The things that connect us can vary from love to death, from a mysterious painting to ritualistic music, to a strong belief in UFO sightings. Immerse yourself in the worlds of today's films, be amazed, bewildered, or find recognition and feel understood.
Who doesn’t know the feeling of wanting to stay in bed endlessly, especially on wintery Monday mornings? But have you really ever considered what it would be like to be bedridden indefinitely? The young protagonist of one of today’s International premieres has decided to do just that: confine himself to his bed, to only write and think.
A quite strange ritual, maybe. Rituals, nonetheless, are deeply embedded in our nature as humans and societies. Rituals give meaning, and the feeling of coherence, bring us together, lift us up, as we will see in several other of today’s cinematic masterpieces.
Today you will also have the unique chance to see one of the most lauded films of Georgian director Zaza Urušadze, who passed away far too soon last year.
Find the full programme here
16:30 | Coca-Cola iSense
19:30 | Virtual Hall
On an entirely ordinary morning, everything suddenly stops. The clock no longer ticks, the wind does not blow, the cars stand in the middle of the road. At least that’s how it seems to a 26-year-old young writer who then also decides to stop and never even come out of bed. The young man just writes his book and thinks. His close ones do not understand his egocentric decision and the extraordinary act naturally has consequences.
Part of the Official Selection - Competition
17:15 | Coca-Cola Plaza 8
20:00 | Virtual Hall
Three haunting stories are set in three different houses and spanned through three centuries. Mysterious painting named "Two Owls" connects bizarre events in Georgia, while Zaza is not shy to explore national traditions and myths. The author of the painting has already died, but her husband pretends that his beloved woman is still alive. He gives "Two Owls" as a gift to psychiatrist doctor.
During World War II the painting is found in the apartment of another woman, who had a secret love affair with a general of the Red Army just before his sudden death. The grieving and betrayed widow must take an important decision. Finally in modern Georgia a grand-daughter of a painter discovers the only remaining piece of "Two Owls", which unfortunately belongs to a total stranger.
18:00 | Apollo Solaris 3
After revealing shocking injustice and intolerance in Indian courtrooms (2014 debut "Court") multi-talented Chaitanya Tamhane creatively plays complex melodies and rituals of traditional Indian music, which has so many uncovered surprises and mysteries. Prepare for an extraordinarily detailed lesson about Khyal (a classical Indian singing style) with sounds of different ragas, which combines technical and ideational ideas of music.
19:15 | Coca-Cola Plaza iSense + Q&A with Jo Sol, Daniel Vergara
22:15 | Virtual Hall
Armugan is a man in the mountains, accompanied by the vast sky, the sheep, and a personal aide. Armugan has a movement disability. His aide Anchel has worked in the palliative care unit at a hospital. When Armugan is called, Anchel helps him down from the mountains to the one who needs his assistance.
Armugan is a Finisher. People are afraid of him, as they sense that he knows something they do not. A Finisher has the skills and knowledge to help the ones who are dying. Anchel wants to learn the ancient and forgotten art.
Part of the Official Selection - Competition
21:30 | Coca-Cola Plaza 4 LUXE
Claudina is a traditional woman from the countryside. After her husband passes away, Claudina has to move in with her grandson Cristóbal, and her daughter Alejandra, with whom she has a distanced relationship.
Living in town, Claudina meets the neighbour Elsa, an independent and married woman who sings in a secret bar called "Porvenir" (The Future). Claudina starts a relationship with Elsa, falling in love. From then on, she develops a journey of self-knowledge to be free, under the judgment of her daughter and friends in a religious and conservatory little town, which is, moreover, obsessed with UFO sightings.