IFFR 2019 Reviews

Yay:

• Red Film (as a a part of Ammodo Tiger Short Competition 2 - absolutely wonderful aesthetics and theoretical background about the perception of the color Red)
• Aren't you happy? (It describes the odyssey of a woman in postmodern times and translates feministic theories in an ironic way with odd humor - either you love it or you hate it. IMHO a definite recommendation. One of the very few contemporary german movies that actually have a own visual language.)
• The Mountain (I have to admit that I was totally unaware of Rick Alverson, but with this movie he got all my attention. The film is loosely based on lobotomy in the 1950s. Epic visuals and awesome acting by Denis Lavant. And it has Jeff Goldblum.)
• Out of Tune (funny danish story about a multimillionaire who has to go to prison and struggles to maintain power in there)
• Beats (Great movie about friendship and the clash of rave-culture and Scottish police in the early 90s. Personally I could relate a lot to the topic)
• Climax (Very disturbing movie, but superb executed. From dolly-shots to the dancers everything was done on a high level. I'm happy that this film plays with the viewers imagination rather than showing explicit graphic violence. Finally Gaspar Noé was able to do a good movie after Enter The Void and Love. After seeing so many films at the IFFR I think this is the only really outstanding experimental film of all)
• Hail Satan? (Hilarious and insightful Documentary about the controversial religious movement of the Satanic Temple that turn out to have a non-theocratic core. It makes you think about the not-fully-existing "secularity" of the United States.)
• The Spy Gone North (Very interesting South-Korean Thriller about the tension between South and North Korea in the late 1990s. Nice camera work and acting)
• X&Y (Anna Odell explores the scriptless moviemaking with various Scandinavian actresses/actors. The line between reality and fiction really blurs in this movie. Crazy concept and very entertaining.)

OK:

• this country is lonely (as a part of Hashtag No Filter)
• I've Never Been a Fisherman (as a part of Hashtag No Filter)
• Hi I Need to Be Loved (as a part of Hashtag No Filter)
• Little Lower Than the Angels (as a part of Hashtag No Filter)
• Els dies que vindran (This film is about a couple that is about to embrace their unplanned parenthood. Nothing too fancy, but nice entertainment since it is very "down to earth")
• Out of Sight, Out of Mind (funny movie about Millenials and their First World Problems. But could be a lot shorter. It starts to drag when they start the water fasting and vomit all the time)
• Bloody Mary (The story about a female cartoonist that is struggling to live up to her first big success and therefore looses herself in binge drinking. It is nice to see the actress Susanne Wolff go crazy in her regular life in Amsterdam. It definitely lives of its fresh ideas, but later on lacks in stringency.)
• Cities of last things (Chinese film with an interesting non-linear narration)
• BNK48: Girls don't cry (Interesting documentary about the Thai pop-group BNK48 and its tough selection method. Could've been a bit shorter)
• Dreissig (The director tries to convey the journey of a group in their 30s throughout one night. Nice cinematography, but sometimes the story could pick up more pace)

Nay:

• The Wind (its non-linear narrative structure was interesting. Good acting from Caitlin Gerard, but the story of the film is poor, which is why this Western suddenly becomes a super silly Horror-Flick)
• The Harvest (Nice photography about Georgia's production of bitcoins, but it is lacking narration. Could have a lot more potential with actual background information about the shots)
• Koko-di Koko-da (Depressing movie. It has nice stop-motion animation sequences that are very nicely done.)
• High-Life (Thin plot with lazy writing. Also the setdesign and costumes are very disappointing. The only good thing in this movie is that they cast Lars Eidinger, but he gets too little screentime.)
• That Cloud Never Left