MSPIFF log 04.18.11

Dossier K (2009)
dir. Jan Verheyen
Belgium

Day 5
9th Film
(5/10) Take It or Leave It
Trailer

There is nothing too great nor too awful about Dossier K, a well-made crime drama from Belgium. You've got the key components of earnest cop, corrupt cop and honorable thug, nefarious thug and the various oxymorons that go along with those classifications. The blood is spilling among the Albanian underworld in Antwerp and it is up to the handsome Detective Vincke to get to the bottom of it. Entertaining but forgettable.

Plays again: Friday 4/29 9:30pm




International Narrative Shorts
Garagouz (2010) dir. Abdenour Zahzah, Algeria
It's Natural to Be Afriad (2010) dir. Justin Doherty, UK
Mokhtar (2010) dir. Halima Ouardiri, Morocco/Canada
Night Fishing (2010) dir. Park Chan-wook, Park Chan-kyong, South Korea

Day 5
10th Film
(8/10 overall) Recommended

You can go for the heartbreak (especially Mokhtar) but stay for the Night Fishing, the short by Park Chan-wook and his brother Park Chan-kyong shot on an iPhone - it's pretty amazing and slightly mind boggling. If you thought the themes of Thirst were all over the map, Night Fishing condenses that into a 33 minute package that is mesmerizing. Part music video, part horror film, part shamanistic ritual. I can't wait to see this again.

Plays again: Sunday 5/1 9:00pm