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Venice Film Festival · 2021

Venice Film Festival 2021

Critics' Week

Programme

9 films · 3 reviews

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Detours

A sprawling meditation on the choreography of bodies in Moscow's urban landscape, Detours depicts a new way of dealing illicit drugs via the Darknet, the layering of the physical and the virtual realities, as well as a poetics, and politics, of space.

(Country: Russia, Netherlands; Year: 2021; Director: Ekaterina Selenkina; Writer: Ekaterina Selenkina; Stars: Denis Urvantsev, Denis Urvantsev)

Dogworld

In the near future, in a ghost town surrounded by barbed wire that no one, not even the police, dares to enter, he poorest are left fighting for survival, while a gangs are competing for territory. Two 13-year-old orphans, who grew up together, dream of joining one of the gangs.

(Country: Italy; Year: 2021; Director: Alessandro Celli; Writer: Alessandro Celli, Antonio Leotti; Stars: Alessandro Borghi, Ludovica Nasti, Barbara Ronchi, Josafat Vagni, Dennis Protopapa, Federica Torchetti, Giuliano Soprano, Federica Torchetti, Adriano Novelli, Lavinia Novelli)

Erasing Frank

Review preview for Erasing Frank

While it's hard to say that Fabricius's film is completely fresh, it is undoubtedly up-to-date and effective.

Mateusz Tarwacki · 3.5 out of 5
The singer of a banned punk band is taken to a psychiatric hospital in an attempt to silence him.

(Country: Hungary; Year: 2021; Director: Gábor Fabricius; Writer: Gábor Fabricius; Stars: Benjamin Fuchs, Andrea Waskovics, Kincsö Blénesi, István Lénárt, András Pál, Zsolt Zayzon, Gerlóczy Zsigmond, Iványi Péter, Levente Orbán, Ildikó Bánsági, Krisztián Peer, Mihály Vig, Lajos Szücs, Andrea Ladányi, János Szirtes)

Full review

Karmalink

Review preview for Karmalink

This film bears strange and delightful fruit without affecting its sweetness, its surprise.

Andrew Robertson · 5 out of 5
In a near-future world, a boy and his friend try to untangle the mystery of his past-life dreams.

(Country: Cambodia, US; Year: 2021; Director: Jake Wachtel; Writer: Jake Wachtel, Christopher Larsen; Stars: Srey Leak Chhith, Leng Heng Prak, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Cindy Sirinya Bishop, Rous Mony, Sveng Socheata, Sokvan So, Sreng Chear, Samneang Chea, No Mo, Ty Li, Tommy Henderson, Rando Henderson, Savern Oum, Pisey Pen)

Full review

Opening film

The Last Chapter

A man prepares to move for the last chapter of his life.

(Country: Italy, France; Year: 2021; Director: Gianluca Matarrese; Writer: Gianluca Matarrese, Nico Morabito)

Closing film

Mother Lode

Magic realist drama that follows a moto-taxi driver as he attempts to seek his fortune as a miner.

(Country: France, Italy, Switzerland; Year: 2021; Director: Matteo Tortone; Writer: Mathieu Granier, Matteo Tortone; Stars: José Luis Nazario Campos, Damian Segundo Vospey, Maximiliana Campos Guzman)

The Salamander (A Salamandra)

A woman who has been caring for her father attempts to reinvent herself.

(Country: Germany, France, Brazil; Year: 2021; Director: Alex Carvalho; Writer: Thomas Bidegain, Alex Carvalho, Alix Delaporte, Jean-Christophe Rufin; Stars: Marina Foïs, Maicon Rodrigues, Anna Mouglalis, Bruno Garcia, Allan Souza Lima, Thardelly Lima, Buda Lira, Suzy Lopes, Ane Oliva, Marina Foïs, Maicon Rodrigues, Anna Mouglalis, Bruno Garcia, Allan Souza Lima, Thardelly Lima)

They Carry Death (Eles Transportan A Morte)

1492. Among the crew captained by Christopher Columbus, travel three men who should have been dead by now. They have managed to avoid their sad fate by participating in this uncertain journey. The film follows the trip.

(Country: Spain, Colombia; Year: 2021; Director: Samuel M Delgado, Helena Girón; Writer: Samuel M Delgado, Helena Girón; Stars: Xoán Reices, Valentín Estévez, David Pantaleón, Sara Ferro, Nuria Lestegás, Xoán Reices, Valentín Estévez, David Pantaleón, Sara Ferro, Nuria Lestegás)

Zalava

Review preview for Zalava

Pourfaraj is superb in the lead, his Massoud stiff-backed, primly moustached, yet achingly human.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
In 1978, the inhabitants of a small village claim there is a demon among them. When sergeant arrests the exorcist, the villagers fear and anger escalates.

(Country: Iran; Year: 2021; Director: Arsalan Amiri; Writer: Arsalan Amiri, Tahmineh Bahramalian, Ida Panahandeh; Stars: Navid Pourfaraj, Pouria Rahimi Sam, Baset Rezaei, Hoda Zeinolabedin, Navid Pourfaraj, Pouria Rahimi Sam, Baset Rezaei, Hoda Zeinolabedin)

Full review