The block that impressed me the most yesterday was the last one and I will be focusing on that one now. The block was called Här & nu (Here & now) and it’s all film from Uppland. This doesn’t mean it’s necessarily filmed here, just that it’s got production connections to Uppland.
First I just have to squeeze in a film by the name of The Jaukka Brothers (Bröderna Jaukka). It’s written and directed by Peter Grönlund and it’s one of my favourites of the festival for one reason and one reason only, the genre. The film is a small crime tale that creates great tension. Jani and Toumas are brothers. They are in the business of robbing and burglary. In other words, not the kind of guys you want your daughter bringing home for dinner. The film takes place during a meeting between these brothers and a Russian by the name Micha. Of course Micha has his crew of bad guys with him and there’s something rotting in Denmark. It’s fantastic how quickly the film gets you on pins and needles and keeps you there until the end credits. Check it out if you get the chance.
But back to the Here & now block of films. There were quite a few that deserve your attention. The first one of the night, A Moment Of Reality (Yek Lahzeh Az Yek Vagheiyat), is probably the strongest documentary so far. It’s about the Iranian election in 2009 and the whole thing is filmed by eyewitnesses of the riots that broke out during this time. I have to warn the little more sensitive people out there that you do see people die on screen. It’s a strong statement from the film maker, Sara Sam.
Another short but lovely film was the documentary Hand Gymnastics (Handgymnastik). We get to join a group of elderly ladies sitting around a table doing hand gymnastics. It’s made in a very simple way but delivers a lot of heart and gave the audiences probably the biggest laughs of the night.
The film makers of Hand Gymnastics, Ellen Fiske, Caroline Gynther and Cajsa Jönsson, are probably very hungry film makers because they actually had two films in this block. The other one, We Are Fourteen (Vi är fjorton år), is about three teenage girls that are best friends and we get to follow them through their daily lives. It’s a great insight to the sort of teenager that normally really bug me. We are talking about the girls that use way to much make-up and way to little brain power. In my head it’s the people that would sit in the back of the class and eat crayons if you told them it would make them smarter. This film was little over 30 minutes long but never felt boring. It was interesting and very funny. And to be fair, I would sit in the back and eat crayons as well if someone told me I would get a script sold.
I have reached out to the film makers of these two films and asked for an interview. Let’s see if they reach back.
