Does placing unwavering trust eventually pave the way for a painful downfall? Today's cinematic selection unveils a intricate tapestry of familial bonds, interwoven with unconditional love, concealed secrets, and authentic revelations. Below, discover recommendations for Thursday's film lineup, distinguished by its compelling force and intimacy that seeps beneath the surface, leaving no viewer untouched.
With a stellar script and direction, "Endless Summer Syndrome" delves into the nuances of a world brimming with contemporary liberalism, where love blossoms amidst social tolerance, transcending erstwhile moral confines. Offering a captivating and original perspective, "Ten Months" explores the ever-evolving forms of family models, delving into the complexities of motherhood from a psychological vantage point.
However, in the guise of children, two characters embark on a quest for unconditional love. In "The Fisherman's Daughter," an endeavor unfolds to discover acceptance and love within the heart of a father residing in a small conservative village. Here, he must grapple with the challenge of embracing his son in the role of a daughter. Love's magnitude is also weighed in kilograms and scrutinized in the calorie counts on Saki Omura's plate, a student who, in the film "Ben-Joe," unravels the nature and origins of eating disorders emerging in the recesses of the mind under societal pressures.
The evening unfolds with a masterful blend of music, dance, and poetry in "Once Again," a whimsical and imaginative exploration where childhood traumas, beauty, and pain converge with love and street dance. However, as Christmas approaches, today's documentary, "Life and Death of a Christmas Tree," grounds us in harsh reality, exposing the hidden facets of the seemingly enchanting and idyllic Christmas tree industry.
Explore the entire Thursday cinema schedule of PÖFF here!
Dir: Kaveh Daneshmand, countries: Czechia and France
November 16 at 21.15, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Can the wellness of the welfare society become bad when saturated? “Endless Summer Syndrome” explores the grey areas of the modern world bursting with liberalism, where love flourishes with social tolerance and is far from the former moral boundaries. It is a journey that plays with the viewer's inner judgment and raises uncomfortable questions about everything we consider love and freedom of choice.
Dir: Idan Hubel, country: Israel
November 16 at 16.00, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
In “Ten Months”, the filmmaker shows one of the strongest desires, a woman's innocent wish to be a mother and a series of events that challenge her on the way. After years of failed attempts, Merav finally succeeds in getting pregnant. But the pregnancy comes with unexpected news. To complete the pregnancy, Merav needs the support of her family, who refuses to accept the pregnancy and tries to terminate it with all means possible.
Once Again (for the very first time)
Dir: Boaz Yakin, country: USA
November 16 at 18.15, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
A hip-hop-infused surreal fantasy opens a magical door into the dreamlike experience of life and memory. Gravely punished for killing, breakdancer and rapper DeRay is afraid of nothing and no one. He never reached the top but is guilty of everything. The truly American soulful indie broadly jumps back and forth in a parallel mysterious universe with astonishing pulsing energy, highlighted by top-notch acrobatic choreography.
Dir: Edgar de Luque Jácome; countries: Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Dominican Republic
November 16 at 18.45, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Samuel lives on an isolated island somewhere in the Caribbean as part of a group of fishermen who free-dive to catch their prey – an art that is slowly dying out due to everyone moving to the mainland to follow their dreams. This is a story of second chances – while we can’t change what happened in the past, we can focus on the future and create a new foundation. While we not only dive into the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, but we are also immersed in a beautiful story of family relations, diversity, acceptance, and love.
Dir: Akira Iwamatsu, country: Jaapan
November 16 at 21.00, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Saki Omura (Nonoka Ishikawa) is a college student who lives a seemingly peaceful life with her family. Still, behind her smiles, she is tormented by a sense of rejection and isolation. One day, she meets Rena and is fascinated by her appearance. She wishes to become thin and beautiful like Rena and be loved by everyone, but the relationship between Saki and Rena deteriorates. Ben-Joe” is presented entirely through Saki's eyes and is a soliloquy of addiction, undercurrents of society and healing that leaves the spectators in disbelief.
Dir: Nick Parish, country: United Kingdom
November 16 at 20.30, Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere with the filmmakers
Nicholas Parish creates a cinematic experience that is not comparable to our usual cinema visits. We witness a tense family conflict between a father and his two adult children. While we see the father’s regular farm life, we only hear his daughter’s and son’s phone calls and conversations. This stunning arrangement works thanks to the brilliant script written by Nico Mensinga, magnificently performed by two of Britain’s finest contemporary actors: Emily Beacham and Rory Kinnear.