2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 11

Day 11 4/Jul/10 Sun

Mr Paz(s) left early in the morning, I got to the hotel at 9.20am. I gave them two films by Nuri Bilge Ceylan which Mr Doron Paz told me he hasn't seen, but he has seen Ceylan's last film "Three Monkeys" and liked it very much. I just thought these would be perfect films for them. So my mission finished once again pleasantly. I do hope to see them soon and maybe to visit Tel-Aviv someday.

Then the perfect timing allowed me to finally get to see Ms Bergroth's film. It's totally a very delicate film about human emotions. It was also a big shame that it didn't win any award in the competition.

Then I took the chance of the break to see two more films, "Au Revior Taipei" and "Bus 174." The former is an okay genre light comedy, and the latter is a very subjective but powerful Brazilian documentary.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 10

Day 10 3/Jul/10 Sat

Before meeting up with my guests, I caught the time to see "Women Without Men." It's a very beautiful film. Then I rushed to the hotel to farewell to Mr Korki who left at 3.30pm. One of the members of the Jury Mr Jose Wilker was leaving as well, so there were more people than I thought. I still got there in time and gave Mr Korki the movies I prepared him.

Because Mr Paz(s) needed time to work, so we only met up before their second QA session. It was a full screening, and the response of the audience was surely more passionate. Just like what I informed them beforehand, there were many people who wanted their autographs and to take pictures with them. It was an incredible experience for them and made them feel like big stars for the first time for sure. I'm sure they had a great time. Afterwards, they had their last dim sum meal at a Cantonese restaurant. Because of the pre-arrangement with their friend also from Israel in town, we said an early goodnight to each other.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 8

Day 8 1/Jul/10 Thu

Though we called it the night late, we still had to get up for another routine event in the schedule which was the introduction of Director Tsai Ming-Liang's new decoration art film "It's a Dream" in Taipei Fine Art Museum. But it was, of course, another publicity for them guests and the film festival. Afterwards, we got on the subway heading to the east side. We ended up getting off at Taipei City Hall Station and take a walk around 101 area. It's also somewhere every tourist would go in town. But we actually took more time sitting down, having cold drinks and chatting in Vie Show Cinema simply because it was so hot and humid.

We went back to the hotel area by bus and got more dumplings to eat. I was glad that they loved the beef roll in a pancake with spring onions and cucumber which I recommended. After we were stuffed, Mr Doron Paz went back to the hotel straight ahead. Then I accompanied Mr Yoav Paz to check out the camera street, but, disappointingly, the price wasn't lower than it is in Israel. But along the way, I got so many valuable informations from Mr Paz about great cameras that also can be used to film.

Later that evening, we went another must-see in town, Shihlin Night Market. But before that, I caught a screening of Mr Korki's film "Kick Off" at 19.20 which is also in the competition which I liked very very much. I introduced them some popular local snacks, especially oyster pancake, but they were too impressed with it, and also because it wasn't really as good as it was. They liked the sticky rice sausage with a regular sausage inside though. We took a walk along the shopping street, and they got some presents for their fiancee and girlfriend. The trip ended right passed midnight.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 9

Day 9 2/Jul/10 Fri

We met up early at 9.40am again for the screening of "R" at 10. It was a powerful film about prisoners in Denmark. We all liked it very much. Ms Bergroth was right about it. We stayed in the theater to discuss the film for quite a long time, so it was about time for the award ceremony when we left the building.

I was also nervous for all the filmmakers I've met and wish they could all win. But the result came out, neither Mr Paz(s) nor Ms Bergroth won, I felt very disappointed, but maybe still not as much as they did. But I was so so happy for Mr Korki who won the first prize.

Later that evening, there was an Australian party held for an Australian film screening, despite of being disappointed and tired, Mr Paz(s) still enjoyed themselves with the great food and drinks, but they still went back early-ish to get an early rest.

I stayed at the party and got to chat with my colleagues and Mr Korki who was in a good mood of the winning. Cos we were not really up for the film, we went on to get more drinks at the bar of the hotel where was cool and nice. We had such a great conversation about films. Mr Korki encouraged me so much that I felt really honored. I definitely want to see his first feature as soon as possible and of course as well as his next film. He's such a great guy, and I was glad that I stayed to get the chance of having this precious time.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 7

Day 7 30/Jun/10 Wed

I met up with both Mr Paz early at 9.40am for the checking of the projection of the screening in that very afternoon at 1.30pm. They were impressed by the preserved old style theater which is hard to get in the world nowadays, and they also felt honored that their film can be presented in it. After a short examination, I took them to a close spot to the theater, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, they were again impressed by the size and the structures of the whole lot. The weather still remained very hot and humid, so they've thought about getting back to the hotel and change before the screening. We stayed to see the film cos they want to know the reaction since it's the first time the film is shown in Asia. Though it was a daytime on a working day, the response of the audience was quite good. They soon realized that they have become popular even before they arrived here.

After the film, I, of course, took them to Ding Tai Fong for the experience they gotta have in Taipei. They loved dumplings so much that they required every meal to be dumplings while they were in town. But I am sure that they were especially impressed by the food in Ding. The funny thing was, they went to a mini hot pot store which is very common here by themselves the previous evening. As they were asking me about the food of which the took pictures, after I explained a few food, e.g. the pig's blood cube, they were so surprised that they couldn't tell what they were at all. We took a walk along the road which is full of shops and department stores, but we still had to hide in Eslite bookstore which has friendly a/c.

Because they were up for some bar scenes, I met them up later to the famous bar restaurant which turns into a club after late evening "Carnegie's," also because it's ladies' night every Wednesday. But odd enough, it was the most empty Wednesday night I've ever been to, though I've only been to the ladies' nights no more than five times. But they seemed to enjoy it after all, we even met up with Gretta, the producer Mr Ezra and the actor Mr AL-Jabouri of another film from Denmark in the competition "R." I believe we had a great time.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 6

Day 6 29/Jun/10 Tue

It's always sad to say goodbye but it had to come anyhow. I prepared some movies which they haven't seen for the two ladies from what I knew from our conversations. Ms Kirwan left at 2pm, and Ms Bergroth decided to stay in the hotel to work after checking out until her time to set off to the airport at 6. I got her the most famous dumplings from Ding Tai Fong back to the hotel. It would be a shame if she never got the chance to try it. I was delighted to keep her company and even surprisingly discovered more things we like in common. I truly wish nothing but the best for her next film and hope to meet her soon in the near future.

After Ms Bergroth's departure, I stayed in the hotel to wait for my next guests, Mr Yoav and Doron Paz from Israel. Gretta was very kind to pick them up for me, it made me feel even more embarrassed and grateful that their flight was delayed. They finally arrived at the hotel before 8pm. We had a brief hello and arranged the time to meet up the next day. It was good for me cos I felt pretty tired and needed some rest for the following days.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 5

Day 5 28/Jun/10 Mon

Ms Bergroth and I met up at the main theater in the morning for Ms Kirwan's film "Eamon." It was a lovely, quirky little film. Ms Kirwan was very convincing as an immature mother. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Then we followed the schedule to Director Tsai Ming-Liang's cafe in Taipei county right after to make more publicities for the ladies. Afterward, we went back to the main theater area to get something to eat and prepare for the second QA session. It went at least better than the first one, and I believe everyone in the audience was satisfied with the film. But I still remained one of the people who haven't seen it sadly.

We met up with Ms Kirwan and Lea again later in the evening. Because it was already after 9, the only place I could think of was a famous spicy hot pot store since Ms Kirwan is a big fan of spicy food. I was pleased that they both liked it though we didn't eat that much.

2010 Taipei Film Festival Journal: Day 4

Day 4 27/Jun/10 Sun

It had started to rain since the early afternoon, so I couldn't make it to the hotel as Ms Bergroth and I agreed. So we missed the screening of the HK movie "Crossing Hennesy" at 4.40pm. But we went to the screening of "Lebanon" at 5.30 instead which was very good and powerful. She was also interested in a Brazilian film "Through the Window" which seemed to be similar with her next film, but it let both of us down unfortunately. Even though, it was still a lovely evening to see films with her.

Kick Off

Kick Off (Shawkat Amin Korki, Iraq/Iran, 2010)

Iraq still remains an unstable country for its people even after the overthrowing of Hussein's government. But without being noticed by the press, people would never know the following story on news. Mr Korki inherited the neorealism of the acclaimed directors such as Kiarostami, Panahi and Majidi during his time living in Iran and made this powerful second feature film.

The story starts with a delightful scene in a deserted stadium which has become a village for refugees of different ethnicities. A guy is trying to hold a soccer game not only for the wealth of the people but also to encourage his little brother who lost his leg in an terrifyingly common accident.

There's also a girl from the next door who cares for the guy and his family. They have an affection towards to each other, but they both had to hold it back because of the difference of their ethnicity, so the tragic side of the story starts to appeal.

Despite of the well-going of the preparation, they had all sorts of problems coming along. Though the troubles didn't haunt them continuously, there's an inevitable fate coming right at them that they couldn't ever see. Life is just as unpredicted as the outcome of the story to the audience.

Mr Korki bravely made this film under a very difficult situation. and the result is very effective and accessible. The color and the shots were beautifully designed. But besides being a part of the neorealism wave, he put in the metaphors that were greatly used such as the films are seen early on and a horse in the end, and this is how his film appears so unique among the Iranian or Kurdish films that we are familiar with. He's talented for sure, but most of all, his sincerity can be felt every second in the film, and this is simply what a film needs eventually.

Phobidilia

Phobidilia (The Paz Brothers, Israel, 2010)

Isolation is definitely a modern syndrome. In this internet era, everyone can do almost everything at home without walking out of the house one single bit… except for the REAL interactions. This film debut by the talented Paz brothers from Israel is based on a novel under the same name by Izhar Harlev about this whole globalization impact on individuals.

Our hero here is a young guy with some kind of mental disorder in public places, so he had to build up a world of his own detached with outside world completely. This would seem like a perfect life style for many people living in the modern world, but if you think the carefree would last forever, think twice.

When the old housekeeper Grumps gave him an limited time notice to move out, the obstacles of his perfect life came along one after another. Under the pressure of not being able to keep the house, his life was also interrupted by a cable company saleswoman Daniela. But the once-seemed obstacles gradually became a cure for his anxiety of making contacts with real human beings.

On the other hand, after being disturbed, his affection towards to the lovely webcam girl Jessica also turned into paranoia and denial. He started to aware of the emptiness of the world he lives in and let Daniela invade his heart. Surprisingly, instead of being threatened, he felt a refreshing liberation.

Though there're subplots about the past which cause his syndrome and a hint of the holocaust shadows that are hard to get rid of from Grumps, this is more of a new Israeli cinema that concerns about the younger generations not only in Israel but worldwide. It has the vitality that we couldn't find in other Israeli films with serious themes. Does this mean a whole new Israeli direction has begun? At least we know the great filmmaking of the country has widely attracted our attentions.