Sunday, July 24, 2011

EU-Film-Festival-2011-Synopses

EU film description 2010

 

July 22 to 31, 2011 at Vista

Kad Suan Kaew

Chiang Mai

 

Film descriptions

 

With Friends Like These (2007; 100 min)

Country

Belgium

Category

Comedy

Director

Felix van Groeningen

Principal Cast

Koen De Graeve, Wine Dierickx, Pieter Genard

When Black Kelly gets back from New York after having lived there for some years, she discovers that not just her hair colour has changed. Friends have moved on while she was away and their lives get disturbed now that she is back. She soon realises that things will never be the same.

 

Kooky (2010; 95 min)

Country

Czech Republic 

Category

Family animation

Director

Jana Svěráka

Principal Cast

Zdeněk Svěrák , Jiří Macháček, Petr Čtvrtníček

Six-year-old Ondra is forced to throw away his old teddy bear Kooky. But Kooky comes to life and makes his escape into a mysterious forest where he meets Hergot, the forest's guardian. Hergot, however, has enemies who plan to take over the forest by proving that he is not up to his job.

 

Above the Street, Below the Water (2009; 100 min)

Country:

Denmark 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Charlotte Sieling

Principal Cast

Sidse Babett Knudsen, Mohammed Al-Bakier, Anders W. Berthelsen

Ask and Anne are married, with everything they could ever want: good careers, lovely children, and an apartment in the most beautiful part of Copenhagen. One morning Anne learns that Ask wants to take a break from their marriage. Like rings in the water, Ask's decision starts affecting everyone around them.

 

The Escape (2009; 114 min)

Country

Denmark 

Category

Thriller

Director

Kathrine Windfeld

Principal Cast

Iben Hjejle, Lars Mikkelsen, Faegh Zamani

Journalist Rikke Lyngvig is taken hostage in Afghanistan. With help from one of the terrorists, Nazir, she manages to escape. On her return, her career takes flight. Meanwhile Nazir flees from Afghanistan, heading for Denmark. When he seeks out Rikke, she is torn: can she help the man who threatened to kill her?

 


Forbidden Fruit (2009; 100 min)

Country

Finland 

Category

Drama

Director

Dome Karukoski

Principal Cast

Marjut Maristo, Amanda Pilke, Malla Mamivaara

Two 18-year-old girls from a very restrictive Christian community go to Helsinki for the first time. Maria wants to see what the outside world is like before getting married, and try out things that are forbidden at home. Raakel only wants to make sure Maria returns. The summer changes the life of one of the girls - for good.

 

An Ordinary Execution (2010; 105 min)

Country:

France 

Category:

Romantic Drama

Director:

Marc Dugain

Principal Cast

André Dussollier, Marina Hands, Edouard Baer

1952: a young urologist practicing in a Moscow hospital desperately tries to get pregnant from her husband, a disillusioned physician who only survives thanks to the love for his wife. To her horror, she must treat Stalin. Now amiable, then perverse, the dictator delivers his art of terror in ways that the couple has never been seen before.

 

Run If You Can (2009; 112 min)

Country:

Germany 

Category:

Romantic Drama

Director:

Dietrich Brüggemann

Principal Cast

Robert Gwisdek, Anna Brüggemann, Jacob Matschenz

Ben is in a wheelchair and Christian is doing his national social service as Ben's caretaker. They meet the cellist Annika, who is under a lot of strain finishing her music degree. Ben and Christian fall in love with the same woman. The film's story of an unusual love triangle and the absurd, humorous dialogue goes straight to the heart.

 

When We Leave (2010; 119 min)

Country:

Germany 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Feo Aladag

Principal Cast

Sibel Kekilli, Nizam Schiller, Derya Elabora

Umay is a young woman of Turkish descent, fighting for an independent and self-determined life in Germany against the resistance of her family. Her struggle initiates a dynamic that results in a life-threatening situation.

 

Bánk Bán (2002; 116 min)

Country:

Hungary 

Category:

Historical Opera Drama

Director:

Csaba Káel

Principal Cast

Kolos Kováts, Eva Marton, Andrea Rost

In 13th century Hungary, King Endre II is fighting abroad while his German-born Queen plays host to the leading members of the Court, mostly foreigners, at prodigal feasts. The King's deputy, Bánk Bán tours the poverty-ridden country, while the Queen's younger brother tries to seduce Bánk's beautiful wife. A group of Hungarian nobles, anxious for the fate of their homeland and the honour of Bánk's wife, plot a conspiracy against the Queen.

 


The Last Pulcinella (2009; 89 min)

Country:

Italy 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Maurizio Scaparro

Principal Cast

Massimo Ranieri, Domenico Balsamo, Adriana Asti

Michelangelo, an unemployed actor, is forced to leave Naples for Paris with his son after witnessing a mafia killing. He meets Marie, also an actress, who owns and looks after a theatre. Together they try to stage a play about the traditional Neapolitan character of Pulcinella. If they succeed, a dream of the many Italian immigrants will come true.

 

The 1,000 Euro Generation (2009; 101 min)

Country:

Italy 

Category:

Comedy

Director:

Massimo Venier

Principal Cast

Valentina Lodovini, Carolina Crescentini, Alessandro Tiberi

30 year-old university graduate Matteo works in marketing at a company that is being "reorganised". The arrivals of a new colleague, Angelica, and a new housemate, Beatrice, lead to an endless series of trials and tribulations. Faced with major new developments, Matteo changes his life in a short period of time.

 

Dust (2009; 86 min)

Country:

Luxembourg 

Category:

Romance Drama

Director:

Max Jacoby

Principal Cast

Catherine Steadman, Olly Alexander, Andrew Hawley

In a depopulated world after a non-specified war the teenage twins Elodie and Elias live in a secluded mansion left by their parents. They lead a quiet and simple life, growing their own food, swimming in a nearby lake, reading books and playing chess. With the unexpected arrival of Gabriel, their harmonic relationship is about to come to an end.

 

The Hell of '63 (2010; 108 min)

Country:

Netherlands 

Category:

Sports Action

Director:

Steven de Jong

Principal Cast

Chris Zeegers,Willeke van Amelrooy,Pierre Bokma

The Netherlands has many lakes and canals. In winter, when conditions are right, an infamous 200 km ice-skating race is held. This film is based on true facts of the racing day in 1963, when thousands of skaters suffered frostbite and shocking injuries. Only a small number would cross the finish line.

 

The Magic Tree (2009; 90 min)

Country:

Poland 

Category:

Adventure

Director:

Andrzej Maleszka

Principal Cast

Agnieszka Grochowska, Andrzej Chyra, Hanna Śleszyńska

Once upon a time, there was a magic tree – a huge, old oak-tree. Not aware of its power, people cut it down and made hundreds of objects out of its wood. The wood kept its magic power and the objects made strange things happen after arriving in shops around the world.

 


Erratum (2010; 95 min)

Country:

Poland 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Marek Lechki

Principal Cast

Tomasz Kot, Ryszard Kotys, Tomasz Radawiec

Years ago, Michal left his hometown behind to study in the city. He leads a comfortable life with a happy family, a nice apartment and a good job. When work brings him back to his hometown, a car accident thwarts his plans to avoid running into anyone. Forced to stay in town during the investigation, Michal must confront the choices he has made.

 

 

 

Assault on the Santa Maria (2010; 105 min)

Country:

Portugal 

Category:

Political Drama

Director:

Francisco Manso

Principal Cast

Carlos Paulo, Pedro Cunha, Vítor Norte

Venezuela, 1960: , a young Portuguese emigrant going through hard times, by chance meets Henrique, one of the most prominent opponents of the dictator Salazar. Zé joins a group of political exiles who plan to take over the Santa Maria cruise liner. They have to manage internal tensions to get their message against dictatorship to the world.

 

The Paper Will Be Blue (2006; 95 min)

Country:

Romania 

Category:

Action

Director:

Radu Muntean

Principal Cast

Paul Ipate, Adi Carauleanu, Dragos Bucur

During the confused night of 22-23 December 1989 young militiaman Costi, eager to join the rebel forces, escapes from his unit. Captain Neagu assembles a patrol to hunt down the deserter, while nervous citizens watch history unfolding on their television sets. A gripping, taut rendition of the birth pangs of contemporary Romania.

 

Weekend with my Mother (2009; 87 min)

Country:

Romania 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Stere Gulea

Principal Cast

Medeea Marinescu, Adela Popescu and Tudor Istodor

Fifteen years ago, Luiza decided to make a fresh start in Spain, leaving her 3-year-old daughter Cristina in the care of her relatives. On returning to Romania, she learns some shocking truths: Cristina is a drug addict whose 2-year-old girl lives in an orphanage. Overwhelmed by guilt, Luiza attempts to save her daughter and redeem the mistakes of her youth.

 

Cell 211 (2009; 113 min)

Country:

Spain 

Category:

Thriller

Director:

Daniel Monzón

Principal Cast:

Luis Tosar, Alberto Ammann, Antonio Resines

Newly hired prison officer Juan Oliver finds himself in the midst of a prison riot after an unforeseen turn of events. With the inmates around him unaware of his position, he must pretend to be a prisoner to survive.

 


Camino (2008; 138 min)

Country:

Spain 

Category:

Drama

Director:

Javier Fesser

Principal Cast:

Nerea Camacho, Carme Elias, Mariano Venancio

A brilliant eleven-year-old girl must simultaneously face two completely new events in her life falling in love and dying. Camino is a bright light that manages to shine through every one of the dark doors that try to stifle her desire to live, love and seek ultimate happiness. Inspired by real events.

 

The Wedding Photographer (2009; 108 min)

Country:

Sweden 

Category:

Romantic Comedy

Director:

Ulf Malmros

Principal Cast

Björn Starrin, Kjell Bergqvist, Tuva Novotny

When the factory in his beloved hometown shuts down, Robin decides to try his luck in Stockholm as a wedding photographer. This experience changes not merely his outlook on life but also his hairstyle.

 

Exit through the Giftshop (2010; 86 min)

Country:

UK 

Category:

Art Documentary

Producer:

Jaimie D’Cruz

Principal Cast:

Banksy, Thierry Guetta (aka) Mr Brainwash

An eccentric shop-keeper turned amateur film-maker attempts to capture many of the world’s most infamous vandals on camera, only to have a British stencil artist named Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner with wildly unexpected results. The inside story of Street Art – a brutal and revealing account of what happens when fame, money and vandalism collide.

 

 

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