More Revelations at Miskolc From Slovenia and Estonia with Love
Rebellious students come to class all wearing masks of the face of a classmate who committed suicide in Roc Bicek's "Class Enemy"
By Alex Deleon <filmfestivals.com>
If one of the basic purposes of a film festival is to discover and reveal new talent from small countries then Jameson Miskolc is doing a truly remarkable job. Apart from four discoveries mentioned yesterday even more powerful new films have surfaced since -- from smaller countries that one does not generally think of as sources of quality cinema.
On day number four I was astounded by the quality of a film from Slovenia -- yes, Slovenia -- a teeny country sandwiched in between Austria, Italy and Croatia. The film in question is called "RAZREDNI SOVRADNIK" which translates as "Class Enemy", a kind of update to the XXI. Century of the Hollywood Classic "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955) but far more profound and powerful in dealing with the wider repercussions of a high school rebellion.
A very strict and erudite substitute teacher of German replaces a popular female German teacher on maternity leave. The obstreperous students quickly label him a Fascist and hold him personally responsible when a girl in the class commits suicide after playing Chopin Opus 38 for him behind closed doors. The ethereal Chopin piano notes become a leit motif throughout the film referencing shy Sabina, the girl who committed suicide -- only p, but not seen in the film.
The entire school now rebels against established authority until an eventual compromise between faculty and student body is reached, but not before the whole town has gotten involved and all kinds of personal side issues have cropped up. Slovenian actor Igor Samobor (56) is in total command of the role of the unsavory controversial Thomas Mann spouting teacher -- the Class Enemy of the title, and very attractive actrice Natasa Barbara Gracner(45) is most ingratiating as the cool headed school principal in change of handling the widening social crisis. All student roles are excellent in a perfectly balanced ensemble cast where each personality is clearly defined. This is an unusually mature debut by a 28 year old director, Roc Bicek, unquestionably a talent to keep eye on.
The other film I wish to discuss here is called "I won't come back" (original Russian title "Я Не Вернюсь") a fantastic little masterpiece in the form of a road movie, but that's not what it's really about. What this fantastic film from Estonian helmer Ilmar Raag (46) is actually about is How Deadly it is in this cruel World to have Nobody who Loves you ~~ Lack of love can kill! -- and when it's too Late to repent ... It's just too damn late!
The first thing about this film is that although coproduced by Estonia Finland Kazakhstan and Byeloruss, and directed by an Estonian, there is nothing particularly Estonian about it except perhaps the overall sensitivity. The language is Russian and the setting is a large city, unidentified, and later the roads to Kazakhstan. The central drama is the relationship between two young female runaways, Anja, a university grad student (Polina Pushkaruk, 23, beautiful and perfect in the role) and feisty 13 year old orphan, Kristina, played by pudgy Vika Lubacheva in an amazing, unforgettable, juvenile performance so real it doesn't look like acting at all. The direction and the acting of the two girls -- their nasty conflicts and growing affection -- is exquisitely realized in an exciting road movie that turns into a tear jerker in the best sense of that term ~ in other words a tragedy of classic Grecian proportions with a cathartic conclusion that left me stunned in my seat for ten minutes after the projection was over. The title of the film comes from Anja's final realization that the married professor she was having sex with and is so hung up on only sees her as a plaything -- partly at least because of the real love emanating from desperately unloved orphan Kristina -- and sends him a text message with the words "Ya Ne Vernus".
This is a great film which I hope will be Seen everywhere. It came to Miskolc from Tribeca in New York and should be an entry in the next Oscar foreign Language category if they can figure out what country it should be entered under. (Byeloruss, Russian, Kazakhstan??) ~ My feeling is that If it makes it to the Oscars "Ya Ne Vernus" will be a surprise winner. It is already atop my own Best Ten List for 2014. The question now is, will the Cinefest jury here also give it the recognition it deserves, or pass it up in favor of some highly questionable entry as was the case last when a total Turkey was declared Best film.
Anja, the beautiful student, and Kristina the homeless waif In "I WON'T COME BACK"
