Helsinkiläinen Film Tonight! -elokuvakollektiivi kävi läpi Espoo Cinén tämän vuoden ohjelmiston ja kuratoi sieltä kahdeksan elokuvan suosituslistan. Lue lisää kollektiivin suosituksista tästä artikkelista! Artikkeli on englanniksi.
We are Film Tonight!, a Helsinki-based film collective established in April 2023 by Helena Aleksandrova, Jelica Jerinić, Roxana Sadvokassova, and Mariangela Pluchino – four filmmakers united by a shared passion for cinema, feminist values, a common film school history and immigrant background.
Every year the end of summer means one thing – Espoo Ciné! We carefully went through the vast program of exciting films and selected eight feature films that we think are worth seeing, in case you are lost in the cinephile dilemma of what to watch. We haven't had the chance to view these films yet, but our expectations are high. See you at the festival!
HELENA'S PICKS:
Close Your Eyes (dir. by Victor Erice)
I love films about films and mysteries. Here – an actor disappears from the set….sold! It is more of a poetic take on cinema rather than action/comedy detective, which is more exciting. But one factor makes me even more excited about this film: it is directed by Victor Erice, the Spanish auteur and director of the classic The Spirit of The Beehive (1973) (with Ana all grown up acting here too!). He had a 31 year hiatus and now this new film gives his perspective on cinema, industry and all that jazz. Si senor, vamos!
On the Go (dir.by María Giséle Royo, Julia De Castro)
My second pick is coming from Spain as well! Road movie means three things – cool cars, adventures and strange encounters. Yes please! While not much is out there about the plot of the film, what I learnt is that it is highly visual and full of music with Almodovar-esque flair and even has a mermaid as a character. YES! VAMOS!!
ROXANA'S PICKS:
Life's a Bitch (dir. by Xavier Seron)
Hollywood has given us an idealised version of dogs, where they’re always like Lassie, ready to save the day whenever you find yourself in trouble. This trilogy paints a much more realistic picture of what it's actually like to have a dog. Sometimes dogs ruin your life so it can reassemble in a new order. Choosing this trilogy was a no-brainer for me – I love the format of short films that revolve around a common theme, and as someone who owns a tiny 3 kg dog that has caused me a TON of problems, it really hit home.
Ultra Mint – Film Poetry from Japan (several directors)
Once again, I'm drawn to a compilation rather than a single film – a collection of Japanese animations from the 1960s to the 1980s. It's rare to find such a curated mix of animations in one screening, so I always make it a point to catch these archived gems from distant places. Mix of genres, lengths, styles, topics – these kinds of screenings never fail to broaden my horizons and offer unexpected surprises. For anyone passionate about animation (or Japan), this is rarely a waste of time, and Japan has long been a leader in the art form.
MARIANGELA'S PICKS:
The Island (dir. Damien Manivel)
This film appears as a genre bending that mixes dance film and includes elements of ‘making of’, having a blurry line between documentary and fiction. I like films created within those frontiers; when realism meets poetry. The director is also a former dancer. He wrote, produced and edited this film, which makes me think he had a very specific vision for the content and form of this project. Bonus: 74-min length – I really like shorter features.
The Permanent Picture (dir. Laura Ferrés)
I picked this film because the main character is an introverted casting director, similar to a character I wrote this year. I'm fascinated by the mysterious power of casting, which determines who embodies a role. I also like stories set in rural areas. Bonus: the narrative is driven by women of different age groups.
JELICA'S PICKS:
Gondola (dir. Veit Helmer)
Tired of fast, witty dialogues? Tired of long, smart monologues? Tired of any kind of film talk? Espoo ciné has something for you! A completely dialogue-free love story of two female cable car operators, set in the beautiful landscapes of Georgian mountains.
Love Will Save Us (dir. Patrik Blomberg Book)
Mid-1980s small-town Sweden, a teenage couple in a synth band is experiencing a life crisis just before their first gig. Will love save them or tear them apart?
Picture: Film Tonight!
