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“One day I am going to pull the anchor that keeps my ship away from the seas”, is one of the most famous phrases of the Belgian poet Henri Michaux, to whom the film director Mariano Llinás decided to pay tribute with his new work in a pandemic.Read More »
Synopsis
An uncompromising look at the ways privacy, safety, convenience and surveillance determine our environment. Shot entirely at night, the film confronts the hermetic nature of white-collar communities, dissecting the fear behind contemporary suburban design. An isolation-based fear (protect us from people not like us). A fear of irregularity (eat at McDonalds, you know what to expect). A fear of thought (turn on the television). A fear of self (don’t stop moving). By examining evacuated suburban and corporate landscapes, the film reveals a peculiarly 21st century hollowness… an emptiness born of our collective faith in safety and technology. This is a new genre of horror movie, attempting suburban locations as states of mind.Read More »
Jean-Pierre Melville’s independent and original approach to film-making on titles such as Bob Le Flambeur, Le Doulos, and Le Samourai earned him the reputation of the father, or at least the precursor, of the French New Wave. However, what is less known is that Melville spent eight years of his life between 1937 and 1945 as a soldier in the French army and then the Free French Forces, which he joined after the French defeat the Germans. Having escaped through the South of France to Spain, he became a member of the Resistance and took on the code name of Melville (after Herman Melville, the writer he most admired). Read More »
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Travel to Lijiang and learn about life in China of the 1990s. At first, this small town may seem strange to you and its residents very different, but you’ll quickly discover that people in Lijiang care about the same kinds of things as you. Watch the drama of the Lu family as they live and work. Follow Mr. Mu as he deals with the aftermath of his nephew’s murder, and observe the official inquiry into the young teenager’s death. See Dr. Tang use acupuncture to treat Little Swallow, a young girl with cerebral palsy. CHINA: BEYOND THE CLOUDS is an intense journey into the dreams, anxieties, and joys of ordinary people living in an extraordinary time.Read More »
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Ever-provocative and prolific Rosa von Praunheim takes on uniform fetishes, extreme-right skinheads, gays in the original Nazi leadership, and more in his latest docu, “Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis” somehow weaving it all together into a compelling look at the appeal of fascism — even to those who are its frequent victims. Beyond gay-fest travel, feature could score select offshore telecast and DVD deals.Read More »
This German documentary explores the history of hustler culture at Bahnhof Zoo train station, an unofficial meeting place for male prostitutes from the world over. The film discusses hustler world with male escorts both current and retired about their personal experiences, and discovers surprising undercurrents of strength and compassion. ~ Cammila CollarRead More »
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Six years worth of footage shot in Alberta, Canada has been condensed into a 72-minute documentary which offers a unique and touching look at the daily lives of animals such as polar bears, walruses, goldeneyes, wolverines, and, of course, lemmings. One of the most amusing and tender moments perhaps is when a young polar bear slips down a hill and as he slides, the music takes on a comical turn, as if it were a practiced circus act. This documentary is filled with such little moments which make it all the more enjoyable.Read More »
What is peace? What is coexistence? And what are the basis for them? PEACE is a visual-essay-like observational documentary, which contemplates these questions by observing the daily lives of people and cats in Okayama city, Japan, where life and death, acceptance and rejection are intermingled.Read More »
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At first nothing strikes you out of the usual with Runaway. It is a straightforward documentary of exchanges between counselors at a women’s shelter and adolescent girls who have run away from abusive homes. Their conversations and their daily activities are captured with authenticity and simplicity.Read More »