What a kickoff to PÖFF29! The first day of the film festival is a powerful introduction to the exciting journey of captivating films ahead. Today’s screenings showcase a masterclass in acting from prominent and acclaimed actors such as Willem Dafoe, Angelina Jolie, Margaret Qualley, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor.
The following selection of the day’s recommendations paints a picture of the thin ice that we walk on when pursuing our dreams, dignity, and desire to be seen. These are stories about people looking for a deeper meaning from life despite the chaos around them – be it a hotel, a relationship, or the disintegration of one’s comfort zone.
In The Souffleur, Willem Dafoe protects the virtue of dignity in a world where everything is falling apart. In Couture, Angelina Jolie explores the hidden vulnerability of life beyond the spotlight. In The History of Sound, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor tell us a love story spanning multiple wars and decades.
Honey Don't! is a dark comedy from Ethan Coen that combines humor and morals into one dangerously fun cocktail. No Other Choice is a tragicomedic reminder of how jobseeking can become a matter of life and death – and not just for the jobseeker.
André is an Idiot – a documentary that captured the hearts of the audience at Sundance – will charm viewers with the story of a man seeking to die as absurdly as he has lived. Mother's Baby – an Austrian drama that premiered at Berlinale – provides profound food for thought about motherhood and identity.
Discover all the films of PÖFF’s opening day here.
November 7, Friday, 18:30, Apollo Kino Solaris
Dir. Gastón Solnicki (Austria, Argentina)
The Souffleur is a dramedy about dignity, time and impermanence – and a love letter to Vienna. When the legendary Intercontinental Hotel is threatened with demolition, its longtime manager Lucius Glantz (Willem Dafoe) starts to fight for everything that he has left – his life, identity and ideals. The film premiered at Venice in the Orizzonti section.
November 7, Friday, 18:15, Kino Sõprus
Dir. Tony Benna (USA)
André is facing stage 4 cancer, yet he refuses to lose his sense of humor. He sets a goal to die with the same sense of passion and absurdity that he had throughout his life. The result is a moving and unexpectedly humorous portrait of a man who turns his end into a beginning for others. André is an Idiot premiered at Sundance and brought home the Audience Award.
November 7, Friday, 20:45, Apollo Kino Solaris
Dir. Alice Winocour (France)
A breathtaking portrait of the lives of three women at Paris Fashion Week, exploring the intersection of creativity and vulnerability. Maxine (Angelina Jolie) is hit with bombshell news when she learns of her illness, and she proceeds to find solace in an old friend. Couture is a gripping and emotional tale of visibility and rediscovering oneself. The film premiered at Toronto.
November 7, Friday, 21:30, Kino Artis
Dir. Johanna Moder (Austria, Germany, Switzerland)
Renowned conductor Julia has been dreaming of having a child with her partner Georg for a while. The couple manages to eventually get pregnant through an innovative method developed by the head of a prestigious private clinic. However, things do not go as expected. Mother's Baby by Austrian director Johanna Moder premiered at the main competition of Berlinale.
November 7, Friday, 21:15, Apollo Kino Solaris
Dir. Ethan Coen (United Kingdom, USA)
Ethan Coen’s new dark comedy introduces us to small-town private detective Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley), who starts to investigate a mysterious death and discovers that the holiest of places can hide the most sinful of secrets. The witty and wildly entertaining film secured a spot in the Midnight Screenings program at Cannes.
November 7, Friday, 19:30, Apollo Kino Plaza
Dir. Oliver Hermanus (United Kingdom, Sweden, USA, Italy)
The History of Sound stars Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor – Lionel (Paul Mescal) escapes his small hometown in Kentucky to study music in Boston, where he meets composer David (Josh O’Connor). The two men develop a blossoming connection that grows into something indescribable despite the backdrop of wars and the passage of time. This moving story about love and loss premiered as part of the main competition at Cannes.
November 7, Friday, 20:30, Kino Sõprus
Dir. Park Chan-wook (South Korea)
Another masterpiece from director Park Chan-wook – No Other Choice combines psychological tension with hysterical humor, winning it the International People's Choice Award at Toronto. The film tells the story of a man satisfied with his family and life, until he learns that he has been unexpectedly fired. When finding a new job turns out to be an impossible task, he decides to quite literally take matters into his own hands.