Locarno 2014: Two Must-see Films!

The 67th Locarno International Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland will start August 6 and last through the 16th. The Festival this year will hold several world and international premieres including Luc Besson's latest film "Lucy" starring Scarlett Johannson. The Filipino master of snoozefest Lav Diaz has a film in competition titled "Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon (From What Is Before)". Olivier Assayas' latest "Sils Maria", which premiered at Cannes last May, will also be screened. 

I received yesterday an email about two of the films that will be holding their world premieres at Locarno. I have not seen them but the synopsis and the posters (yes, love them!!!) makes me think that those going to the festival this year should make sure to have these two movies on their must-see list.

"A Hitman's Solitude Before the Shot"

"A Hitman’s Solitude Before the Shot"

CAST: Benno Fürmann, Mavie Hörbiger, Wolf Roth, Erik Madsen
DIRECTOR: Florian Mischa Böder
COUNTRY: Germany

SYNOPSIS
The over-ambitious Koralnik has a dream job: he is contract killer for a secretive EU organisation. But not even 8 years after his training programme has he had a single hit. Bored and frustrated, he spends his life according to the organisation’s rigid rules. Solitary, no social contacts and always undercover. One day, a seemingly shy Rosa crashes into his car and life. Before Koralnik realizes, he is having a romantic dinner date with her. For the first time, he hesitantly allows himself to flee from his solitude into an evening of company but ends up totally wasted. Then his "hitman phone“ rings and Koralnik needs to be reanimated for his first mission. With Rosa at his side, Koralnik sets off on a chaotic journey through a night, in which nothing goes as planned. To make it worse, Koralnik learns that one of his hitman colleagues is his first target.

"PAUSE"

"Pause"

CAST: Baptiste Gilliéron, Julia Faure, André Wilms, Nils Althaus, Roland Vouilloz
DIRECTOR: Mathieu Urfer
COUNTRY: Switzerland

SYNOPSIS

One winter evening, at an empty gas station, young country musician Sami meets beautiful Julia, who has run out of gas. Sami, who’s been living alone in his car since his ex kicked him out, invites Julia back to “his place” for the night. Four years and a master degree later, Julia works for a fair-trade start-up business while Sami is working on a country music act with his best friend Fernand. Already in his 70s, Fernand is an exuberant guitar virtuoso who lives on his own in a nursing home. Together Sami and Fernand spend many happy hours together jamming and drinking their way through bottles of fine wine. Yet life with Julia becomes increasingly difficult. Over time, Sami’s happy-go-lucky attitude has begun to grate on Julia and she decides it’s time to put their relationship on hold. With nothing but his guitar and his pain, can a song save Sami’s love?

xxx
Raymond Lo