Movie News: 2010 Chicago International Film Festival Announces First 20 Films

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
No votes yet

CHICAGO – Cinema/Chicago is proud to announce the first 20 new films scheduled to appear at the 2010 Chicago International Film Festival, October 7th – 21st. The Chicago festival continues to combine the films of established directors/talent with promising newcomers. Expect some foreign and domestic film surprises.

Screenings will take place at the AMC River East Theater in downtown Chicago during the October festival run. Festival passes are on sale now and individual tickets go on sale September 24th.

Gemma Arterton in ‘Tamara Drewe’
Gemma Arterton in ‘Tamara Drewe’
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classic

Here are the first 20 films slated for the Chicago International Film Festival in the announcement made on August 25th.

UK – ‘Tamara Drewe’
Director: Stephen Frears
When former ugly duckling Tamara Drewe sashays back into her hometown, life for her neighbors is thrown upside down. Now a devastating beauty, Tamara sets a contemporary comedy of manners into play using the oldest magic in the book: sex appeal.

USA – ‘Trust’
Director: David Schwimmer
After carefree teenager Anna has her life shattered by an online sexual predator, her parents (Clive Owen, Catherine Keener) must find a way to cope with their own grief and anger while helping Anna to pick up the pieces. Chicago’s own David Schwimmer directs this powerful tale of familial devastation.

Thailand – ‘Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives’
Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Winner of the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, this visionary yet playful film is an enchanting blend of heady spiritual imagery and tender human drama that confronts the largest of questions – what happens to us after we die? Thai Title: ‘Loong Boonmee raleuk chat.’ Thai, French with subtitles.

UK/Brazil – ‘Waste Land’
Director: Lucy Walker
One of the most inspiring and award-winning docs of the year follows Brazilian artist Vik Muniz deep into the world’s largest landfill on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro as he transforms the lives of its residents through a large-scale art project. English, Portuguese with subtitles.

Japan – ‘Big Tits Zombie’
Director: Takao Nakano
A raucous crowd-pleaser that is definitely not for the whole family, this 3-D spectacle pits brassy strippers against a mob of the undead, which the ladies unwittingly revive by reading aloud from an ancient tome. Japanese Title: ‘Konkyu Dragon.’ Japanese with subtitles.

Argentina – ‘Brother & Sister’
Director: Daniel Burman
Acclaimed director Daniel Burman helms this graceful portrait of two
idiosyncratic siblings who, after their elderly mother’s death, find themselves forced to confront the fissures in their relationship, with amusing and touching results. Argentina Title: ‘Dos Hermanos.’ Spanish with subtitles.

Italy – ‘Come Undone’
Director: Silvio Soldini
By turns sexy and thought provoking, this realistic exploration of infidelity follows two people who fall into an extramarital affair almost by accident, at great risk to their own inner peace. Italian Title: ‘Cosa voglio di più.’ Italian with subtitles.

USA – ‘Go For It!’
Director: Carmen Marron
In this coming-of-age tale from Chicago filmmakers, feisty teen Carmen faces the prospect of leaving her urban community when a teacher challenges her to use her talent and passion for dancing as a ticket to a brighter future.

South Korea – ‘The Housemaid’
Director: Im Sang-soo
Im Sang-soo reimagines a classic of Korean cinema with this erotic thriller centering on the illicit affair between a wealthy, married pianist and his housekeeper. The resulting pregnancy ignites a powder keg of scheming and intrigue. Korean title: ‘Hanyo.’ Korean with subtitles.

Hungary – ‘The Last Report on Anna’
Director: Márta Mészáros
Behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary, the secret police task a
critic-turned-informant with convincing Anna Kéthly, a fiery exiled politician, to return to her homeland to face her accusers. From venerable, award-winning auteur Márta Mészáros. Hungarian Title: ‘Utolsó jelentés Annáról.’ Hungarian with subtitles.

Ryan Kwanten in ‘Red Hill’
Ryan Kwanten in ‘Red Hill’
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures

Mexico – ‘Leap Year’
Director: Michael Rowe
Laura leads a meager life in her dingy apartment, doing little more than searching for the latest in a string of emotionless one night stands. Her routine changes when grim, intense Arturo enters her life. Mexican Title: ‘Año bisiesto,’ Spanish with subtitles.

USA – ‘Louder Than a Bomb’
Directors: Greg Jacobs, Jon Siskel
Who ever said poetry was boring? In this award-winning documentary, four supremely talented Chicago high school poetry teams harness the ecstatic power of words as they prepare to compete in the world’s largest youth poetry slam.

USA – ‘Mooz-lum’
Director: Qasim Basir
Pulled between his strict Muslim upbringing and the normal social life he’s never had, Tariq enters college questioning his faith, values, and identity. He searches for answers with the help of friends and mentors, but the sudden cataclysm of 9/11 changes everything.

Ukraine/Germany/Netherlands – ‘My Joy’
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Russia’s open road is the setting for this striking, noirish directorial debut, in which a truck driver contends with the dangers of trackless back roads and hostile locals during what should be a routine delivery. Russian Title: ‘Schastye moe.’ Russian with subtitles.

France – ‘Nannerl, Mozart’s Sister’
Director: René Féret
In this biopic centering on the other child prodigy in the Mozart family, Nannerl lives in the shadow of her famous younger brother, forbidden by her father and society from composing and performing her own music. French with subtitles.

USA – ‘Polish Bar’
Director: Ben Berkowitz
The wayward son of a prosperous Jewish clan, Reuben moonlights as a cocaine dealer, telling himself that it’s only until he makes it big as a nightclub DJ. But a visit from his Hasidic cousin causes him to question the life he’s chosen.

France – ‘The Princess of Montpensier’
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Chicago favorite Bertrand Tavernier (’Round Midnight) directs this lush, unsentimental take on the historical romance. A young, beautiful noblewoman in 16th-century France inspires passion, violence, and power struggles among the men around her as civil war tears the country apart. French Title: ‘La princesse de Montpensier.’ French with subtitles.

Australia – ‘Red Hill’
Director: Patrick Hughes
In this genre-bending Australian Western, city cop Shane Cooper relocates to the remote country town of Red Hill for the sake of his pregnant wife, not suspecting that a bloodthirsty escaped convict, bent on vengeance, is heading their way.

Germany – ‘Sasha’
Director: Dennis Todorovic
Sasha harbors a crush on his piano teacher Gebhard, but he struggles with coming out to his conservative family. When Gebhard’s impending departure abroad forces Sasha to act, they both face dire consequences. German Title: ‘Saša.’ German, Serbian, Croatian with subtitles.

France/Belgium/Chad – ‘A Screaming Man’
Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Civil war rages in Chad, but pool attendant Adam cares only for his job and his son. When he loses his job, Adam finds himself contemplating a shocking act of betrayal in this Cannes Jury Prize winner. French Title: ‘Un homme qui crie.’ Arabic, French with subtitles.

Film Festival passes for the 2010 46th Chicago International Film Festival are now on sale. Click here or call the Cinema/Chicago offices at (312) 683-0121. Individual tickets and Gala Presentation tickets go on sale September 24th.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2010 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker