Seattle Inter Film Festival Report May 2-5

PROJECT NIM---------Grade B+
Charming and heartbreaking true documentary of chimp who was raised by humans, then trained by researchers to communicate in sign language, then discarded.....

THE FUTURE----------Grade B
New edgy film by Miranda July (ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW) with droll witty humor and touches of fantasy. The humor dissipates by the end, and the (sometimes dark) themes go over the top at times, especially the "stopping time" element, but any film narrated by a sick, lonely cat (no kidding) can't be all bad. This one was the audience splitter of the week.

KOSMOS--------Grade C+
There are things to enjoy about this Turkish production, especially the crowing like birds between the two would be lovers, and the unsubtle Christ-like references of the main character. But the film drags on too long and the obscure symbolism becomes heavy handed.

CIRCUMSTANCE-------Grade B-
We learn that young, rich, beautiful people in Iran like to drink, smoke, use drugs, experiment with sexuality, and disobey their parents, just like everywhere else. Despite some watchable, provocative (for Iran) scenes, including a budding same sex relationship between two female cousins, the film feels passionless and unconvincing.

SOUND OF NOISE----------Grade B
From Sweden, an entertaining nonsense about a group of anarchistic musicians who try to make music out of unusual and bizarre (and at times illegal) structures in the big city, all the while being chased by a cop who hates music.

AMADOR------------Grade B+
Spanish film has poor young woman in an unhappy marriage taking a job caring for an elderly man, who dies before she can be paid her month's salary, and she must make some tough choices. The film is both funny, and moving, and has some surprising humanistic twists.

CRYING OUT---------Grade A-
Well acted film from Quebec, has a father, son and grandson all struggling with demons--mostly by trying to drown them with drink. The men are a mess, but the women are amusing because they love to gossip and boss. It is grim going at times, but the film feels real, and the scenery and characters are intriguing.

WIN/WIN---------Grade B
Not to be confused with the current Paul Giamatti film of the same title, this film from Netherlands chronicles the rise and fall of a young stockbroker with a mathematical penchant for knowing when to buy and when to sell, and how the emotional toll can create a dangerous and unhealthy environment.

VENICE---------Grade B-
We've seen lots of WW2 films, and this one suffers for it. A young boy is sent to live with the women relatives in an isolated Polish town instead of going on vacation in Venice as originally planned. When the basement floods in the decaying mansion they live in, he creates his own version of the canals of Venice. Unfortunately, with all those Nazis running around, you know how this will probably end.

SOMETHING VENTURED-----------Grade B+
Intriguingly sharp and witty documentary of the early days of Silicon Valley and venture capitalism. This is not subject matter that normally interests me, but I was entertained, amused, enlightened and now I know why creators/owners of successful corporations often end getting fired from their own companies.

SUBMARINE---------Grade C-
Despite a good cast (Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine etc), this coming of age film is randomly written and directed, and the music and direction border on obnoxious. Over a decade ago, Noah Taylor used to star in these types of films--here he awkwardly plays the father. The teen actor at the center of the film seems to suck the energy out of his scenes. Ugh, worst of the week.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS NOT BEING DEAD-----------Grade C+
This visually striking and unique looking Spanish film was directed by THREE men, and it feels very disjointed in it's visual style. Some scenes feel like they came out of different films altogether, so the film misses out on any dramatic punch. The story centers on a political dissident who lives hidden for 40 years in the basement of his lover's house, unbeknowst to her husband, who lives with her upstairs. A lot of potential seems lost here.


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Post script to last weeks blog--currently I cannot seem to go back in to edit or correct past blogs after they are first entered. ---The name of the gay horror/slasher film is HELLBENT (2005).