Exils by Tony Gatlif, photo provided by Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty
Funny Games EU is a special film programme of the New Horizons International Film Festival prepared for the European Culture Congress. It aims to present the stylistic and thematic richness of European cinema, while emphasizing the vitality of the Continent’s rich film tradition.
Fifteen European movies from the past ten years will be screened in five sections: “The Earth Trembles”, “Breathless”, “Horrible Consequences of a TV Breakdown”, “Cries and Whispers”, and “The Phantom of Liberty”. The programme is completed by the two special screenings of the unique 3D documentary “Pina” directed by Wim Wenders.
Each section has been named after a film classic. Their titles can be taken literally, as slogans or even popular sayings, or can also be treated metaphorically, as a chain of associations and synonyms for the style their authors created.
'The Earth Trembles' is the title of a 1948 Luchino Visconti film, one of the most important examples of neorealism in cinema, and a story of the downfall of a family and the demise of tradition. In this section, audiences will see movies that address similar issues which remain relevant until today: “Code Unknown”, “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” and “The Secret of a Grain”.
'Breathless' is the title of a 1959 movie by Jean-Luc Godard, a director associated with the French New Wave. The film, a play on the genre and form, full of carelessness and feverish emotion, will represent a section of productions that use the same emotional temperature: “Lilja 4-ever”, “Anatomy of Hell” and “Oxygen”.
‘Horrible Concequences of a TV Breakdown’ (English title: 'Behold Homolka') (1969), directed by Jaroslav Papoušek, is an absurd yet highly insightful and legendary Czech New Wave film that exemplifies the struggle against censorship. This poignant film represent movies that engage in dialog with genre pictures: “Kinnunen”, “Amer” and“Rumba”.
'Cries and Whispers' (1972), directed by Ingmar Berman, is the quintessential psychological drama. Echoes of this late Bergman film will be seen throughout this section ― in the controversial, dark films from Austria (“Import/Export”) , Turkey (“Cosmos” ) and Netherland (“Code Blue”).
'The Phantom of Liberty' is the title of a 1974 Luis Buñuel film in which the director attacks the world of torpid forms and society in his own, surrealist manner. This section will include films that deal with contemporary social issues: “Exils”, “The Dogtooth”and “I Will Not Be Your Friend”.
Special screenings: „Pina”by Wim Wenders. A full-length documentary about Pina Bausch, a legendary dancer and choreographer, who’s unique creations transformed the language of dance. This revolutionary 3D film from director Wim Wenders captures the aesthetic of Pina Bausch’s greatest works in a thrilling way and offers a visual experience like no other.
The programme is created by the New Horizons Association crew (Roman Gutek, Joanna Łapińska, Ewa Szabłowska, Magdalena Sztorc, Jan Topolski).
2011-09-08 - 2011-09-11
All screenings take place in Kino Warszawa.
Follow the European Culture Congress debates online at culturecongress.eu, nina.gov.pl, uwaganakulture.pl and dwutygodnik.com.