Andamans Amazing: 12th Chennai International Film Festival

The 12th Chennai International Film Festival @ Woodlands, Woodlands Symphony, Casino, Inox-3 (Russian Cultural Centre)

December 18 - 25 2014

Time→ Date↓	1000	1200	1500	1700	1915
18th Thur.	Missed	Missed	The Dark Valley Austria \|2014\|114\|WC Das finstere Tal Dir. Andreas Prochaska Revenge thriller in a remote Alps village- 5 (F)	Opening Film In the name of my daughter France\|2014\|116 L'homme qu'on aimait trop Dire. Andre Techine Rich Mother vs Daughter -4
19th Friday	Honeymoon Czeh\|2013\|92\|WC Libanky Dir. Jan Hrebejk Psycho thriller- on wedding day - 4	Juliets Taiwan\|2010\|106\|WC Juliets Dir. Hou Ch-Jan, Shen-ko-Shang A triptych : stories of 3 characters of same name & their love affair, 1st sad, 2nd mad, 3rd gay - 2	Adomya - Life goes on Assamese\|2014\|99\|IP Dir.Bobby Sarma Baruah AIDS-inflicted widow's (thro' her lorry driver husband) plight/stigma & how she brings up her daughter as a doctor -3	I loved You so much Turkey\|2013\|90\|WC Dir. Orhan Tekeoglu Oyloe sevdim ki seni A family man rescues & falls in love with a Russian lady seeking a job in Turkey, but pushed into … - 4		Rabbit Proof Fence Australia\|2002\|94\|R-PN Dir. Philip Noyce The escapade of 3 (impure) aborigine kids along the 'fence' from separation home, back to their village. Real life story - 5+
20th Sat.	Marsella Spain\|2014\|95\|WC Marseille Dir. Belen Macias An adopted girl taken back by her drug-addict recovered mother to meet her father but hands over her to the foster parents - 5	West Germany\|2013\|102\|GCF Lagerfeue Dir. Christian Schochow Mother & son emigrate to West Germany but father really dead? - 4	Missed	Swapaanam Malayalam\|2013\|152\|IP Dir. Shaji N.Karun How the life of a chenda player falling in love with a Mohini Attam dancer ruins his life - 3		2030 Vietnam\|2014\|99\|WC Dir. Minh Nguyen-Vo NUOC (Water) Futuristic science film on global warming &rise of water level - 2
21st Sun.	Of Horses & Men Iceland\|2013\|81\|WC Dir. Benedikt Erlingsson Life in a remote village revolving around horses & people - 5+	Mateo Colambia\|2014\|86\|WC Dir. Mario Gamboa How a boy, mother & circle rise against his don uncle - 5	Fish & Cat Iran\|2013\|134\|CF-Iran Mahi va gorbeh Dir. Shahram Mokri Single-frame film. Kite flying camp & scouting for a person to be slaughtered for cooking. Dreary landscape, dead slow , poor acting- 1.	Behaviour Cuba\|2014\|108\|WC Conducta Dir. Ernfesto Daranas A teacher's reformist attitude, in particular towards a boy - 5+		Insecure France\|2014\|83\|CF-F Qui vive Dir. Marianne Tardieu A youth trying to become a male nurse works as a guard in a mall; to pacify harassing teenagers, gives off supply details for looting, leading to shootout & death. How he comes out … - 4
22nd Mon.	Swim Little Fish, Swim USA\|2013\|96\|WC Dir. Ruben Amar, Lola Bessis Wife a nurse, husband an idealist musician without steady income; Enter daughter (artist) of a famous painter mother who wants to prove her mettle-3	1000 Rupee Note Marathi\|2014\|88\|IP Ek Hazarachi Dir. Srihari Sathe A poor woman gets Rs. 1000 notes from a politician on election eve; travails on trying to spend it; caught by police to be counterfeit & their brutality - 5+	The New World Netherlands\|2013\|83\|WC Dir. Jaap van Heusden De nieuwe wereld An African immigrant at detention centre vs. the cleaning woman there .End - his application rejected & sent back - 5	Two days, One night Belgium\|2014\|94\|WC Deux jours, une nui Dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne A woman employee takes efforts to get back her job vs. bonus of all others - 5		Aadim Vichar Odiya\|2014\|115\|IP Dir. Sabyasachi Mohapatra Life in a tribal community vs. scheming Brahmin money lender .sometimes over dramatic (widow's plight) & gaudy, new dress of tribal people.- 3
23rd Tue.	Kidon Israel & France\|2013\|97\|WC Dir. Emmanuel Naccache Thriller -how former Mossad agents faked the killing of a terrorist and escaped with loot-5	The Enemy Within Greece\|2013\|107\|WC O ehthros mou Dir. Yorgos Tsemberopoulos An idealist garden supply store owner's home is ransacked; with his neighbour's help, identifies and avenges, leading to… - 4	December One Kannada\|2014\|97\|IP Dir. P. Seshadri How a good-intentioned publicity stunt of a CM staying & eating in the house of an AIDS patient's family (fact not known to the village) causes ostracization of the family - 5	Three Obsessions Bengali\|2014\|120\|IP Dir. Bauddhayan Mukherji Teenkahon. A triptych: The infatuation of a little boy, the affair with another's wife who had just died; police officer's affair with a dancer, who causes his wife's death - the degeneration of values and social fabric and language - 4		Oblivion Ethiopia\|2014\|99\|WC Difret Dir.: Zeresenay Medhari Based on true incident; a lawyer's fight against tribal customary kidnapping & marrying of girls - 5+
24th Wed.	Fantasia China\|2014\|85\|WC Dir. Wang Chao Sick factory father, heavy medical cost., daughter joins night club, son's fantasy -2	Heavenly Shift Hungary\|2013\|100\|CF-H Dir.Mark Bodzsa steni muszak An immigrant's ploys to bring in his lover also, by working in an ambulance-4	One for the Road Mexico\|2014\|91\|WC Dir. Jack Zagha Kababie En el ultimo trago How elderly friends help fulfill the last wish of their friend - 5	The Fool Russia\|2014\|116\|WC Dir. Yuriy Bykov Durak Corruption everywhere -burst ing pipeline in an old housing colony - a 'foolish' plumber's effort to save -5+		Obsessed Korea\|2014\|132\|WC In-gan-jung dok Love affair of a war veteran & his junior (who worships him)'s wife- 4
25th Thur.	The Owners Kazakhstan\|2014\|93\|WC Ukkili kamshat Dir. Adhilkhan Yerzhanov 3 children shift from city to ancestral house, occupied illegally by district officer's brother; eldest is jailed, sick sister dies, younger brother shoots bad guys. Very, very poor acting. No emotion at all - 1	On the Wings of Imagination Iran\|2014\|100\|CF-Iran Dir. Frahad Mehrampar Dramatist father & down syndrome daughter visit a far off village; mental conversation with dead wife; insight into life & story; daughter lost on the way in mist. Lovely landscape but slow moving- 2.	Blitzpatrollie S.Africa\|2013\|109\|WC Dir. Andrew Wessels Funny story of a cop & his mates -3	Fly, Dakota, Fly Japan\|2013\|109\|WC Tobe! Dakota Dir. Seiji Aburatani British Dakota, after WW II, lands on the beach of a remote Japan village; overcoming hatred, help fly Dakota - 5		Closing Ceremony + Winning Tamil Film (missed)

WC- World Cinema TC-Tamil Competition IP-Indian Panoramas CF-F- Country Focus France CF-H - Country Focus Hungary GCF-German Contemporary Films CF-Iran - Country Focus Iran FCF-French Contemporary Films R-PN-Retro of Phillip Noyce DRF-Dutch Romantic Films

My Ranking of Films - top to bottom - 5+ to 1

Total movies seen = 35/39

Rating No. of films Rating No. of films

5+ :6 3 :5

5 :9 2 :4

4 :9 1 : 2

On 12th CIFF - Watched a total of 35 films out of the 39 screenings.

This was my first experience of CIFF. Many thanks for the wonderful opportunity .

My aim was to see at least one good film in as many languages as possible.

As per my opinion, of the films I watched, 6 get 5+ ranking, 9 get 5 points,

another 9 get 4 points, 5 get 3 points, 4 get 2 points and 2 get 1 point.

The top 5+ films are - The Fool, Behaviour, Oblivion, 1000 rupee note,

Rabbit Proof Fence, Of Horses & Men.

Those that got 5 Points are: Mateo, December One, Fly, Dakota, Fly,

One for the Road, Kidon, Two Days One Night, The New World,

Marsella, The Dark Valley

The worst were: The Owners, Fish & Cat (got just 1 point in my ranking)

Pl. screen pure films like Behaviour, Oblivion, Mateo, The Fool, Rabbit Proof Fence,

1000 rupee note, December One, Two Days One Night, One for the road, The Dark

Valley, Fly Dakota Fly, The new world, etc., that can be enjoyed by the whole family,

without any embarrassment.

At the next CIFF, I would NOT like to watch slow moving films like The Owners or the Fish & Cat.

S. Balakrishnan, 98409 17608

krishnanbala2004@yahoo.co.in

Time→ Date↓	1000	1200	1500	1700	1915
18th Thur.	Missed	Missed	The Dark Valley Austria \|2014\|114\|WC Das finstere Tal Dir. Andreas Prochaska Revenge thriller in a remote Alps village- 5 (F)	Opening Film In the name of my daughter France\|2014\|116 L'homme qu'on aimait trop Dire. Andre Techine Rich Mother vs Daughter -4
19th Friday	Honeymoon Czeh\|2013\|92\|WC Libanky Dir. Jan Hrebejk Psycho thriller- on wedding day - 4	Juliets Taiwan\|2010\|106\|WC Juliets Dir. Hou Ch-Jan, Shen-ko-Shang A triptych : stories of 3 characters of same name & their love affair, 1st sad, 2nd mad, 3rd gay - 2	Adomya - Life goes on Assamese\|2014\|99\|IP Dir.Bobby Sarma Baruah AIDS-inflicted widow's (thro' her lorry driver husband) plight/stigma & how she brings up her daughter as a doctor -3	I loved You so much Turkey\|2013\|90\|WC Dir. Orhan Tekeoglu Oyloe sevdim ki seni A family man rescues & falls in love with a Russian lady seeking a job in Turkey, but pushed into … - 4		Rabbit Proof Fence Australia\|2002\|94\|R-PN Dir. Philip Noyce The escapade of 3 (impure) aborigine kids along the 'fence' from separation home, back to their village. Real life story - 5+
20th Sat.	Marsella Spain\|2014\|95\|WC Marseille Dir. Belen Macias An adopted girl taken back by her drug-addict recovered mother to meet her father but hands over her to the foster parents - 5	West Germany\|2013\|102\|GCF Lagerfeue Dir. Christian Schochow Mother & son emigrate to West Germany but father really dead? - 4	Missed	Swapaanam Malayalam\|2013\|152\|IP Dir. Shaji N.Karun How the life of a chenda player falling in love with a Mohini Attam dancer ruins his life - 3		2030 Vietnam\|2014\|99\|WC Dir. Minh Nguyen-Vo NUOC (Water) Futuristic science film on global warming &rise of water level - 2
21st Sun.	Of Horses & Men Iceland\|2013\|81\|WC Dir. Benedikt Erlingsson Life in a remote village revolving around horses & people - 5+	Mateo Colambia\|2014\|86\|WC Dir. Mario Gamboa How a boy, mother & circle rise against his don uncle - 5	Fish & Cat Iran\|2013\|134\|CF-Iran Mahi va gorbeh Dir. Shahram Mokri Single-frame film. Kite flying camp & scouting for a person to be slaughtered for cooking. Dreary landscape, dead slow , poor acting- 1.	Behaviour Cuba\|2014\|108\|WC Conducta Dir. Ernfesto Daranas A teacher's reformist attitude, in particular towards a boy - 5+		Insecure France\|2014\|83\|CF-F Qui vive Dir. Marianne Tardieu A youth trying to become a male nurse works as a guard in a mall; to pacify harassing teenagers, gives off supply details for looting, leading to shootout & death. How he comes out … - 4
22nd Mon.	Swim Little Fish, Swim USA\|2013\|96\|WC Dir. Ruben Amar, Lola Bessis Wife a nurse, husband an idealist musician without steady income; Enter daughter (artist) of a famous painter mother who wants to prove her mettle-3	1000 Rupee Note Marathi\|2014\|88\|IP Ek Hazarachi Dir. Srihari Sathe A poor woman gets Rs. 1000 notes from a politician on election eve; travails on trying to spend it; caught by police to be counterfeit & their brutality - 5+	The New World Netherlands\|2013\|83\|WC Dir. Jaap van Heusden De nieuwe wereld An African immigrant at detention centre vs. the cleaning woman there .End - his application rejected & sent back - 5	Two days, One night Belgium\|2014\|94\|WC Deux jours, une nui Dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne A woman employee takes efforts to get back her job vs. bonus of all others - 5		Aadim Vichar Odiya\|2014\|115\|IP Dir. Sabyasachi Mohapatra Life in a tribal community vs. scheming Brahmin money lender .sometimes over dramatic (widow's plight) & gaudy, new dress of tribal people.- 3
23rd Tue.	Kidon Israel & France\|2013\|97\|WC Dir. Emmanuel Naccache Thriller -how former Mossad agents faked the killing of a terrorist and escaped with loot-5	The Enemy Within Greece\|2013\|107\|WC O ehthros mou Dir. Yorgos Tsemberopoulos An idealist garden supply store owner's home is ransacked; with his neighbour's help, identifies and avenges, leading to… - 4	December One Kannada\|2014\|97\|IP Dir. P. Seshadri How a good-intentioned publicity stunt of a CM staying & eating in the house of an AIDS patient's family (fact not known to the village) causes ostracization of the family - 5	Three Obsessions Bengali\|2014\|120\|IP Dir. Bauddhayan Mukherji Teenkahon. A triptych: The infatuation of a little boy, the affair with another's wife who had just died; police officer's affair with a dancer, who causes his wife's death - the degeneration of values and social fabric and language - 4		Oblivion Ethiopia\|2014\|99\|WC Difret Dir.: Zeresenay Medhari Based on true incident; a lawyer's fight against tribal customary kidnapping & marrying of girls - 5+
24th Wed.	Fantasia China\|2014\|85\|WC Dir. Wang Chao Sick factory father, heavy medical cost., daughter joins night club, son's fantasy -2	Heavenly Shift Hungary\|2013\|100\|CF-H Dir.Mark Bodzsa steni muszak An immigrant's ploys to bring in his lover also, by working in an ambulance-4	One for the Road Mexico\|2014\|91\|WC Dir. Jack Zagha Kababie En el ultimo trago How elderly friends help fulfill the last wish of their friend - 5	The Fool Russia\|2014\|116\|WC Dir. Yuriy Bykov Durak Corruption everywhere -burst ing pipeline in an old housing colony - a 'foolish' plumber's effort to save -5+		Obsessed Korea\|2014\|132\|WC In-gan-jung dok Love affair of a war veteran & his junior (who worships him)'s wife- 4
25th Thur.	The Owners Kazakhstan\|2014\|93\|WC Ukkili kamshat Dir. Adhilkhan Yerzhanov 3 children shift from city to ancestral house, occupied illegally by district officer's brother; eldest is jailed, sick sister dies, younger brother shoots bad guys. Very, very poor acting. No emotion at all - 1	On the Wings of Imagination Iran\|2014\|100\|CF-Iran Dir. Frahad Mehrampar Dramatist father & down syndrome daughter visit a far off village; mental conversation with dead wife; insight into life & story; daughter lost on the way in mist. Lovely landscape but slow moving- 2.	Blitzpatrollie S.Africa\|2013\|109\|WC Dir. Andrew Wessels Funny story of a cop & his mates -3	Fly, Dakota, Fly Japan\|2013\|109\|WC Tobe! Dakota Dir. Seiji Aburatani British Dakota, after WW II, lands on the beach of a remote Japan village; overcoming hatred, help fly Dakota - 5		Closing Ceremony + Winning Tamil Film (missed)

Andamans Amazing

Manipur

Thursday, April 16, 2015

12th Chennai International Film Festival

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