Every year the UNICA Festival donates a compilation programme of major entries to the IAC Library. It is free with only postal charges to pay. Booking is from John Bartlett, videolibrary@theiac.org.uk (quoting reference no. 156). This year there are three DVDs in the collection each with more than can be shown in a Club evening. I hope the following brief reviews will help your choice. I have not referred to which film is on which disc since you will probably prefer to select between discs. For convenience, I have given the English titles. Unless stated, there are English subtitles.
GOLD AWARD WINNERS
1. | SILENCES
Jesus Mendez Cestero, (Spain) An interesting idea demanding silent but expressive acting as we understand the story through what a mother hears rather than what she says. |
Fiction |
2. | THE SPIDER Fares Ben Khalifa, (Tunisia) No English subtitles. A cinema projectionist acts strangely while a film plays in the background.
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Fiction |
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3. | LUC’S LIFE Daniel Vito Caracci (France) Luke, is disabled and speaks frankly about his difficulties and achievements, disappointments and hopes.
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Documentary |
4. | CARP Aleksandr Magnetskia, Badirbek Taginov, Anton Zhabin (Russia) A dialogue free, visually surrealist, strangely intriguing story of a man contemplating a fish for supper. |
Fiction |
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5. | YOU KEEP AN EYE ON US Arkadiusz Bledrzycki (Poland) Based on a true story this slowly revealing plot portrays two people hiding away from their family and the world as armed police close in.
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Fiction |
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SILVER AWARD WINNERS |
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1. | IVAN’S DAY Ivan Pavljutskov, (Estonia) A young Russian goes to meet his Estonia girlfriend’s parents for the first time but gets a mixed reception. |
Fiction |
2. | SUNDAY LUNCH Dorottya Zurbo, (Hungary) An observational documentary about the relationship between a mother in a homeless shelter and her 15 year old son. The two were separated four years ago when he was taken into care. |
Documentary |
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3. | GRIMM CAFÉ Marton Szirmal, (Hungary) According to Grimm’s Fairy Tales they all lived happily ever after. In this subtly painted animation we meet Little Red Riding Hood and others in old age to find out. |
Animation |
4. | COPY THAT Kingsley Hoskins, (Great Britain) A brilliantly original idea, well scripted and superbly acted. The winner of the Daily Mail Trophy in BIAFF 2015 |
Fiction |
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5. | DAZZLING SHADOW DoJun Yoo (Korea) A gentle, well told tale of interlinked contact between strangers. |
Fiction |
6. | THE WAREHOUSE Kurt Veighe (Belgium) Memories of childhood games lead to a tense situation. |
Fiction |
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7. | HOMEBREAKER Marko Pekkanen, (Finland) A well photographed tale about a boy trying to deal with the tensions within his family. An intriguing end. |
Fiction |
8. | FOREVERHAMEVER Ruth Diaz (Spain) A beautifully told tale of long term love and friendship. Just hours before her wedding Ruth has doubts and the only one she can confide in is the boy she played with as a child. |
Fiction |
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9. | WHY ARE THE SEATS SO FAR APART AT HEV STATION? Aron Ferenczik (Hungary) An amusing, original and highly imaginative exploration of why railway station seats are so far apart. |
Fiction |
10. | TRANSIT OF VENUS Zsanett Milojev (Hungary) Astrology claims the alignment Venus and the Sun will bring about important meetings. Will this be true for the lonely female taxi driver in Budapest? A slow but intriguing development of character and implied backstories. |
Fiction |
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11. | THE BIKE Giorgio B.Borgazzi (Italy) A well told parable from the near future? Italy is in economic crisis. A man on his way to work breaks the chain on his bike and is approached by an immigrant that he can’t understand. |
Fiction |
12. | THE CONFIDENT Jean-Marc Lonfils (Belgium) Astrology claims the alignment Venus and the Sun will bring about important meetings. Will this be true for the lonely female taxi driver in Budapest? A slow but intriguing development of character and implied backstories. |
Fiction |
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13. | OTHERWISE Cedric Studer (France) A surreal comedy about what may happen when you wake with a strange knee injury. |
Fiction |
14. | THE AMAZING SON OF THE FAMILY MARTIN Gaetan Selle (France) French dialogue. No English subtitles. An amusing tale if you understand a little French. Mr.and Mrs Martin live in a material happiness but their designer child doesn’t live up to their expectations. |
Fiction |
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15. | THE MYSTERIOUS PEGNITZ WETLANDS George Bock (Germany) An amusing, original and highly imaginative exploration of why railway station seats are so far apart. |
Documentary |
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WORLD MINUTE MOVIE CUP - TOP FOUR |
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1 | HATRED Jose Biblan (Netherlands) |
Fiction 1 min |
2. | RENAULT 4 EVER Jean-Marc Chateau-Camera Club Dauphinois (France) |
Fiction 1 min |
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3. | A BEAUTIFUL EVENING Frank Melchert (Germany) |
Fiction 1 min |
4. | THE GREAT MARQUESS Dorothy Borrie (Great Britain) |
Fiction 1 min |
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DVD
Price postage only.