Tag: cinema news

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Cinema Interview

An Island is the World

I screened THE ISLAND for the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The description of the animated feature read “Non traditional storytelling”. I have to agree. Romanian filmmaker Anca Damian made a film with some outlandish scenes combined modern commentary.

A Black and Paper interview with Director Anca Damian.

What is the human condition of the story?

The film aims to go into depth of humanity: we are all on an island, even if it is a planet- is an island in the Universe – we are all reflecting into each other, we are searching for Paradise, we are all alone… So obviously we are somehow facing a kind of dead end to our civilization, so we have to search our human values, our connections to nature, in order to continue to be.

The Island

How did you you come up with the animation style?

I wanted the reality of the film to be immersive, so the space was developed in 3D, with added fluid elements developed in Houdini – the sea, the clouds. The concept was that everything that is man-made doesn’t integrate in the nature, so we have real textures for plastic, metal, fabric. The same texturing we applied also for the cloth of the characters that are in 2D.

In my concept, only what is made by nature remains painted.

Color wise everything is beautiful, like in a Hawaii holiday, but there is also some malaise, a sick feeling behind the chemical pink of the clouds and the green-blue of the sea.

Were you a fan of Robinson Crusoe?

I can’t say I am a fan of Robinson Crusoe; I am a fan of humankind; Exploring Robinson and Friday connection in a setup of nowadays, allowed me to explore a version of Robinson who has the best of intentions, but who is saving who, that’s another story.

The language of the film was playful, then dashing, did I get this right?

Yes, you got it right: the child in us is paying and telling the truth, I always listen to the child me, and keep him close. I wanted the audience will do the same, go in playful way straight forward to the so much needed truth.

The Island screens in The Big Screen Competition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2022.

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Cinema entertainment entertainment news

IFFR 2022 Impressions

IFFR

A bit of mixed year for the International Film Festival Rotterdam. I have not been WOWED by the selections this year, perhaps the lock downs along with production chain problems have affected entries. Still, I managed to find some nice surprises.

Stay tuned for a more complete rundown. The IFFR runs until February 6th.

IFFR 2022
Daryn’s Gym
IFFR 2022
Nazarbazi
IFFR 2022
Phantom Project
Ida Lupino
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Cinema

IFFR 2022

IFFR

The International Film Festival Rotterdam starts on January 26th. There are some interesting works on the 50th anniversary slate.

Below are some titles we are looking forward to watching.

IFFR
Achrome
IFFR
Mon Legionnaire
IFFR
She
IFFR
The Cloud Messenger

Black and Paper will attend the festival virtual. Stay tuned for the interviews and reviews.

IFFR runs from January 26th to February 6th.

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Cinema

By Leonardo?

The Lost Leonardo

I screened The Lost Leonardo at the Tribeca Film Festival 2021. The art world is full of intrigue, a world all to itself filled with cultural elites.

The Lost Leonardo

4 out of 5 stars.

The Lost Leonardo directed by Andreas Koefoed.

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Cinema

Crossing Genres With Mixed Results

At the Tribeca Film Festival this year there were the obligatory premieres. Despite the natural anticipation some program choices were questionable. Take for example the Wyatt Rockefeller directed Settlers. For its world premiere at Tribeca, expectations were good. After all, it is a Sci-Fi Western film from a debut director with an interesting cast. 

“Johnny Lee-Miller was seemingly performing a Masterclass in non-acting.”

Settlers

The Storyline in a Nutshell

As the narrative limps forward, a group of bandits fail in their attack on the family outpost. However, one bandit called Jerry survives and kills Reza. Showing no remorse, he attempts to integrate into the family, attempting to prove himself. Although Ilsa somewhat warms to him, after thirty days she tries to shoot him. Jerry will then kill her in the ensuing struggle.

After losing her parents, the film becomes the survival story of Remy. We watch her do this in the face of predatory men. She learns this was the dark secret her parents kept from her. Remmy resents Jerry’s presence and grows up sullen and rebellious. Her only true friend is the loyal but mute robot, called Steve, found in a storage unit.     

Settlers is a seemingly ambitious film. Setting it on Mars is high concept. The problem is that this Mars looks exactly like a studio. Perhaps that’s the point: A seemingly fascinating distant world does disappoint. It is a wasteland, a primitive but bland year zero. 

The only commendable points of Settlers is that it does have its own unique atmosphere. Brooklynn Prince then later Nell Tiger Free (as the older Remmy) also give stand-out performances. It’s also interesting to see her grow from child to young woman. These positive aspects could have made Settlers a quietly impressive piece of work. However, the other actor’s hammy performances let the film down. 

Settlers premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on 18th June. It was released on 30th July on digital platforms.

~ By Steven Yates

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Cinema

The Shooting Stars 21

EFP

This year I rejoined the press junket for the European Film Promotion’s European Shooting Stars Program, virtual of course. The initiative serves as a platform to promote and showcase European Talent on the global stage. Since 1998 many famous faces have passed through the door moving on to becoming recognized performers in the entertainment industry. Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, Michaela Coel and 1917 star George McCay are a few examples of the talents who leaped to fame after their EFP debuts.

This year casting directors and filmmakers chose 10 European talents:

Abrecht Stork from Germany, Fionn O’Shea from Ireland, Natasa Stork from Hungary, Nicolas Maury from France, Alba Baptista from Portugal and Sara Klimoska from North Macedonia and Gustav Lindh from Sweden.

For 2021 I interviewed Martijn Lakemeier from The Netherlands, Seidi Haarla from Finland and Zygimante Elena Jakstaite of Lithuania. Normally there is face to face time but for 2021, we had one on one Zoom conferences. Hopefully, in June the live ceremony will take place in Berlin. I have my fingers crossed.

It is always inspiring to be one of the first to interview a raising media figure. I like saying “I interviewed him or her when they started”.

Congratulations to all the winners. Well deserved. I look forward to seeing them on the screen.

Stay tuned for the one on one interviews on the Chat Cinema Podcasts.

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Cinema podcast

Chat Cinema talks Shogen

From the International Film Festival Rotterdam an interview with Actor Shogun on his unsympathetic role in Sexual Drive. How did he feel about Ramen Noodles? Click below to find out.

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Cinema

Is it worth a trip to the Cryptozoo?

I got a screener link straight from 2021 Sundance Film Festival. A nice surprise these days during a never ending lockdown to know filmmakers are still working. For some reason I did not receive the press release for Cryptozoa. The short description read “cryptozookeppers struggle to capture a baku,,, or should mystical creatures be displayed at a zoo or hidden”. An unusual premise to take in on first reading. The animated feature by Dash Shaw also came with a not so familiar but intriguing looking poster of characters standing in front of an entrance gate. Initial research on IMD found the film garnered nice reviews at the Utah Fest. 

Creatures and more

Taking the plunge, I clicked the link for the 90 minute film. Certainly after the first few minutes, Pixar was out the window. Dash decided to set himself apart. The director’s world is filled with well known and not so well known mystical creatures. Lauren and Joan have charged themselves with the task of finding all the crypts for safe keeping in a Zoo type amusement park. Also on the trail is Nick with the duty of securing the beings for military use.

The premise has a core moral message inside a story that gets tangled up with so much happening at once. However, the constant bombardment at times feels as though Mr. Shaw decided on the heavy handed approach to compensate for some short comings in his story telling ability. There was a not a single laugh in the Dash’s second feature film. Why the heavy dose of cynicism?

Cryptozoo offers some stunning visual renderings for the viewer. Taking a chance to challenge viewers on the definition of animation still does not compensate for a script that needed a smoother impetus.

3 stars out of 5. 

Running Time of 90 minutes

Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival from The Match Factory

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chat cinema. entertainment entertainment news

Talks Revenge

I screened the short film The Women’s Revenge on the International Film Festival Rotterdam platform. The work packs a punch. Listen to the Chat Cinema conversation with Director Su Hui Yu explain his work and influences.

Click below:

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chat cinema. Cinema entertainment news

Chat Cinema on Sunsets

From the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Chat Cinema spoke to Director Basir Mohmood about his short film Sunsets, Everyday. The Tiger Award winning short examines domestic abuse during the pandemic.

Sorry for the sound problem but Basir is clear.