FESTIVALS

The EU Film Festival — Interesting, but of Oscillating Quality

A review article about the films presented in a »travelling festival« of European Union films, Zagreb November 7-17 1997.
During ten days in November, the film audience of Zagreb, the Croatian capital (and later of other Croatian cities, e. g. Split) had the opportunity to attend a travelling selection of recent EU films from Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden. The presented films were: Toto le heros by Jaco Van Dormael, Zusje by Robert Jan Westdijk, Beautiful Thing by Hattie McDonald, Nikolaikirche by Frank Beyer, Ap’to hioni by Sotiris Goritsas, Morfars resa by Staffan Lamm, Comment je me suis dispute... (ma vie seyuelle) by Arnaud Desplechin, Retrato de mujer con hombre al fondo by Marie Del Carmen Rodrigez-Laretta, Indien by Paul Harather, Onnen maa by Mrkku Polonen, Tangotango by Frans Buyens.

Some of the films were of excellent quality and with interesting topics and approaches (Toto le Heros, Zusje), but some were of a low quality, not better than average Croatian productions. Though the selection did not seem to be either selective or exhaustive enough, it gave an interesting insight into present-day European production. The Zagreb screenings were well attended, proving that such festivals do have promotional value, and that there is hope that they will continue next year. In addition to a general assessment of the festival, the reviewer reviewed each presented film individually and supplied encyclopaedic items on some of the directors in addenda to the article.

Janko Heidl