The French drama Hands Up will kick off the European Film Festival (EFF) today at MovieTowne. The Festival, an annual showcase of films from the European Union, is organised by the EU Member States with diplomatic missions in Trinidad and Tobago—France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom—and the EU Delegation. For the second year running, the EFF is being presented in association with the T&T Film Festival (ttff).
The EFF runs until May 28 at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain, and from May 22–28 at MovieTowne, Tobago. Tickets are $30, with tickets for children and students in uniform or with student ID priced at $20. For more information, visit the EFF Facebook page at European Film Festival—Trinidad and Tobago or www.ttfilmfestival.com/eff
Film Schedule
Schedule of films on show today at the European Film Festival at MovieTowne,
Port-of-Spain
11 am—Hands Up
Director: Romain Goupil
2010/France/90 mins/Drama/PG13
Milana, a Chechen girl living in France, sees the neighbouring family deported and is fearful her family is next. Her friend Blaise is horrified at the thought of losing her. With the help of Blaise’s mother, Milana is taken in to their home in the hope she can be safer there.
1 pm—Uncle Hank
Director: Elbert van Strien
2012/The Netherlands/92 mins/Comedy/14+
Koen, a law student, avoids being beaten up by street thugs one day when he claims to be the nephew of feared crime boss Henk de Koning. When “Uncle” Henk rings Koen’s doorbell not long afterwards, the young man finds himself being made an offer he can’t refuse.
3.30 pm—18 Meals
Director: Jorge Coira
2010/Spain/101 mins/Drama/16+
This is a film of criss-crossing, food-themed stories divided into three segments: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The characters include an ageing street musician, a pair awaking from a one-night stand, a businessman visiting his closeted homosexual brother and a lonely housewife.
5.30pm—Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
Director: Donald Rice
2012/UK/93 mins/Comedy/PG
Today is Dolly’s wedding day, and her family is arriving at the manor house with all the cheerfulness and chaos that arise at such gatherings. Trouble appears in the form of Joseph, Dolly’s ex-lover, who throws her feelings into turmoil. To her mother’s exasperation, Joseph’s presence threatens to upset everything.
8 pm—Barbara
Director: Christian Petzold
2012/Germany/105 mins/Drama/PG13
In 1980s East Germany, Barbara is a doctor from Berlin banished to a country hospital. Fearful of her co-workers as possible informants of the Stasi, the secret police, Barbara stays aloof and secretly prepares to defect. Soon, however, she learns things that put her desires and colleagues in a new light.
