Seattle International Film Festival. Again, over 400 movies are screened in 7 venues. Too many to choose from. Armed with a borrowed pass (sometimes) I watched (ordered by my preference):
Reykjavik-Rotterdam. Iceland. 4/5. Well constructed story: a guy took on a booze smuggling trip on ship, while his brother-in-law was enlisted to traffic drug. A few things went out of hand along the way. Funny at time. Hand-held camera:(
Antiplano. Belgium. 4/5. Slow, poetic, somewhat experimental visual and sound effect, beautifully done. A simple story, not much of a beginning, not much of an ending. Mining causing mercury poisoning in the indigenous Andes, and people revolt.
The Reverse. Poland. 4/5. A cute (but not credible) story, well told. The write was old enough (unlike the director, who's too young), should know that disposing a body without your neighbors' knowing during the Stalin time is impossible. In the movie, hiding a dollar coin seems to be more difficult than hiding a body.
Bride Flight. Netherlands. 3/5. 3 new brides (out of 26 aboard the KLM flight in the 1953 London to Christchurch Race) starting their life in New Zealand. Apparently the Dutch government sponsored the making of this movie. Well made, well acted. Nice scenery. Story is unexceptional.
The Robber. Austria. 3/5. A good story, not well told. Based on the life of Johann Kastenberger, a Marathon runner and bank robber.
Min Dit: Children of Diyarbakir. Turkey. 3/5. After the parents were gun down by the secret security force of the state, 2 Kurdish children were forced on to the street. Nothing new. The ending is not bad, after the kids ran into the killer.
Skeletons. UK. 3/5. Two exorcists finally run into someone with similar talent.
The Athlete. Ethiopia. 2/5. No story. Nice images. Abebe Bakila dwells on his past glory, had an accident. Lots of flashbacks.
Turn it loose. UK. 2/5. Documentary of 2007 Red Bull B-Boy dance competition. Some of these boys really can move (spin). Shaky camera. Almost redundant story.
