Monday, November 11, 2013

Film festival - day 4

In the Name Of...
Festival synopsis:
n the Name Of is the captivating and emotionally powerful story of a charismatic Catholic priest struggling to reconcile his deep-rooted faith with the desires he has long fought to suppress. Father Adam is the spiritual head of a small parish in rural Poland where he also oversees a center for troubled teenage boys. Playing football and joining in manual
construction work, T-shirted Adam leads with a stern hand and a sympathetic ear, earning the respect of his charges. The atmosphere of danger and violence
permeating the young men’s lives and actions never truly disappears, however; it is merely kept in precarious check by the devout priest. Against this backdrop, Father Adam’s personal temptations emerge. Among the young men under Father Adam’s supervision is wild, Lukasz, a nearly mute local. As the mutual connection and friendship develops between the pair, Adam finds his growing attraction to the troubled Luckasz difficult to resist. Director Szumowska has crafted a beautifully textured and visually powerful work that takes a humane, non-judgemental look at the contradictions of Catholicism and sexuality. The film is an engaging portrait of confused emotions, longing and loneliness, and leaves us with the hope that, in accepting our failings, there is a chance for
happiness and self-acceptance.
My review:
This was a good film but could have benefited from better editing.  It showed the unnatural loneliness that plagues priests who take a vow of chastity.  It also explores the chasm between Catholicism and homosexuality against a backdrop of beautiful Poland countryside.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

Honeymoon
Festival synopsis:
It’s the wedding day of Radim and pregnant Tereza. As the family walks into church, Dominik, Radim’s adolescent son from his 1st marriage, breaks his glasses. They make a quick visit to the optometry shop next to the church. The optometrist, Ales, recognizes
Radim and the suspense begins. Ales has his reasons for crashing the wedding reception, held at the family’s large and beautiful country estate. Radim pretends not to know Ales, nor the meaning of the mysterious gift he presents. Ales is intent on telling Tereza the tragic story of the past that her new husband is hiding. When she confronts Radim, he shrugs it off. Meanwhile, Ales and young Dominik become acquainted over a mutual interest in photography. Ales lends the youth a vintage Nikon. As Radim watches Dominik with the camera, dark memories of his past surface. Honeymoon will keep you in suspense until the very end.
My review:
This was an interesting film with beautiful cinematography.  When Ales crashes the reception I was hoping he would reveal a passed affair with the lead male character Radim, played by the gorgeous Stanislov Majer.  Instead, Ales is there to warn Radim's bride that she is not marrying the man she thinks he is.  This is the story of the lasting effects of bullying, told from a tender yet heart-broken perspective.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

Pit Stop
Festival synopsis:
Recover ing from an ill-fated affair with a married man, Gabe finds solace in the relationship he maintains with his ex-wife and daughter. On the other side of town, Ernesto evades life at home with his current live-in ex-boyfriend by spending much of his spare time in the hospital with an ailing past love. Impervious to the monotony of their blue-collar world, they maintain an unwavering yearning for romance. Far from the gay
centers of the world, director Yen Tan explores the complex and oft-forgotten lives of gay men in small-town America. The understated, contemplative nature of Ernesto and Gabe's story is told from the perspective of an observer, allowing the audience - even if just for a moment - to understand what it means to be an outsider, capturing the emotional isolation the two men have grown accustomed to is captured in a subtle, optimistic, poetic fashion while avoiding melodrama. In a refreshingly quiet film, Tan’s protagonists never try to run away from their relatively hollow surroundings, but opt to fill life’s deepest voids with their tenacious confidence. 
My review:
For me this film showed two men, both of whom had been hurt by unsuccessful relationships, who still believed in the chance of happiness despite what they've been through.  Occasionally funny and often thoughtful, this film was enjoyable to experience.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

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