MWFF 2017: Elvis Walks Home

ELVIS WALKS HOME

WORLD COMPETITION

Albania

Montreal World Film Festival's Official Synopses:

"Mickey, an Albanian refugee without documents who lives in London, is an imitator of Elvis Presley. He works to entertain the British troops in the 1999 Balkan war. When a conflict in the wings began, he flees in his King costume and lands in the military zone. He is captured by a group of refugee children, victims of this absurd war."

The film raises issues of how people behave in extraordinary situations in war conflict zones, how much humanity and bravery a person can keep under the conditions of hatred, power struggle, the fire arms being pointed at you, and the general moral depravity of those who intent to profiteer in the most debased ways during a war. It reveals that many of those who under normal peaceful conditions function quite adequately within their community can easily turn into hard-core killers with absolutely no regard for other people's dignity, right to live, or any other rights. It also shows how the fighting sides in the Balkan conflict were ready to shoot at anything that moves, even children or UN humanitarian encampments.

A group of children, as multi-ethnic as the Balkan conflict region itself, who have lost their parents and homes are wondering through the military zone trying to reach a UN camp. Their main concern is to avoid being captured by the organized crime groups. Yet mirroring and imitating the war situation around them, they form a society of their own, with a similar hierarchical structure of a crime gang, where the gun-power rules, and where those without firearms are mistreated and ordered around. 

Mickey, an Elvis Presley impersonator, is captured by this children's group. He not only keeps his human face through various ordeals imposed on him by the children and other war structures they encounter, but is surprisingly able to master leadership and even a Rambo-like strategy and action. At the end, only one card is left for him to play to save the children's and his own life, and it requires no firearms...    

The film makes the statement that it is not guns that have the ultimate power to resolve human conflicts but rather collective values like music, culture, love and humanity. 

The director was able to cast excellent actors. Dritan Kastrati, who plays the Elvis Presley impersonator, expressed masterfully through his on-screen persona the complexity of the Balkan war. A especial mention goes to the children actors who did an excellent job to portray their juvenile gang with credibility and authenticity.

PRODUCTION TEAM 

Director: Fatmir Koçi

Scriptwriter: Jonathan Preece
Photography: Marek Wesolowski
Country: Albania
Lenght: 94 min.

Lead Actors: Dritan Kastrati, Amos Muji Zaharia, Erand Hoxha, Juli Emiri

Children Actors: KLAUS LAÇI, SAMUEL VARGU, ARMIN VARGU, VIVIAN BIAGIONI, ARBER SINANAJ, ENEA SHINJATARI, LONEL BOÇI,  GLEDI SPAHIU, JONA ANASTASI, MIKEL JAKU, NAIEL HOXHA, REIS ÇANI, NIKOL SHOSHA, LAURA ÇANI

FILM TRAILER

For more information on the festival visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website.

Article's dedicated web address.

MWFF 2017: A Prominent Patient

A Prominent Patient
Masaryk

WORLD COMPETITION

Czech Republic

The film is based on a true story. 

Montreal World Film Festival's Official Synopses:

"In 1939, the flamboyant diplomat Jan Masaryk emigrated to the United States following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia. With the help of psychiatrist Dr. Stein, a German immigrant, Masaryk recalls the political struggles that led to the Second World War and tries to defeat his real and personal enemies."

The film shows the historical situation in Europe just before the World War 2, focusing largely on Czechoslovakia. It reveals how some big-scale geopolitical strategies were conceived and played at the time, what complex international moves were considered and deployed, disregarding interests of smaller countries like Czechoslovakia.

The film is set in years 1937-1939. The main character is Jan Masaryk, the son of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk who was the founder of Czechoslovakia at the fall of the Austro-Hungerian Empire. Film starts with Tomáš Masaryk death. Shortly after, Jan Masaryk becomes a Czechoslovak ambassador to the United Kingdom. At that time, Czechhoslovakia faced Germany's aggression and their demand to annex Sudet (Sudeten in German) territory, a part of Czechoslovakia. Masaryk tries to persuade England to help keep Czechoslovakia intact, but fails. The Munich Agreement is settled, and Czechoslovakia gives up to Nazi Germany at first it's borderline Sudet lands and later the entire country.

Jan Masaryk, devastated by the political events, travels to the United States where he has a vast network of family and friends, since his mother was an American. According to the film, he is institutionalized there due to a nervous breakdown, and treated by Doctor Klein, a refugee from Germany. Their relationship is intense, as two great professionals (a psychiatrist and a politician) influence each other in understanding not only their personal but also geopolitical struggles.

The film includes a few sequences of Masaryk's life that in reality happened outside of the plot's time-span. It appears these time shifts away from the Masaryk's real life chronology were chosen for a more compact presentation of Jan Masaryk's personality, to show what a "character" he was, and also to create a more compelling visual story:

- There does not exist any evidence that Jan Masaryk was hospitalized during his three months visit to the US in the early 1939. However, in 1912, at the age of 26, he attended for a short period the Vineland Developmental Center in New Jersey, a special school for young men and women, and was diagnosed there to have a mild form of schizophrenia. But is not it claimed that genius often borders on madness?

- Similarly, he met Marcia Devenport, an American journalist, only in 1941, not during the time covered by the film (1937-39).

- In addition, although at his times cocaine was wildly used by the European high society, there is no evidence that Masaryk did. Non of his family, friends or associates mention it in their memoirs or correspondence.

The film succeeded in portraying vividly a slice of a very complex geopolitical period in European history (which was actually even much more complex than what could be shown during the film's 100 minutes). It also succeeded in recreating on the screen one of the personages and political players of that era - Jan Masaryk - and show his unusual and astute personality and how he fought to make a difference for his country. 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Julius Ševčík

Producer: Julius Ševčík

Script: Julius Ševčík

Lead Actor: Karel Roden
Lenght: 100 Min.

Music composed by: Kryštof Marek, Michał Lorenc

Initial release: December 22, 2016

N.B.

On September 4, 2017, this film received the Best Actor Prize awarded at the festival's closing ceremony to the film's lead actor Karel Roden for his portrayal of Jan Masaryk.

FILM TRAILER

For more information, visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website.

Article's dedicated web address.

MWFF 2017: Anna Karenina. Vronsky’s Story

ANNA KARENINA. VRONSKY’S STORY
Анна Каренина. История Вронского

WORLD COMPETITION

Russia

This was the Montreal World Film Festival 2017 opening film, projected right after the opening speeches and the declaration of the festival being open. The film is an imaginary sequel to a Russian writer Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina.

Montreal World Film Festival's Official Synopses:

"1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, in Manchuria. Hospital director Sergey Karenin discovers that his patient, Vronsky, is the one who has ruined his mother's life, Anna Karenine. Without great expectations, he asks Vronsky the question that has haunted him all his life: what pushed his mother to end her life. Vronsky consents to tell him the story of his tragic love for Anna."

The film is a period piece that masterfully portrays both the horrors of the 1904 war and the splendour of the Russian aristocratic society some 30 years prior to that war, the time of the Leo Tolsoy novel's plot. It depicts the bravery of the Russian solders and officers during the war, their special attitude of honour, and at the same time the strict behaviour rules for Russian high society women that affected so tragically the main characters' love story. 

A chance encounter brings Vronsky, Anna's lover, to meet Anna's son Sergey so many years after his love affair with Anna. A dialogue that takes place between them, cut into sequential pieces due to Segey Karenin's army doctor responsibilities, elucidates the nature of the relationship that Vronsky had with Anna. It becomes very clear that theirs was not just a banal love affair but real love, and that Vronsky is still haunted by this relationship so many years later. 

Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina has been recognized from the very time it was first published in the 19th century as the world's literary masterpiece. By watching this film, especially those who have not read the novel, will have a chance to acquaint themselves with the Leo Tolstoys's genius as a writer and his sensitive understanding and portrayal of the women and their place in the society of his time. Both the novel as well as this film show great sympathy for the main heroin Anna, and make the reader and the viewer to contemplate her situation and her desperation, affecting gravely her emotional stability that led to a tragic end.

I highly recommend this film. Not only will it acquaint the spectator with some past historical events, but it will also bring closer to the viewer the Russian 19th century high society culture and the way of life, and the emotional world of some women who were on the bring of being emancipated yet unable to fight to the end the well entrenched society's obstacles.

PRODUCTION TEAM

DIRECTOR:  Karen Shakhnazarov

SCRIPT: Karen Shakhnazarov, Yuriy Poteenko (co-writer)

LEAD ACTORS: Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Maksim Matveev

COUNTRY: Russia
LENGTH: 137 min.

LANGUAGE: Russian, French subtitles

Check the MWFF 2017 films schedule here.

Visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website for more information.

N.B.

On September 4, 2017, this film received the Best Artistic Contribution Prize awarded at the festival's closing ceremony.

FILM TRAILER

Article's dedicated web address.

MWFF 2017 Opening Night

Montreal World Film Festival 2017 / 41st Edition
Opening Night Photo Highlights 

August 24, 2017

This year, there was no red carpet ceremony before the Cinema Imperial on the Opening Night. As the festival's president Serge Losique pointed out during his opening speech, there was only a green carpet inside the cinema's lobby. He added, the festival was going green, saving on all types of expenses. It is actually a miracle the festival is taking place this year, only thanks to Serge Losique's  - the founder of the festival - great efforts, stamina, and perseverance, regardless of the grave financial difficulties the festival has been facing. 

Here are a few photo captures from the MWFF 2017 Opening Night. 

Serge Losique entering the Cinema Imperial

Serge Losique on the Cinema Imperial's stage at the Opening Ceremony

Check the film schedule here.

Visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website for more information.

Article's dedicated web address.

MWFF 2017: Films in Competition

Montreal World Film Festival
41th Edition

August 24 - September 4, 2017

The 41th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival will open with a Russian film by Karen Shakhnazarov ANNA KARENINA. VRONSKY’S STORY  on Thursday August 24, 2017. at 7 p.m. at the Cinema Imperial. This film will also compete in the WORLD COMPETITION – FEATURE FILMS category.

Competitions

WORLD COMPETITION
FEATURE FILMS 

There are 18 films in this competition.

 

A PROMINENT PATIENT / MASARYK by Julius Ševcík (Czech Republic / Slovakia)
100 min; anglais s.t.f & s.t.a

AND SUDDENLY THE DAWN / Y DE PRONTO EL AMANECER by Silvio Caiozzi (Chile)
195min; espagnol s.t.f & s.t.a

ANNA KARENINA. VRONSKY’S STORY / ANNA KARENINA. ISTORIYA VRONSKOGO by Karen Shakhnazarov (Russia), 138 min; russe s.t.f & s.t.a

APPENDIX by Hossein Namazi (Iran)
83 min; farsi s.t.f & s.t.a

CARDINAL X by Angie Wang (USA)
98 min; anglais s.t.f

DEAR ETRANGER / OSANAGO WARERA NI UMARE by Yukiko Mishima (Japan) 
127 min; japonais s.t.f & s.t.a

ELVIS WALKS HOME by Fatmir Koçi (Albania / UK)
94 min; anglais s.t.f

FALLING IN /OUT OF LOVE by Dominic Bachy (France)
95 min; français s.t.a

FOOTPRINTS by Wong Wai (Hong Kong, China)
120 min; mandarin s.t.f & s.t.a

FROZEN IGNAT / CINE A UCIS CRACIUNUL? by Dinu Tãnase (Romania)
81 min; roumain  s.t.f & s.t.a

PATH OF MARYAM by Atia Aldaraji (Iraq / Germany)
76 min; arabe  s.t.f & s.t.a

RECONCILIATION / ZGODA by Maciej Sobieszczanski (Poland)
87 min; polonais  s.t.f & s.t.a

SAYAKBAY - HOMER OF 20TH CENTURY by Ernest Abdyjaparov (Kyrgyzstan)
82 min; kyrgyz  s.t.f & s.t.a

THE BASICS OF KILLING / DRUŽINICA by Jan Cvitkovic (Slovenia / Serbia)
99 min; slovène  s.t.f & s.t.a

THE HIDDEN SWORD by Xu Haofeng (China)
137 min; chinois s.t.f & s.t.a

UNAWARE CONTROL / HUA SE by Xiaoyan Xu (China)
94min; chinois  s.t.f & s.t.a

UNSUNG HEROES / NOI ERAVAMO by Leonardo Tiberi (Italy)
9 0min; italien  s.t.f & s.t.a

UPSTREAM by David Chuang (Taiwan)
80 min; mandarin  s.t.f & s.t.a

Check the film schedule here.

FIRST FILMS WORLD COMPETITION

There are 19 films in this competition.

BEHIND THE COLUMN / HETEDIK ALABÁRDOS by Csaba VÉKES (Hugary)
87 min; hungarian; s.t.a

CACAYA by Peter AZEN (Brazil / USA)
80 min; english, portugese, tupi; s.t.a

DOMINIKA by Oleg AGEYCHEV  (Russie)
79 min; russian; s.t.a

KILL THE SHADOW / PI CHENG by  SUN Liang (China)
85 min; chinese; s.t.a
LOST ELEPHANTS / LES ELEPHANTS PERDUS by Claude ANDRIEUX  (France)
93 min; french; s.t.a

MY SEE-THROUGH HEART by David and Raphaël VITAL-DURAND (France)

NOISE by Yusaku MATSUMOTO (Japan)
23 min; japanese; s.t.a

PATRICIA, THE RETURN FROM THE DREAM / PATRICIA, EL REGRESO DEL SUEÑO by René FORTUNATO (Dominican Republic), 116 min; spanish; s.t.f & s.t.a

PROVENANCE by Ben HECKING  (France / UK)
90 min;

RESIN / RESINA by Renzo CARBONERA (Italy)
90 min; italian;

RIGHT OF WAY by Miki and Yoni BENYAMINI (USA)
116 min; english; s.t.f & s.t.a

SUSU by Yixi SUN  (UK)
105 min; english; s.t.f

SWEET PARENTS by David BLY  (Canada / USA)
108 min; english

TAZZEKA by Jean-Philippe  GAUD  (France / Maroc)
95 min;  french/ arabe;  s.t.a & s.t.f;

THE BAULKHAM HILLS AFRICAN LADIES TROUPE by Ros HORIN  (Australia)
84 min; english

THE RETURN / DOLAONDA by Chul HEO  (South Korea)
96min; korean; s.t.a
THE SOUL OF HIMALAYA by Zeng YUNHUI  (China)
108 min; tibetan; s.t.a;

VERONICA by Carlos ALGARA  & Alejandro MARTINEZ BELTRAN (Mexico)
81 min; spanish; s.t.a;

WATCH THE SUNSET by Tristan BARR (Australia)

80 min; english; 

Check the film schedule here.

Visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website for more information.

Festival information courtesy of  MWFF.

Article's dedicated web address.

Lawren Harris: Where the Universe Sings

Where the Universe Sings:
The Spiritual Journey of Lawren Harris

Canada / 2016 / 91 min. /  English

The film is partially based on a book by James King Inward Journey: The Life of Lawren Harris. 

This film is for those who love the Canadian painters from the Group of Seven, and also for those who know nothing about Canadian Art and would be astonished to discover the great artistic creations of Lawren Harris, the founder of the Group of Seven.

Having come from a prosperous, the end of the 19th century Toronto industrialist background, yet from his early age, Lawren Harris was destined to become an artist rather than a businessmen. Nevertheless, he ultimately become a heir to the Massey-Harris farm machinery fortune. He had used his family funds not only to advance his elegant way of living, but also to support artistic aspirations of talented artists who later became known as a Group of Seven (a term coined by him) as well as their associates. Harris financed railway trips for the Group of Seven artists to the Algoma region to paint the Canadian north, and later to Lake Superior, Rockie mountains, and other regions. It was also largely thanks to Harris' idea, funds, and energy, that a Studio Building was raised in Toronto from a decapitated house, and became a home and working studio for several members of the Group of Seven painters, their predecessors, and their artistic descendants. This location had been of such a significance to the Canadian art that in 2005 the building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The film is not only a biographical narrative, it focuses on what art represented to Harris, his complex perception of life, meaning, and his understanding of art in terms of spirituality. It also presents his writings and poems, especially those passages that illuminate the workings of his creative impulse, his searchings, and his artistic journey. Harris was not satisfied to only create on canvas beautiful and colourful shapes that captured the Canadian northern wilderness, but to make with each of his paintings a spiritual statement, a revelation, a portrayal of a spiritual truth.

In 1969, Lawren Harris was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

I highly recommend this film. It will be playing in the cinemas in the near future, so watch for it in the upcoming cinema schedules.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Nancy Lang, Peter Raymont

Country of Origin: Canada

Executive Producer: Peter Raymont

Producer: Peter Raymont, Nancy Lang

Cinematographer: John Westheuser

Editor: Cathy Gulkin

Music: John Welsman

Production Company: White Pine Pictures

Produced with the generous permission of Stewart Sheppard, grandson of and executor for Lawren Harris.

Produced in association with TVO, documentary Channel, YES TV with the participation of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Rogers Group of Funds, the Bell Fund, the Canada Media Fund

FILM TRAILER

On Vimeo

https://vimeo.com/192636801

On YouTube