What to do and how to behave when asked to not to be human? Today's program goes in search of answers, down to unprecedented depths, and brings many answers: to baffling questions, sparks of inspiration, conflicts and contradictions.
The following films explore the sense of belonging as a basic human need, the fateful mirages of prejudice, and the sources of hatred that ring out from the bottomless pit of fear. Add to this some dramaturgical powerhouses and heavyweights of the competition programs in the form of four particularly powerful films lined up in today's selection.
Find out more about Thursday’s programme here.
The Radio Amateur
Nov. 18, Thursday at 6:15 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
World premiere. With film guests
Belonging is a basic human need. For some it’s easy, for others not. The needs of the autistic Nikolas are quite ordinary in a way: he wants to be a part of the community, to do honest work, to travel and see the world and, of course, to love. After his mother's death, Nikolas escapes from his social workers to the port city of his childhood, where he meets his former schoolmate Ane, who decides to help. Their common mission is to escape the soul-wrenching reality of love and the warm sincerity of this common cause melts even the coldest of hearts.
Perpetuity
Nov. 18, Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
"Perpetuity" is an adaptation of a short story by the renowned Hungarian writer Sándor Tari, which in turn has caused the infamous Hungarian director György Pálfi to rebel against the bloodthirsty world of film. Pálfi's previous films, in particular "Taxiderma", have been recognized at Sundance, San Sebastian, Karlovy Vary and Cannes film festivals, among others.
Occupation
Nov. 18, Thursday at 8:45 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
International premiere. With film guests
After their premiere, a theater troupe gathers to celebrate in a bar. However, the drunken meeting is to be disturbed by a drunken Soviet officer. When the officer takes out a pistol, visitors to the bar suddenly become "freedom fighters" against the Russian occupation. After the screening of the film in its home country, reviews noted that it has captured something uniquely characteristic of the Czechs. That is not the case. The film recognizes all the nations that lived under the Soviet regime.
Animals
Thursday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
Rahvusvaheline esilinastus. Külas filmitegijad
The film "Animals" by the Belgian director Nabil Ben Yadir is inspired by real life events. We follow Brahim, a young man who's gay and has picked his moment to get out of the closet. Wanting to break free at all costs, he loses his sense of danger. A slow and powerful film with a beautiful visual language, it looks at different forms of homophobia, taking the viewer on a tense and immersive journey.
Torn
Nov. 18, Thursday at 7 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
European premiere
People may have their own plans, but sometimes there are other twists and turns on the way to their destiny. This is what happened on October 5, 1999, to the legendary climber Alex Lowe, who was tragically killed in the mountains of Tibet. Alex's best friend Conrad Anker miraculously survived. "Torn" is an intimate documentary that shows the viewer the nuances and consequences of both climbing and death-defying sports.
Belfast
Thursday, Nov. 18 at 9:15 p.m., Apollo Kino Solaris
A few years after Alfonso Cuaron came out with his autobiographical connotations and the nostalgic black-and-white of “Roma”, acclaimed Shakespeare popularizer Kenneth Branagh, who grew up in the Northern Irish capital, brings us autobiographical and highly nostalgic black-and-white Belfast. The film is one of the Oscar favorites for best film of the year.