Azurose

A story of fatherhood framed by the spectacular Swiss landscape. The relationship between son and father is strange from the beginning and it is clear that something is wrong. The two arrive at a cottage in the mountains, which gradually becomes a secluded place that brings the two characters more closely together. The father teaches the son manly things like shooting a gun, yet it is the son who saves the father when he is at his worst. The film flows really slowly, I was on the edge of falling asleep. Yet this pace perfectly reflects the relationship between father and son, which is as sterile as the footage. Director Leon Schwitter is simply a master at telling a story with static wide shots that are not full of content, but have a great deal of narrative value. The only regret is that the film simply fizzles out into nothingness... [Zlín Film Festival 2023]

Bastian is very fortunate to be transitioning with a loving and supportive family. Not everyone has that kind of support. Bastian's story is not overly dramatic, yet it illustrates what it is like to be transgender and all the processes behind the transition. The protagonist comes of age at a time when Chile is just opening up to sexual minorities and not putting obstacles in their way to achieve their goals. A very nice documentary about an extraordinary stage in life, love and growing up. [Zlín Film Festival 2023]

The naive Ana struggles first with her relationship with the boy she loves and then with the communist regime in Romania. Although this protagonist is not exceptional, she manages to resist the regime at first, until a confluence of events forces her to give in. A very slow but important film depicting a pivotal historical chapter. Also, director Alexandru Belc's film beautifully shows how small actions can crash the waves in a highly controlled environment. [Zlín Film Festival 2023]

Very cute movie! Watching a semi-fictional story through a dog's eyes is an interesting viewing experience. Although the script is based on a true story, it is slightly uplifted, which gives the film a lot more ways to work with the drama and makes the complexity of the story more complete. Young viewers will appreciate the nice animation and adults will appreciate the historical basis. The animation could have been more dynamic, but in the context of the overall art, it is perfectly acceptable. In conclusion, I would like to admit that I regret that I saw the film in Czech dubbing, because the Norwegian original is star-studded... [Zlín Film Festival 2023]

An ordinary documentary about extraordinary girls. This portrait film follows the talented gymnast Whitney and her social media presence, while also tenderly documenting the young German girl Yara, a fan of Whitney. Intertwined through social media, the two stories offer insight into two different lives from different sides of the world, but with nothing physically in common. And this is the main problem of the film. Is this film about Whitney the gymnast or Yara the German? Or is it about social media? Or is it just about girls with different interests? The film searches until it actually does not find itself and the only link between the protagonists is the influencer-fan relationship. But both girls are very likeable ladies who are lovely to relate to and experience their stories through the screen. [Zlín Film Festival 2023]

The last part of Elling's trilogy is on the whole a disappointment. Although all the episodes beautifully portray friendship, in the last episode this friendship is throttled by the illogical and stupid behaviour of the characters (against their normal). The plot doesn't develop much, the cinematography is distracting and in the overall picture the film looks like a piece of crap created just for the sake of the audience, which it certainly was. For the curious, I recommend the first episode, it's simply a heartbreaker.

An observational film about fatherhood that offers a different insight into the father-daughter relationship, although it doesn't offer any complex plots. The VHS footage deepens the feelings of their relationship and ties in naturally to other storylines. A cool film that doesn't freeze and you take away a deep catharsis. "I think it's nice we share the same sky."

This film has already received a lot of positive feedback from festivals around the world. I totally get it. We get the story of a married couple and a lover on two levels - looking at the past and the present. These lines intertwine beautifully and deepen the whole burning theme of the film. The film is a showcase of the disgusting male domination of women and the dilemma of whether to be a tyrant with a loving husband or a loving lover with no ambition. The enchanting soundtrack only adds to the experience of the film. Fans of films based on true stories and fans of the 2022 Swedish production will especially appreciate the film because of its stellar cast.

I have very mixed feelings about this film. The premise and the idea of the film is great, but the execution is not worth much. The first punch in the face was the failed casting of the child actors, the second punch for me was the likeness of the creature (bird). The whole thing felt more comical than believable. I was expecting the whole climax of the plot from the 20th minute of the film, so I didn't take away any special experience from the cinema. I rather don't recommend this weird movie. Finnish filmmaking can offer more interesting titles.

A masterful combination of black humour, drama and action. Nils, a normal guy, turns the tables after the murder of his son and becomes a killer, played by Stellan Skarsgård. The stylized characters lighten the plot, yet the script doesn't lose its power and tension. Philip Øgaard, the cinematographer of the film, does an excellent job, and combined with the Norwegian snowy landscape, it's an awesome spectacle. This star-studded Norwegian blockbuster is a must-see for everyone!