SFFLA 2015: Finnish film "Heart of a Lion (Leijonasydän)" Moves Audience!

On Sunday last week, this writer attended the screening of the gripping 2013 Finnish drama "Heart of a Lion" from director Dome Karukoski. The movie is about a Neo-Nazi man named Teppo who one day falls in love with woman who happens to have a biracial son from a previous relationship. This development would force him to examine his racist nature and would test his relationship with his half-brother Harri, who happens to be a hard-core Neo-Nazi.

The film offers a timely message on tolerance and acceptance at a time when Europe is under threat from the extremists of both ends. It does not romanticize the subject matter and it offers no clear-cut solution to the problem either. What it does is present the growing threat in small cities across Europe and allows the audience to act according to what side they are on the issue. Don't get me wrong, the movie is strongly against racism and intolerance but it does not totally demonize those who are in the wrong side but are willing to make a change for the better.

The screening was attended by director Dome Karukosi, actor Jasper Pääkkönen, who plays the half-brother Harri, and screenwriter Aleksi Bardy. The audience was so moved by the film that the post-screening Q&A lasted over 40 minutes and the photo-ops took so long that the screening for the next film had to be delayed for a couple of minutes to give some people time to have their pictures taken with the filmmakers.

Below are pictures from the screening. Of course, i had to be in some of them!

SFFLA Festival Director James Koenig (2nd from Right)
with (L-R, screenwriter Aleksi Bardy,
actor Jasper Paakkonen and director Dome Karukosi

Raymond Lo (center) with Jasper Paakkonen and Dome Karukosi

XXX

Raymond Lo

SFFLA 2015: Festival Diary, Day 1

The 16th edition of the Scandinavian Film Festival Los Angeles (SFFLA) kicked off today with five extraordinary features and an Opening Night Gala attended by hundreds of guests. Per tradition, there were good movies, good cakes, good drinks and good food (prepared by Sirpa Welch, the executive chef of the Scandinavian Kitchen in LA (sirpawelch@msn.com or (310) 422-5133). See pictures here: http://raymonddeasislo.blogspot.com/p/events-opening-night-gala-of-16th.html

I saw three diverse, interesting and extraordinary films today.

Antboy: The Revenge of Red Fury
Denmark

The first movie I saw was this cute little charmer from Denmark. "Antboy: The Revenge of Red Fury" is a sequel to the hugely popular "Antboy", which also screened during last year's edition of SFFLA. This fun adventure flick is what a superhero tale about kids trying to save the world should be, the film treatment is juvenile -- as it should be -- but not dumb. I saw kids at the screening and I can tell they were big fans of the movie because some of them were wearing Antboy shirts and they even sat very close to the screen!

Sorrow & Joy
Denmark

My 2nd film today was this solemn autobiographical film by Nils Malmros from Denmark. "Sorrow & Joy" is the official Oscar submission by Denmark and is inspired by a tragic incident in the filmmaker's life. It highlights the frightening dangers untreated mental conditions can bring to a family.

The story opens with the noted terrible tragedy and, true to its title, it delves into the ensuing sorrow that the incident brought the couple. It closes, however, with a somewhat reassuring present day end for them -- not completely blissful but not unhappy either.

The depressing theme of story may be tough for some to sit through but it offers the audience the opportunity to discover that there was this couple in Denmark who went through this incredible loss and survived it, not unscathed but as better, stronger human beings. And, through their story, we may perhaps have their strength to also face all our problems with such courage, grace and mutual love.

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

Sweden

My 3rd film today was this wonderfully titled new film from Swedish master Roy Andersson. A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE is the third film in the trilogy called LIVING and is a collection of vignettes about death, dying and the horrible existence of being alive but practically dead. The movie is oftentimes humorous but does not lack for many thought-provoking and philosophical observation about the subject matter. The filmmaking is excellent! Even if one is not familiar with Andersson's cinema, one can easily tell, by the film's opening sequence, that the filmmaker commands great mastery of the medium and his palpable confidence easily gets the attention and completely wins over the audience. Even if his film does not offer a core story or a linear narrative, Andersson's grasp of his subject matter and his singular vision in presenting this via a series of interrelated sequences somewhat allows the audience to make sense of everything and that is something that an ordinary filmmaker would have difficulty to achieve. 

This film won Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, where it beat the Oscar-nominated film BIRDMAN.

The festival continues on January 18, Sunday; January 24, Saturday and January 25, Sunday. See you there!

XXX

Raymond Lo

SFFLA 2014 Diary, Final Day

While the Grammys was on yesterday, I was happily watching four great features and one very funny Oscar-nominated live-action short called "Why Do I Have to Do Everything?" -- the entire theater was laughing non-stop for nearly 10 minutes -- at the 15th Scandinavian Film Fest being held at the WGA Theater.

I missed the Swedish film "Reliance" (dir. William Olsson) in the morning because I spent the previous night watching Rafael Nadal’s finals match at the Australian Open. He lost, sadly.

 

Clockwise: Conversations on Serious Topics,
Two Lives, The Shooter, We Are the Best!

The first movie I saw was this poignant Lithuanian quasi-documentary "Conversations On Serious Topics" (dir. Giedre Beinoriute) which features interviews with 12 kids (some in foster care, some orphans, some with disabilities) and they all take on questions about love, loneliness, dreams and their concept of faith, marriage and divorce. It’s a brisk 65-minute minimalist film. Arresting and quite revealing!

My 2nd film was Denmark's "The Shooter" (dir. Annette K. Olesen), a sleek film that has all the hallmarks of a polished Hollywood thriller. The score and editing are impressive!



Georg Maas with the author

My 3rd film was Germany's entry to this years's Oscars "Two Lives" (dir. Georg Maas) and it was a suspenseful drama about a woman who is hiding a terrible secret about her identity... Great perfs! The director had an interesting Q&A after and he fielded questions about the inspiration of the film, the real-life stories from which he based his film, the authenticity of the location, and the poetic ending. Afterwards, I had a picture with him in the lobby. Not a selfie, though.

Georg Maas, James Koenig

My favorite film yesterday was Lukas Moodyson's award-winning, buoyant and celebratory "We Are the Best!" It is a film about 3 girls who formed a punk band despite being told that punk was dead! A lovely film that pulsates with life and youthful exuberance! This one earned the biggest applause from me!

Yesterday was the Fest’s final day. It was my first year attending and I was so impressed by the film selections and the organized and congenial atmosphere of the festival. Kudos to festival founder/director James Koenig for a great event!

XXX

Raymond Lo

SFFLA 2014 Diary

I saw four films today at the Scandinavian Film Festval held at the WGA! I saw 3 great dramas and 1 bad horror movie.

My favorite is the Swedish "Call Girl" (dir. Mikael Marcimain) -- a true account of the lurid and explosive sex scandal that rocked Sweden involving the highest officials of the government during the late 70s. It's easily the most accomplished of the four, filmmaking-wise, that is.

I also enjoyed the the curiously titled "Mother, I Love You" (dir. Janis Nords) from Latvia -- a heartwarming drama about a boy who is struggling with his relationship with his mom and his tendency to solve his juvenile mistakes with equally juvenile solutions... 

Finland's "The Disciple" (dir. Ulrika Bengtsin), set in an island during the late '30s, is an allegorical tale of a family's suffering from the abusive treatment of their patriarch -- the film's photography is so beautiful and painterly!

Iceland's "Frost" (dir. Reynir Lyngdal) is my least favorite of the four movies. It is another variation of that lazy found footage genre that, to its credit, managed to elicit considerable thrills but failed to deliver the suspense it tried so hard to build --- halfway through the movie, i was wishing for Olaf or Elsa to show up and belt those memorable "Frozen" songs! The location where they shot the movie is breathtaking however.

SFFLA runs until today January 26th. It runs annually during winter.

XXX

Raymond Lo