Venezia79: Happy trails

Things took a bit of a turn at the mid-point of the 79th Venice Film Festival, as I saw a handful of films that felt a bit underwhelming (see the first three films below). Although even these have elements that make them worth a look. All of the critics are looking decidedly more tired and rumpled at the moment, in need of a good nap. And several are dashing off to Toronto, where the festival starts tomorrow. Meanwhile, I have a bit more free time today and tomorrow, checking out both the festival's immersive (virtual reality) section and the beach! Four more festival highlights below...

Dead for a Dollar
dir-scr Walter Hill; with Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe 22/US ***
Choppy and more than a little cheesy, this colour-drained Western from veteran writer-director Walter Hill holds the attention with its quirky characters and situations. There isn't much to the convoluted plot, no story arc to speak of and only cursory nods to a few salient themes. But the dusty imagery is packed with references to Sergio Leone, while the goofy tone evokes fond memories of Blazing Saddles. And there's plenty of fun to be had watching pros like Christoph Waltz and Willem Dafoe casually chomp on the scenery.

On the Fringe [En los Márgenes]
dir Juan Diego Botto; with Penelope Cruz, Luis Tosar 22/Sp ***.
While this drama is centred around a specific political topic in Spain, its repercussions are wider, as are its emotional resonances. Actor-filmmaker Juan Diego Botto takes a look at evictions that have thrown nearly half a million people from their homes, often due to unfair banking practices. The film weaves several story threads together, lightly interconnecting them along the way. The result feels somewhat pushy and relentlessly heightened, with a lot of people flailing angrily at a cruel system. But it's also hugely moving..

Other People's Children [Les Enfants des Autres]
dir-scr Rebecca Zlotowski; with Virginie Efira, Roschdy Zem 22/Fr ***
An intrusive score and unsympathetic characters make this sharply observant French drama difficult to like. Writer-director Rebecca Zlotowski is exploring the resonant feelings of a woman who wants kids, but perhaps may have to settle for being a stepmum. But the carefully constructed script never feels organic, throwing in situations only to punch the theme from another angle. And even if the protagonist is a music teacher, a loudly emotive score is not appropriate. It steamrolls any possible nuance.

Anhell69
dir-scr Theo Montoya; with Camilo Najar, Vitor Gaviria 22/Col ****
Real-life news clips and home video add a gritty edge to this swirly Colombian documentary, which dramatically explores the decades of drug-trade violence that tore the nation apart. Expanding on his short doc Son of Sodom, filmmaker Theo Montoya takes a poetic approach that mixes real-life footage with dramatises scenes. It's visually sumptuous, so beautifully shot and edited that it gets deep under the skin, provoking both thought and emotion. And Montoya calls this a film without borders, without gender.

Full reviews will be linked at Shadows VENICE FILM FESTIVAL page, eventually!