Skip to main content

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival · 2016

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2016

Variety Critics Choice

Programme

10 films · 3 reviews

Jump to a film

Aaaaaaaah!

Review preview for Aaaaaaaah!

Aaaaaaaah! is a beautifully crafted piece of work masquerading as an ethnological study made by chimpanzees.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
Alpha Male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe. Are we not men?

(Country: UK; Year: 2015; Director: Steve Oram; Writer: Steve Oram; Stars: Steve Oram, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Toyah Willcox, Noah Fielding, Julian Barratt)

Full review

As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)

Tunis, summer 2010, a few months before the Revolution: Farah, 18 years old, has just graduated and her family already sees her as a future doctor. But she doesn't have the same idea.

(Country: France, Belgium, Tunisia; Year: 2015; Director: Leyla Bouzid; Writer: Leyla Bouzid, Marie-Sophie Chambon; Stars: Baya Medhaffer, Ghalia Benali)

Death By Death (Je me tue à le dire)

A man's hypochondriacal relationship with his mother.

(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 2016; Director: Xavier Seron; Writer: Xavier Seron; Stars: Jean-Jacques Rausin, Myriam Boyer, Fanny Touron, Serge Riaboukine, Franc Bruneau, Nell Van Houtte, François Dupont)

Demons (Les démons)

While a series of kidnappings of young boys is raging in Montreal, Félix, 10, finished school in Old Longueuil, an ordinary suburb of peaceful appearance. Imaginative and sensitive, Félix, like many children, is afraid of everything. Little by little, the childhood imaginary demons mix with demons of a disturbing reality.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2015; Director: Philippe Lesage; Writer: Philippe Lesage; Stars: Laurent Lucas, Pascale Bussières, Bénédicte Décary, Pier-Luc Funk, Victoria Diamond, Théodore Pellerin, Édouard Tremblay-Grenier, Vassili Schneider, Sarah Mottet, Jean-Luc Terriault, Jenny Yiggit, Yannick Gobeil-Dugas, Raphaëlle Caron, Mathis Thomas)

The Fits

Review preview for The Fits

The physicality and fluidity of adolesence are brought to the fore by Anna Rose Holmer in her tightly directed debut feature that avoids the bear traps of American coming-of-age cliche to offer a classy, thoughtful character study.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Portrait of a tomboy assimilating into a tight-knit dance troupe.

(Country: US; Year: 2015; Director: Anna Rose Holmer; Writer: Saela Davis, Anna Rose Holmer, Lisa Kjerulff; Stars: Makyla Burnam, Antonio A.B. Grant Jr., Royalty Hightower, Da'Sean Minor, Alexis Neblett, Inayah Rodgers)

Full review See: Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi talk about Christine, The Fits, Frank & Lola , Anna Rose Holmer talks about adolescence, gender identity and self-determination in The Fits

Fourth Place

The struggles of a wannabe Olympian, who suffers abuse at the hands of his swimming coach.

(Country: South Korea; Year: 2015; Director: Ji-woo Jung; Stars: Hang-na Lee, Hae-Joon Park, Jae-Sang Yoo)

Mellow Mud (Es esmu seit)

A teenager experiences first love.

(Country: Latvia; Year: 2016; Director: Renars Vimba; Writer: Renars Vimba; Stars: Elina Vaska, Andzejs Lilientals, Edgars Samitis, Ruta Birgere, Indra Brike, Zane Jancevska, Rezija Kalnina, Janis Kirmuska, Sandra Klavina)

Neon Bull

Review preview for Neon Bull

Mascaro is completely in control of his material.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Story of a bull handler who dreams of a career in the world of fashion.

(Country: Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands; Year: 2015; Director: Gabriel Mascaro; Writer: Gabriel Mascaro; Stars: Juliano Cazarré, Maeve Jinkings, Vinícius de Oliveira, Alyne Santana, Josinaldo Alves, Carlos Pessoa, Samya De Lavor)

Full review See: Beefing up reality: Gabriel Mascaro interview about Neon Bull

Snap

A high school reunion threatens to throw a young woman's impending marriage off track.

(Country: Thailand; Year: 2015; Director: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee; Writer: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee; Stars: Toni Rakkaen, Waruntorn Paonil, Krisana Panpeng)

They Call Me Jeeg (Lo chiamavano Jeeg )

A petty thief, gifted with super powers, tries to chase down a gangster.

(Country: Italy; Year: 2015; Director: Gabriele Mainetti; Writer: Nicola Guaglianone, Nicola Guaglianone, Menotti; Stars: Claudio Santamaria, Luca Marinelli, Stefano Ambrogi, Maurizio Tesei, Ilenia Pastorelli, Francesco Formichetti, Daniele Trombetti, Antonia Truppo, Salvatore Esposito, Gianluca Di Gennaro)