Film Festivals 2003
2003 brought many filmic gems from around the world. Some highlights were Rolf De Heer's stunning 'The Tracker'; New Zealand's entry, a delicious, black holiday comedy 'Christmas'; from Brazil, the astonishing debut of Fernando Meirelles, 'City of God' and from Russia, the longest tracking shot in film history, 'Russian Ark'. From the US came the unique and captivating bio-pic 'American Splendor' and tongue-in-cheek horror 'Cabin Fever' as well as documentaries 'The Kid Stays in the Picture' featuring the infamous Robert Evans, and Noam Chomsky's 'Power and Terror'.
Springtime in a Small Town (2002)
7/10
Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang
Starring: Xin Baiqing, Wu Jun, Hu Jingfan
An assured return from Tian Zhuangzhuang ("The Blue Kite") with his first film for ten years. Beautifully capturing the setting of a once-grand mansio... Read more
Only the Strong Survive (2002)
6.8/10
Director: Chris Hegedus, D A Pennebaker
Starring: Jerry Butler, The Chi-Lites, Isaac Hayes, Sam Moore, Ann Peebles, Wilson Pickett...
Revealing documentary from co-director D.A. Pennebaker ("Dont Look Back") offers a vibrant, captivating look at the legendary Memphis, Tennessee, musi... Read more
Lilya 4-Ever (2002)
7.9/10
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Starring: Oksana Akinshina, Artiom Bogucharskij, Elina Benenson
Lukas Moodysson's third feature, following 'Show Me Love' and 'Together', is a touching and tender insight into the life of Lilya, a chirpy girl of si... Read more
Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony (2002)
7.4/10
Director: Lee Hirsch
Starring: Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela
The profound effect of black South African freedom music on the eventual dissolution of apartheid is the subject of this soul-stirring and inspiration... Read more
Russian Ark (2002)
7.4/10
Director: Alexander Sokurov
Starring: Sergei Dreiden, Maria Kuznetsova, Leonid Mozgovoy
Director Alexander Sokurov's ("Mother and Son") audacious cinematic tour-de-force follows an unseen narrator who magically finds himself transported t... Read more
Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
7.1/10
Director: Peter Sollett
Starring: Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz, Altagracia Guzman
Victor doesn't have much, but that's not stopping him from trying to go out with Judy, the prettiest girl on the block. All he's got is hope and a one... Read more
Together (2002)
7.4/10
Director: Chen Kaige
Starring: Tang Yun, Liu Peiqi, Chen Hong, Wang Zhiwen, Chen Kaige
Moving drama from director Chen Kaige ("Farewell My Concubine") centers on a 13-year-old violin prodigy whose father takes him from their small provin... Read more
The Spanish Apartment ( L'Auberge Espagnole ) (2002)
7.3/10
Director: Cedric Klapisch
Starring: Romain Duris, Cecile De France, Judith Godreche, Audrey Tautou
Aka "Pot Luck". From the director of "When the Cat's Away" comes this frothy romantic comedy in which Xavier, a French college senior, signs up for a... Read more
Open Hearts (2002)
7.6/10
Director: Susanne Bier
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Paprika Steen
A young engaged couple in Copenhagen, Cecille (Sonja Richter) and Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), finds their relationship changed forever when Joachim is... Read more
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002)
6.2/10
Director: Shane Meadows
Starring: Robert Carlyle, Rhys Ifans, Kathy Burke, Shirley Henderson, Ricky Tomlinson, Fin...
Using the operatic style associated with Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, this offbeat comedy stars Robert Carlyle as a small-time hood who watches ex... Read more