Filmfestivalen 2017

As per tradition, or an old charter, or something, I thought it’s worth mentioning this year’s….

A series of mildly annoying events befalls (ficticious) Nobel laureate author Daniel as he returns to his home town in Argentina after 40 years in Europe. Wonky citizens, old resentments and unresolved sexual tension ensues, and it’s sometimes funny, sometimes boring and sometimes a bit dramatic. It’s also very predictable. Anybody who has ever seen a film (or read a book, or met someone who has) could see the ‘twist’ an hour before it happened. Pretty pointless.

Failed the Bechdel test

3 limes of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/the-distinguished-citizen

www.imdb.com/title/tt4562518/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_2

A rather simple story, straightforwardly told. Some clever use of tropes (such as the recurring theme of the door buzzer indicating some plot driving event is about to occur) and completely genuine characters are parts of what makes La fille inconnue a well made film. Not earth shattering, but well made.

Passed the Bechdel test

4 buzzes of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/the-unknown-girl

www.imdb.com/title/tt4630550/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_3

Wonderful scenery, enough to make me consider going to Moldova this summer.

…. And that pretty much sums it up. The rest of the film is just plain boring. Nothing happens, no one talks, no one does anything remotely interesting. It’s just dull. And tedious. And redundant. And boring. And dull.

Failed the Bechdel test

2 melons of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/anishoara

www.imdb.com/title/tt3333036/?ref_=nm_knf_t3

Winning in business takes determination and perseverance, and pretty much nothing else, according to the self-help records Ray Kroc listens to. And he takes that piece of advice to heart. Starting out as a struggling travelling salesperson, he slowly becomes more determined as he expands and eventually doesn’t really care who gets sidestepped in the process. Michael Keaton gives life to the character, and Nick Offerman makes an excellent portrayal of one of the actual founders.

Failed the Bechdel test

4 pickles of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/the-founder

www.imdb.com/title/tt4276820/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1

A teenager gets kidnapped by a couple in their 30s. The desperation is almost tangible, as is the increased doubt in one of the culprits. Young doesn’t shy away from being graphic, without for that matter being gory. There is a deus ex machinaish ending and a Silence of the lambs moment that the movie could have done without, and I would have appreciated it much more had the victim had more time to actually be the one to sow discord between her kidnappers.

Passed the Bechdel test

3 mom jeans of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/hounds-of-love

www.imdb.com/title/tt3896738/?ref_=nm_knf_i1

In the catholic world, people still believe that they can be possessed by demons. And the clergy legitimises that delusion by offering exorcisms. Di Giacomo explores the current mass hysteria in Sicilia through a fly-on-the-wall style documentary. That is perhaps the least biased method of documentary film making, as the viewer gets the info straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Of course, if the fly only ever sits on the walls of those suffering from the religiously induced psychosis and of the men in power, needing the charade to go on in order to maintain their power, the balance is off. But since demon possession is so demonstrably stupid to anyone not indoctrinated and the priests are such obvious arseholes for perpetuating the myth, the film doesn’t really need an opposing viewpoint in order to win the non-existing debate. The game is over before it even starts, and one soon loses interest. Padre Cataldo is one arrogant piece of feces, though.

Failed the Bechdel test

3 water damaged paintings of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/libera-nos

www.imdb.com/title/tt4728946/?ref_=nm_knf_t2