SIFF 2012 Festival Preview: European Film Picks, Part Two

The 2012 Seattle International Film Festival begins on May 17th, 2012! In the next few days, we will be providing film previews for our top SIFF picks of the year. Times and dates are subject to change, so please visit siff.net before heading to theatres, or see HERE for all film preview coverage, including film selections from other regions of the world.

 


4 DAYS IN MAY

Germany/Russia/Ukraine
Directed by Achim von Borries

Set in 1945 and based off a true story, 4 Days Of May follows the days before the official end of World War II. The Germans have already lost, but as soldiers and civilians both learn how to deal with the change, drama and unconventional decision-making ensue.

May 31st @ 4:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 7th @ 9:00pm, Harvard Exit
June 9th @ 4:30pm, Egyptian Theatre

 

170 HZ

Netherlands
Directed by Joost van Ginkel

Stark and minimal beauty pervades this film from the Netherlands about two deafmute youth who fall in love against their parents’ wishes.

May 31st @ 9:00pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
June 9th @ 2:00pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
June 7th @ 7:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown


A CHECKOUT GIRL’S BIG ADVENTURES

France
Directed by Pierre Rambaldi

A comedy and light romantic tale about the ups and downs of being a supermarket check-out girl, full of feminine humor.

May 30th @ 4:00pm, Egyptian Theatre
June 8th @ 7:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 9th @ 12:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown


THE CHEF

France
Directed by Daniel Cohen

Jean Reno stars in this comedy about a high-end chef who has lost his flair and a relative nobody whose mind is bursting with ideas.

June 2nd @ 6:00pm, Egyptian Theatre


THE CROWN JEWELS

Sweden/Denmark
Directed by Ella Lemhagen

When a woman sets out to avenge her brother’s murder, she reveals a fantastical, imaginatively shot gothic tale involving mysterious keys, secret hiding places, and the fate of two families who are forever intertwined.

May 28th @ 3:00pm, Harvard Exit
June 2nd @ 8:30pm, Harvard Exit
June 10th @ 4:30pm, Egyptian Theatre


ELIMINATE: ARCHIE COOKSON

United Kingdom
Directed by Rob Holder

A dry and sardonically witty British espionage thriller.

May 26th @ 9:00pm, Everett Performing Arts Center
May 28th @ 11:00am, Egyptian Theatre
May 29th @ 9:00pm, Egyptian Theatre


EXTRATERRESTRIAL

Spain
Directed by Nacho Vigalondo

In this unlikely romantic comedy, two strangers – who have just met after a one-night stand – find themselves in close quarters after massive alien spaceships arrive in Madrid.

May 25th @ 9:30pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
May 27th @ 2:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
May 31st @ 8:30pm, Everett Performing Arts Center


KRYPTONITE!

Italy
Directed by Ivan Cotroneo

In this charming ode to 1970s psychedelia, Peppino is an awkward nine-year-old with family issues. While his mother (Valeria Golino) recovers from a betrayal, Peppino’s super-mod aunt and uncle take him to love-ins and demonstrations.

June 2nd @ 1:30pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
June 3rd @ 6:30pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
June 8th @ 8:30pm, Kirkland Performance Center


L

Greece
Directed by Babis Makridis

In this absurdist, deadpan comic debut, a professional driver who lives in his car and delivers honey to a narcoleptic man goes through a mid-life crisis when another driver threatens his very specialized profession.

June 5th @ 8:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 6th @ 9:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 9th @ Noon, Harvard Exit


THE MONK

France
Directed by Dominik Moll

A monk played by Vincent Cassel falls from grace deep into temptation.

June 3rd @ 12:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 5th @ 6:45pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown


MY DAD IS BARYSHNIKOV

Russia
Directed by Dmitry Povolotski, Mark Drugoi

Set circa 1986, this charming end-of-Soviet-era tale (BILLY ELLIOT meets GOODBYE LENIN!) follows an irrepressible youth enrolled at a strict dance academy, who pretends that his father is the famous dissident dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov.

June 6th @ 6:30pm, Majestic Bay Cinemas
June 7th @ 6:30pm, Egyptian Theatre
June 9th @ 1:30pm, Egyptian Theatre


NORTH SEA, TEXAS

Belgium
Directed by Bavo Defurne

Set in 1970s Belgium, Bavo Defurne’s FIPRESCI Award-winning film is a sensitively rendered coming-of-age story about an introverted boy’s developing crush on his hunky next-door neighbor.

May 25th @ 6:30pm, Harvard Exit
May 26th @ 11:00am, Harvard Exit


RED ROAD

United Kingdom/Denmark
Driected by Andrea Arnold

A documentary-like thriller/horror, where a woman chases down a spectre she sees on numerous video cameras. The film remains gripping all the way until the end.

June 9th @ 11:00am, Harvard Exit


SALT WHITE

Georgia
Directed by Keti Machavariani

Waitress Nana, policeman Niko, and homeless teen Sopo are restless, each dreaming of better futures. When they intersect in a resort town on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, none of their lives will remain the same.

May 28th @ 9:00pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
May 30th @ 4:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 4th @ 8:30pm, Kirkland Performance Center


UNIT 7

Spain
Directed by Alberto Rodriguez

One of Seville’s best drug units does whatever it takes to bust the cities most notorious drug trafficking ring, sometimes taking less than legal actions, in this highly stylized action film.

June 8th @ 9:15pm, Egyptian Theatre
June 9th @ 3:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown


VOLCANO

Iceland
Directed by Runar Runarsson

Retired janitor Hannes is brusque and distant with his wife and grown kids, but is compelled to re-examine his familial relationships following his wife’s stroke in this moving, delicately played drama about love that has grown old.

May 23rd @ 6:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
May 25th @ 3:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
May 30th @ 6:30pm, Harvard Exit

Ω

Written by
Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald, and Co-Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences.

Vee has two narrative short films. Searching Skies (2017) touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States; with it, they helped co-organize The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia. Reckless Spirits (2022) is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy for a bleak new era, in anticipation of a feature-length project.

Vee is passionate about cultural space, the environment, and finding ways to covertly and overtly disrupt oppressive structures. They also regularly share observational human stories through their storytelling newsletter, RAMBLIN’ WITH VEE!, and are pursuing a Master’s in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the Native American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota.

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