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Karlovy Vary International Film Festival · 2016

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2016

Horizons

Programme

30 films · 17 reviews

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Aquarius

Review preview for Aquarius

The closer the glance at the specifics, the more universal the plight becomes.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 5 out of 5
A retired music critic is the last resident of a building targeted by developers - she becomes engaged in a cold war of sorts with the company.

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2016; Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho; Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho; Stars: Sonia Braga, Jeff Rosick, Irandhir Santos, Maeve Jinkings, Julia Bernat, Carla Ribas, Fernando Teixeira, Rubens Santos, Humberto Carrão, Bárbara Colen)

Full review See: Sônia Braga in conversation on the magic of Aquarius and director Kleber Mendonça Filho , Kleber Mendonça Filho in conversation on Aquarius

All Eyes And Ears

When former Utah governor Jon Huntsman was appointed United States Ambassador to China, hw arrived at his new post with his entire family — including his adopted Chinese daughter, Gracie. Huntsman's diplomatic struggles and triumphs are explored in the broader context of China’s relationship with the rest of the world, and intersected with Gracie's personal experience living in China as a Chinese-American.

(Country: China, US; Year: 2015; Director: Vanessa Hope; Writer: Vanessa Hope; Stars: Gracie Mei Huntsman, Jon Huntsman, Jerome A. Cohen, Chen Guangcheng, Evan Osnos, Jeffrey Bader, Ian Buruma, Rebeca MacKinnon, Orville Schell, James McGregor, Andrew J. Nathan, James Mann, Elizabeth Economy, Richard McGregor, John Pomfret)

Belgica

Review preview for Belgica

Groeningen completely sells us the world of the bar, his immersive tracking and handheld camera leading us into the melee where coke and hedonism are served straight up and the music pounds to be let into your bloodstream.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Two brothers find their hedonistic bar business heading for trouble.

(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 2016; Director: Felix van Groeningen; Writer: Arne Sierens, Felix van Groeningen; Stars: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Stefaan De Winter, Dominique Van Malder, Ben Benaouisse, Boris Van Severen, Sara De Bosschere, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Hélène De Vos, Jean-Michel Balthazar, Bo De Bosschere, Sam Louwyck, Anjana Dierckx, Hannes Reckelbus, Silvanous Saow)

Full review See: Felix van Groeningen on music, hedonism and real-life inspiration in Belgica

Beasts Of No Nation

Review preview for Beasts Of No Nation

The result is a gripping, disturbing experience, though one which risks numbing as much as it informs or shocks viewers.

Owen Van Spall · 4 out of 5
Based on the namesake novel by Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation tells the story of the young Agu, recruited as soldier to fight in a civil war in an African country.

(Country: US; Year: 2015; Director: Cary Fukunaga; Writer: Cary Fukunaga, Uzodinma Iweala; Stars: Idris Elba, Ama Abebrese, Abraham Attah, Richard Pepple, Opeyemi Fagbohungbe)

Full review

Boris Without Béatrice (Boris Sans Béatrice)

A man begins having an extramarital affair to deal with his emotional and companionship needs while caring for his terminally ill wife.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2016; Director: Denis Côté; Writer: Denis Côté; Stars: James Hyndman, Simone-Élise Girard, Denis Lavant)

Captain Fantastic

Review preview for Captain Fantastic

Taken as a whole, however, the director is trying too hard, pushing this family so far into caricature that we lose sight of the story of grief that is underpinning the shenanigans.

Amber Wilkinson · 2 out of 5
A dad who has raised his kids in the forest is forced to take them on a road trip.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Matt Ross; Writer: Matt Ross; Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Erin Moriarty, Missi Pyle, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Ann Dowd, Annalise Basso, Frank Langella, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Shree Crooks, Nicholas Hamilton, Richard Beal, Alan Humphrey, Ralph Smith) , Trailer

Full review

Courted (L'Hermine)

When a feared judge of the French court encounters a French-Danish juror at a murder trial, their shared past is slowly uncovered.

(Country: France; Year: 2015; Director: Christian Vincent; Writer: Christian Vincent; Stars: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Fabrice Luchini, Marie Rivière, Miss Ming, Floriane Potiez, Claire Assali, Berenice Sand)

Don't Be Bad (Non essere cattivo)

1995, the Roman suburb of Ostia. Pals Vittorio and Cesare live 24/7 with the pedal to the metal: discos, drugs, alcohol, fast cars – it’s all about living for the moment. Will their bond survive after Vittorio decides to turn his life around?

(Country: Italy; Year: 2015; Director: Claudio Caligari; Writer: Claudio Caligari, Francesca Serafini, Giordano Meacci; Stars: Luca Marinelli, Alessandro Borghi, Roberta Mattei, Silvia D'Amico, Alessandro Bernardini, Valentino Campitelli, Danilo Cappanelli, Manuel Rulli, Emanuela Fanelli, Giulia Greco, Claudia Ianniello, Elisabetta De Vito, Alice Clementi, Emanuele Grazioli, Luciano Miele)

Fire At Sea (Fuocoammare)

Review preview for Fire At Sea

The symbolism in Fire At Sea is so organic that it might dawn on you hours or days after seeing the film.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 5 out of 5
A documentary looking at the inhabitants of Lampedusa and the desperate attempts made by refugees to reach the island.

(Country: Italy, France; Year: 2015; Director: Gianfranco Rosi; Writer: Gianfranco Rosi, Carla Cattani; Stars: Samuele Pucillo, Mattias Cucina, Samuele Caruana, Pietro Bartolo, Giuseppe Fragapane)

Full review

Frenzy (Abluka)

A political prisoner is released from jail on the grounds that he joins an intelligence unit of garbage collectors.

(Country: France, Qatar, Turkey; Year: 2015; Director: Emin Alper; Writer: Emin Alper; Stars: Mehmet Ozgur, Berkay Ates, Tülin Özen, Müfit Kayacan, Ozan Akbaba)

A Good Wife

Review preview for A Good Wife

The direction and writing may show signs of first-time work but Karanovic's fearless performance is one of an actress right on the top of her game that smooths over the cracks in plausibility and holds you hard in its gaze.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A woman begins to question her life after she is diagnosed with cancer.

(Country: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia; Year: 2016; Director: Mirjana Karanovic; Writer: Stevan Filipovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Darko Lungulov; Stars: Mirjana Karanovic, Boris Isakovic, Hristina Popovic, Jasna Djuricic, Ksenija Marinkovic, Marko Nikolic, Bojan Navojec, Vlado Kerosevic)

Full review

Graduation (Bacalaureat, Family Photos)

Review preview for Graduation

Cristian Mungiu is such a master of vivisecting human interrelations that we might almost overlook how he sets the tone with animals, vegetables and minerals.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4 out of 5
Story of a small town doctor who is faced with a stark choice after his daughter is assaulted.

(Country: Romania, France, Belgium; Year: 2016; Director: Cristian Mungiu; Writer: Cristian Mungiu; Stars: Vlad Ivanov, Maria-Victoria Dragus, Ioachim Ciobanu, Adrian Titieni, Gheorghe Ifrim, Emanuel Parvu, Valeriu Andriuta, Claudia Susanu, Adrian Vancica, Liliana Mocanu, Lia Bugnar, Tudor Smoleanu, Andrei Morariu, Rares Andrici, Constantin Cojocaru)

Full review See: Cristian Mungiu in conversation on Graduation (Bacalaureat)

The Handmaiden (Agassi)

Review preview for The Handmaiden

One of the film’s leading forces is its stunning visual composition.

Evelin Toth · 5 out of 5
A handmaiden sets out to swindle an heiress but things don't go to plan.

(Country: South Korea; Year: 2016; Director: Park Chan-wook; Writer: Based on Sarah Waters' Fingersmith; Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Kim Min-hee, Jo Jin-woong, Kim Tae Ri)

Full review

Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Review preview for Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Taika Waititi knows growing up isn't child's play but he also respects childhood as a place of adventure, where spontaneity rules and the possibilities are only limited by imagination.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
A kid and his foster uncle run off into the New Zealand bush.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2016; Director: Taika Waititi; Writer: Taika Waititi, based on the novel by Barry Crump; Stars: Julian Dennison, Rachel House, Rima Te Wiata, Oscar Kightley, Rhys Darby, Cohen Holloway, Mike Minogue, Stan Walker, Sam Neill)

Full review

A Hologram For The King

Review preview for A Hologram For The King

The film looks great if you like sand

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
A middle aged salesman is sent to Saudi Arabia to sell a complicated IT system to the king and comes up against interminable delays and the prospect of terminal failure

(Country: UK, France, Germany, US; Year: 2016; Director: Tom Tykwer; Writer: Tom Tykwer, based on the novel by David Eggers; Stars: Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Tracey Fairaway, Jane Perry, Tom Skerritt, David Menkin, Christy Meyer, Megan Maczko, Eric Meyers, Ben Whishaw,) , Trailer

Full review

It's Only The End Of The World (Juste la fin du monde)

Review preview for It's Only The End Of The World

The histrionics on display submerge everything else while the narrative pitch throws so much at the spectator that it is impossible to sympathise with anyone.

Richard Mowe · 2 out of 5
A writer returns home after a long absence to tell his family he is terminally ill.

(Country: Canada, France; Year: 2016; Director: Xavier Dolan; Writer: Xavier Dolan, Jean-Luc Lagarce; Stars: Léa Seydoux, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel, Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye)

Full review

Julieta

Review preview for Julieta

Almodóvar exudes a new found confidence.

Richard Mowe · 3 out of 5
A mother and daughter struggle to come to terms with grief.

(Country: Spain; Year: 2016; Director: Pedro Almodóvar; Writer: Pedro Almodóvar, based on short stories by Alice Munro; Stars: Adriana Ugarte, Michelle Jenner, Rossy de Palma, Inma Cuesta, Emma Suárez, Darío Grandinetti, Daniel Grao, Nathalie Poza, Agustín Almodóvar, Mariam Bachir, Susi Sánchez, Pilar Castro, Priscilla Delgado, Bimba Bosé, Joaquín Notario)

Full review See: Almodóvar on entering his golden age, in Cannes

The Land Of The Enlightened

A group of Kuchi children in Afghanistan dig out old Soviet mines and sell the explosives to child workers in a lapis lazuli mine. When not dreaming of an Afghanistan after the American withdrawal, Gholam Nasir and his gang control the mountains where caravans are smuggling the blue gemstones.

(Country: Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Afghanistan; Year: 2016; Director: Pieter-Jan De Pue; Writer: Pieter-Jan De Pue)

Life, Animated

Review preview for Life, Animated

This is not about once upon a times or fairy tale endings but the challenges on the way and it stands as a testament to the love and determination of every member of the Suskind family.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
The story of an autistic man who was able to reconnect with his family via Disney films.

(Country: US, France; Year: 2015; Director: Roger Ross Williams; Writer: Ron Suskind)

Full review See: Article about the early bird highlights of DOC NYC 2016 , Article about the 2016 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards

Little Men

Review preview for Little Men

The film could be called "old fashioned" but that is rarely a bad thing.

Andrew Robertson · 4 out of 5
Caught up in a family feud over rent, two boys respond with a vow of silence.

(Country: US, Greece; Year: 2016; Director: Ira Sachs; Writer: Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias; Stars: Greg Kinnear, Paulina García, Jennifer Ehle, Theo Taplitz, Michael Barbieri, Talia Balsam, David Krumholtz, Alfred Molina, Clare Foley, Andy Karl, Yolonda Ross, Stella Schnabel, Arthur J. Nascarella, Elia Monte-Brown, Johnny Serret)

Full review

Ma' Rosa

A husband and wife who sell narcotics to help make ends meet. After Rosa is arrested, her family are willing to do anything to buy her freedom from the corrupt police.

(Year: 2016; Director: Brillante Mendoza)

On The Other Side (S one strane)

For twenty years Vesna has been trying to forget the past which nearly destroyed her family... but a phone call from her dad changes everything.

(Country: Croatia, Serbia; Year: 2016; Director: Zrinko Ogresta; Writer: Mate Matisic, Zrinko Ogresta; Stars: Ksenija Marinkovic, Lazar Ristovski, Tihana Lazovic, Robert Budak, Toni Sestan, Tena Jeic Gajski, Vinko Kraljevic, Ivan Brkic, Alen Liveric, Mate Gulin, Iskra Jirsak, Ivana Legati, Marija Tadic, Ljerka Margitic Miholjevic, Mira Bosanac)

Paterson

Review preview for Paterson

After the initial disbelief that Jarmusch has written and directed a movie as simple and quiet as this, you settle into the rhythm of the piece and begin to appreciate the secret

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
Story of a bus driver and a poet and a maker of cup cakes and a dog walker and a week in New Jersey where small things happen

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Jim Jarmusch; Writer: Jim Jarmusch; Stars: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Kara Hayward, Sterling Jerins, Jared Gilman, Luis Da Silva Jr., Frank Harts, Rizwan Manji, Jorge Vega, William Jackson Harper, Masatoshi Nagase, Jaden Michael, Trevor Parham, Brian McCarthy, Troy T. Parham)

Full review See: Interview with Neal Huff about Spotlight, Wes Anderson, Hitchcock/Truffaut and Kimberly Levin

Rabin, The Last Day

Drama based on the assassination of the Labour prime minister Yitzhak Rabin by a young right-wing radical.

(Country: Israel; Year: 2015; Director: Amos Gitai; Writer: Amos Gitai, Marie-Jose Sanselme; Stars: Yael Abecassis, Ischac Hiskiya, Rotem Keinan, Pini Mittelman, Michael Warshaviak, Einat Weizman, Yogev Yefet)

Satisfaction 1720 (Tordenskjold & Kold)

The year is 1720 and the Great Northern War is at an end. Now one of its heroes, 29-year-old Tordenskjold, no longer knows what to do with himself. His faithful friend and manservant Kold convinces him to take a road trip.

(Country: Denmark; Year: 2016; Director: Henrik Ruben Genz; Writer: Erlend Loe; Stars: Jakob Oftebro, David Dencik, Natalie Madueño, Julie Agnete Vang, Jonas Hoff Oftebro, Björn Kjellman, Kenneth M. Christensen, Ole Christoffer Ertvaag, Marie Hammer Boda, Joel Spira, Martin Buch, Marina Bouras, Thomas Voss, Andreas Jessen, Martin Greis)

The Son Of Joseph (Le Fils De Joseph)

A teen goes on a quest to find out who is dad is.

(Country: France, Belgium; Year: 2016; Director: Eugène Green; Writer: Eugène Green; Stars: Victor Ezenfis, Natacha Régnier, Fabrizio Rongione, Mathieu Amalric, Maria de Medeiros, Julia Gros de Gasquet, Jacques Bonnaffé, Christelle Prot, Adrien Michaux, Louise Moaty, Claire Lefilliâtre, Vincent Dumestre, Tom Gaspar, Oleg Ossina, Félix Debraux)

Slack Bay (Ma Loute)

Review preview for Slack Bay

The absurd exaggerations and the wild parishes of humor are completely original, never cruel, and attached to a physicality that is pure cinema.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 5 out of 5
Period comedy, set in 1910, about the investigation into disappearances from beaches in France.

(Country: Germany, France; Year: 2016; Director: Bruno Dumont; Writer: Bruno Dumont; Stars: Fabrice Luchini, Juliette Binoche, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Thierry Lavieville, Jean-Luc Vincent, Didier Desprès, Raph, Laura Dupré, Brandon Lavieville, Cyril Rigaux, Angélique Vergara)

Full review See: Interview with Bruno Dumont about Slack Bay and Jeannette, L'Enfance De Jeanne d'Arc , Bruno Dumont in conversation on Slack Bay (Ma Loute) and his Cannes musical

Sweet Dreams (Fai Bei Sogni)

A journalist struggles to cope with the death of his mum, who passed away when he was only nine years old.

(Country: Italy, France; Year: 2016; Director: Marco Bellocchio; Writer: Massimo Gramellini; Stars: Bérénice Bejo, Valerio Mastandrea, Fabrizio Gifuni, Guido Caprino, Barbara Ronchi, Linda Messerklinger, Ferdinando Vetere, Lorenzo Monti)

Toni Erdmann

Review preview for Toni Erdmann

The film really shouldn’t work, but it does.

Richard Mowe · 4 out of 5
A father drops in on his daughter and poses as a stranger to her friends.

(Country: Germany, Austria; Year: 2016; Director: Maren Ade; Writer: Maren Ade; Stars: Peter Simonischek, Sandra Hüller, Lucy Russell, Trystan Pütter, Hadewych Minis, Vlad Ivanov, Ingrid Bisu, John Keogh, Ingo Wimmer, Cosmin Padureanu, Anna Maria Bergold, Radu Banzaru, Alexandru Papadopol, Sava Lolov, Jürg Löw)

Full review See: Maren Ade and Sandra Hüller in conversation on Oscar nominee Toni Erdmann , Maren Ade and Sandra Hüller in conversation on Toni Erdmann

United States Of Love (Zjednoczone Stany Miłości)

Four Lonely women in a small Polish town contemplate their circumstances and what life has to offer.

(Country: Poland, Sweden; Year: 2016; Director: Tomasz Wasilewski; Stars: Julia Kijowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Dorota Kolak, Marta Nieradkiewicz, Łukasz Simlat )