Today's film selection is fascinatingly intriguing, wonderfully sporty and explosively political.
What happens when a chimney sweep-turned-married man starts dreaming of David Bowie, with whom he suddenly find thermself in a passionate relationship? What happened to Polish basketball player Dražen Petrović, whose last game was in Estonia? And more generally, how do you step into the glowing shoes of a statesman as a woman?
Portraits of Slovakia's first female president, Zuzana Čaputová, and Bulgaria's top footballer Georgi Asparuhov, aka Gundi, provide Saturday's rich food for thought. Next to them, however, is an even more significant Ukrainian film premiering at the Berlinale, “The Editorial Office”, shot just before Russia's invasion in 2022.
See all the PÖFF films screening today, Saturday here!
Dir. M. Šulík; countries: Slovakia, Czech Republic
9 Nov, Saturday 17.30 Coca-Cola Plaza
A gripping look at Zuzana Čaputová's pivotal time as Slovakia's first female president. The filmmakers, who had the unprecedented opportunity to accompany the President almost everywhere, take us on an extraordinary four-year journey. The film raises pressing questions about the future of democracy in Europe beyond Slovakia.
Dir. D J. Haugerud; Country: Norway
9 Nov, Saturday 19.30 Cinema Solaris
„Sex“ is an intelligent Scandinavian film with pleasant humor. Two heterosexual married chimney sweeps question their sexuality. One of them has had dreams in which he is in a passionate relationship with David Bowie, while the other recently had sexual intercourse with a male client. The film won three awards at the Berlin Film Festival.
Dir. D. Dimitrov; Country: Bulgaria
9 Nov, Saturday 20.15 Coca-Cola Plaza
Georgi Asparuhov, or Gundi, was a legendary Bulgarian footballer who has been voted one of the best Bulgarian footballers of the 20th century and has also been cited as a major influence on European football. Director Dimitar Dimitrov has produced a masterpiece. A moving and profound portrait, it is an emotional watch even for those who are not football fans.
The Editorial Office
Dir. R. Bondarchuk; Countries: Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic
9 Nov, Saturday 20.45 Coca-Cola Plaza
A strangely over-the-top satire on the media and politics, this Ukrainian film was shot just before Russia's invasion in 2022. It's the story of a young journalist's search for the truth amidst a maze of fake news and rigged political elections. The world premiere of "The Editorial Office" took place at the Berlinale Film Festival.
Dir. D. Šerbedžija; Countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia
9 Nov, Saturday 21.00 Coca-Cola Plaza.
“Dražen” is a film about the legendary Croatian basketball player Dražen Petrović, who was known for his extraordinary talent and unique character. The tragically departed basketball player played his last game against the Estonian national team in Poland. The young Martin Müürsepp was also able to put his defensive skills to the test against him.
Dir. Paul Schrader; Country: USA
9 Nov, Saturday 22.15 Cinema Solaris
Richard Gere starring as Leonard Fife, is a distinguished documentary filmmaker with a seemingly impeccable reputation. When he sits down in front of the camera, no one - least of all Fife's wife Emma (Uma Thurman) - has any idea that the man's only plan as he prepares to leave this world, is to blow his impeccable reputation to smithereens in front of the cameras.