LYRICAL ROMANTICISM & REALITY DEPICTED IN 'EUFF'!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Omiros Poulakis & Iro Bezou in Greece's 'Ontos Filiounte?' (Kissing)

"kanoristika...kanjalistika.."
(wrote these words as heard from song)

This romantic song on the background of young couple's kissing scene in Greece's film 'Ontos Filiounte?' ('Kissing?') creates that kind of feelings! Yannis Korres directed in this film Alexander Voulgaris composed this tune nicely! In this Omiros Poulakis & Iro Bezou acted romantically!

Albert Dupontel's French film '9 Mois Ferme' (9 Month Stretch)

That romantic tune recollected Claude Lelouch's classic French film 'Un homme at une femme's ('A Man and a Woman'/1966) famous romantic song "Ba da ba da.."

'European Union Film Festival' recently over at NFAI in Pune. In one week total 24 recent films from different European countries screened in it! Inaugurated with Albert Dupontel's French film '9 Mois Ferme' (9 Month Stretch)..which was a black humour & used some scientific gimmicks!

Madeleine Martin & Filip Berg in Swedish film 'Eternal Summer'!

This time mostly road movies were there and observed lyrical romanticism! In this Andreas Ohman's Swedish film 'Eternal Summer' showed a unique picture of carefree youth to enjoy love life..in which two youngsters meets on a summer night and their adventurous trip ends on a surprising climax! In this pretty Madeleine Martin & handsome Filip Berg played this romantic couple nicely! Then Latvia's 'The Lesson' also travelled on the path of love in which youthful student falls in love with a teacher who then face personal conflict! Beautiful Inga Alsina did this role sensitively! And Samuli Valkama's Finland film 'Unexpected Journey' was about friendship which breaks borders!

Inga Alsina & Marcis Klatenbergs in Latvia's film 'The Lesson'!

Constatinos in Cyprus' 'Boy On The Bride'.

There were few good films on children psychi.. first was Petros Charalambous directed Cyprus film 'Boy On The Bride'. In this teen age boy finds out that the family of his cousin are being abused by their violent father. And then his brave attempt to teach lesson to that cruel man create a blunder! Constatinos Farmaks played this role powerfully!

Pretty Vanessa Szamuhelova in Slovakian film 'Piata Lod'!

After this there was a sensible Slovakian film 'Piata Lod' (Little Harbour) which was inspired from a true story of two cute children who took care of abandoned twin babies..and this is in the context of current social scenario where elders are not ready to take responsibilities! Iveta Grofova handled this issue very sensitively and pretty cute girl Vanessa Szamuhelova played this role very sensibly! Then there was a Lithuanian road movie 'When you wake up' made by Ricardas Marcinkus. This was a lyrical journey in which little girl reunite her parents! In this  Dzesika Vienazindyte & Mantas Jankavicius played these roles superbly..with meaningful songs picturised on them!

Dzesika Vienazindyte & Mantas Jankavicius in Lithuanian film 'When you wake up'!

Denmark's Martin Pieter Zandvliet's 'Uner Sandet' (Land of Mine)..war reality!

There were few films with the war backdrop in which two features from Denmark first Martin Pieter Zandvliet's 'Uner Sandet' (Land of Mine) showed how the hate & revenge psychi continued even after the end of the war. And second Lisa Ohlin's sensible 'De Standhaftige' (Walk with Me) showed how love overcome the physical inability happened because of the bad effect of war! In this Mikkel Boe Folsgaard & Cecilie Lassen did their roles sensibly! After these powerful films there was one short documentary from Poland..'A Brave Bunch'- The Uprising Through Children's Eyes..in which filmmaker Tomasz Stankiewicz focused on the heroic & tragic struggle to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany occupation during World War II.

Cecilie Lassen & Mikkel Boe Folsgaard in Denmark's film 'De Standhaftige'!

Then there were psycho-dramas in it..Nuto Rocha's Portugal film 'Mother knows Best' revolves around one middle age woman who recollect her memories about mother & family members and gradually became a split personality! After this Radek Bajar's film 'Teorie Tygra' (Tiger Theory) was on aged man who purposely shows mentally ill to enjoy the life he want!

Family scene from..Nuto Rocha's Portugal film 'Mother knows Best'!

Belgium's Douglas Boswell's film 'Labyrinthus'!

Apart from such films there were films with inspiration from two genre of generations. In this Tomislav Mrsic's Croatian film 'Cowboys' shows how theatre artists inspire from classic Hollywood Westerns! And Belgium's film 'Labyrinthus' connects to modern cyber world! It's enthusiastic director Douglas Boswell was present in this festival..and had good conversation with him! He said 'this is coming of age film on friendship which used computer games to show children's adventure!

As compare to last 'EUFF' this time films were better in this festival! Mostly showed emotions of youngsters while looking towards the life..in lyrical way & with poetic treatment! Hope to see more contemporary films from Europe in next festival!

All the best!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]