The Polish films screened at the BFF have one thing in common, they exemplify the Festival’s 2012 theme – decoy. Offering an entertaining movie going experience they manipulate into deeper reflection about capitalism and consumerism.
Featuring George a beer drinking, skateboarding and sex crazed hedgehog, a famous prostitute, George’s lover, two neo-Nazis, a mad scientist who attempts to clone George, and the sexually abusive clone who becomes an international celebrity, George the Hedgehog is a hilarious and vulgar animation addressed to adults. Based on a comic book series from 1996, the film presents the familiar world of corrupt politicians, glorified celebrities and xenophobes who blame the problems of Poland on 'foreigners, who drink our blood, loot the lands of our father and violate our women'. The film was directed by Wojtek Wawszczyk, Jakub Tarkowski, Tomasz Leśniak and is screened at the Festival in the Feature Section.
Illustrated through the medium of colour, the 8 minute short Colourbleed shows a young creative and idealistic girl from Eastern Europe, a scheming old woman with a dark secret and the effect of a small act of cruelty on a whole city. Screened as part in the Shorts Category, the film was directed by Peter Szewczyk.
An intimate portrait of a lost and bewildered, yet fascinated man who leaves prison for 3 days after being behind bars for 15 years. Łukasz Borowski’s documentary 3 Days of Freedom captures the emotions accompanying the discoveries and decisions made by an adult man who seems to be seeing the world for the first time.
Another film screened in the Documentary Section, Paparazzi is a film about the emotional burden and consequences of being part of a world in which values are confused and morality is flexible. Director Piotr Bernaś documents the life of Przemysław Stoppa a famous Polish paparazzi who hunts for Roman Polański and takes pictures of the Smoleńsk air catastrophe.
A 5 minute animation by Robert Proch, Gallery features an impatient pitbull and his capitalist owner. The short is a “dynamic film statement against commercialism and consumerism – people who get lost in a gigantic shopping mall.
The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), is an International, competitive festival, this year showcasing 104 films from 28 countries, most of which are shown in the US for the first time. The Festival opens with Wojtek Smarzowski critically acclaimed film Rose. Set in 1945, the film is about the impact of history and politics on a developing emotional tie between a former soldier and the widow of a German soldier.
Screenings:
George the Hedgehog – June 3rd at 10:30 pm at indieScreen
June 7th at 9:00 pm at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
Colourbleed – June 4th at 10:00 pm at indieScreen
June 8th at 5:00 pm at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
Rose – June 1st at 8:30 pm at Brooklyn Heights Cinema 1
June 7th at 10:00 pm at indieScreen
Colourbleed – June 4th at 10:00 pm at indieScreen
June 8th at 5:00 pm at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
3 Days of Freedom – June 6th at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
June 8th at indieScreen
Paparazzi – June 3rd at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
June 9th at indieScreen
Gallery – June 3rd at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
June 9th at indieScreen
Sources: Brooklyn Film Festival, Colourbleed Website, Festival Winners
Author: Marta Jazowska