May 11th 2023

November

Infinity Pool 

More from the German Film Festival

The Swimmers (streaming on Netflix)

A gripping story of the hunt for the Paris 2015 terrorists, another of a holiday gone horribly wrong, an inspiring tale of Syrian refugees and three more top films from the German Film Festival. It's another big week for movie lovers. 

November

Dir: Cedric Jimenez

Length: 107 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa-p7W-4TkY

© Palace - Dujardin leads a crack team in a gripping thriller

The horrific terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 have given rise to some powerful films. In Paris Memories (shown at the French FF) the story was told from the victim's perpective. In this film we see the manhunt for the terrorists from the viewpoint of the investigators in the anti-terrorist squad, led by Heloise (Sandrine Kiberlain). Jean Dujardin plays associate investigator Fred, who, along with Ines (Anais Demoustier) are up against the clock to find the suspects and prevent another attack. This is pulsating and suspenseful film making, setting a cracking pace, and though at times we don't quite know who is who (so many undercover operatives), there's barely a moment to catch one's breath. The film was nominated for 8 prestigious awards at the French Cesars. 

3.5 - well recommended

Infinity Pool

Dir: Brandon Cronenberg

Length: 117 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVnIMvVEkrA

© Maslow Entertainment - James should have
avoided this woman at all costs!

James Foster (Alexander Skarsgard) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are on holiday at La Tolqa, an exclusive resort in a fictional poverty-stricken country. When they meet fellow guest Gabi (Mia Goth) and her partner Alban (Jalil Laspert), they are lured outside the grounds of the hotel - forbidden territory - and after a horrific accident are forced to contend with the barbaric justice system of the country. After discovering he can have a clone of himself take the punishment, James is drawn deeper into decadent and animalistic behaviour, with the alluring and sensual Gabi running the show. Thriller? Sci-fi? Horror? Social commentary? It's a bit of everything. True to the legacy of his father (David Cronenberg), Brandon goes for broke on the body horror and repulsiveness, and at times it is almost too much to watch. However, underneath the in-your-face grotesqueness and sexuality, there are plenty of intriguing questions to ponder: if I'm cloned who is the real me? Are we just bestial creatures with a veneer of civilisation? Why do the rich get away with behaving badly? If you are a fan of this genre you may well love this film; it's stylish and well shot, has a brilliantly ominous musical score, and best of all has amazing chemistry between Skarsgard and Goth. For more conservative types . . . be warned!

1 or 3.5 - avoid or well recommended . . . depending upon YOU! 

German Film Festival

Melbourne until May 24

Palace cinemas

For other states, ticketing, film programs visit: www.germanfilmfestival.com.au

This festival, with its stellar line-up of recent films from Germany and German-speaking countries is in full swing. Following on from my reviews last week, I've caught a further three to recommend.

The Lost Transport

Dir: Saski Diesing

Length: 98 mins

This film from The Netherlands, Germany and Luxemburg is part of the festival's focus upon female directors. Based upon a true story, it's set in the last days of the second world war, when a transport taking Jewish prisoners from Bergen Belsen concentration camp stops near a German village. The guards flee from advancing Russian troops, abandoning the prisoners. Dutch couple Simone (Hanna van Vliet) and her husband Isaac are assigned to stay in the house of Winnie (Anna Bachman), a German girl who had been in Hitler youth, along with Red Army sniper Vera (Eugenie Anselin). Many of the prisoners have typhus, prejudice and mistrust rule the village, and most of the Russian soldiers are brutal. To survive, the three women must learn to adjust to each other. This is a deeply compassionate and moving film, which sees the humanity in all the main characters, regardless of where they sit in the conflict. 

A Thousand Lines

Dir: Michael Herbig

Length: 92 mins

Hot from opening night comes another drama based upon the true story of one of Germany's biggest media scandals. In real life, in 2018, it was discovered that award-winning journalist from Der Spiegel, Klaas Relotius, had been faking stories for years. In this film it is Lars Bogenius who is the fraud, with colleague Juan Romero (Juan Moreno in real life), exposing him. In an era of fake news, Artificial Intelligence creations and social media fraudulence, this is a critically relevant film, executed with a touch of humour, and a refreshing focus upon the personal life of Romero, not just the machinations he must perform to expose the fraud.   

In a Land That No Longer Exists

Dir: Aelrun Goette

Length: 101 mins

Director Goette was a model in the 1980s in East Berlin, and bases much of this story upon her own life. It's the story of free-spirited Suzie who is forced to work in a factory, but gets noticed by a handsome photographer, Coyote. From there she inadvertently ends up in the world of high fashion. When she meets flamboyant designer Rudi (impressive Romanian actor Sabin Tambrea) she becomes even more involved in the world of fashion subculture, but all this comes at a risk in a repressive country like East Germany. This is a sympathetic and entertaining film that has won prizes for its performances and costumes. The characters are appealing, the driving soundtrack features plenty of Suzie Quatro, and the film brings a different view of East Germany in which the rebellious youth managed to find its own version of freedom.

The Swimmers

Dir: Sally El Hosaini

Length: 134 mins

Streaming on Netflix 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObN4krVV20Y

© Netflix - real-life escape from Syria
to pursue an Olympic dream

Another true story, in which real-life sisters Nathalie and Manal Issa play Yusra and Sara Mardini, two young Syrian girls who are training to be top swimmers in their country, with an ambition to swim in the Olympics.  In 2015,  all hell breaks loose. As life becomes more dangerous in Syria the girls decide to make the treacherous trek to try to get to Germany, and then hopefully bring their family to join them. The refugee experience is powerfully portrayed, as the girls and their cousin Nizar make their way to Istanbul, then board a flimsy dinghy to cross from Turkey to Greece. Depicting the journey, the director keeps the tension nail-bitingly high. We've often seen such events on the news, but up close and personal, with characters we quickly care for, it quickly becomes a far more intimate story. The Swimmers is also about family bonds, striving and resilience. There is an easy, believable naturalness between all the characters, and a lovely performance from Matthias Schweighofer as swim coach Sven, who returns kindness and love to their lives. This is tense, inspiring and emotionally powerful film-making.

4 - highly recommended