The Secret in Their Eyes
The Good Heart
Heralded by some as sentimental, I remain less judgmental. For me ‘The Good Heart’ was fresh, clever and heartfelt. Although there is an element of predictability and the plot does wrap up rather neatly, I was absorbed by the characters and their strangely insular world. This came down to the honest performances and the incredible attention to detail when it came to creating the bar; this little bubble; a world with so many quirks and features that it became one of the main characters in the film. The Good Heart is warm, raucous and full of humour, don't be too judgmental, just enjoy the ride.
If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle
With only two weeks left of his sentence in a juvenile prison, Silviu's seemingly undisturbed existence is shaken when his mother arrives home from Italy to announce that she is taking his younger brother away with her. As his struggles to maintain his composure, Silviu also falls for Ana, a young social worker conducting a study within the prison.
If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle is not a 'prison film', nor does it give an entirely realistic portrayal of prison life; Serban claims if he was to do this, the film would be rated so high that it would be hard-pressed to get a release. However, it does deal with issues surrounding institutionalisation, emotional repression and rehabilitation, and gives an interesting insight into the phenomenon of 'strawberry kids': the Romanian term for children left to live with relatives when their mothers move abroad to find work (many work in strawberry fields).
This is a grim tale with powerful performances and a visceral chemistry between the young lead actors. Adapted originally from a play, it is clear that an incredible amount of research went into the making of this film. It is an impressive debut and one of the highlights at the festival; I was both entranced and haunted.
The Hunter (Shekarchi)
Entering into more grim territory, The Hunter tells the story of Ali, an ex-political prisoner who left with no choice but to make ends meet by working as a night watchman. Arriving home one morning to find his wife and daughter missing, he soon discovers they have been mysteriously killed and sets off to 'hunt' down the culprits.
Like most Iranian films, the production process was a highly choreographed affair; to have any hope of a cinematic release on home ground, films must travel through a series official hoops of approvals and as a result there is little room for manoeuvre. So, when the planned lead actor was forced to pull out only days before the film was to begin shooting, director Rafi Pitts decided fill the position himself. He gives a powerful performance, a steely and introverted anti-hero that plunders his way through grief with an eerie composure. Overall, the film is evocatively shot and full of allegory; a strong and suspenseful narrative, which will one day hopefully be screened on Iranian soil.
Kick Off
This small drama takes place in Iraqi Kurdistan, where a mixed group of Kurish, Assyrian, Turkish and Arab have set up camp in an abandoned football stadium. It's 2008 and the Iraqi football team has just won the Asian Championship. Inspired, a young man, Aso, decides to organise a football tournament within their own makeshift community. But as prepares for the competition, he must also care for his younger brother, maimed in a recent accident, and protect the livelihood of the community, which is under constant threat from authorities.
This is one of those beautiful films, full of humour and sorrow at the same time. A strong cinematic voice for the plight of human equality and those condemned to a life of displacement.