WED, NOV 30 – 8:35 PM
SLOVAKIA
Soul at Peace
(Pokoj v duši)
Slovakia 2009. Director: Vladimír Balko
Cast: Attila Mokos, Roman Luknár, Helena Krajciová, Robert Więckiewicz,
Jan Vondrácek
Documentarian Vladimír Balko’s first dramatic feature, the affecting tale of a man trying to resume his life after five years in prison, was a substantial domestic hit in Slovakia. Middle-aged Tono returns to his isolated, insular home village in the Carpathian Mountains determined to go straight, but things aren’t easy: his young son doesn’t know him, the relationship between his wife and his “best mate” Stefan is suspicious, and no-one wants to hire an ex-con. Now, Stefan attempts to enlist Tono in a scam ... “The excellent script by Jiří Křižan, Martin Štrba’s refined camerawork and meticulous direction from Vladimír Balko together create a compelling tragedy ... Soul at Peace also gives an authentic portrayal of the rural environment of central Slovakia, the local Romany community and the attitude of the villagers towards ‘black sheep’ ... A thought-provoking and powerful visual story” (Karlovy Vary I.F.F.). Colour, 35mm, in Slovak with English subtitles. 92 mins.
WED, NOV 30 – 6:30 PM HUNGARY
The Maiden Danced to Death
(A halálba táncoltatott leány)
Hungary/Canada/Slovenia 2011. Director: Endre Hules
Cast: Bea Melkvi, Endre Hules, László Zsolt, Deborah Kara Unger,
Stephen McHattie, Gil Bellows
“Life is a dance — but you don’t get to choose the music.” Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Deer Hunter) shot this music-and-dance-filled Hungarian-Canadian-Slovenian co-production, partly filmed in Canada and containing appearances by several noted Canadian actors. The film marks the feature directing debut of Hungarian-born, Hollywood-based actor Endre Hules, who also has a leading role as Steve, a dancer-turned-impresario who returns from Canada to his native Hungary after 20 years. The Communist regime that expelled Steve is now gone; for Steve’s brother Gyula (László Zsolt), however, little has changed: he’s still running the same struggling dance company the two started together years before. Sibling rivalry is instantly triggered, but Mari (Bea Melkvi) — Gyula’s wife, and Steve’s ex — challenges the brothers to revive their last success together, a folk-dance drama entitled The Maiden Danced to Death. The film received its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival in August. Colour, 35mm, in English and Hungarian with English subtitles. 107 mins.
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