Different films are lesbian and gay interest)
Ai-Mei (Ghosted), Monika Treut, Germany and Taiwan, 2009 Section: Panorama (total lesbian interest)
A mysterious love story between Hamburg and Taipeh. The unsolved murder of her young Taiwanese lover Ai-ling (Keru) leaves the Hamburg artist Sophie Schmitt (Inga Busch) completely disoriented. She dedicates a video-installation to her and shows it in Taipei. During the opening she is approached by a mysterious journalist. Sophie is fascinated at first glance by Mei-li, the young journalist. Mei-li takes her to visit the famous Taipei night markets and tries to seduce the artist. Sophie, still mourning her lost lover, rejects Mei-li and returns immediately to Hamburg. Shortly afterwards Mei-li shows up on her doorstep, unannounced. Sophie takes her in and finally falls for her. But soon she realises that her new lover is secretly investigating Ai-ling's death. Strange happenings occur, sudden flashes of recollection come and go, and then Sophie finds out that there is no Mei-Li working for a Taiwanese newspaper and that no one by that name ever entered Germany. Who is the mysterious Taiwanese woman?
Heosuabideuleui ddang (Land of Scarecrows), Roh Gyeong-Tae, South Korea and France, 2008 Section: Forum (lesbian interest, but not for all audiences as seems very arty -which is just great for me! check review with spoilers here)
Ji-young (Kim Sun-young), an artist-of-sorts who wants to become a man. Strapping her breasts and donning a suit, she visits the Philippines and returns with Rain (Phuong Thi Bich), a naive girl who discovers too late she has married a woman.
Jangryesigeui member aka Jang-rae-sig-ui member (Members of the Funeral), Baek Seung-Bin, South Korea, 2008 Section: Forum (??)
Miao Miao, Cheng Hsiao-Tse, Hong Kong and Taiwan, 2008 Section: Generation 14 (plus) (we already know is lesbian interest)
Milk, Gus van Sant, Section: Panorama
Pedro, Nick Oceano, USA, 2008, Section: Panorama (HIV related? probably gay interest)
Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo (Raging Sun, Raging Sky aka Enraged Sun, Enraged Sky), Julián Hernández, Mexico, 2008 Section: Panorama (probably gay interest)
Rage, Sally Potter, UK and USA, 2009 Section: Competition (gay interest? but it is a must be seen for me because of the director and the cast)
The film is a bitterly funny exposé of the inner lives of individuals working at a New York fashion house – as if shot by a schoolboy on his cellphone camera - over seven days in which an accident on the runway becomes a murder investigation
Resident Alien, Jonathan Nossiter, USA, 1990 Section: Panorama (gay interest documentary)
Rückenwind (Light Gradient), Jan Krüger, Germany, 2009 Section: Panorama (gay interest)
Two young men, Johann and Robin, take a trip into the countryside. The more they walk the forests of Brandenburg, the stranger their adventure becomes...
Strella (A Woman's Way), Panos H. Koutras, Greece, 2009 Section: Panorama (gay interest)
George is released from prison after 14 years of incarceration for a murder he committed in his small Greek village. He spends his first night out in a cheap downtown hotel in Athens. There he meets Strella, a young transsexual prostitute. They spend the night together and soon they fall in love. But the past is catching up with George. With Strella on his side he will have to find a new way out.
Tapage nocturne (Nocturnal Uproar), Catherine Breillat, France, 1979 Section: Panorama (??)
The Countess, Julie Delpy, France and Germany, 2009 Section: Panorama (with Anamaria Marinca! in English and ???)
The Naked Civil Servant, Jack Gold, UK, 1979 Section: Panorama (gay interest)
Wu Sheng Feng Ling (Soundless Wind Chime), Wing Kit Hung, Section: Forum (gay interest)
Ricky leaves Hong Kong for Switzerland to look for the lost soul and the past of his deceased Swiss lover, Pascal. Ricky struggles with the confusion of memories, reality and illusion.

Some Short Films

Contre Jour, Christoph Girardet, Matthias Muller, Germany, 2009 (have to write this: Caution: not recommended for epileptics!)
A Horse is Not A Metaphor, Barbara Hammer, USA, 2008 (a must be seen, there are many more Barbara Hammer films in the Forum section, where there is also an Ulrike Ottinger new movie!!!)
Gevald, Netalie Braun, Israel, 2008
Dish, Brian Harris Krinsky, USA, 2008
575 Castro Street, Jenni Olson, USA, 2008
The Island, Trevor Anderson, Canada, 2009
Tanjong Rhu (The Casaurina Cove), Junfeg Boo, Singapore, 2008
Das Ende des Schweins ist der Anfang der Wurst (The End of the Pig is The Beginning of the Sausage), John Edward Heys, Germany, 2008 (such a funny title, lol!)

To check all the shorts and documentaries go here. I’ll be reviewing the site to see if they post more movies as soon as more information about the movies is available.

If Milk is competing then we all know which film has to win the top award and unless there is another outstanding movie, this movie truly deserves the award; but we have to learn a lot more about the other movies competing...

There are six (6) films that belong to the lesbian interest genre and other that do not but are must be seen, that's amazing! Most are going to My Wish List #1.

2009 Berlinale Panorama Lineup

The Panorama Main Program will screen 18 feature films that are generally a selection of international productions that have the potential to reach out to a large art-house audience.

Main Programme

Le Barbe Bleue (Blue Beard), Catherine Breillat, France, 2008
Dongbei, Donbei (A North Chinese Girl), Zou Peng, China, 2008
Fig Trees, John Greyson, Canada, 2008
Fucking Different Tel Aviv, Yair Hochner, Avital Barak, Stephanie Abramovich,Elad Zakai, Eran Koblik Kedar, Ricardo Rojstaczer, Nir Ne'Eman, Hila Ben Baruch, Yossi Brauman, Sivan Levy, Eyal Bromberg, Anat Salomon, Sie Gal, November Wanderin, Yasmin Max; Germany and Israel, 2008 (A must be seen, as well as the Germany and NY versions. All films are Lesbian and Gay interest)
Ghosted, Monika Treut, Germany and Taiwan, 2009 (A new Monika Treut film, must be seen!)
High Life, Gary Yates, Canada, 2009
Human Zoo, Rie Rasmussen, France, 2008
La Journée de la Jupe (Skirt Day), Jean-Paul Lilienfeld, France and Belgium, 2008 (with Isabelle Adjani, must be seen)
Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow), Riri Riza, Indonesia, 2008
Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo (Raging Sun, Raging Sky), Julián Hernández, Mexico, 2009
Rossiya 88 (Russia 88), Pavel Bardin, Russia, 2008
Rückenwind (Light Gradient), Jan Krüger, Germany, 2009
Schläft ein Lied in allen Dingen (Sleeping Songs), Andreas Struck, Germany, 2008
Strella (A Woman’s Way), Panos H. Koutras, Greece, 2008
Vingança (Retribution), Paulo Pons, Brazil, 2008
White Lightinin’, Dominic Murphy, UK, USA, Croatia, 2008
Yang Yang, Cheng Yu-Chieh, Taiwan, 2008

There are many more movies in the following Panorama program sections:

Panorama Dokumente (Documentary films)
Panorama Special (Major independent productions, as well as films by important American studios)
Panorama Shorts
Panorama Supporting Film
30 Years of Programming
10 Years of Panorama Audience Award

To check all the films in the other sections go here and filter by Panorama.

For those not familiar with this program here is the description:
Both in style and in content, the Panorama’s film selection is extremely diverse and open to all sides. Traditionally the so-called "Auteur" film is well represented. The program presents both new developments in the societies of the world as well as different lifestyles. It also enables a special focus on particular topics or countries.

Nothing But The Truth

I was attracted to this movie because I read about Kate Beckinsale good performance, which gave her some nominations in the current award season. Perhaps if I didn’t watch this movie after Leonera, I could have enjoyed it more as this is another women in prison movie… well, sort of. Still, this movie has written allover “commercial cinema” and the true value is basically entertainment.

Writen and directed by Rod Lurie (remember The Contender?) tells about reporter Rachel that writes a Pulitzer worth article about a woman spy (Vera Farmiga) that did a report concluding that Venezuela had nothing to do with the assassination attempt to the USA President and the report was dismissed by the authorities who attacked Venezuela. Rachel (Beckinsale) is the object of a special prosecutor (Matt Dillon) investigation to force her to tell her source, as because new security measures, her source is a traitor for revealing the identity of a CIA agent.

Rachel refuses to tell her source and goes to jail (btw thanks to this film now I know the difference between jail and prison in the USA, he, he). While in jail Beckinsale’s performance becomes interesting but not outstanding or remarkable, so now I understand why it didn’t have more nominations or awards. Anyway Rachel has a son and definitively there are many moments where the narrative plays with the character because she’s an incarcerated woman and a mother.

The movie is fiction, but it is inspired in the real life events of the famous Valerie Plame case and definitively is a story/film that exemplifies the USA Government absolute use (or abuse) of power thanks to the so-called home security safety measures.

Not a masterpiece, but an entertaining movie that could please some audiences that do not expect anything else but what Lurie says: “I tried to make a movie that’s a commercial thriller as well as being something that’s topical”. But if by any case you watch Leonera, I suggest that your next movie definitively should not be this one.

Enjoy.

2009 Berlinale Main Competition Lineup

Today the fest announced that 26 films will participate in the Competition program of the 59th Berlin International Film Festival with 18 films in competition for the Golden and Silver Bears. Of the 18 films, 14 are world premieres. For the first time I include a brief synopsis for each film when available.

In Competition

Alle Anderen, Maren Ade, Germany
Chéri, Stephen Freas, UK (with Michelle Pfeiffer… hmm!)
A romantic drama set in 1920s Paris, where the son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman who educated him in the ways of love.
Darbareye Elly (About Elly) Asghar Farhadi, Iran (Must be seen, he did Fireworks Wednesday)
Gigante, Adrian Biniez, Uruguay, Germany and Argentina
Happy Tears, Mitchell Lichtenstein, USA (I love Parker Posey…)
Two sisters, Jayne (Parker Posey) and Laura (Demi Moore), return home to deal with their ailing father Joe (Rip Torn), only to face some surprising situations.
In the Electric Mist, Bertrand Tavernier, France and USA (Tavernier in English!?)
A detective in the deep South is led into a series of surreal encounters with a troop of Confederate soldiers. (Starring Tommy Lee Jones… hmm!)
Katalin Varga, Peter Strickland, Romania, UK and Hungary
La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow), Claudia Llosa, Spain and Peru (I just loved Madeinusa, Must Be Seen!)
Lille Sodat (Little Soldier), Anette K. Olesen, Denmark
Lotte is a soldier recently back from war. She drinks, and her apartment is a mess. When her father comes to see her he offers her a job. He turns out to make his living by offering the services of African prostitutes to those who want to buy. Lotte starts driving his girlfriend and main attraction Lily around town for house calls. Lotte determines that Lily needs her help (Interesting story!)
London River, Rachid Bouchareb, Algeria, France, UK
Mammoth, Lukas Moodysson, Sweden, Germany and Denmark (A new Moodysson movie, must be seen! Starring Michelle Williams…)
Mei Lanfang (Forever Enthralled), Chen Kaige, China
A biographical account of Mei Lanfang, China's greatest opera star. (Starring Ziyi Zhang. Must be seen.)
The Messenger, Oren Moverman, USA (perhaps…)
My One and Only, Richard Loncraine, USA
Rage, Sally Potter, UK and USA (starring Judi Dench! And she’s the fantastic Orlando director)
Ricky, François Ozon, France and Italy (A new Ozon movie, must be seen!)
Sturm (Storm), Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany and Demark (starring Anamaria Marinca!)
Tatarak (Sweet Rush), Andrzej Wajda, Poland

Out of Competition

Deutschland 09, Compilation film by Fatih Akin, Tom Tykwer, Wolfgang Becker, Sylke Enders, Dominik Graf, Romuald Karmakar, Nicolette Krebitz, Isabelle Stever, Hans Steinbichler, Hans Weingartner, Christoph Hochhäusler, Dani Levy and Angela Schanelec (Must be seen)
I Skoni Tou Chronou (The Dust of Time), Theo Angelopoulos, Greece, Germany, Italy and Russia (Angelopoulos new movie, must be seen; also starring Alexandra Maria Lara and Irene Jacob!)
Eden à l'ouest (Eden is West), Costa-Gravas, France, Grece and Italy (A new Costa-Gravas film! Must be seen)
Notorious, George Tillman Jr., USA
Pink Panther II, Harald Zwart, USA (Must be seen, Aish is here!)
The International, Tom Tykwer, USA
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Rebecca Miller, USA
At fifty, Pippa Lee positively glows with female serenity, the devoted wife of a brilliant publisher thirty years her senior, proud mother of successful twins and a lovely and adored friend and neighbor. But, when her husband spontaneously decides that they should leave New York for a retirement home as a "pre-emptive strike against decrepitude," and has an affair with someone even younger than she is, Pippa finds her beatific persona unraveling in alarming ways. The truth is, the gracious woman of the present day has seen more than her fair share of the wild side. She has finally found love and security in a family of her own. And now, that cozy world, too, is in danger. (this movie is lesbian interest as Julianne Moore plays Kat that supposedly is lesbian; but only with the amazing cast the movie has it is a must be seen)
The Reader, Stephen Daldry, USA and Germany

Wow! this year Berlinale is starting to look very interesting! Almost every movie is a must be seen for me, that means that I can look forward to eventually be able to watch great films. To read the official press releases go here, here and here. The official program is available only in German, but as soon as they publish in English I will post the link; but the complete program is available in the site here where you can browse the films in each section and read basic information about each film.

As there are many interesting films I will do one post for each section. I find that there are many USA films in this year fest, that's quite unusual... but at least means that films could be more accessible in this side of the world!

Leonera (Lion’s Den)

What do you expect from a women prison film? Whatever you do I believe you will be able to see it in this movie but with a Latin American touch. What makes this movie out of the ordinary is that everything happens in a sort of surreal maternity ward that at times really looks more like a kindergarten than a prison; but also great performance by Martina Gusman and because for more than half the movie has a documentary look and feel that absolutely makes this movie not your regular female prison movie. This is not to say that what you will be able to see is not harsh, raw and sometimes disturbing as definitively it is.

This Pablo Trapero movie is somehow mesmerizing as you can’t take your eyes from the screen especially when the story goes inside the prison, which by the way were filmed inside real Argentina prisons with real guards and female prisoners. Some situations may be cliché (like girls fights, naked showers, aggressive lesbian unrequited approaches, etc.) but I find that here these situations look and feel like raw realism instead of a dramatization of events and that’s why not only scenes are not pretty or dramatic but also become like a detailed document of life within a prison ward not often shown in the screen.

The film tells the story of Julia that wakes up to a room full of blood but as she was in a zombie state does not notice anything and goes to work or university, as she was a student. When she comes back home after work, she finds her boyfriend Nahuel dead body and Nahuel's boyfriend Ramiro still breathing. She goes into total shock, as she does not recall a thing. Both Julia and Ramiro are arrested and sent to preventive prison until their case is officially reviewed. But Julia is pregnant and she’s has to go to the maternity ward.

So you have the story that gives no answers about a woman accused and convicted for a murder that you will never know if she did it or not. You also have the story of high betrayal by Julia’s mother (that abandoned her but now comes back) and Ramiro that seems was not only Nahuel’s boyfriend but also Julia’s lover. Then also you have the story of how Julia survived inside the prison thanks to Marta who becomes her lover and in many ways her savior. But the main story is about a upper middle class young woman that ends up in jail with fellow prisoners very different to her, does not want her baby, as soon as the son is born maternal instincts prevail and she becomes a true lioness that wants and protects her son no matter what she needs to do.

As I mentioned, more than half the movie looks and feels like a documentary, but as soon as Marta leaves the prison the film changes and becomes a movie with a clear dramatic narrative that unfortunately resolves the story in a sort of fairy tale way; but after all you watched you really appreciate the “happy” ending that eases the ride into the mostly claustrophobic scenes construction with great camera work inside the prison.

Definitively this is a lesbian interest story but obviously is not dramatic –like in Bad Girls-, is not well developed as is not the main story (but it is essential to the plot), and is not pretty to watch as looks and feels more real than fictional. So with all that happens in the movie I believe that is not for general audiences that enjoy the lesbian interest genre. Still I definitively recommend this movie to some of my known readers.

The movie as a movie impressed me for the attention to details, above average outdoors and indoors cinematography, a pace that goes from slow to not slow according to the storytelling style, good editing, some great framed scenes, great children songs instead of ambient music and an outstanding closing scene that is just beautiful to watch.

The film premiered in competition for the Golden Palm at 2008 Cannes and since then has been collecting many honors including winning the Jury Special Prize, the SIGNIS Award at the Havana fest, with Martina Gusman winning Best Newcomer Actress at the 2008 Premio Sur and very recently the FIPRESCI Award for Best Actress in the 2009 Palm Springs fest. The movie was Argentina official submission to the Oscars.

I cannot say that I liked this movie, as this movie is not one to be liked when tells such a complex real situation about women giving birth inside a prison and keeping the child imprisoned with them. This situation is a true dilemma with a difficult taking sides decision. But definitively I do recommend the movie to those that are familiar with Latin American cinema and to those that dare to watch a well constructed film about an unusual women prison story.

Enjoy!!!

2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards Winners

Tonight show was definitively more entertaining than the Golden Globes as at least had clips from films and a remarkable In Memoriam where always I find actors that passed away and I was not aware. But this year the most remarkable thing about this remembrance was the absence of Heath Ledger that unless I blinked he was not included… I just found that the reason he was not there was because he was featured in the 2008 reel, but definitively looked like a huge omission in the 2009 reel, isn't?

There are some surprises among the winners suggesting that the Oscars could be more entertaining with categories that now does not seem will have a “sure” winner. So, here are some of the winners.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep in Doubt
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn in Milk
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet in The Reader
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

To check the TV winners go here.

What I believe will be more interesting is to find who will win the best actress at the Oscars as there is no doubt that the race has to be between Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep and both won awards today for the same roles the are nominated at the Oscars. Also the sort of winning strike by Mickey Rourke is broken and now we have Sean Penn in competition.

2009 Producers Guild of America Nominations and Winners

Last Night the PGA had their award ceremony and here are some of the winners in red. I gather the winners from different sources as they have not posted in their site.

The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
*Slumdog Millionaire

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures
*Man On Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble The Water

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
*WALL-E

To read the nominees in all categories go here and I assume that soon they will post the winners there; but if you want to read an article without mistakes (many articles seems to be written in a rush and have mistakes) I suggest you read the LA Times . The 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony was held on Saturday, January 24th, 2009 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Very interesting to see that The Dark Knight and Milk got nominations and most likely all the movies could be the five nominees at the Academy Awards (almost happened as only The Dark Knight didn't made it). But most interesting is learning that the top award went to Slumdog Millionaire as definitively the odds for this movie are starting to move in the race for the Oscars.

2009 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners - Final

Here are the awards winners for feature films.

U.S. Dramatic Competition
Grand Jury Prize: Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire, Lee Daniels; the film tells the redemptive story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem struggling to overcome tremendous obstacles and discover her own voice.

Special Jury Prize for “Spirit of Independence”: Humpday, Lynn Shelton
Alfred P. Sloan Prize: Adam, Max Mayer press release.
Audience Award: Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire, Lee Daniels.
Excellence in Directing: Cary Joji Fukunaga for Sin Nombre; filmmaker Fukunaga's first-hand experiences with Mexican immigrants seeking the promise of the U.S. form the basis of this epic Spanish-language dramatic thriller.
Special Jury Prize For Acting: Mo’Nique, in Push: Based in a novel by Sapphire

World Dramatic Competition
Jury Prize: La Nana (The Maid), Sebastian Silva, Chile
Special Jury Prize for Originality: Louise-Michel, Benoit Delépine and Gustave de Kervern, France; about a group of disgruntled female French factory workers who, after the factory abruptly closes, pool their paltry compensation money to hire a hit man to knock off the corrupt executive behind the closure
Audience Award: An Education, Lone Scherfig, UK
Special Jury Prize: Catalina Saavedra in La Nana (The Maid)
Excellence in Directing: Oliver Hirschbiegel for Five Minutes of Heaven; UK and Ireland

Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards
Ciencias Morales (Moral Sciences), Diego Lerman, Argentina
The Girl, David Riker, USA
Speed Girl, Qurata Kenji, Japan
Evolution, Lucile Hadzihalilovic, France
press release

To check winners in Shorts Filmmaking go here and to check the winners in all the categories go here. Have to say that about the ONLY serious feature film competing in all the fest that is of lesbian interest winning the top award is amazing and now becomes a must be seen film because probably will have above production values and quality. Also is not often that the jury and audience award is given to the same movie as this is the second time. The only other movie to get the jury and audience top awards was gay interest Quinceañera.

The Secret Life of Bees

Based on the popular novel of the same by Sue Monk Kidd and directed/written by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film is a sweet story and movie that surely will warm the hearts of many, but I find the story too sugary for my taste and well if it wasn’t for some extraordinary performances and the most beautiful cinematography, I probably will have called this movie only “nice” to watch.

But I was highly impressed by Sophie Okonedo performance playing a complex character with such an exquisite touch that totally grabbed my attention while she was on screen and made me wish she could have had longer screen time. Second have to admit that I enjoyed most of Dakota Fanning performance as with a few exceptions this child actor shows that she’s no longer a child and clearly demonstrates that as she grows and gets more interesting roles she’s an actress with a great future. I didn’t enjoy much Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys performances, but I believe that it was due to the one-dimensional not well-developed characters, rather than only the way they performed.

Still I know that this is sort of a “girly” movie that will please and touch many women allover the world. The movie has five awards and 16 nominations, including Dakota Fanning winning the Rising Star Award at 2009 Palm Springs fest and Sophie Okonedo honored with a nomination at the Satellite Awards.

Not a masterpiece but an entertaining movie if you want to warm your heart and if you want to learn the story of a 4 years old girl that kills her mother and as she reaches her 14 years old birthday decides to find what really happened that day when her mother came back home after having left for good.

Enjoy.

15th Slamdance Film Festival Award Winners

Yesterday the fest announced the award winners and here are the winners from the Narrative Competition Features.

Best Narrative Feature: A Quiet Little Marriage, Mo Perkins
Special Jury Mention for Best Performance: Larry Fessenden in I Sell the Dead
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: Punching the Clown, Gregory Viens
Dos Equis “Most Interesting Film” Award: You Might as Well Live, Simon Ellis
IndieRoad Award: Punching the Clown, Gregory Viens

To check award winners in all the categories go here.