A touch of Europe

2009/11/09

BIBI NURSHUHADA RAMLI

THE 10th European Union Film Festival from Thursday to Nov 22 will showcase 19 films from 15 countries.

With a great line-up of Oscar-nominated as well as award-winning films, dramas, documentaries, thrillers and children’s adventure, the festival, in cooperation with Golden Screen Cinemas, provides a platform for Malaysians to be exposed to European culture.

“This year’s European Union Film Festival represents Europe’s best productions and covers a range of subjects for viewers of all ages,” said ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia and acting president of the European Union, Helena Sångeland during a recent press conference.

Screened at GSC Mid Valley Megamall, GSC 1 Utama and GSC Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the films will be shown in their original languages with English subtitles.
Each movie ticket will entitle the holder to take part in the European Union Film Festival Lucky Draw.

All tickets are priced at RM5, except for In The Boundless City, which will be free of charge.

Tickets can be purchased at the screening locations or online at the GSC website at www.gsc.com.my, while tickets for In The Boundless City must be redeemed on the day of screening.

Lucky draw sessions will be held during the festival opening ceremony tomorrow (at GSC Pavilion KL), Saturday and Sunday (at GSC Pavilion), and Nov 21 and 22 (at GSC Mid Valley).

More than RM30,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs, including hotel stay vouchers and Pangkor Island weekend vouchers.
One of the movies will include Swedish Golden Globe nominee Everlasting Moments (2008). It tells the story of a young working class woman who wins a camera at a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her life.

The Polish film Katyn (2007), nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009, is a powerful historical drama about the execution of Polish officers by Soviet authorities in the Katyn forest during World War II.
Other films include:

● Lapislazuli (Austria, 2006, Children’s Film) — An unlikely friendship forms between a Neanderthal boy who is frozen and brought back to life by a fallen meteorite and a girl who has run away from her adoptive family.
Starring Clarence John Ryan and Julia Krombach.

Gilles (Belgium, 2005, Fiction) — Aspiring football player Gilles’ life falls apart when his father unexpectedly dies.

Starring Ilya Van Malderghem and Filip Peeters.

Night Owl (Czech Republic, 2008, Drama) — After breaking up with her boyfriend, Ofka ponders about the important things in life while turning a blind eye to the feelings of her best friend.

Starring Martha Issova and Jiri Madl.

With Your Permission (Denmark, 2007, Comedy) — Just when his marriage is about to fall apart and his job is in jeopardy, Jan is sent for group therapy which turns his life around.

Starring Lars Brygmann and Sidse Babett Knudsen.

● Christmas Story (Finland, 2007, Drama) — This touching story tells of how Santa Claus came to be Santa.

Starring Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Kari Väänänen and Minna Haapkylä.

● Those Who Remain (France, 2007, Drama) — To cope with the guilt of being well and alive, Bertrand and Lorraine help each other live, laugh and enjoy their love for each other.

Starring Vincent Lindon and Emmanuelle Devos.

● And Along Come Tourists (Germany, 2007, Drama) — Sven is sent to take care of an unpleasant old man who refuses to leave the Auschwitz concentration camp and gradually begins to understand the history behind it.
Starring Alexander Fehling, Ryszard Ronczewski and Barbara Wysocka.

● Cherry Blossoms (Germany, 2007, Drama) — After his wife’s death, Rudi is determined to live the life that she had dreamt of.
Starring Elmar Wepper and Hannelore Elsner.

● Giovanna’s Father (Italy, 2008, Drama) — The bond between a father and his daughter who is sent to a psychiatric hospital for murder, strengthens.
Starring Silvio Orlando, Ezio Greggio and Francesca Neri.

● Charlotte: A Royal At War (Luxembourg, 2008, Documentary) — Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg was a “propagandist in pearls” who used personal charm and the power of the radio to reach her people in their darkest hour.
Starring Josephine Coleman, Steve Roberts, Hannah Cartwright and Charlotte Williams.

● Hannahannah (The Netherlands, 2007, Romantic Comedy) — Hannah tries to avoid her parents’ wedding anniversary, but her boyfriend forces her to go and proves to be an ideal son-in-law.

Starring Maria Kraakman, Antonie Kamerling and Janni Goslinga.

● ZOO Rangers In South America (The Netherlands, 2007, Children’s Adventure) — The ZOO Rangers are asked to find a rare species of butterfly in South America. However, there is a sinister reason forthe order.
Starring Thomas Berge and Peggy Jane de Schepper.

● The Big Animal (Poland, 2000, Comedy Drama) — A bank clerk awakens one morning to find a camel outside his kitchen window.
Starring Jerzy Stuhr, Anna Dymna and Dominika Bednarczyk.

15 (Romania, 2005, Drama) — This movie is about a soon-to-be-married couple during the Romanian revolution and a French journalist who comes to Romania 15 years later in search of his long-lost child.
Starring Maia Morgenstern and Cristi Iacob.

The Fountain For Suzanne (Slovakia, 1985, Romance Drama) — Based on Eleonora Ga parová´s novel of the same title, the film tells a story about the life and troubles of young people living in the city.

Starring Eva Vejmelková, Jirí Bábek and Katarína ?ugarová.

In The Boundless City (Spain, 2002, Drama) — Victor, who visits his ailing father at a nursing home, feels sorry for the old man and tries to help him escape from the home.
Starring Leonardo Sbaraglia, Fernando Femán-Gómez and Geraldine Chaplin.

Wonderful And Loved By All (Sweden, 2007, Drama) — Things turn out differently when the chance Isabella thought would change her life for the better, comes.

Starring Martina Haag and Nicolaj Coster-Waldau.
Sweden, as the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, is organising this event in co-operation with the Delegation of the European Commission to Malaysia.

For details, visit the European Union Film Festival website at www.euff2009.com and the GSC website at www.gsc.com.my.