Visions du Réel Day 6! Here are three films reviews from Visions du Réel, two by Trish Thalman and one by Fanny Levraz.
Two of the films, Women in Sink and Nosotros Ellas are about women, the first, "avivacious, warm hearted funny film" and the other is "a breath taking close up of womanly lives". The Enemy is about the mosquito, a documentary filmed in Cuba, a "comedic delight" and one "not to be missed". Films of completely different styles but all worth watching according to their reviewers.
All three films will be screened today Wednesday 22nd. Nosotros Ellas at 12:15 and The Enemy and Women in Sink at 18:00 Full details and tickets here.
Also today, don't forget Paléo tickets go on sale at midday so get in line or online to buy your tickets as they sell out very fast!
The Enemy by Aldemar Matias - "Not to be missed".
The enemy is actually the mosquito and larvae that is responsible for Dengue Fever.
Cuba - during the 80's, there was an epidemic of the disease. People died. Since that time, the Public Health DepartmentLaw requires every building, shop, living quarters to be free of the disease carrying insects.
In one of the residential quarters of Havana, a team of Health Inspectors set out daily to visit andcheck homes and businesses, capture mosquitos in glass tubes and deal with copious amounts of administrative paper work, that is, once they have sung the national anthem together to start the day.
Thegood-natured, squabbling team of workers deal with mistakes, wrong addresses, incorrect information, accusations by fellow workers who all answer to their imposing, boisterous supervisor, a woman who is determined to leave no larvae left in the quarter. And don't tell her what to do either!
The film follows the workers as they brow-beat citizens about keeping pest free, argue with them about paying fines, making deals for a lower fine, and re-educating them about health laws if larvae and mosquitos are found.
One family is designated to be fumigated, but a hilarious discussion follows whether to fumigate or not, as the family is having lunch. The fumigation proceeds anyway, engulfing the tiny living accommodation and courtyard with thick white smoke. The noisy fumigator, belching it's fumes, is a fabulous piece of 'art work' from the 80's, that can only exist in Cuba where everything is 'fixed and maintained', as new fumigators would be impossible to obtain.
The closing scene with the buzzing fumigator, the billowing puffs of smoke wafting everywhere through the street is a comedic delight. You can almost smell the putrid poison. Not to be missed.
Women in Sink by Iris Zaki – Women chatting together while having their hair washed.
Iris has a job in a women's hair salon. She lathers shampoo, washes hair and carries on conversations that turnout to be relaxed and exceptional. Because, the women who come into the salon are a mix of Jewish, Arab and Christian Arab women living in Israel.
There is a calendar on the wall with the picture of Jesus holding a Lamb, the writing on the outside of the Salon is in Arabic, and everyone speaks freely about their family history, where they are from, and the always current issues between the Jews and the Arabs.
The salon is always filled with laughing, noisy customers, friends, people who drop by (women and men) and the reception desk is usually filled with snacks, cakes and breads being shared with all. It is a comfortable retreat for the customers who enter.
We see 'talking heads'of all ages with an array of coloured lips, eye shadowed lids, and jewelry, along with skin and teeth defects, glowingly framed by the shiny, wet black enamel and chrome of the washing sink. The conversations run the gamut with eye and facial expressions reflecting emotions. Some customers just lie back, close their eyes and say nothing. We see only their face and wet heads.
This vivacious, warm-hearted, funny film gives voice to and a quick snapshot of articulate women with something to say in a relaxed environment, enjoying shampoo and warm water on their heads.
The young directors of both films have filmed and told their clever stories in a most humorous yet sensitive manner. Their own personalities shine through.
Nosotras Ellas by Julia Pesce (Us Women, Them Women) review by Fanny Levraz
"A breath-taking close-up of womanly lives"
Somewhere in Argentina, there is a quiet house, with open windows that let the wind in. In this house, there are women. They are mothers and daughters, aunts and sisters, who come together and share, creating an entity even stronger than family in the classical sense.
It starts with death and ends with birth. The first scenes of this documentary pull you right in. With unusual closeness, you can distinguish a wrinkled foot held by strong hands. An old lady, in her nightgown and bedridden is having her exhausted body gently rubbed by her daughter. Words fail to convey the powerful sentiment provoked by this attentive care and love. The only other living beings that seem to be tolerated in this close clan are the silent majestic old grey cat that will glare at us without moving, and the slim and curious toe-sniffing dog. In the quiet house, the cycle of life takes place. Some of the women will move in, some of them move out. Filming close-ups of pieces of body, a shoulder with flying hair, tired feet, a treasure-looking hand, the camera creates blurry limits between the individuals of the house. They look alike to a point it makes them difficult to separate at times.
The young director and camerawoman of this documentary, Julia Pesce, is actually a part of the family she follows during these changing times. It was a five-year long process, in order to have her family forget that she has holding a camera. This particularity will be immediately sensed, because there will be absolutely no barrier between these women and the spectator. If their world seems secret and sealed, we are welcomed into it, to be witnesses the passing of an old generation to a new one.
With an invisible camera, blunt access to the realities of these women is made possible, and the result is stunning. Beautiful, sensible, and generous is definitely recommended to all women, your heart will cry and smile.
If by any chance you meet Julia Pesce, you will see an adorable little boy in a baby-sling, the symbol of the new generation starting.