The deputy's choice

WITH DOZENS of movies to choose from, picking something to see at the World Film Festival of Bangkok can be a daunting task.

Rather than just throw our hands up in resignation, XP asked for help. We got the World Film Festival of Bangkok’s deputy director, Dusit Silakong, to provide a list of the titles he recommends. Many of them are playing at the same time, so you still have hard choices to make.

 

“A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANIL BAGCHI”, BANGLADESH

Faiths come together in this new feature by veteran director Morshedul Islam, who sets his drama during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. When a Hindu man learns his father has been killed by Pakistani troops, he sets out from Dhaka for his home village and is helped along his way by a mysterious Muslim man. Screens at 6pm on Monday and 1pm on Thursday.

 

“ALMOST HEAVEN”, TAIWAN

Happiness is restored, temporarily, when the long-lost wife of a cab driver returns home after 10 years. Directed by Stanley Shih, this drama was a winner at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards last year. Screens at 3.50pm on Sunday and 3.30pm on November 21.

 

“ARABIAN NIGHTS”, PORTUGAL

Contemporary Portuguese politics are addressed in this inventive adaptation of “One Thousand and One Nights” by director Miguel Gomes, who wowed Bangkok movie lovers with “Tabu”, which was a must-see highlight of the festival two years ago. Boasting cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, the lensman for Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s films, “Arabian Nights” is actually three features. “Volume 1: The Restless One” screens at 8.20pm tomorrow and 8.30pm on Thursday; “Volume 2: The Desolate One” at 8.30pm on Sunday and 8.50pm next Friday; “Volume 3: The Enchanted One” screens at 8.40pm on Tuesday and 8.20pm on November 21.

 

“ON THE RIM OF THE SKY”, CHINA/GERMANY

A stubborn older teacher clashes with a youngblood new faculty member at an isolated rural school in the mountains of Sichuan. Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? But it’s actually a documentary, and was nominated for awards at the Locarno and Golden Horse fests. Screens at 8.30pm on Monday and 8.20pm on November 21.

 

“THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER”, ISRAEL

The manager of the country’s largest industrial bakery has to stop a damaging newspaper article from coming out. From 2010, this tragi-comedy was a big winner of awards from the Israeli Film Academy and from festivals abroad. Screens at 8.20pm on Wednesday and 1pm on November 22.

 

“UNDERGROUND FRAGRANCE”, CHINA

In a labyrinthian former bomb shelter of a Beijing apartment building, a young man who earns his living by repairing furniture is blinded. He gets help from another down-and-outer, a young woman who works as a nightclub dancer but is hoping for something better. Directed by the singularly named rookie helmer Pengfei, this won awards at the prestigious festivals in Chicago and Venice. Screens at 6pm on Wednesday and 1pm on November 21.

 

“THE DAY OF THE CROWS”, FRANCE

This 2012 animated feature had critics scrambling for superlatives as they heaped praise on this fantasy about a wild, bald-headed boy from the forest who comes into contact with civilisation for the first time. They compared it favourably to the animations of Hayao Miyazaki, and that’s all the recommendation Thai fans should need. Screens at 6pm on Monday and 8.20pm on November 21.

 

“RUINED HEART: ANOTHER LOVE STORY BETWEEN A CRIMINAL AND A WHORE”, PHILIPPINES

Like Thailand’s Pen-ek Ratanaruang with his “Last Life in the Universe” and “Invisible Waves”, Filipino indie director Khavn de la Cruz also got big-name Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano to be in his film, and he got famed Hong Kong lensman Christopher Doyle to shoot it. Set in Manila, “Ruined Heart” has a strong-willed young woman falling in love with one of the henchmen of her crime-kingpin boyfriend. Screens 8.30pm on Sunday and 1pm on Wednesday.

 

“DAUGHTER OF THE LAKE”, PERU

The gold rush is on in the Andes, and a Peruvian mining corporation wants to drain a lake to get at the precious metal. Standing in the behemoth’s way is a local indigenous woman, who says the lake is her mother, and that the water spirits are on her side. Directed Ernesto Cabellos Damian, this documentary has been making the rounds at festivals, including Berlin and Toronto’s Hot Docs. Screens at 8.50pm next Friday and 4pm on November 22.

 

“THE HAMSTERS”, MEXICO

They appear to be a perfectly happy and normal Mexican family on the surface, but dig just a little, and dysfunction comes bubbling up. Dad pretends to go to work, but is actually unemployed, Mum is seduced by her gym trainer, the daughter is in a triangular romance, and the son is about to be a father. Critics have raved about this comedy-drama, which is one of the highlights of the fest’s much-touted Cine Latino programme. Screens at 6pm tomorrow and 8.30pm on Thursday.

The 13th World Film Festival of Bangkok is co-organised by the Culture Ministry, Nation Broadcasting Corporation and SF Corporation.

 

SEE THEM ALL

The 13th World Film Festival of Bangkok opens to the public tomorrow and runs until November 22 at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. 

Tickets are Bt120. Present two festival ticket stubs for a free 44-ounce Coke.

For more details, check www.WorldFilmBkk.com.