New Directors/New Films and Film Comment Selects 2014 General Forum thread

[Chris Knipp]

Week two, day three of ND/NF press screenings.

FISH & CAT (Shahram Mokri 2013)--ND/NF

Intricate patterns of looping and voicovers, creepy restauranteurs, university students at a winter kite festival at a Caspian lake, all done in a single take (like Sukurov's RUSSIAN ARK, but without the beauty, glamor, history, or art), and what the point of all this is or how the fish and cat fit in for that matter, I cannot tell you. Two hours and a quarter of self-indulgence from a new generation of Iranian filmmaker.

SALVATION ARMY/L'ARMÉE DU SALUT(Abdellah Taïa 2013)--ND/NF

An austere, Bressonian Moroccan gay coming-of-age tale (from a celebrated 2006 novel by the director) in two episodes ten years apart. Suggests the writing of Paul Bowles. Filmed by Claire Denis' frequent dp, Agnès Godard in blues and grays. So simple and harsh the beauty of it may dawn on you only later.

OBVIOUS CHILD (Gillian Robbespierre 2013)--ND/NF

A rom-com about a female standup-comic that ends with an upbeat abortion sequence. Instead of bolting, the father turns out to be a sterling, hunky, Mr. Right. Definitely a woman's movie, but a nice change from the indulgence of male immaturity of the Apatow comedies. Jenny Slate stands out in the lead role and Jake Lacy is effortlessly appealing as Mr. Right.