2005 AFFD Festival Week -- Saturday: Cavite
The first film of Saturday was And Thereafter, an extremely powerful documentary that I missed and now regret doing so. And Thereafter won the festival's Best Documentary and Grand Jury Awards, so I feel compelled to seek it out and see what I missed.
For me, the day began with Cavite, which was the single most powerful and surprising film of the festival. Don't get me wrong, there are other films that were powerful, and others I enjoyed more on a personal level, but Cavite came out of nowhere, an independent film made on what seems to be no budget, filmed with the dire urgency and dread that befit its narrative, and ultimately left the audience silent. Cavite had such a profound effect on me that I hope it will find its way into theaters around the globe. I'd love to be reading next year's Film Comment and see that the film made several international critics' best-of-year lists.
Also, when The Blair Witch Project came out, everyone was apoplectic over the use of handheld camerawork and the in-your-face-immediacy of the film (as well as its no-budget look and feel). I urge all those people to see this film, something with far greater dramatic heft and socio-political weight.
How I rated Cavite: 4
Then came Untold Scandal, not to be confused with The Untold Story. One is a South Korean version of Dangerous Liaisons, the other is an early Anthony Wong gorefest about a serial killer who uses the remains of his victims in his restaurant's meat buns. There really should be no confusion on this point.
Untold Scandal was perhaps the most movie-like movie in the festival. It is highly polished, beautifully designed, carefully staged and well-acted. While a tad long, it is a very enjoyable show. It is also one of only two films in the festival that deal with eroticism, the other being Arakimentari, which has less polish but definitely more flesh.
How I rated Untold Scandal: 3
Finally (for me), there was Kamikaze Girls. This Japanese comedy won the festival's Best Narrative Award, and is a funny, likeable film about two girls who become friends despite their conflicting social styles. The final act loses a lot of the film's steam, but overall it is a very winning effort. Like Men Suddenly in Black, it also traffics in frequent film references that are sometimes more obvious than others. My favorite was a moment straight out of Battles Without Honor and Humanity, the classic Kinji Fukasaku yakuza film from the early seventies.
How I rated Kamikaze Girls: 3
Next Up: Audience favorites, including the best film of the festival
For me, the day began with Cavite, which was the single most powerful and surprising film of the festival. Don't get me wrong, there are other films that were powerful, and others I enjoyed more on a personal level, but Cavite came out of nowhere, an independent film made on what seems to be no budget, filmed with the dire urgency and dread that befit its narrative, and ultimately left the audience silent. Cavite had such a profound effect on me that I hope it will find its way into theaters around the globe. I'd love to be reading next year's Film Comment and see that the film made several international critics' best-of-year lists.
Also, when The Blair Witch Project came out, everyone was apoplectic over the use of handheld camerawork and the in-your-face-immediacy of the film (as well as its no-budget look and feel). I urge all those people to see this film, something with far greater dramatic heft and socio-political weight.
How I rated Cavite: 4
Then came Untold Scandal, not to be confused with The Untold Story. One is a South Korean version of Dangerous Liaisons, the other is an early Anthony Wong gorefest about a serial killer who uses the remains of his victims in his restaurant's meat buns. There really should be no confusion on this point.
Untold Scandal was perhaps the most movie-like movie in the festival. It is highly polished, beautifully designed, carefully staged and well-acted. While a tad long, it is a very enjoyable show. It is also one of only two films in the festival that deal with eroticism, the other being Arakimentari, which has less polish but definitely more flesh.
How I rated Untold Scandal: 3
Finally (for me), there was Kamikaze Girls. This Japanese comedy won the festival's Best Narrative Award, and is a funny, likeable film about two girls who become friends despite their conflicting social styles. The final act loses a lot of the film's steam, but overall it is a very winning effort. Like Men Suddenly in Black, it also traffics in frequent film references that are sometimes more obvious than others. My favorite was a moment straight out of Battles Without Honor and Humanity, the classic Kinji Fukasaku yakuza film from the early seventies.
How I rated Kamikaze Girls: 3
Next Up: Audience favorites, including the best film of the festival
posted by scn at 9:44 AM
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