Serious film lovers, rejoice with the return of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) for its 25th advent, from 13 – 24 May.
Going to the cinema remains one of the easiest leisure activities anyone can engage in for a little down time, but for sticklers of quality storytelling and visual arts free from the bind of commercialisation, blockbuster films don’t quite cut it on the occasion. With the selection of 29 films from 29 European Union countries, across various genres, arthouse cinema buffs will have a field day at the festival, which promises to be bigger and better.
The 25th EUFF will be held at Golden Village Suntec City for the duration of the festival.
Patronising all 29 screenings is a near-impossible feat, so we’ve scoped out the film listings and selected 7 films that would be criminal for any film lover to miss.
1. The Connection (France)
There are few instances in cinematic history where crime films centered on drug busts and organized crime fall short. The Connection combines those winning elements with an adrenaline-racing storyline about a young magistrate who takes on a personal vendetta against heroin exporters and gangster organisation, The Connection, run by an untouchable boss. The magistrate soon comes to realize that ambition comes with a hefty price, and that he must adapt in order to survive.
The Connection will be screening on 23 May, 4 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 1.
2. The Wonders (Italy/Switzerland)
The fraying threads of rural tradition suffer greater strains for a family of bee-keepers from the countryside who are fighting to preserve conventional agriculture in The Wonders. A television show competition visits from the city and awards the family a luxury cruise vacation and cash prize for being the ‘Most Traditional Family’, giving them a summer where everything changes.
The Wonders will be screening on 17 May, 4.30 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 1.
3. Dream Team 1935 (Latvia)
The tireless spirit and determination of sportsmen always make for grappling tales that can be appreciated by generic viewers, and not just those who worship the sport. Dream Team 1935 regales the inspiring trials and triumphs of the homonymous Latvian basketball team and their coach, Valdemars Baumanis during the first European Basketball Championship in Geneva, 1935, celebrating their amazing feat against impossible odds.
Dream Team 1935 will be screening on 16 May, 4.30 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 4.
4. Mr Hublot (Luxembourg)
Mr Hublot is a family-friendly animated short film about the OCD-ridden titular character that lives in a small apartment in a crowded steampunk city, who finds a Robot Pet dog in the garbage disposal, and takes it home. The dog soon grows beyond the capacity of the apartment, and Mr Hublot struggles to adapt to the sudden invasion. This dialogue-free film depicts the idiosyncrasies of being afraid of change when existing in a world that advances because machines reign supreme.
Mr Hublot will be screening on 21 May, 7 p.m., at GV Suntec City Hall 4.
5. Ida (Poland)
Awarded an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Ida revitalizes the black-and-white films of yesteryears through the story of a novitiate nun on the cusp of taking her vows in Poland, 1960, barely two decades after World War II. She discovers a dark family secret dating to the years of the Nazi Occupation, and visits her only living relative for answers before disappearing into the monastic life. Embroiled in the process to unravel her past, Ida begins to deviate from the path she has chosen for her future, and the discovery of answers begets more questions than bargained for.
Ida will be screening on 23 May, 9.30 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 1.
6. Sunshine on Leith (United Kingdom)
Adapted from a musical of the same name, Sunshine on Leith is a jubilant production about the strength that can be found at home. Ex-soldiers Davy and Ally are struggling to regain their footing in society and within their families in Edinburgh after returning from war in Afghanistan, and Sunshine on Leith depicts their everyday tribulations. Featuring music from pop-folk band, The Proclaimers, the film is a heartfelt take on self-discovery.
Sunshine on Leith will be screening on 22 May, 9.30 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 1.
7. To See the Sea (Czech Republic)
A story told through the eyes of 12 year old boy, Tomas, To See the Sea begins when Tomas gets a camera and begins recording the nuances that he witnesses in the daily lives of his family members and friends. What Tomas sees through the camera’s lens begins to take a sordid tone when he unveils a hidden side to the people he loves, and through courage, he and his best friend, Harris discover an unpredictable conclusion.
To See the Sea will be showing on 17 May, 2 p.m., GV Suntec City Hall 3.
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