San Sebastian Film Festival

Latest reviews

• 
  Tigers

  Review preview for Tigers

  There is no flab in the telling of this story, nor any excess sentiment either.

  Devastated when he discovers the effects of the infant formula he's peddling, a young salesman takes on a multinational corporation.
• 
  Casanova Variations

  Review preview for Casanova Variations

  How much of this is about Casanova? How much about Malkovich and his continuing public self-examination?

  Two stories about the legendary seducer.
• 
  Cain's Children

  Review preview for Cain's Children

  There are really interesting stories here and Gerö's unwillingness to shape them into more conventional narratives of corruption or redemption is a strength.

  The stories of three men who committed terrible crimes as children.
• 
  Limbo

  Review preview for Limbo

  Confidently slow burning and comfortable with moving at its own speed.

  A connection grows between a teenager and a newly arrived teacher.
• 
  Samba

  Review preview for Samba

  The film has all the bullet points for audience approval and yet somehow falls short

  Samba migrated to France ten years ago from Senegal, and has since been plugging away at various lowly jobs...
• 
  Li'l Quinquin

  Review preview for Li'l Quinquin

  Dumont - for all the outlandishness of the film in other aspects - prioritises a messy realism over straightforward likeability in relation to his protagonists.

  A blackly comic murder mystery develops in a small town in northern France.
• 
  The Lesson

  Review preview for The Lesson

  Ethical acts are met with punishment and moments of kindness are just fleeting enough to make the next torque of tension feel all the more severe.

  A provincial schoolteacher is faced with tough choices due to mounting debts.
• 
  The Tribe

  Review preview for The Tribe

  Slaboshpytskiy goes to show, first through Anna and then the actions of Sergey that some transactions can hold a lot more - and worse - than we have bargained for.

  A deaf teenager runs into gang trouble at a boarding school.
• 
  Futuro Beach

  Review preview for Futuro Beach

  If you're willing to go with the flow, this study of emotion develops and maintains a sensual and sensory intensity.

  A lifeguard finds love in an unexpected place.
• 
  The Tale Of Princess Kaguya

  Review preview for The Tale Of Princess Kaguya

  The relatable, compassionately told story should easily appeal to both adults and younger folk.

  The story of a beautiful princess found in bamboo who goes on to be wooed by the Emperor of Japan.

A–Z of San Sebastian Film Festival 2014 reviews →

Features

• The tale of Tigers
  Denis Tanovic on his film about the Pakistan baby milk scandal
• A grand connection
  Hermes Paralluelo talks about capturing his grandparents on camera for docufiction Not All Is Vigil.
• Girl power hits the streets of Paris
  Céline Sciamma on sex, desire and friendship.
• Romain discovers his inner femme
  Interview with Roman Duris about François Ozon’s The New Girlfriend.
• Something blue, part 1
  Mathieu Amalric on shoes, bees and The Blue Room.
• Where time begins, where space ends
  Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth on working with Nick Cave on 20,000 Days On Earth.

News

• Magical Girl triumphs in San Sebastian
  Cedric Kahn's Wild Life takes speical jury prize.
• Denzel receives Donostia
  Washington on the red carpet at San Sebastián
• Ozon, Petzold and Hansen-Løve compete in San Sebastian
  Film festival announces Golden Shell contenders and Dorothy Arzner retrospective.
• Denzel Washington's The Equalizer to open San Sebastian
  US actor will receive Donostia Lifetime Achievement award.