European 2023 Archives - Page 3 of 3

Along Came Love

1947. On the Normandie beach, Madelene, a waitress and a young mother, meets Francois, a rich and pampered student. The two young people who are hiding dark secrets in their pasts, find each other. They just want to leave the past behind, but you can’t run away from yourself or your desires.
Katell Quillévéré, one of France’s current leading directors, provides her viewers with a periodic drama about an alliance that forms through shame, pain and escapism into a made up love story. This is also a film about the relationship between a mother and her son, who is a constant reminder of the past she wants to forget.
“Along Came Love” is a film about an alternative family, a family of choice, about lonely people who are very different but still find solace in each other during the complex time after WW2.

Partially inspired by director’s family history.

In association with the Embassy of France

Marinette

From the moment she kicked a ball, Marinette Pichon’s life revolved around football (soccer). The woman who became France’s highest goal scorer was born in a small town that had no girls football team, but her enormous talent was hard to miss and she found herself starring in the local boys club. Focusing on sport has helped her deal with the toxic relationship between her parents, and in the meantime she struggled whether to keep her sexuality to herself or live out and proud and risk her career.

Director/Screenwriter Virginie Verrier brings to the screen a sweeping biopic about one of the most important sportswomen in French history and who had become the first French football player to play for an American club. Into Pichon’s cleats steps one of French cinema’s rising stars Garance Marillier (“Raw”, “Titane”) in a dazzling performance.
The film is accompanied by a thrilling period soundtrack, energetic editing and dominant camera work. “Marinette” succeeds in the mission of following the story of one of the greatest football players of all time and her constant struggle to get an equal treatment from the country she gave so much to.

In association with the Embassy of France

Femme

Jules (or Afrodita Banks, by his stage name), is a glamorous drag queen known for her thrilling performances on the best stages of London. Jules lives with two roommates who happen to be his best friends and it seems as if his life is wrapped in a particularly bright and shiny cellophane.
One night after a show, when he steps out to buy some cigarettes in full drag, Jules is brutally attacked by Preston and his gang. After months of shutting himself out from the world, in order to recuperate both physically and emotionally from the trauma, Jules decides to go to the local sauna. There, without make-up, wearing only a towel, he meets his attacker – Preston. The random encounter will turn into an unexpected opportunity for revenge.

Directors/Screenwriters duo Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping provide the viewers with a psychological vengeance drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
George MacKey, who was discovered in the film “Pride”, as a youth fresh out of the closet that joins a group of LGBTQ activists, provides a complex portrait of a violent young man, filled with self hatred and internalised homophobia. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, who is known for his work in theatre, television and films (especially TV series “Misfits”), is taking on just as challenging a role as Jules.
Viewing is 18+ due to violence and explicit sexual content.

Till the End of the Night

Leni, who is serving time for dealing drugs, is being released from prison by the police in order to help Robert, an undercover detective, to gain the trust of Victor, local mafia head. Leni and Robert move in together as a couple and start attending dance classes alongside Victor and his partner. Leni is a transgender woman who had begun her transition while in prison while Robert is her ex and in fact the one who got her arrested. Leni hopes to succeed in her mission so she could leave Germany and Robert just wants to do his job. Past feelings are threatening to surface and put the fake couple’s life at risk.
Director Christoph Hochhäusler and his two excellent main actors create a portrait of a couple trapped in a loop that, if they don’t break, might choke them both.
“Till the End of the Night” takes inspiration from Film Noir, and the witty script by Florian Plumeyer is keeping the viewers on edge with surprising plot twists. The film was nominated for a major award at the 2023 Berlinale Festival and has rightfully won his star, transgender actress Thea Ehre the Silver Berlin Bear Best Supporting Performance award.

Norwegian Dream

Director Leiv Igor Devold’s debut film is a surprising and heartwarming romantic drama that comes from the frozen shores of Scandinavia.
Robert is a young tough Polish immigrant. Ivar is the black and lively adopted son of a business owner. Along the lush coast of Norway these two young men are navigating issues of cultural displacement, economic inequality and sexual identity. In an effort to save his mother from debt, Robert takes on a taxing physical job in a salmon processing factory in the midst of a small immigrant community. Ivar, the owner’s son, is in charge of showing him around. Ivar is forced to devote his time to the family business, but has several other dreams – such as developing his talent as a drag artist. The two young men are so different from each other, but opposites attract and their friendship slowly turns into something more.

In association with the Embassy of Norway

Courtesy of

Festival Program Launch & “Silver Haze”

Before the screening: Presentation of the festival program and trailers from major films at the TLVfest 2023 October 19-28

A breathtaking drama by director/screenwriter Sacha Polak that had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

23 years old Franky was badly injured as a child in a fire, which left marks and not only on her body. For fifteen years she’s been trying to bring those responsible for the fire to justice. She now works in the same hospital where her life was saved and she always finds the right words for every patient, even for moody Florence. The two fall in love and Franky runs away from her oppressive, LGBTphobic middle class family to find a safe haven with Florence and her family. But the past won’t let her rest.

“Silver Haze” is the second cooperation between director Sacha Polak and actress Vicky Knight. The script is based on memories of real events from Knight’s life. Tibor Dingelstad’s sensual cinematography creates raw realism but also tenderness. Joris Oonke and Ella Van Der Woude’s original soundtrack completes the atmosphere and drama of this powerful film.

Drifter

22 years old Moritz is moving to Berlin to be with his boyfriend, Jonas. Jonas is a sexy photographer who prefers a non committal way of life and an open relationship.
Much to Moritz’s surprise the relationship ends and he’s left alone and broken. He searches for solace for his aching heart and finds himself making new friends, going to the gym, developing a sense of fashion and discovering drugs. Moritz is turning into a party animal and begins to act on his deepest desires.

Hannes Hirsch’s debut film describes a new beginning for an inexperienced young man in Berlin’s nightlife scene with sensitivity and authenticity. “Drifter” touches many subjects such as body image, fluid sexual identities and addictions. The film takes a deeper look into the world of the nightlife characters and exposes their vulnerability and layers.
Viewing is 18+ due to explicit sexual content and nudity.

In association with the Embassy of Germany

Silver Haze

A breathtaking drama by director/screenwriter Sacha Polak that had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

Eismayer

Sergeant Major Eismayer is known and feared as the toughest training officer in the Austrian Armed Forces. Ruthless with recruits and unwavering in his discipline, order and macho toughness. But when he starts to fall in love with Falak, a new recruit who unashamedly embraces his homosexuality, Eismayer’s closeted existence is shaken to the core. To a man like Eismayer, loving another man cannot be reconciled with the understanding of what a model soldier should be. Will he choose to protect his badass tough guy image over all else, or can he follow his heart and his true desire?
Based on real events.

In association with the Austrian Cultural Forum

Three Nights A Week

The surprising funny and romantic drama of the year brings to the big screen a refreshing and stigma breaking character.
Cookie Kunty is a talented Parisian drag queen. Everyone who is familiar with the world of drag knows how hard it is for drag queens to find love. Therefore, when Cookie meets 29 years old Baptiste, she finds it hard to believe that he’s interested in her, but Baptiste is immediately mesmerized by Cookie. At first he’s driven by the idea of creating a photography project with Cookie and sinks into her world, but eventually starts to develop a relationship with Quentin, the young man behind the drag queen. The problem is, Baptiste has never been in a relationship with a man before and he is in a long term relationship with Samia, a hospital nurse, who also works at the HIV clinic.
In his debut film director Florent Gouëlou provides the audience a cinematic experience rich in colors and music, and featuring a different and surprising love story, which is also a coming out story, the likes of which was never before seen on the big screen. Actor Pablo Pauly is wonderful as Baptiste and Romain Eck as Cookie/Quentin builds a moving and complex character.
The result is pure enjoyment and it is certainly no surprise that “Three Nights a Week” was chosen as the opening film of the 2022 Critics’ Week of the Venice Film Festival.

Subscribe

WhatsApp

European 2023

Along Came Love

Marinette

Femme

Till the End of the Night

Norwegian Dream

Festival Program Launch & “Silver Haze”

Drifter

Silver Haze

Eismayer

Three Nights A Week

Festival

Community

Contact