FILMS SEEN ON FRIDAY 27 JULY 2007
1.LOVE CONQUERS ALL (2006, Tan Chui Mui, Malaysia, A++++++++++)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0877347/This film helps me overcome some unnecessary desires.
2.PINGPONG (2006, Matthias Ludhardt, Germany, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800159/This film makes me think about something I did in the past: using somebody as a tool to respond to another person.
3.SHORTBUS (2006, John Cameron Mitchell, A+)
Boss from Screenout Webboard gave an interesting comment on this film. He said that this film is not actually about sex, but it’s about how people connect to one another.
The opening shot of this film which shows the view of New York from above reminds me of the opening shot in PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES (2006, Alain Resnais, A+). Both films also deal with lonely souls.
4.SUELY IN THE SKY (2006, Karim Ainouz, Brazil, A+)
I like the songs used in this film very much.
5.THE BET COLLECTOR (2006, Jeffrey Jeturian, Philippines, A+/A)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0422357/I like the protagonist in this film very much. The ending is quite good and makes me think about the fortunate and unfortunate events in life.
FILMS SEEN ON SATURDAY 28 JULY 2007
1.GRINDHOUSE: PLANET TERROR (2007, Robert Rodriguez, A+)
I like the twin sisters in this film very much.
2.BELLE TOUJOURS (2006, Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475224/There are many things I like in this movie, including the old woman who yearns for the handsome barman.
3.URANYA (2006, Costas Kapakas, Greece, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0863041/I like the ending of this film very much. It’s a happy ending, but it is not too sentimental.
4.THE BEST OF TIMES (2002, Chang Tso-Chi, Taiwan, A+/A)
I like the location of this film very much, and I like that this film does not actually affirms family values, but it shows many bad things people in the same family can do to each other.
5.LUXURY CAR (2006, Wang Chao, China, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810954/This film makes me think that the life in China tends to resemble more and more the life in Hong Kong in the past. The violence in the story of this film is not shown graphically, but it is very effective.
6.BEYOND THE CALL (2006, Adrian Belic, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799941/I hope this film will inspire people to do good things.
THE WHOLE RANKINGS FOR THINGS SEEN BETWEEN JULY 20-JULY 28 2007
In meaninglessly preferential order
1.CRY IN SILENCE (2006, J. G. Biggs, A+)
2.LOOK OF LOVE (2006, Yoshiharu Ueoka, Japan, A+)
3.LOVE CONQUERS ALL (2006, Tan Chui Mui, Malaysia, A+)
4.DREAMS (2005, Mohamed Al Daradji, Iraq, A+)
5.A WANDERING BRIDE (2006, Ana Katz, Argentina, A+)
6.BEFORE WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (2006, James Lee, Malaysia, A+)
7.PINGPONG (2006, Matthias Ludhardt, Germany, A+)
8.THE BIRD HOUSE (2006, Khoo Eng Yow, Malaysia, A+)
9.HUNT ANGELS (2006, Alec Morgan, Australia, A+)
10.OUR DAILY BREAD (2005, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria, A+)
11.BLED NUMBER ONE (2006, Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche, Algeria, A+)
12.THE HOME SONG STORIES (2007, Tony Ayres, Australia, A+)
13.SHORTBUS (2006, John Cameron Mitchell, A+)
14.TO BE TWENTY (1978, Fernando Di Leo, Italy, A+)Outside Festival
15.THE MARK OF CAIN (2007, Marc Munden, A+)
16.GRINDHOUSE: PLANET TERROR (2007, Robert Rodriguez, A+)
Outside festival
17.FRAULEIN (2006, Andrea Staka, Switzerland, A+)
18.MANORO (2006, Brillante Mendoza, Philippines, A+)
19.BELLE TOUJOURS (2006, Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal, A+)
20.BEAUFORT (2007, Joseph Cedar, Israel, A+)
21.SUELY IN THE SKY (2006, Karim Ainouz, Brazil, A+)
22.URANYA (2006, Costas Kapakas, Greece, A+)
23.THE BET COLLECTOR (2006, Jeffrey Jeturian, Philippines, A+/A)
24.WHITE PALMS (2006, Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary, A+/A)
25.THE GO MASTER (2006, Tian Zhuangzhuang, A+/A)
26.THE BEST OF TIMES (2002, Chang Tso-Chi, Taiwan, A+/A)
Outside festival
27.TURISTAS (2006, John Stockwell, A+/A)Outside Festival
28.THIS IS ENGLAND (2006, Shane Meadows, A)
29.SANKARA (2006, Prasanna Jayakody, Sri Lanka, A)
30.MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD (2006, Andres Leon Becker + Javier Solar, Mexico, A)
31.VANAJA (2006, Rajnesh Domalpalli, India, A)
32.ESSENCES INSENSEES: ART AND PERFUME EXHIBITION (A)
Outside Festival
33.CATS OF MIRIKITANI (2006, Linda Hattendorf, A)
34.DANCING BELLS (2007, Deepak Kumaran Menon, Malaysia, A)
35.ANGEL (2007, Francois Ozon, A)
36.LUXURY CAR (2006, Wang Chao, China, A)
37.BEYOND THE CALL (2006, Adrian Belic, A)
38.ABDUCTION: THE MEGUMI YOKOTA STORY (2006, Patty Kim + Chris Sheridan, A)
39.EXILED (2006, Johnnie To, A)
40.DONSOL (2006, Adolfo Alix Jr., Philippines, A)
41.OUT OF BOUNDS (2005, Alexandre Leborgne + Pierre Barougier, A-)
42.YOUNGER AND YOUNGER (1993, Percy Adlon, A-)Outside Festival
43.PERFECT STRANGER (2007, James Foley, A-)Outside Festival
44.CHILDREN OF GLORY (2006, Krisztina Goda, Hungary, A-/B+)
45.KUNG FU TOOTSIE (2007, Jaturong Mokjok, Thailand, B+)Outside Festival
--In summary, this is the most satisfying international film festival I have ever experienced. The films shown are exactly what I love. I encountered almost no problems in the festival. Everything is nearly perfect for me in this festival. I would like to thank the organizers and everyone involved in this festival for making me feel as if I was in heaven.
--On Sunday I also went to see many Thai short films. There are many films that I like, including NGAN LUKLUN NAI NGAN RUENREANG (I think the title of this film can be translated as AN INCONVENIENCE IN A HAPPY PARTY), which deals with a group of people talking about political problems in Thailand.
AN INCONVENIENCE IN A HAPPY PARTY (2007, Prap Boonpan, A++++++++++), in my very personal point of view, is one of the most important Thai films ever made. It is one of the most daring Thai films I have ever seen. Seeing this film makes me feel as if I was slapped in the face 30 times, but what is more important is that it makes me feel I truly deserve this punishment. It’s a film which makes me feel ashamed of myself, makes me feel guilty. It is passionate, thought-provoking, sincere, straightforward, uncompromising, and fearless. This film is what Thailand really needs right now.
A photo from LOVE CONQUERS ALL
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/947798734_01da618bf9_o.jpg
