IFFR 2009 – Update #5

On the IFFR there is always room for bigger films than the festival was originally intended for. Not that this is a bad thing per se. It does however shift the focus off releases that need more attention and have not found a Dutch distributor yet. Tonight the IFFR will show its traditional surprise film. The Daily Tiger, the daily newspaper of the festival gave it away with a hint that was way too easy. Think big cars and Dirty Harry. You do the math (although it doesn’t even take math). The kids jury gave the MovieSquad Award to Slumdog Millionaire, that is also currently at the top of the audience polls. And is it really that good? No, it is not amazing (due to a major flaw in the script), yet it is an enchanting charming film and who can honestly dislike it’s Mr. Boyle?

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Slumdog Millionaire is critically acclaimed yet suffers from a huge flaw that was probably also in the novel it was based on, Q&A. Protagonist Jamal (Dev Patel) can easily links the questions and automatically the answers to these questions to his tragic past. Coincidence? No, that is just way too obvious and extends the label of just mere luck. As hard as I tried to set aside this aspect of the plot, I could not help but feeling annoyed by it.

Now Boyle’s way of telling his story about a boy from the slums becoming India’s favorite (and richest) game show candidate is appealing. The director cuts from the present to the past and keeps his pace up and going. Yet it seems all too good to be possibly true. The acting (especially of the young kids playing Jamal) is charming, even superb. It is a relief to see Boyle tackle the complex and political subject matter of kids without a future with such lightheartedness. Boyle’s Millions was more entertaining and endearing as far as I’m concerned. Yet, Slumdog Millionaire, is a passionate, well made feelgood (and occasionally feelbad) film, with Oscars and BAFTA’s guaranteed.

ÉLÈVE LIBRE (2008

A whole different ballgame is the Belgian coming of age story of Élève libre. The title literally refers to a student getting private lessons, but in the case of this drama by Joachim Lafosse there is much more going on. A prolific teenage tennis player, Jonas, sees his future as a sportsman flushed down the drain as he fails for his final high school exams. In his efforts to tackle the state exams he gets help from friends of his mother, who hardly looks after him.

These friends have the sexual morality of the ‘70s, when the openly ask about Jonas’ first sexual experience. At first, hese q&a’s maybe feel somewhat uncomfortable, but when he gets invitations from his foster family to join their sexual encounters in order to gain experience, Jonas (as well as his audience) becomes tangled in a web of confusion and the thin line of voluntary sex and abuse. Well acted, complex and intriguing.

Also screened on: Sat Jan 31st 7:30pm

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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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