"Musta Jaa" ("Black Ice")
A Finnish film that is part thriller, part melodrama involves the aged issue of a husband caught in an affair. His wife then pretends to be someone else and strikes up a friendship with the mistress. Somebody dies in the end but this film is about life as well.
I’m getting the feeling that cheating and especially children (or the lack thereof) will be strong thematic issues relating to the selection of this year’s films.
Corridor #8
A Bulgarian documentary that focuses on a closed railway connection between Albania, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. These Balkan countries were united at one time but politics and war have separated them for generations. With the rail closed, there is no direct route connecting these people. The filmmaker takes us on a journey similar to the one the early Christian disciples must have traveled long ago as they brought Christianity to that part of the world. Many interesting people are presented along the way that have been deeply affected by the separation from other family members for decades.
This has been a whirlwind experience so far and I'm already wondering what day it is (or even when I last ate). And it’s only day two! They tell me that’s the nature of these festivals. Get used to it. The confusion is compounded in that the films don’t play in one particular venue. They’re spread out across a fairly large area and it’s my job to create a schedule that allows me to see all of the films that are part of my judging responsibilities.
This is a well-attended festival. Some 50,000 will attend at least part of the festival. It’s refreshing to be among this many cinema lovers.
