Cine Europa 17 Films for the Weekend

The Cine Europa 17 film festival is down to its last two days with a parade of beautiful, thought-provoking films, all for free, from Europe. And so far, looking back at the week's progress, we here in Iloilo can confidently claim that it was such as success.

The festival continues this weekend, and one of the films to be featured is the British movie entitled "Metro Manila" directed by Sean Ellis which was UK's bet for last year's Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards (Oscar Awards). That is one movie I highly recommend. Cine Europa ran from September 30 till October 5, 2014 at the Cinematheque Iloilo, and it is free of charge. The FDCP Cinematheque is located at the B&C Square Bldg., Solis St., Iloilo City (near BPI Iznart, East West Bank Iznart, and Landbank Iznart). [hit the jump to continue]

Planet Ocean
Can we imagine a film that would change the way people look at the ocean? This Swiss documentary film, directed by Yann Arthus Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, which won Best Cinematography at the Blue Ocean Film Festival, is a plea for humanity to respect the world in which we live. (October 4, Saturday, 1:30 PM)

Die Andere Heimat - Chronik Einer Sehnsucht (Home from Home: Chronicle of a Vision)
This German drama film directed by Edgar Reitz, was screened out of competition at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. It won German Film Award for Best Feature Film, Best Direction, and Best Script. It is set in the 19th century, when many Europeans settled in South America to escape the poverty and famine of the time. The film focuses on two brothers and their hopes and dreams.
It is shot in black-and-white, but there are some colour sequences. (October 4, Saturday, 3:30 PM)

Iedereen Beroemd (Everybody's Famous!)
A songwriter who desperately wants his awkward and overweight teenage daughter to be heard. He kidnaps the most famous pop star in the country and holds her hostage, demanding to be heard by the music industry. Catching the attention of the media and the eyes of the nation, the songwriter and his daughter realize that the show must go on until everyone is famous. This Belgian comedy-drama directed by Dominique Deruddere, was nominated Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards. (October 5, Sunday, 1:30 PM)

Metro Manila
This British film, directed by Sean Ellis, set in the Philippines, and told from Filipino characters' point of view was nominated at the BAFTA Film Award for Best Film not in the English Language, Best Film and Best Director at the Amazonas Film Festival, and World Cinema – Dramatic, Sundance Film Festival. Seeking a brighter future in megacity Manila, Oscar Ramirez and his family flee their impoverished life in the rice fields of the northern Philippines. But the sweltering capital's bustling intensity quickly overwhelms them, and they fall prey to the rampant manipulations of its hardened locals. Oscar catches a lucky break when he's offered steady work for an armored truck company and gregarious senior officer Ong takes him under his wing. Soon, though, the reality of his work's mortality rate and the murky motives of his new partner force Oscar to confront the perils he faces in his new job and life. (October 5, Sunday, 3:30 PM)

Nasa (The Godmother)
This Romanian comedy directed by Jesús del Cerro and Virgil Nicolaescu, tells the story of Jennifer, an American teacher in Bucharest who takes on the local mob to prove her Romanian husband innocent after he is accused of money laundering. (October 5, Sunday, 5:30 PM)


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