Fantastic Fest 2019: 5 Picks From The 3rd Wave Of Programming (Noah)
At this point in the Fantastic Fest proceedings, I have stumbled across the line of anticipation where it doesn’t truly matter what films are revealed to be playing in the various waves of programming. So nervily excited am I to journey half-way across the country into the waiting arms of my sweet John Laird, to gorge myself on fried bits, ice cold beer and a mind engorging stretch of cinema, that every wave, from this point forward, could just list individual episodes from the bad seasons of Frasier (9 and 10, I’m looking at you) and I’d still have to change my shirt due to the excitement sweats.
Regardless, I would like to highlight some of those films from the final wave of cinematic goodies that have me jonesing just a wee bit harder.
1. Jallikattu, d. Lijo Jose Pellissery
The description and poster for this Indian film posit that it is about a runaway buffalo that, as they do, causes damage and must be captured. After watching the trailer, though it does feature many buffalo, I reject the posited description. It seems to be about a hirsute Indian fellow who punches people quite a bit, very hard. It also has what looks to be an Indian version of the running of the bulls, featuring buffaloes. The running of the buffaloes. And perhaps one of those buffaloes escapes its buffalo brethren and has to be captured. Watching it will certainly iron out these queries.
https://youtu.be/CZb5a86AhfA
2. The Other Lamb, Malgorzata Szummowska
I have a cult thing. Not like I am in a cult or want to be in a cult, but the idea of a cult fascinates the hell out of me. It’s something about the fact that time and time again, horrible dudes (because it always feels like it’s dudes) convince a bunch of people that the bullshit they’re serving is the best tasting bullshit in town. And every time, one hundred percent of the time, it ends terribly for everyone involved. Every time. No one ever learns any lessons. Why? Oh lord, tell me, why? This movie is about a cult of ladies – and one executive level dude (because, dudes are awful) – but one of the younger ladies realizes, ‘Oh, oh shit, I’m in a cult. Damn.” And then you know, stuff happens. Fascinated.
3. Pelican Blood, d. Katrin Gebbe
German films really get me. Films about fucked-up kids really get me. Katrin Gebbe’s new film – Pelican Blood – is a German film about a fucked up kid who decidedly fucks up a family. I’m sure it will be cold and sharply realistic and shorn of emotional sap and I will sit in my sit, eyes wide, thanking Germany for all it has done.
4. Ride Your Wave, d. Masaaki Yuasa
Put down your ham fresh roll and go watch the trailer for Ride Your Wave. At first it seems like “hey, maybe this is just one of those anime that is so on-the-nose-emotionally treacly that it bends the brain and maybe that’s why it’s at FF.” But wait, just wait, because there’s a see-through water beluga and tragedy. And that is a combination one does not miss.
5. Sweetheart, J.D. Dillard
Someone described this to me as “Castaway with a monster.” And I like Castaway a lot, even though sometimes I get it confused with that David Schwimmer / Anne Heche movie where they crash land on an island and hi-jinks ensue. Though I don’t actually know if David Schwimmer is in that movie. Maybe it’s Harrison Ford. I get them confused a lot. I think I get a lot of things confused. But anyways, “Castaway with a monster” sounds great, but I worry about Wilson the Volleyball, because he doesn’t have legs and if whomever is playing the role of Tom Hanks in “Castaway with a monster” like forgets him or loses him while playing beach volleyball, that monster is going to eat him right up. Is Wilson a him? Do volleyballs have gender? Maybe “Castaway with a monster” will answer this for me. Reason enough to see it, am I right?
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See you in Austin!
