6th Human Rights Watch Film Festival

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL

Cinematheque Ontario and the Human Right Watch Canada Committee present 8 films dealing with human rights themes.  This is the 6th year and the list includes the new unreleased Ken Loach movie IT’S A FREE WORLD and the must-see over 3 hour documentary THE BATTLE FOR CHILE, PARTS 1 and 2 about the overthrow of the Allende government.

The closing night film THE SRI SOLDIERS (march 5th) will be part of a Closing Night Reception that takes place at the Moose Factory Gallery at 22 Grange Avenue.  Ticket price for this event is $30 which includes reception and film.
(Filmed over three years during the most pivotal time in Nepal’s modern history, The Sari Soldiers is the extraordinary story of six women’s courageous efforts to shape the country’s future. The Sari Soldiers examines Nepal’s democratic revolution through the journeys of women caught in the midst of an escalating civil war against Maoist insurgents and the King’s crackdown on civil liberties.)

For more details on the festival, venue ticket pricing and show times check out these two website:-

http://humanrightsfilmfestival.ca/
http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca

The full list of 8 films:-
Reviewed (capsule reviews) are three of them.

IT’S A FREE WORLD…

MUNYURANGABO

PLUS TARD, TU COMPRENDRAS

REMNANTS OF A WAR

SNOW

THE BATTLE OF CHILE, PARTS 1 & 2

THE SARI SOLDIERS

UNDER RICH EARTH

IT’S A FREE WORLD (UK/Germ/It/Sp 2007) ***
Directed by Ken Loach

Director Ken Loach always has some relevant statement to make in his movies. In IT’S A FREE WORLD, he tackles illegal immigrants in London that provide a cheap pool of labour.  Single mother, blonde and pretty Angie (Kierston Wareing) is fed up and opens a recruiting agency with her best mate, Rose (Juliet Ellis).  They decide to hire cheaper labour with no papers until they run into major payment problems.  Though no less important a topic than his last year’s Palm d’Or winner THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, FREE WORLD finds the veteran director in lighter mood.  He turns up the seriousness a few notches up in the second half by having his heroine beaten up and her son kidnapped.  As in his other movies, he takes in too many subplots than he can chew but he does stage compelling confrontation set pieces.  While he provides no solutions to the problem, he at least keeps audiences aware and thinking of this social problem.

PLUS TARD, TU COMPRENDRAS (France 2008) **
Directed by Amos Gitai

Originally titled PLUS TARD or LATER, the new title adds on the additional phrase TO UNDERSTAND in the future tense.  The understanding here refers to a man’s (Hyppolyte Giradot) dealing with his grandparent’s death during the Holocaust in a Nazi concentration camp.  Thos familiar with director Amos Gitai’s works (KIPPUR, KADOSH, FREE ZONE) will not be disappointed with his beautiful shots, long takes and wide camera pans.  Gitai often has his characters placed in a scene with more information relayed by what is occurring in the background.  He often calls his actors to ponder over issues, wander around the scenery or stare blankly into the open.  It is both interesting and odd to watch animated actors like Giradot, Jeanne Moreau (VIVA MARIA! JULES ET JIM) and Emmanuelle Devos (ROIS ET REIN) move so slowly.  Though beautifully shot with great attention to detail, Gitai’s film on memory and identity fails to move and affect audiences one would expect a film with such a theme to.

SNOW (SNIJEG) (Bosnai.Germ/Iran/Fr 2008) ***
Directed by Aida Begic

Director Aida Begec’s film is a study of the result of the aftermath of war.  Set in the eastern Bosnian village of Slavno, Begic’s tale centres on three generation of women.  No men are present as most have disappeared or killed during battle.  The only one is an old man assumed to old to be enlisted.  The women face the decision to sell the land before the SNOW begins in order to survive.  SNOW deals with serious subject matter and Begic treats the subject with all full seriousness.  She films her characters at a distance so that though emotions are abundant, the viewer is able to sit back and observe and to draw their own conclusions accordingly.  But one wishes for a little humour to brighten up the proceedings.  What comes across most in the film is Begic’s message of tolerance and sacrifice for survival.