Tips from a PÖFF Insider
With Black Nights Film Festival past its halfway point, we asked Helmut Jänes, the festival's hard-working media director, to suggest some pictures that shouldn't be missed in the second half of the fortnight. These were his picks, with some input from program director Kaarel Kuurmaa and general festival director Tiina Lokk.
The Caretaker's Tale (Viceværten, Denmark)
Tuesday, November 27, 18:30 - Solaris, Tallinn
"A curious story about a burned-out housekeeper who finds a naked chick in an empty apartment. This movie is going to haunt you in a good way because it has a poetic form but is disturbing."
The Almost Man (Mer eller mindre mann, Norway)
Tuesday, November 27 - 23:00, Coca-Cola Plaza, Tallinn
"In this one, a Scandinavian guy doesn't want to obey rules that everyday life has made for him. A bittersweet comedy about a character in whom any male from Estonia might recognize a bit of himself. And - it's still a good pick if you want to go with your wife or date."
Loving (Miłość, Poland)
Tuesday, November 27, 19:00 - Cinamon, Tartu
"A drama, based on a true story, about flesh and blood people. It's about a horrible event where a city official rapes a woman annd it destroys her marriage. But the director hands it to the male world on a platter. Polish women rule. A thought-provoking film."
A Hijacking (Kapringen, Denmark)
Wednesday, November 28, 20:00 - Coca-Cola Plaza, Tallinn
"A quality thriller from Denmark that is reminiscent of films made according to Dogma95 rules. There are no foolhardy heroes but the suspense lasts till the final minutes. In no way inferior to Hollywood films, but more lean and spare."
Paradise: Love (Paradies: Liebe, Austria).
Wednesday, November 28, 18:30 - KUMU, Tallinn
"Ulrich Seidl does it again, surprising us. This is the first part of a planned trilogy that shows us a naked portrait of sex tourism, where local African men and white, fat Austrian women both get what they're after. In some sense, this is anti-erotica, and some will certainly not like that."