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San Sebastian Film Festival · 2011

San Sebastian Film Festival 2011

Zabaltegi-New Directors

The 59th edition of San Sebastian Festival will present in the Zabaltegi-New Directors section titles from: Iceland, Japan, Israel, Germany, South Korea, Chile, the USA, Austria and the UK. These join the three Spanish movies already announced: Ignacio Ferreras’ Arrugas (Wrinkles), Sandra Sánchez’ Tralas luces (Behind the Lights), and Telmo Esnal’s Urte berri on, amona!

All will contend for the Kutxa-New Directors Award along with another three titles in the Official selection: Americano by Mathieu Demy (France), Rampart by Oren Moverman (USA) and Take This Waltz by Sarah Polley (Canada).

Programme

9 films · 3 reviews

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A Beautiful Valley (Emek Tiferet)

The passing of time seen through the eyes of an old woman who watches the kibbutz that has always been her home transform into a completely different reality.

(Year: 2011; Director: Hadar Friedlich; Writer: Hadar Friedlich; Stars: Gili Ben-Ozilio, Batia Bar, Hadar Avigad, Eli Ben-rey)

By The Fire (Sentados Frente Al Fuego)

The moving love story between a man and a woman afflicted with a terminal illness.

(Year: 2011; Director: Alejandro Fernández Almendras)

Either Way (Á Annan Veg)

Review preview for Either Way

A gentle, enjoyable little drama - a very comfortable and concise 80 minutes.

Scott Macdonald · 3 out of 5
Finnboeg and Alfred paint lines on a road in this gentle comedy. Re-released to coincide with David Gordon Green's remake Prince Avalanche.

(Country: Iceland; Year: 2011; Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson; Writer: Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson; Stars: Hilmar Guðjónsson, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson) , Official site

Full review

Ending Note

This heartrending documentary follows the last months in the life of the director’s father, based on the diary he left after having been diagnosed with incurable cancer.

(Year: 2011; Director: Mami Sunada; Writer: Mami Sunada)

The River Used to Be a Man (DER FLUSS WAR EINST EIN MENSCH)

The story of a young German man lost in Africa.

(Year: 2011; Director: Jan Zabeil; Writer: Alexander Fehling, Jan Zabeil; Stars: Alexander Fehling, Obusentswe Dreamar Manyim, Nx'apa Motswai, Sariqo Sakega, Babotsa Sax'twee)

Scars (Hiung-Thu)

Hiung-Thu (Scars) is the second film from the South Korean Lim Woo-seong, a dedicated approach to the emotional sufferings of a woman with an unfaithful husband.

(Country: South Korea; Year: 2011; Director: Lim Woo-seong)

Silver Tongues

Review preview for Silver Tongues

Fascinating throughout but often difficult to watch.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
A couple travel across country taking on different roles and presenting challenges to strangers.

(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Simon Arthur; Writer: Simon Arthur; Stars: Lee Tergesen, Enid Graham, Tate Ellington, Emily Meade, Harvey Evans, Portia, Adam LeFevre, Rosa Arredondo, Amy Gaipa, Harley Kaplan, Johann Carlo, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Liz Walsh, Judith Knight Young, Joshua Paled) , Official site

Full review See: San Sebastian Film Festival: Silver Tongues, Lola, Finisterrae

Still Life (Stillleben)

A son's disturbing observation threatens to tear a family apart.

(Year: 2011; Director: Sebastian Meise; Writer: Sebastian Meise, Thomas Reider; Stars: Christoph Luser, Daniela Golpashin, Anja Plaschg, Roswitha Soukup, Fritz Hörtenhuber) , Official site

Wild Bill

Review preview for Wild Bill

The steady - but never sluggish - pace allows the characters to live and breathe.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A fresh-out-of-jail ex-con, finds himself landed with taking care of his kids... whether they like it or not.

(Country: UK; Year: 2011; Director: Dexter Fletcher; Writer: Tim Cole, Dexter Fletcher, Danny King; Stars: Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Liz White, Sammy Williams, Leo Gregory, Andy Serkis)

Full review See: Interview with Charlie Creed-Miles about Wild Bill , Interview with Dexter Fletcher about Wild Bill , San Sebastian Film Festival: Wild Bill, Le Havre, Los Marziano, Rampart, Extraterrestrial