Filmfest 2001 - 10
ZUS & ZO
is a dutch film about a trio of sisters who are alarmed to find
that their brother is about to marry before his 33rd birthday. Why are they
concerned? Well first, they’ve always known he’s gay, and second, if he
marries before his 33rd birthday, their late father’s will stipulates that
he will inherit the family’s seaside hotel in the Portugal. So comedy
should ensue while the sisters scheme to keep the hotel, right?
Well, it should, and it would have had we actually liked some of these
characters. The sisters however can’t keep from stabbing each other in the
back and the brother and his intended are just as selfish. And what’s with
the brother anyway? His sexually confused character is so badly realized so
as to be completely unbelievable. I could be more detailed in my
complaints, but it all just came down to two lost hours. I doubt you’ll be
faced by ZUS & ZO
in theatres here anytime soon.
EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES
is a German childrens’ film about country boy Emil
who ends up in the big bad city with no money after a man he meets on the
train ride in robs him while he sleeps.
Things start looking up for Emil when he meets Pony and her intrepid gang
of kid detectives. Kid wackiness follows as we travel through Berlin’s
catacombs, subway system, and into one of its best hotels in search of
Emil’s missing cash. Loopy and kind of delightful for any kid that wants to
read subtitles,
EMIL was a winning package.
HOW HARRY BECAME A TREE
tells the early 20th century story of Harry
Maloney, Irish cabbage farmer. Harry decides that a man is measured by his
enemies, so he sets out to make a good one. George is a merchant and the
wealthiest man in town. He’s never done anything to Harry, and has even
found a bride for Harry’s son, but Harry has him in his sights.
The cast is uniformly good, but it’s
Colm Meany’s terrific performance as
craggy old Harry that will be remembered in the long run in this fable
about the folly of having a cold heart.
COOL AND CRAZY
tells the story of a men’s choir from Berlevag, and small
fishing town a the far northern (and often freezing) tip of Norway. This
documentary, which lurches between plodding and hilarious, introduces us to
the eccentric characters who give this remote town a little more life than
most, and then takes us on their journey to Murmansk in Russia for a
special concert. Very simple, and very charming. For a quiet winter night
snuggled up with the Documentary channel.
The festival ended for me with another “documentary” by
Ulrich Seidel, (the
guy that made
LOSS IS TO BE EXPECTED
- see Filmfest 2001 - 01)
ANIMAL LOVE.
Another “unblinking eye” kind of film, we sit while the craziest assortment
of people, mostly down-and-outers from Vienna, interact with the pets they
love, usually a little too much. Mostly a little too odd, and a little too
dull, often so intimate that it’s difficlut to watch,
ANIMAL LOVE builds to
a nutty climax at least… but, if ever a film at the festival missed a Q &
A, this was the one.
Seidel
should have been there two answer two questions
- where did you find these people, and why did you need to put them on film?
Craig James White
Toronto - jacket not required