At the heart of the latest films lies the human body—an exquisite blend of a sensory gateway to the external world and a protective chamber for the inner realm. It remains consistently unique. On the scales of the unprecedented, Wednesday's PÖFF program stands on its own, offering a spectrum that ranges from powerfully crafted artistic shots to a narrative that unfolds around an unexpected focal point: an erection that emerges as the central challenge in organizing a father's funeral.
Today marks the world premiere of "Body Odyssey" at PÖFF—an audacious film that confidently stakes its claim as an unprecedented cinematic experience. This film immerses its audience in a profound and cohesive world, enhanced by performances of extraordinary power. Regrettably, the passing of actor Julian Sands on San Antonio Hill in January cannot go unmentioned alongside the talented Jacqueline Fuchs. Nevertheless, this film unquestionably deserves a resounding applause that echoes through the cinema walls.
In another cinematic thread, a real-life tragedy unravels in "Observing." This film sheds light on a crime committed in Slovenia, where two friends assault a colleague and broadcast it on Facebook to an audience of over 20,000, who, unfortunately, perceived it as a prank and refrained from informing the authorities. Accompanying this is the equally profound "Fatherland," a documentary nominated for the European Film Academy's Best Documentary award. It delves into the psychological and physical violence against young soldiers, for whom, in distressing circumstances, suicide becomes a tragically prevalent escape.
Yet, Wednesday doesn't pass without its share of dark humor. PÖFF provides a unique space to explore a Sri Lankan film that navigates the challenges of a family coping with the deceased father's conspicuously erect male-part. Additionally, today offers an authentic and vibrant portrayal of India in "Invisible Windows," a rich, playful, and unexpectedly familiar journey between societal tiers that shines as one of PÖFF's outstanding audience films this year.
Delve into the complete selection of Wednesday's films at PÖFF here!
Dir: Grazia Tricarico, countries: Italy ja Switzerland
November 15 at 21.00, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
“Body Odyssey” immerses us in a twisted quest to achieve the ideal. It is a breathtaking story of Mona, a 45-year-old bodybuilder with a thirst for perfection and beauty. The exploration of the creator and creation is thought-provoking. Mona's body becomes a separate character. “Body Odyssey” is a gem that challenges societal norms, delves into the complexities of the human experience, and explores the enduring battle between ideal and reality.
Dir: Ilango Ram; countries: Sri Lanka, India
November 15 at 18.15, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plazas
World Premiere with the filmmakers
An embarrassing problem emerges in a quiet household somewhere in a province of Sri Lanka. The patriarch of a lovely family suddenly dies in front of the TV one fateful night. He experienced something soulfully romantic before his last breath and the most sensitive part of his deceased body still functions without pulse or blood pressure. Perhaps the funniest Sri Lankan comedy reveals an absurdly arousing situation and provokes loud laughter or slightly calmer giggles.
Dir: Bijukumar Demodaran, country: India
November 15 at 20.30, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plazas
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Three-time Indian National Film Award Winner Dr. Bijukumar Demodaran is not a newcomer to bold socio-political topics such as state discrimination and its blatant disregard towards the weak. His narratives are simple and linear yet delivered with powerful thematic punches. “Invisible Windows”, his newest cinematic expression, features one of the upcoming southern Indian commercial stars, Tovino Thomas and music by the two-time Grammy Winner Ricky Kej.
Dir: Gust Van den Berghe; countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
November 15 at 17.45, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plazas
World Premiere with the filmmakers
In the splendidly decorated barbaric world of Antwerp, an ordinary lonely Lucien has an inhuman capability to stick metal objects to his body. An introverted Buster Keaton-like man of a few words is a hapless artist, clown, freak, and musician with a wounded heart and a quiet violin. His vocation is to entertain the common people despite his burning pain and guilt for the inevitable loss of an estranged father. Deadpan Chaplinesque mishaps of a Flemish kind adventurously fulfilled by darkly physical humour.
Dir: Janez Burger; countries: Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, North Macedonia
November 15 at 21.45, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plazas
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Slovenia was on the news for a vicious crime after two friends beat a colleague and broadcast the event on Facebook Live to 20,000 people. This was a prank for the majority, and nobody called the police. The heart-wrenching thriller analyses the moral dilemma, examines the conscience, and imagines the scary aftermath of such a horrific incident. Janez Burger pushes paranoia to the extreme with unsettling phone calls, threatening messages, and invisible menace.
Dir: Marija Kavtaradze, countries: Lithuania, Spain, Sweden
November 15 at 19.45, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plazas
Estonian Premiere with then filmmakers
A film which only raises questions revokes personal feelings and discusses sexuality but gives no explanations is rarely so intimate, romantic, lovely, and heartbreaking. Sign language interpreter Dovydas meets professional dancer Elena. Feisty Elena has ended all previous toxic relationships. The Lithuanian Candidate for the Oscars 2024 is about blossoming modern relationships, sexualities, bodies, and feelings.
Dir: Alexander Mihalkovich, Hanna Badziaka; countries: Sweden, Ukraine, Norway
November 15 at 18.15, Apollo Kino Solaris
Screening with filmmakers
When young Nikita reports for compulsory military duty in 2020, he enters a generations-old tradition that hides a deadly secret in post-Soviet Belarus: dedovshchina, the practice of violent abuse and bullying that supposedly turns boys into men but which has instead created generational trauma deeply embedded in the country’s present-day culture and identity.