What could be better for a Friday night than a delightful sip of nostalgia accompanied by the music of Dingo and a generous dose of healthy humor served up by Mika Kaurismäki, who will personally present it at PÖFF?
The final weekend of PÖFF begins! Luckily, it’s packed with some of the festival’s best selections this year. Locarno award-winning director Laurynas Bareiša turns the seemingly innocent weekend of two families at a summer house upside down in the film Drowning Dry. Meanwhile, in the tense thriller In the Name of Blood, two brothers dive headfirst into Nice’s criminal underworld, stripping the city of its superficial glamour and beauty.
Today’s PÖFF will be crowned by the powerful world premiere of My Name is Dingo, transporting us to a spacetime where timeless hits like Autiotalo, Sinä ja minä, and Levoton Tuhkimo were born.
Below, you’ll find today’s film recommendations. Check out all of Friday’s PÖFF films here!
Director: Mika Kaurismäki, Country: Finland
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 9 PM, Coca-Cola Plaza
Baltic Premiere with Director Mika Kaurismäki in Attendance
Glossy postcards won’t show you the Finland depicted in Tuomas Kyrö’s novels about The Grump or Mika Kaurismäki’s adaptations. Yet, The Grump represents the true essence of rural Finland, refusing to let the craziness of the outside world interfere with its own quirks. This Finland is sincere, heartfelt, and at times devilishly funny.
Director: M. Rantasila, Country: Finland
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 7 PM, Solaris Cinema
World Premiere with Filmmakers in Attendance
A film about Pertti Neumann, a musician from humble beginnings, could have been a typical Cinderella story, if not for its raw portrayal of the restless artist’s descent after overwhelming success and the rise of Dingo-mania. Though a three-year whirlwind ended abruptly, Dingo’s music continues to captivate audiences today.
Director: A. Popkhadze, Countries: Lithuania, Latvia
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 7:30 PM, Coca-Cola Plaza
Locarno award-winning director Laurynas Bareiša’s film begins with a simple setup: sisters Ernesta and Justė, along with their husbands Lukas and Tomas, head to their parents’ summer house. However, the weekend soon spirals into chaos, plunging both families into a radically altered reality filled with emotionally challenging puzzles to solve.
Director: F. Nabulsi, Countries: United Kingdom, Qatar, Palestine
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 7:15 PM, Coca-Cola Plaza
Director Farah Nabulsi in Attendance
Shot entirely in Palestine, primarily in Burin, this thriller-drama focuses on the harsh political realities faced by Palestinians daily. The film follows a politically active teacher on the West Bank, determined to make a real difference in the lives of his students. This year, it has been honored with the Dennis Davidson Spotlight Award.
Director: A. Popkhadze, Countries: France, Belgium, Georgia
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 9:45 PM, Solaris Cinema
Two brothers plunge into Nice’s criminal underworld, where vengeance and faith ignite a deadly battle. Akaki Popkhadze’s debut film strips away Nice’s superficial glamour and beauty. In the Name of Blood is a gripping crime thriller exploring the consequences of a brutal murder that shakes the Georgian community when a powerful Russian oligarch is killed.
Director: D. Verhulst, Country: Belgium
Screening: Friday, November 22, at 9:30 PM, Artis Cinema
Do you remember the last time you had fun at a funeral? Christine’s funeral leaves her husband Bass and the entire family stunned when it’s revealed that her final wish was to be buried in a remote and obscure place called Wettelen. This peculiar pilgrimage turns into a comedic exploration of family dynamics, friendships, and old grudges.