Emerging European talent gather at Asias leading film fest
By Ines Min
BUSAN ― The local film festival may be Asia’s largest and a starting point for many Eastern filmmakers, including the likes of Mira Nair and Kim Ki-duk, but it’s also a time for first- or second-feature non-Asian directors.
The 15th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival will be holding its second annual Flash Forward competition, opening with 11 films from Europe and Australia vying for an award of $20,000 (22.3 million won). This year’s promising lineup focuses on concepts of growth and maturity, with the five-member jury looking for poignancy and fresh perspectives.
``We are looking for raw talent in the filmmakers. I think we are looking for freshness in vision from these filmmakers," said head juror John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
For Russian director Alexey Popogrebskiy, another juror and winner of the Silver Bear award Berlin Film Festival, it is an emotional connection he’s on the lookout for. ``The most essential thing to me is as a human being, not as a filmmaker; it is to find a very powerful human story,’’ he said.
Film scholar and Humboldt University of Berlin professor Thomas Elsaesser will focus on ease of distribution. ``It used to be said that it is difficult to make a film. Nowadays, I think the most difficult thing for films is to get distribution and find an audience,’’ he said. ``I think the jury has particular responsibility to think about the difficulty of reaching an audience beyond the festival.’’
This year’s lineup is sure to hit each of the judges’ marks, with some looking to wrench at the emotional gut and other philosophical scripts catching attention with star-studded casts.
The Swedish film ``Pure’’ by Lisa Langseth is sure to turn heads with the vibrant tale of a young woman changed by the world of music, opened to her by listening to Mozart’s ``Requiem.’’ Starring 22-year-old Alicia Vikander, the film follows Katarina’s journey into a new reality of passion, love and betrayal through her relationship with a middle-aged man.
``It’s really a class journey,’’ Vikander told The Korea Times Saturday, adding that there are many youths in Sweden with no access to radio, TV or other pop culture. ``For me, I could relate to the fact that culture can invite you to a whole new world.’’
The leading actress, who has been performing since she was seven, said that although her character is a particular person, the emotions felt by Katarina are global.
``She’s a very unusual girl,’’ Vikander said, who was here representing the film. ``I hope that people can relate to her and her emotions... she’s very emotional, goes 100 percent in everything she does.’’
For Benoit Philippon’s directorial first, ``Lullaby for Pi’’ balances abstract concepts of timelessness, love and hope with a celebrity cast including Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker, Rupert Friend (``Pride and Prejudice’’) and Clemence Poesy (``Harry Potter,’’ ``Gossip Girl’’).
The story follows the life of a jazz singer widower (Friend), who one night crosses paths with his hotel neighbor _ a young woman (Poesy) who locks herself into the bathroom following a fight with her neighbor. Meeting through the wall separating their rooms, the two begin to open their hearts to each other, though both are afraid to face what’s on the other side. The filmmaker, a 10-year scriptwriter whose influences include Wong Kar Wai and Frank Capra, combines the look of a vintage hotel with an everything-goes ambiance of possibility and optimism.
``It’s not supposed to be realistic, but like in a fairly tale,’’ Philippon said over the weekend. The French director said the hotel lobby of the film _ managed by ``guardian angel’’ Forest Whitaker ― is transformed into a purgatory that the two estranged characters find themselves in. ``The question is if you have the guts to open the door, because then you can reach for something higher.’’
Other films to look for include ``Lou’’ by Australian director Belinda Chayko, also known for her screenwriting. The story focuses on the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather (played by veteran British actor John Hurt).
For more information on the Flash Forward screening schedule, visit www.piff.org.