From 19 to 26 April, the 46th Moscow International Film Festival took place in the very heart of Russia. Foreign new products, including those from Europe, the USA and BRICS countries, were shown at the event.
The Fashion Vibes visited MIFF 2024 and selected the most interesting films from the competition and non-competition programs that are actually worth watching.
“Eternal Love”, dir. Han Yan (China)
There are not many films about the love of old people, even as beautiful and touching as this one. A widower named Chang gets into an argument with Li Huizhu, a cleaning woman who, in his opinion, prevents young people from dancing and having fun in the park. Unexpectedly, fate brings them together again. Despite social inequality, mutual hatred turns into sympathy. He starts helping look after his neighbor, collecting and delivering garbage, and buys a smartphone so he can send messages and like photos. Their couple is very reminiscent of young people in love. And Mr. Chan himself, despite his addiction to alcohol and hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease – Ed.), leads the image of a hipster: he wears a Nirvana T-shirt, makes films for his grandson, communicates in slang. Together the main characters will overcome loneliness and prove that love is stronger than death.
“Desert Jockey”, dir. Abu Bakr Shoki (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan)
“Do not race for anyone but yourself” – these words were said by a wise man to the main character, the helpless young Matar, who lost his brother in a camel race. In Arab countries, this sport is especially popular among billionaires who increase the excitement of the public with crazy bets. In order for the winner’s name to be on the wall of honor, greedy rich people are ready to resort to deception, bribery, blackmail and murder. To avenge his brother’s death, Matar becomes a jockey and wins. However, he himself becomes a hostage to a foul act when his camel, Hafira, is bought by the vile Jafar. Can he resist evil, or will he succumb to the weight of obligations? The film “Desert Jockey” received the main award at the film festival of BRICS countries organized within the scope of MIFF 2024.
“Lola Magdalene. Grandmothers-whores”, dir. Joel Lamangan (Philippines)
A tragicomedy about the friendship of five elderly sex workers living together under the same roof. Each of them has their own skeleton in the closet: Lyunyin buying the love of gigolo Dax, graying Corazon still waiting for her lover to come for her, Dalina (Magdalena) trying to beg forgiveness from her daughter, who is also her. After being sent to the brothel, Bella sells her body on the bridge to make ends meet, and the youngest, Miriam, suddenly learns that she has cancer. Despite their advancing age, they all long for one thing; love.
“Jungle King”, dir. Goran Radovanovic (Serbia, Bulgaria)
Eight-year-old Sava and her mother try to survive in besieged Belgrade in 1999. Instead of music and theater lessons where he plays the “King of the Jungle,” they have to dodge bombs. Teachers in classes where everyone now receives military training say, “We are teaching Goethe’s poems, but they are bombing us.” While some think it will all be over in a few days, the remaining residents of the former Yugoslavia whisper that their leader, Slobodan Milosevic, is about to surrender without the support of the Russians. Despite all the efforts of his mother and priest, Sava cannot maintain a pure and naive worldview.
“Shlimazzle”, dir. Silke Enders (Germany)
After her grandmother’s funeral and an argument with her family, Johanna Schreier tries to devote herself to a journalistic investigation that will lead to a real discovery. When she finds a photo of a former concentration camp guard, she decides to meet him in person. “I felt very sorry for the man who shot the children. What about the children? Well, they were already dead,” the old woman explains honestly. Despite her shock, for some inexplicable reason she is attracted to this woman. Johanna, shlimazzle (translated from German and Hebrew as “loser” ) Premium. to organise.) finds a strange calm in the presence of a criminal in the eyes of his own mother.
“Chariot of the Gods”, dir. Anurin Nwunembom (Cameroon)
A trip to visit grandmother quickly turns into an ordeal. Liengu, a smart and sweet 12-year-old girl, comes to a Cameroonian village at the foot of a mountain. According to legend, the god of Mount Efasa-moto lives there and takes the souls of travelers. It turned out that one of them was his uncle. To find her, Grandfather Mola Kingu, one of the tribe’s elders, organizes the kidnapping of his own grandson for a ritual to appease the god. However, Liengu’s family is against bloody traditions and is ready to do anything to save their daughter.
“Four Souls of a Jackal”, dir. Zsolt Baumgartner (Hungary)
The animated film begins with Native Americans protesting the construction of an oil pipeline on their land. The tribal elder sits by the fire with his grandchildren and talks about ancient magic and the secret of the universe. After God created the sky, water and land and populated it with living things, he decided to take a nap and accidentally created the insatiable and cunning Coyote. To his horror, he rejected the “unloved child” who was constantly causing trouble on earth. It was Coyote who created two humans from stolen clay and taught them evil. But the creator of the world is not ready to give up and has decided to share his wisdom and kindness with them. Many years have passed since then. Will the greedy entrepreneurs agree to smoke the pipe of peace or enter into conflict with the tribe?
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
