Viewfinder: the choice of Cyprus Film Days

The 19th Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2021, from April 16 to 24, will host its most popular and mainstream films in the Viewfinder section. Five outstanding and multi-award-winning feature films will be screened at Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia. All films will be screened in their original dialogues with Greek and English subtitles.

Nomadland

With rave reviews, plaudits and prizes, including six Oscar nominations, Chloé Zhao’s film is undoubtedly one of this year’s cinematic gems and one of the most important films of the decade. Nomadland, skilfully balancing fiction and reality, portrays the nomadic life of Fern (Frances McDormand) who, following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.

Sweat

Swedish director Magnus von Horn portrays, with impressive accuracy, the struggles of a fitness motivator (Magdalena Kolesnik), recounting three days in her life, by masterfully illustrating the protagonist’s longing for true intimacy despite her hundreds of thousands of followers and admirers. Von Horn’s strong statement about our addiction to social media, the film’s excellent cast and the director’s insightful gaze make Sweat one of the most-discussed films of the year, which travelled to many film festivals and received, among other awards, the Best Film and Best Director Awards at Chicago Film Festival.

Night of the Kings

Having collected multiple awards and taken part in some of the world’s most prestigious independent film festivals, such as Toronto, Chicago, Thessaloniki and Rotterdam, this gripping drama, directed by acclaimed African filmmaker Philippe Lacôte, tells the story of a young man (Bakary Koné) who is sent to La Maca, a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its inmates. As tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, he is designated by the Boss to be the new ‘Roman’ and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Learning what fate awaits him, he begins to narrate the life of the legendary outlaw Zama King and has no choice but to make his story last until dawn.

Apples

The much-talked about film by first-time director Christos Nikou, which fascinated Cate Blanchett (executive producer) and was selected to represent Greece in the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards in 2021, receiving acclaimed reviews and plaudits in Europe and the US, is relevant to our time. As an unpredictable, sweeping pandemic causes people to develop sudden amnesia, a man finds himself enrolled in a recovery programme designed to help him build a new life. His treatment: performing daily tasks prescribed by his doctors on cassette tape, and capturing these new memories with a Polaroid camera. Aris Servetalis’ splendid performance in the lead role, as well as the fresh and innovative gaze of first-time director Nikou will undoubtedly leave viewers with an unforgettable and explosive ’aftertaste’.

Bad Tales

Capturing the spirit of independent cinema, Bad Tales, directed by brothers Damiano & Fabio D’Innocenzo, illustrates the dark portrait of a middle-class community somewhere in Italy. With beautiful sunny frames having a distinctive Mediterranean flavour, supported by the impressive performances of its main cast (Elio Germano, Tommaso Di Cola, Giulietta Rebeggiani), the film encapsulates the profile of a seemingly normal world silently festering with the sadism of fathers and the anger of diligent, desperate children. The subversive and undeniably authentic Bad Tales has received more than 20 awards, including the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the 70th Berlinale.

19th Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2021

April 16-24. Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia. www.cyprusfilmdays.com