Orla Smith.
In anticipation of the 25th Raindance Film Festival – taking place from September 20th to October 1st in London – we spotlight ten of the most interesting films on this year’s programme.
Barrage
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJUiV378Aw
DIRECTOR: Laura Schroeder
COUNTRY: Luxembourg, Belgium, France
STRANDS: Narrative, Europe
SYNOPSIS: Catherine (Lolita Chammah), a young mother struggling with substance abuse, is determined to rekindle her relationship with her estranged daughter, Alba, who has been in the care of Catherine’s strict and at times overbearing mother Elisabeth (Chammah’s real-life mother, Isabelle Huppert) since she was two years old.
Boys for Sale
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-D97Ip_tjE
DIRECTOR: Itako
COUNTRY: Japan
STRANDS: Documentaries, LGBT
SYNOPSIS: In Tokyo’s Shinjuku district are bars specialising in “Urisen” – young guys who have sex with men. Featuring candid interviews interspersed with animation detailed the awkward, unnerving, and sometimes funny situations these sex workers experience, the boys for sale boldly tell their stories of life in the Tokyo underground.
I Still Hide to Smoke
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jMDVhyfQyA
DIRECTOR: Rayhana
COUNTRY: France, Greece, Algeria
STRANDS: Narrative, Discovery
SYNOPSIS: In the heart of the hammam ― far from the accusing gaze of men, mothers, lovers, virgins and Islamic fanatics ― butts and burqas mingle and mix, confront one another with laughter, tears, rage, the Bible and the Koran… before the flash of a dagger and the silence of God.
The Joneses
DIRECTOR: Moby Longinotto
COUNTRY: UK, USA, Australia
STRANDS: Documentaries, LGBT
SYNOPSIS: The story of Jheri Jones, a 74-year-old transgender divorcee, and her family in ‘bible belt’ Mississippi. Reconciled after years of estrangement, and now living with two sons in her trailer park home, Jheri embarks on a journey to reveal herself to her grandchildren, while son Trevor begins a journey of his own.
Noble Earth
DIRECTOR: Ursula Grisham
COUNTRY: USA
STRANDS: Narrative, The Americas
SYNOPSIS: After getting fired from her job in New York, Emma travels to Florence to think her life through. During her stay, she meets Tancredi, and Italian nobleman. Their romance quickly progresses and soon she is treated as a fully-fledged member of his family. At first, Emma is enchanted by the handsome Italian, but soon she sees the true nature of his elitist, bourgeoisie kin. Her role is strictly imposed, but will she break ranks?
Oh Lucy!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhs0pagQt8
DIRECTOR: Atsuko Hirayanagi
COUNTRY: Japan
STRANDS: Narrative, Opening Night Gala
SYNOPSIS: Setsuko is seemingly stuck with her life in Tokyo until she is convinced by her nice, Mika, to enrol in an unorthodox English class that requires her to wear a blonde wig and take on an American persona named ‘Lucy’. The new identity awakens something dormant in Setsuko, and she quickly falls for her American instructor, John (Josh Hartnett).
The Receptionist
DIRECTOR: Jenny Lu
COUNTRY: UK, Taiwan
STRANDS: Narrative, United Kingdom
SYNOPSIS: An illegal massage parlour in London is seen through the eyes of a Taiwanese graduate employed there as a receptionist.
Siblings
DIRECTOR: Laura Plancarte
COUNTRY: US, Mexico
STRANDS: Documentaries
SYNOPSIS: The film focuses on two parties: Vanessa, a single mother and Trump supporter living in California, and Chuy and Chato, two brothers who live in Mexico after their mother fled to the USA in the hope of finding her own dream.
Stuck
DIRECTOR: Michael Berry
COUNTRY: USA
STRANDS: Narrative, Closing Night Gala
SYNOPSIS: A modern musical film about six complete strangers who get stuck underground on a New York City subway. They are of different races, cultures and ages. The emotions of the trapped strangers fly as they reveal who they really are through song.
Transmania
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jjt5qV7Xh4
DIRECTOR: Various
COUNTRY: Croatia
STRANDS: Narrative, Europe
SYNOPSIS: One film, directed by 15 directors, each tasked with a 5 minute segment. Each director was only allowed to see the last minute of the segment previous to theirs.
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