Movie Review by Sergio Martinez
As the films Cielo
(directed by Spanish director Alberta Sciamma and set in Bolivia) and I Am Frankelda (Mexican
film directed by brothers Arturo and Roy Arbiz) have already been reviewed in
previous commentaries, this time we will focus on some of the other productions
we had the opportunity to see at this, the 29th edition of the Montreal Fantasia
Festival.
This year's lineup contained approximately one hundred films
in the horror, fantasy, and science fiction genres, in both live-action and
animated formats. Here we review what this critic considers to be some of the
most outstanding.
PLAYING WITH TIME
One of the most appealing themes in science fiction and
fantasy stories is time. Many films have explored the idea of travelling
through time, altering it, or stopping and repeating it several times. Two of
the films we had the opportunity to see tap into this human fascination with
grappling with the mysteries of the temporal dimension.
The Girl Who Stole Time
Dir. Yu Ao and Zhou Tienan (China). This film begins with a
frantic search for a device that has the ability to stop time, granting its
owner the power to alter events. Those pursuing the mysterious device are led
by a cold-blooded assassin who works for a powerful villain. In an unexpected
twist, after the expeditionary group failed to secure it, a girl ends up in
possession of the device. When the young hitman leading the search realizes who
has the valuable object, he will try by all means to recover it. However, the
story will still have many twists and turns, and it won't be until the end that
we discover why the powerful individual sought the power to control time, which
the girl inadvertently manages to do.
This is a story with an interesting narrative, excellent use
of colour, and a compelling plot full of suspense and action.
All You Need is Kill
Dir. Kenichiro Akimoto (Japan). Time, in this case, its
constant repetition, is also the premise of this film. In this respect, there
is a certain similarity to another outstanding film shown at Fantasia last
year: Penalty Loop (Shinji Araki, Japan, 2024). Young Rita, who works at the site where a
mysterious alien plant has taken root, wakes up and repeats the same movements
every morning. The girl is shy and not very popular with her co-workers. The
repetitions, however, allow her to visualize the danger lurking in the
mysterious structure, and although she warns others about it, she is not taken
seriously. In the meantime, with each repetition, she acquires the skills to
face the extraterrestrial danger, although at the same time, she becomes more
isolated from her colleagues.
That won't matter much when she meets Keiji, who is also
trapped in the same repetitive time loop.
Excellent animation and a captivating story made this film
one of the best of the event.
THAT ALMOST POETIC VIOLENCE
Violence is very present in many Asian films or films
inspired by Asian themes. But it is not gratuitous or excessive violence; one
could say that in these cases, violence has an almost sublime dimension, even
poetic, one might say.
Honeko Akabane's
Bodyguards
Dir. Junichi Ishikawa (Japan). Based on a highly popular
manga, this film offers a humorous and ironic look at the world of private
security. Honeko Akabane is a girl in her last year of high school. Still, she
is also the daughter of the head of the intelligence service, who, wanting to
provide her with the utmost protection, but without her noticing and without
using his agency's personnel, decides to hire a private bodyguard who, as such,
must pass as one of her classmates. The task will not be easy: a sworn enemy of
the intelligence chief has put a price on the girl's head, but the hired
bodyguard will soon discover that he will not be alone in his task, although
that company will not always be welcome.
A great display of martial arts, a story with some twists
and turns, and a hilarious tone characterize this film.
The Forbidden City
Dir. Gabriele Mainetti (Italy). This film also features many
fights in the best tradition of kung fu. In China, at a time when a birth
control policy was in place limiting families to only one child, in a remote
region, a father who is a kung fu master trains his two young daughters in
martial arts, one of whom must hide whenever a stranger visits.
Years later, in Rome's Chinatown, we meet Mei, who is now
searching for her sister Yun, who has been forced into prostitution. In the
sordid world of crime with its networks of prostitution and usury, the young
woman who has travelled from China to find her sister will find an ally in the
young chef Marcello. Violence, however, will be the inevitable ingredient in
this film, which in any case vindicates a certain sense of justice. But for
that, violence was necessary.
THE MYSTERY
There are some films that envelop you in their plot in an
almost hypnotic way and leave you wondering about everything you've seen. This
is the case with the following titles:
The Woman
Dir. Hwang Wook (South Korea). Sun Kyung appears at the
beginning of the film being interviewed for a job. The potential employer
points out that she has changed jobs frequently, to which she replies that this
was because she had to move to a new city, but now she assures him that she
will stay in this job.
Sun-kyung responds to an ad from a man, Young-hwan, who is
giving away a vacuum cleaner. She decides to meet him and, as a token of
gratitude, gives him some strawberries, which he initially refuses. This is
followed by an unexpected incident that does not escalate thanks to the
intervention of Ui-jin, a former college classmate. Days later, she learns that Ui-jin has
committed suicide, but she suspects that Young-hwan had something to do with his
death. She shares her suspicions with the police officer in charge of the case,
but without much success. Meanwhile, a new death will add a new dose of mystery
to this captivating psychological thriller.
Angel's Egg
Dir. Mamoru Oshii (Japan). This is a remastered version of
the 1985 film. A mysterious warrior and a girl guarding a mysterious egg wander
through a city plunged into a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. There is no apparent
resolution to the plot, but rather the reiteration of a mystery that remains
unsolved.
Scenes of excellent technical craftsmanship and very
immersive music made this one of the most interesting mystery films.
A CLASSIC
The Nightmare Before
Christmas
Dir. Henry Selik (USA). This 1993 film was screened as part
of Fantasia's tribute to film composer Danny Elfman, who provides the singing
voice of Jack Skellington in this film. This is a classic stop-motion animated
film in which the characters from the Halloween community decide to usurp the
celebration of the neighbouring Christmas community. The result is disastrous,
although in the end there is some reward for some of the characters. Humour,
innocence, and tenderness are intertwined in this story.
ROMANCE AND HUMOUR
Chao
Dir. Yasuhiro
Aoki (Japan). A romance between a human and a mermaid, but not just any
mermaid. Stephen, a designer at a shipping company in Shanghai, has fallen in
love with none other than the daughter of Neptunus, king of the underwater
inhabitants. Conflicts that refer to real ecological problems, such as the
damage that ship propellers inflict on marine creatures, have threatened the
coexistence between land and sea dwellers.
A colourful animated film with vivid images transports the
viewer to the landscapes of an imaginary world full of surprises.
Fixed
Dir. Genndy Tartakovsky (USA). This animated film director
was also honoured by the festival, and the screening of Fixed was part of that celebration. This film
will soon be available on Netflix.
This is certainly an animated film for adult audiences, with
many sexual references. Bull is the name of the dog who is the protagonist of
the story, a typical family dog, without much pedigree, but who is nonetheless
a much-loved pet. Bull, however, has become a nuisance due to his habit of
seeking sexual pleasure on the grandmother's legs or on other household items.
More profoundly, however, Bull is in love with his neighbour, a fine Afghan
hound named Honey, a champion in dog shows who is reserved for another of her own
breed.
All that canine world of virile pride is about to end when
Bull is prepared to be “fixed” at the veterinary clinic. But before that
happens, he and his gang of friends will have an evening of canine enjoyment
they will never forget.
A film with a lot of humour, sometimes a little spicy in
tone, but not vulgar. Images and actions that keep the audience engaged
throughout.
TECHNOCRIME
Lifehack
Dir. Ronan Corrigan (United Kingdom / Cyprus). Undoubtedly
one of the most original films in terms of its presentation of images,
sometimes in the form of a computer screen, sometimes in that of a mobile
phone. The story itself focuses on an action that takes place in the cyber
world. Four young people who live immersed in the world of computing—Peter,
Alex, Sid, and Petey—put all their technological skills to work to carry out a
fabulous fraud against a powerful businessman who does not have a spotless
record. What begins as a game will end up getting out of the hands of the
daring cybercriminals.
This is a very interesting film, both for its form and for
its dynamic narrative and striking story.
SIMPLY MAGICAL
Mononake Chapter II: The
Ashes of Rage
Dir. Kenji Nakamura and Kiyotaka Suzuki (Japan). For this
critic, this was the crowning glory of the festival's animation section. The
second part of Mononake the Movie—Phantom in the
Rain, shown last year, made a big impression with its rich colours,
quality story, and original narrative.
The second instalment of this saga brings us once again a
collection of palace intrigues in the closed environment of Ooku, while the
threat of evil spirits looms once more. On this occasion, two of the characters
fall victim to a spell that burns them from within, reducing their bodies to
ashes. Once again, the enigmatic Medicine Seller, bearer of his exorcism sword,
will have to face a decisive battle.
The pictorial richness of the images, resembling traditional
Japanese paintings on parchment, transports us to a truly magical world. In our
opinion, the best of its animation section.
