Molodist Film Festival takes place in Kyiv on Oct. 19-27 and features dozens of movies. Seeing them all is impossible, and picking one randomly can easily lead to a spoiled night of “I-don’t-get-this-movie” feeling. In this spirit, the Kyiv Post offers its picks of the most interesting Molodist movies. Tickets to all screenings are Hr 20-50. Movies are shown in original languages with English and Ukrainian subtitles. Visit the festival’s website www.molodist.com/en for the full schedule and additional details.
Moebius (2013, South Korea)
The latest movie by South Korean art house provocateur Kim Ki-duk is the 19th film of his directing career. Ki-duk started screenwriting and directing in the mid-1990s and released his first movie, Crocodile, in 1996. His well-known works are “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring” (2003), “Samaritan Girl” (2004) and “Time” (2006). In 2012 Ki-duk won the Golden Lion for “Pieta,” a movie featuring incest. In “Moebius,” Ki-duk explores the nightmare life of a woman who suffers from her husband’s constant cheating. Mad from the hatred, the woman attacks her teenage son and castrates him. The movie was banned from screening in South Korea, but was screened out of competition at the 2013 Venice Film Festival. Now it makes its way to Molodist.
Moebius. Zhovten cinema (26 Kostyantynivska St.). Oct. 27. 7:30 p.m.
Ilo Ilo (2013, Singapore)
“Ilo Ilo,” (2013) the debut movie by director Anthony Chen from Singapore, won the Camera d’Or award at Cannes Film Festival in 2013, becoming the first ever Singaporean film to be awarded at this festival. In “Ilo Ilo,” a Singaporean family hires a Philippine maid. At first the woman, Teresa, is bullied by the family’s son, but later they develop a tender friendship that makes the boy’s mother jealous. The film combines social and family drama, and is certainly worth watching.
Ilo Ilo. Kyiv cinema (19 Velyka Vasylkivska St.). Oct. 25. 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27. 11 p.m.
Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei (2013, Poland)
Molodist will open with “Walesa. Man of Hope” by famous Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The opening screening is invitations-only, but it will be shown to the public on Oct. 20. The movie depicts the life of Lech Walesa, a Polish politician and president of Poland in the early 1990s. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his efforts in human rights protection. In the film, Wajda explores the private life of Walesa as well as his career as an activist. The Guardian reviewed the movie, writing that it has a “terrific force and irresistible storytelling gusto” and complimented the lead performance by Robert Wieckiewicz.
Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei. Zhovten cinema (26 Kostyantynivska St.). Oct. 20. 2:40 p.m.
La jaula de oro (2013, Mexico, Spain)
A Barcelona native, proud graduate of the American Film Institute Diego Quemada-Diez is a well known figure in the movie world. This year Molodist will be screening one of his best works: “La jaula de oro” (“The Golden Cage”). The short tells the story of three teenagers from Guatemala who are on their way looking for happiness in the U.S. The road that they will have to overcome is sometimes more than they can handle. “La jaula de oro” was represented at the Giffoni Film Festival 2013 and was a nominee in the Cannes Film Festival 2013.
La jaula de oro. Kyiv cinema (19 Velyka Vasylkivska St.). Oct. 26. 10 a.m.
Sarah préfère la course (2013, Canada)
Directed by Chloé Robichaud, the 25-year-old writer and director who has been a nominee at the London Film Festival, AFI Fest and even the Cannes Film Festival. “Sarah préfère la course” (“Sarah Prefers to Run”) is her first feature. The film paints a portrait of a young girl Sarah, who gets a spot on the running team at McGill University. In order to support herself, win grants and support programs, Sarah ends up marrying he friend Antoine. The pressure of living together and the couple’s hidden secrets catch them confused and at a crossroads. The young and promising director explores the issues that stand in the way of the young couple and offers viewers her vision.
Sarah préfère la course. Kyiv cinema (19 Velyka Vasilkivska St.). Oct. 23. 12 p.m.
