One of the most important turning points of the festival has arrived - the first competition films of the 25th edition will reach cinemas today.
The main competition program is opened by "Yanagawa", which looks at life, death and love between two brothers on a journey that creates meaning between the two. "The Man and the Cloud" has been chosen as the first screening in the debut competition program, where sudden surreality emerges from reality and changes the way we see the world: film poetry.
In addition, the films of today's cinema program offer a strong dose of excitement, ranging from the mysteries of death to the maze of power in prison, not to mention a few vintage communist cars.
Check out the schedule for Wednesday here.
The Cloud & the Man
Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
First Feature Competition. World premiere
Manik is a lonely middle-aged man whose days are filled with plants and ants he takes care of. But then there is a change in this man's dull life: he notices a cloud in the sky that seems to follow him all the time. Life acquires a new dimension, unknown to him. Is it friendship or love? A story of human loneliness in a city with an enchanting visual language and a dramatically refined style, where the heartfelt poetry of being finally meets crisp reality.
Yanagawa
Wednesday, Nov 17 at 6:15 pm, Coca-Cola Plaza
Official Selection. European premiere
"Yanagawa" is a film about two very different brothers who travel from Beijing to Yanagawa in Japan to meet a girl they both fell in love with when they were young. The situation is brought into sharp focus by the fact that one of the brothers has been diagnosed with cancer. The young man wants to make a quiet exit, but without knowing it, has a profound impact on the hearts of those around him. The story delves into the memories of the characters and helps to make sense of seemingly small events that play an important role in an individual's life.
With Or Without You
Nov. 17, Sunday at 6:15 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
Tommaso and Alice have been together for an eternity. When they invite their closest friends to dinner together, all the guests are more than sure that they will finally hear about the couple's marriage plans. Instead, the hosts surprisingly announce their decision to break up and do so as gradually and as painlessly as possible. But is it even possible to stay friends after such a long love story?
Drive My Car
Nov. 17, Wednesday at 8 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
Yusuke Kafuku is a theater actor and director who is happily married to his playwright wife. Unexpectedly, the woman dies, taking a secret with her. The film is based on a short story by the Japanese menu writer Haruki Murakami, published in the collection "Men without Women". "Drive My Car" won three awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI Critics Award. The film is also the Japanese nominee for this year’s Oscars..
The Inner Cage
Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 8:45 p.m., Coca-Cola Plaza
International premiere
The Mortana prison, built over the last century in a derelict Italian site, is being wound up. However, due to protracted bureaucracy, the transfer of prisoners has been suspended and a dozen detainees and some of the prison guards have been put on hold. During the making of the film, prisoners, prison guards as well as prison officers were interviewed, watching their relationship dynamics and roleplays. Di Costanzo is primarily interested in the prison as an absurd system that operates in a parallel reality far away from ordinary life.
The Cars We Drove into Capitalism
Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m., Apollo Kino Solaris
The documentary "The Cars We Drove into Capitalism" tells the nostalgic story of the Soviet car industry, when a car could only be bought with a specific permit, and it was a big challenge to get one. This humorous film reminds us of what a strange and absurd society we were forced to live in. At the same time, the cars were durable, each man was able to repair and improve them himself.