EU Fest expands

This year’s edition of the long-running European Union Film Festival brings 18 recent movies from 15 countries to the big screens in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and, for the first time, a mini-selection to Khon Kaen.
Teaming up with SF cinemas, the Delegation of the European Union will show acclaimed and popular films from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
In Bangkok, the festival will be at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld before moving to SF Cinema City at Khon Kaen’s Central Plaza, where five films will be shown. In Chiang Mai, the festival will be at SF Cinema City at the Promenada Resort Mall.
“For the first time, the festival will take place in three locations. Bangkok and Chiang Mai have hosted the festival for some 20 years, and this year Khon Kaen is added. One thing that has not changed is that entry to the festival is free of charge,” says Ambassador David Lipman, head of the EU Delegation to Thailand. “The European Union Film Festival showcases the cultural diversity of Europe. A wide variety of genres and topics are represented in the festival including drama, action, thriller, romantic comedy and documentary,” Lipman adds.
Highlights include “Blind Spot”, a police action-drama from Luxembourg, “Wonderful Summer”, a black comedy from Poland, “Goethe”, a historical romantic drama about the German poet, and the documentary “London: The Modern Babylon”.
This year, five films will have Thai subtitles in addition to English subs: “Tomboy” from France, “Cool Kids Don’t Cry” from the Netherlands, “The Death of Carlos Gardel” from Portugal, “Medal of Honour” from Romania and the World War II drama “Frozen Silence” from Spain. They will screen in Khon Kaen.

Here’s the line-up:
“Protector” (“Protektor”), Czech Republic, 2009 – A Czech journalist joins a Prague radio station that broadcasts Nazi propaganda in order to protect his wife, a young actress who happens to be Jewish.
“A Funny Man” (“Dirch”), Denmark, 2011 – This award-winning biographical drama chronicles the life of the prolific Danish actor and comedian Dirch Passer.
“This Life” (“Hvidsten Gruppen”), Denmark, 2012 – A hit at the Danish box office, this fact-based drama recalls the fighting spirit of the Fiils, the innkeeper leaders of the Danish resistance against the Nazis.
“Stars Above” (“Tahtitaivas talon ylla”), Finland, 2012 – The stories of three women from the same family in the same country house are followed across three decades from the wartorn 1940s to the colourful 1970s and finally the present day.
“Tomboy”, France, 2011 – A 10-year-old girl is mistaken for a boy when she moves to a new neighbourhood and embraces her new identity has she makes new friends.
“Goethe!”, Germany, 2010 – A starry-eyed young Goethe flunks his oral exams at law school and is sent by his angry father to the Imperial High Court in Wetzlar, where he falls in love with a woman promised to another man. The sorrowful experience inspires him to write a novel that makes him an overnight success.
“3” (“Drei”), Germany, 2010 – Tom Tykwer (“Run Lola Run”, “Cloud Atlas”) directs this drama about the romantic triangle that forms when a man and woman together for 20 years bring a man into their bed.
“The Last Rhapsody” (“Utolso Rapszodia”), Hungary, 2011 – The final days of composer Franz Liszt’s life are recalled, including his friendship with German composer Richard Wagner.
“The Entrepreneur” (“L’Industriale”), Italy, 2011 – A 40-year-old factory owner faces a crisis on two fronts when his factory is closing, leaving him with just one certainty in his life – his marriage.
“Blind Spot” (“Doudege Wenkel”), Luxembourg, 2012 – A senior police inspector takes one last case before retirement – the death of a fellow cop. He gets the help from a young loose-cannon officer, who just happens to be the brother of the departed policeman.
“Cool Kids Don’t Cry” (“Achtste Groepers Huilen Niet”), Netherlands, 2012 – A spirited young girl loves football even though her closest friend thinks it’s not for girls. And even after she is diagnosed with leukaemia, she remains optimistic. Eventually, it’s up to her friend to come up with something special.
“A Wonderful Summer” (“Cudowne lato”), Poland, 2011 – Kitka, 18, has a unique gift – she can communicate with the spirit of her dead mother, whose soul will not rest until she finds a suitable mate for her daughter.
“The Death of Carlos Gardel”, Portugal, 2011 – As a young drug addict nears death in a hospital, visits by family members evoke a web of memories. The father refuses to accept his son’s death, and channels his passion for tango and the Argentine singer Carlos Gardel.
“Medal of Honour” (“Medalia de Onoare”), Romania, 2009 – A 75-year-old Romanian man finds a new sense of self-respect after he accidentally receives a medal for his supposedly heroic actions during World War II, which he hardly remembers.
“Don’t Be Afraid” (“No Tengas Miedo”), Spain, 2011 – A young woman marked by a dark childhood decides to start over and face the people and emotions that keep her bound to the past.
“Frozen Silence” (“Silencio en la Nieve”), Spain, 2011 – At the Russian front in the winter of 1943, members of Spain’s Blue Division encounter a dead man in the ice with his throat slit and a message carved into his chest, “Watch out, God is watching you.”
“Beyond” (“Svinalangorna”), Sweden, 2010 Noomi Rapace (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) stars in this drama about a woman who confronts her abusive childhood when she receives news that her mother is dying. Pernilla August directs and Ola Rapace also stars. Winner of the International Critic’s Week Award at the 67th Venice Film Festival.
“London: The Modern Babylon”, UK, 2012 – Julien Temple directs this time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown, featuring musicians, writers, artists, dangerous thinkers, political radicals and above all ordinary people.
 
FREE FOR ALL
The European Union Film Festival will be at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld from May 16 to 26, SF Cinema City at Central Plaza Khon Kean on June 1 and 2 and at SF Cinema City, Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai, from June 13 to 23.
Tickets are free and will be handed out at the festival table 30 minutes before screenings.
All films are shown with their original languages and English subtitles. Five films also have Thai subtitles.
For the schedule, visit EUFF2013th.wordpress.com or www.SFCinemaCity.com.