IFFR 2009 – Update #1

This year’s edition of the IFFR seems to be more sober in practically each and every sense imaginable. The line-up has been slimmed down, the poster and new tiger logo plain and simple and the press facilities are mediocre compared to the excessive facilities of previous years. Not that I complain (okay a little but that is my nature), since the press gets a lot in return even when there are just six computers to work on (as opposed to more than 12 last year) and internet and wireless connections shutting down at least once a day. I wished I brought along my notebook after all. Still the films, or at least most of them, are great. This first update (I was planning to do one earlier, but there was no way I could post one) includes a French tragic comedy by the directors of Aaltra, Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married and the emotional Japanese dramaTokyo Sonata .

LOUISE-MICHEL(2009)

This tragic comedy is about an analphabetic ex-jailbird Louise (Yolande Moreau) who is confronted with her factory shutting down, despite the new uniform she was given just the other day. She decides to team up with her colleagues by using their last salary to hire a mercenary to kill their boss. As the North of France in Louise-Michel seems to be full of losers, Louise naturally comes up with the biggest of them all, Michel, who likes to approach his victims with guns made by his neighbor, a mad scientist who likes to reenact the crash of 9/11.

This comedy is hilarious and is reminiscent of the work of Jacques Tati and Swedish director Roy Andersson (You, the Living), especially during the quiet scenes. The humor is as politically incorrect as can be, which only increases the fun. Merciless anduncompromised, this third film by the makers of Aaltra is tragically funny. And Louise is my heroine, whether she likes it or not.

Also screened on: Fri Jan 23rd 5pm, Sun Jan 25th 10pm, Thu Jan 29th, 12pm, Sat Jan 31st 10:45am

WENDY AND LUCY (2008)
This small indy, starring Michelle Williams can be summarized in one sentence in which you are able to describe its entire plot. And that is exactly what is wrong with it. The film is about Wendy (Williams), a poor girl who is traveling to Alaska to find a job with her dog Lucy. Lucy gets lost after Wendy gets busted for shoplifting and desperately tries to find her pet back. In this ordeal Wendy gets faced with problem after problem.

Williams may seem endearing at first but isn’t able to deliver on an emotional level. The film is cold and distant, despite the tragedies the protagonist has to overcome. The main reason why this small film will not hit the right button is the stupidity of Wendy, who makes nothing but wrong choices and therefore does not undergo much character development.

Also screened on: Sat Jan 24th 10:15am, Sun Jan 25th 10:30pm, Thu Jan 29th 4pm

TOKYO SONATA (2008)

A Japanese drama about a family with unfulfilled desires, Tokyo Sonata by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is crapped with amazing performances and crazy concepts. The father of the family loses his job but tries to hide this from his silent and modest wife. The youngest son wants to take piano lessons and his older brother wants to join the US army.

At first this drama seems straightforward and linear, until Kurosawa starts to incorporate insane ideas and his film seems out of control and beyond comprehension. Fortunately, this is saved in the end making this a drama worth checking out. It is full of complex themes that are brought with some relativity and the appropriate amount of comedy.

Also screened on: Tue Jan 27th 12pm, Sat Jan 31st 9.45pm

J.C.V.D. (2008)

For a review by Paco click here

My rating:

Also screened on: Wed Jan 28th 8pm, Sat Jan 31st 10 pm

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For more information about the IFFR go to: www.iffr.nl

All images courtesy of International Film Festival Rotterdam

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