It’s time for another round of Venice Film Festival premieres! So many great films with such diverse visions to choose from, and we’re hoping to highlight some hidden gems to put on your international cinema radar! So without further ado, let’s take a look at 4 more films we saw from Venice!
“Maldoror“
I’m such a sucker for a good crime thriller, and “Maldoror” fits all the molds of things that are made for me. Botched investigations, conspiracies, and of course, criminals of the highest order. Loosely based on true events surrounding a serial killer and rapist in Belgium in the 90s, “Maldoror” is written and directed by Fabrice Du Welz and stars Anthony Bajon as the titular character Paul. A young detective with a chip on his shoulder to do what’s right even when the bureaucracy says otherwise, Paul is assigned to investigate a missing persons case with no leads. Though assigned to a special unit aimed at surveilling a known sex offender who may be connected (titled Maldoror), Paul becomes increasingly frustrated with the undoing of their work due to dysfunctional police departments and legal systems, prompting him to take matters into his own hand. His work soon turns to obsession, and he very way may lose everything in hopes to solve the case and save the lives of more missing girls.
“Maldoror” brilliantly demonstrates how much dysfunctional police departments competing for ego rather than investigation work played such a pivotal role in many early serial killers were able to be so prolific. Paul’s frustrations are constantly amplified by arbitrary jurisdictions and departmental infighting. The lack of shared information between countless departments not only leads to dire consequences, but also serves as a major catalyst for a complete reform – as it did across the world in all criminal justice systems. “Maldoror” is a slow decent into madness, as Paul begins to lose sight of reality and is wrought with guilt over his inability to save the victims. Though not a high octane thrill ride, Fabrice Du Welz meticulously crafts his thrills through the mundane day to day operations of police work. He cleverly weaves an array of characters tied to the case, and while the ending may feel as rushed as it is ambiguous and leave something to be desired, “Maldoror” is effective throughout. If you’re looking for a solid crime thriller, I recommend adding this one to your list.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
“TWST (Things We Said Today)“
Archival documentaries are quite the art form, one that takes incredible editing and design to create a story from seemingly disconnected footage. “TWST” is an admirable feat of this kind, capturing a weekend of New York life in the 1960s as it surrounds The Beatles coming to Shea Stadium that August. Andrei Ujică is one of the few archive filmmakers who has elegantly made a career out of this craft, and his work in “TWST” is a captivating journey through time. Pulling footage from ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as 8mm home video footage and 14 35mm cameras that captured the concert, “TWST” captures a moment in time and culture and transport you back in time in ways you may not have experienced. As way to structure his footage, Ujică inserts 4 animated teenagers into the story, as each of them recount their experiences through voice over and drawings in a different capacity as the footage rolls.
I don’t know that animated insertions fully work, as they get relatively distracting as the film comes to a close. “TWST” is a unique look at the past, one that probably doesn’t warrant the need for modern insertions and poetic storytelling. The footage genuinely speaks for itself, and it’s hard not to be enraptured by the old imagery and pivotal moments that shaped the culture at the time. It is rather sprawling at times, leaving the framework of The Beatles weekend often and spends a large section focusing on the LA Watts riots instead of the New York life the rest of the film captures. I understand why “TWST” includes this footage, but it does stray from its premise and seems far more interested in the culture of the city at the time instead of The Beatles existing at the same time. Still, “TWST” is a fascinating experience if you’re willing to let it take you to where it wants to go, and you probably won’t see anything like it right now.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
“L’attachement“
A surprise addition to the Venice Film Festival coverage slate, “L’attachement” is a touching portrait of connection and intimacy from the most unlikely places and people. Carine Tardieu directs with confidence and empathy for her characters, approaching the complexity of relationship and emotional connections with all of the entaglements they come with. Painted with broad strokes of gray rather than black and white, “L’attachement” examines grief, loss, love, intimacy, parenting, and sacrifice with each and every character we meet. Relationships are complicated, even ones we are sure of, and Carine Tardieu is careful to let them transform and organically grow over the course of a newborn’s first two years of life. “L’attachement” follows Sandra, an outspoken, independent fifty-something woman who lives alone and is thrust into the lives of her neighbors after they give birth to their first child and mother does not survive the pregnancy. What transpires is a journey through their lives, now connected by tragedy, as they all try to discover who they are to become together and for themselves.
“L’attachement” stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Pio Marmaï and Vimala Pons. There isn’t a bad performance here, even from the young 6 year old who is sort of the catalyst for the initial connections we begin to witness unfold. Though “L’attachement” overstays its welcome with its extended runtime – many of the beats feeling repetitive – it remains an effective drama powered by confident direction and strong performances from its leads. It is a touching portrait of grief and how badly we seek out human connection in times of needs, and how sometimes those very relationships we seek can end up being the wrong thing we needed even with the best of intentions. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably yell in frustration, but most of all “L’attachement” will make you feel, and that’s the best any emotionally charged film could hope for.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
“Taxi Monamour“
The official synopsis of “Taxi Monamour” is as follows: The film tells the story of the meeting between two women who are apparently different but who ultimately look very similar. Directed by Ciro De Caro and starring Rosa Palasciano and Yeva Sai, the synopsis and film couldn’t be further apart. Sure, it is a story of the meeting of two women at an impasse in their lives, but that’s where the similarities stop. Their looks have little to nothing to do with their relationship, and “Taxi Monamour” is excruciatingly patient in exploring the relationship between them, taking far too long to even bring them together meaningfully. For all its slow burn focus on its titular characters, its framing is so distant that we barely know either of them at all. Palasciano’s character is absurdly invasive and almost bewildering in her attempts to develop a kinship with Sai’s character, and Sai is so stand offish to start that everything about them feels forced instead of organic.
“Taxi Monamour” takes well over an hour to start to take shape, and even then its hard to imagine just how these two are ever meant to be something more than acquiantencnes. Every interaction feel contrived, and despite the inordinate amount of time we spend with each of them individually, I couldn’t help but feel like I knew them less the longer we sat with them. Their life turmoils are seldom fully realized, and while both women are doing what they can with the material, it is emotionally distant and never as engrossing as it seeks to be. “Taxi Monamour” does have some promise, and there is some heart buried underneath the meandering pacing and odd characterization choices. Maybe it’s because it came at the end of a long run of back to back to back dramatic cinema, but this is one that simply didn’t work for me.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
