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July 20th, 2008
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Days of European Film returns with a full plate
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April 16th, 2008 issue

By Rachel Shimp

COURTESY PHOTO
Going Dutch. Maryam Hassouni as Aaliyah in Albert Ter Heerdt's entry, Kicks.
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For the Post
Film lovers just catching their breath from FebioFest should prepare to head back to the cinemas for a few more spring evenings well spent in the dark. Celebrating its 15th year, the Days of European Film festival offers a wonderfully varied schedule of the best in new film from the European Union.
Over 13 days, 38 films cover the spectrum of European filmmaking today, ranging from typically edgy festival fare like the Irish production Adam & Paul (Lenny Abrahamson, director), which focuses on the mishaps of young junkies, to Late Bloomers, about an octogenarian’s second wind as a lingerie designer, from Switzerland’s Bettina Oberli.
Two blocks of shorts will be shown — one with productions from students of Film and TV at Prague’s Academy of the Performing Arts, and the other a new concept from European authors, “Five Films of Unrest.” Two midnight marathons (at Světozor April 19 and Aero April 25) are specifically aimed at English-language speakers.
Below are our picks for this year’s fest. All are screened with English subtitles; unless otherwise noted, headsets providing Czech translation are also available. After Prague, the full program moves on to Brno and, for the first time, Olomouc. For daily screenings and show times, check the listings on the following pages. For a complete schedule and more information on the festival, check Eurofilmfest.cz.
The Karamazovs (Karamazovi)—Czech Republic. Petr Zelenka, director. Ivan Trojan, Igor Chmela, Martin Myšička and David Novotný star. Not screened with English subtitles, this entry remains an anticipated adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s novel, enhanced by director Zelenka’s trademark humor. Aero, April 23 at 6 p.m.
Full Metal Village—Germany. Sung-Hyung Cho, director. Uwe Trede, Lore Trede, Klaus H. Plähn, Irma Schaack and Eva Waldow star. Cho’s portrait of the small village of Wacken during the annual Wacken Open Air heavy metal festival has won several awards in Germany. Světozor, April 24 at 9. Aero, April 25 at 11:59 (no Czech translation)
Kicks—Netherlands. Albert Ter Heerdt, director. Mimoun Oaissa, Maryam Hassouni and Mohammed Chaara star. “A gritty but hilarious, kaledoscopic look at present-day Holland” that follows an upper-class woman, a filmmaker, an army sergeant and a shelter worker on their various quests. Světozor, April 27 at 7. Aero, April 28 at 6
The Wave (Die Welle/Náš Vůdce)—Germany. Dennis Gansel, director. Jurgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, and Christiane Paul star. A high-school teacher conducts an unorthodox experiment in fascism in this adaptation of Todd Strasser’s young adult novel. This year’s festival opener, it premiered at Sundance and has become a hit in Germany. Světozor, April 17 at 7:30
Hunting and Gathering (Ensemble, C’est Tout/Prostě Spolu)—France. Claude Berri, director. Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker, and Francois Bertin star. The quirky inner lives of the young, beautiful and, yes, lonely are revealed as they connect with each other. No English subtitles. Aero, April 19 at 8:30. Světozor, April 21 at 7
Tressette—A Story of An Island (Treseta—Příběh Ostrova/Trešeta)—Croatia. Dražen Žarković and Pavo Marinković, directors. Josip Genda, Žarko Potočnjak, Siniša Brajčić, Trpimir Jurkić and Bruna Bebić-Tudor star. On a small Dalmation island, a death in the community prompts a frenzied search for a replacement player in the card game Treseta. Světozor, April 28 at 7. Aero, April 29 at 6
You Am I (As Esi Tu/Ty Jsi Já)—Lithuania. Kristijonas Vildziunas, director. Andrius Bialobzeskis, Jurga Jutaite, Mykolas Vildziunas, and Daiva Jovaisiene star. An architect quits his cushy job to build and live in a forest tree house, with unexpected results. Aero, April 21 at 8:30. Aero, April 25 at 11:59 (no Czech translation). Světozor, April 28 at 5
Love Sick (Legaturi Bolnavicioase/Jiná Láska)—Romania. Tudor Giurgiu, director. Maria Popistasu, Ioana Barbu, Tudor Chirila, Catalina Murgea and Mircea Diaconu star. When Alex rents a room in Kiki’s parents’ house, the girls deal with dramas in the family as their friendship intensifies into love. Světozor, April 22 at 7
California Dreamin’ (Endless/Nesfarsit/Bez Konce)—Romania. Cristian Nemescu, director. Armand Assante, Razvan Vasilescu, Jamie Elman, Maria Dinulescu, Ioan Sapdaru and Andi Vasluianu star. A winner at Cannes 2007, Director Nemescu passed away before completing this tragicomedy set near the Serbian/Romanian border in 1999, which went on to win prizes at last year’s Cannes. Aero, April 24 at 8:30. Světozor, April 26 at 9
Belle Toujours (Krásná Dodnes)—Portgual/France. Manoel De Oliveira, director. Michel Piccoli, Bulle Ogier, Ricardo Trepa, Leonor Baldaque, and Julia Buisel star. Soon-to-be centenarian Oliveira revisits the now-aged heroine from Luis Bunuel’s Belle de Jour. Světozor, April 19 at 11:59 (no Czech translation). Světozor, April 23 at 7
Rachel Shimp can be reached at rshimp@praguepost.com


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