MASK CYCLE - Cinema
MAY 25, 28, 29, JUNE 1
MASK CYCLE
AUDITORIUM
Cinema
Co-production: Zero em Comportamento / Indie Lisboa
PRICE: 3.00
Themes such as false identity, duality and masks have frequently been approached by cinematographers and from highly different perspectives. This program brings together a series of six films that, in different ways, all raise the same question: the vacillations of human identity when subject to pressures of varying types (social, moral, political). Shielded in protection behind masks and/or fictitious identities, the individual may hide but paradoxically may simultaneously reveal their most inner truths.
PROGRAM
MAY 25
16:00 XXY
Director: Lucia Puenzo
Argentina/France, Spain, 2007, 86, Colour
Language: Spanish. Subtitled in Portuguese.
Cast: Ricardo Darín, Valeria Bertucelli, Inês Efron, German Palácios, Carolina Pelleritti, Martin Piroyansky
Over 16 yrs.
The dramatic story of Alex,a fifteen year old hermaphrodite who lives with her parents in a remote house set in dunes on the Uruguayan coastline. One day, friends from Buenos Aires come and stay: a couple with their 16 year old son Álvaro. The father is a plastic surgeon and has a medical interest in helping Alex. However, the unexpected attraction between the two youngsters forces the adults to confront their worst of fears...
18:00 It Happened Just Before (Kurz davor ist es passiert)
Director: Anja Salomonowitz
Austria, 2006, 72, Colour
Language: German. Subtitled in Portuguese
Cast: Rainer Halbauer, Otto Pikal, Leopold Sobotka, Anna Sparer
Over 16 yrs.
Five people in their normal daily realities tell stories of what they have never personally experienced but all of which are related to the trafficking of women. These stories tell of false promises, doubts about deceit, coercion, threats and slavery. According to the director, the film deals with what goes through the audiences mind when viewing film. The images normally associated with the type of stories being told, particularly on female trafficking, are the true theme of this film.
28 MAY
18:00 Play
Director: Alicia Scherson
Chile/Argentina, 2005, 105, Colour
Language: Spanish. Subtitled in Portuguese.
Cast: Viviana Herrera, Andrés Ulloa, Aline Kuppenhein
Over 16 yrs.
Cristina, a young nurse, lives in a modest neighbourhood of Santiago do Chile. When not taking care of an old and dying Hungarian immigrant, reading him National Geographic magazines, she amuses herself seducing Manuel, the gardener, and playing Street Fighter in a local amusement arcade. Tristan is a 33 year old architect and lives in an upmarket house in one of the most sought after neighbourhoods in the city. Tristan has just lost everything: his wife, job, briefcase and his IPod. Unexpectedly, the paths of Cristina and Tristan become intertwined. On the night that Tristan is mugged, it is Cristina who discovers his stolen bag in a rubbish bin. Listening to the music on his IPod and smoking his cigarettes, Cristina begins to follow Tristan, becoming a silent witness to his mounting disgrace. They are both in search of love. But never to find it.
21:30 The Forest for the Trees (Der Wald vor lauter Bäumen)
Director: Maren Ade
Germany, 2003, 81, Colour
Language: German. Subtitled in Portuguese.
Cast: Eva Loebau, Daniela Holtz, Jan Neumann, Ilona Schulz
Over 16 yrs.
My idea was for a comedy about a young teacher in conflict with the profession. The other idea was to approach the drama and false friendship between two women. I could not choose between either plot. Hence, I combined them and they fitted perfectly. (Maren Ade)
The film tells the story of Melanie Pröschle, a young teacher from the provinces who, fired on idealism, embarks on her first job in a city school. She soon however discovers that it is not easy starting on a new life. Loneliness tells how there was nobody awaiting her in the new city. Melanie then concentrates on a friendship that builds up with a neighbour who has just broken up with her boyfriend. However, Melanie imposes herself to such an extent that Tina ends up distancing herself. The loneliness becomes so unbearable that Melanie rapidly becomes involved in a spiral of lies and false expectations.
MAY 29
18:00 - Les États Nordiques (Drifting States)
Director: Denis Coté
Canada, 2005, 91, Colour
Language: French. Subtitled in Portuguese.
Cast: Christian LeBlanc
Over 16 yrs.
This is the story of Christian, a man tired of seeing his mother lying in deep coma, who decides to turn off her life support machine. Disturbed by the legal and moral consequences of his act, he sets off for the north of Canada and a settlement of just 400 inhabitants. Slowly, he begins rebuilding his life, with new neighbours, a new job and new interests. Les États Nordiques is a series of independently timed blocks, of moments of contemplation, floating impressions and ghosts around the life and choices of a common man. (Denis Côté).
21:30 Geminis (Decir tu Nombre)
Director: Albertina Carri
Argentina/France, 2005, 85, Colour.
Language: Spanish. Subtitled in Portuguese.
Cast: Christina Banegas, Daniel Fanego, Maria Abadi, Lucas Escariz
Over 16 yrs.
Lucía cannot contain her enthusiasm. Ezequiel, her eldest son, and his wife Montse are about to arrive in Buenos Aires from Spain. Despite having already married, they are to hold another wedding in Argentina. The details of the celebration are planned down to the last millimetre by Lucía for whom appearances matter above all else. Her husband looks on with a mixture of amazement and powerlessness as the preparations proceed. The two younger sons, Jeremias and Meme, remain united but distant. Lucía neither knows nor suspects that the two brothers are engaged in a relationship whose secrecy is preserved with great discretion whilst parental attentions are focused elsewhere. I ask now whether Geminis is a film about love or about the maternal figure. And the only conclusion that I reach is that these two concepts are simultaneously tied and divided by the finest of lines that transcends their multiple meanings. (Albertina Carri).
June 1
15:00 It Happened Just Before
17:00 Geminis
19:00 XXY
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