AFI Wrap-Up

Despite my rabid posting, I saw a surprisingly small number of movies during AFI Fest 2008. That's right, I saw a total of...three. Blame Halloween, the elections, and everything else that happened the first week of this month. But here are the two that I liked most, and five facts about them.

UN CONTE DE NOEL (website)
1. translation: "A Christmas Tale"
2. director: Arnaud Desplechin
3. stars: Catherine Deneuve, Mathieu Almaric (also in 007), Emmanuelle Devos
4. premiered: Last May in France; this weekend in the US
5. awards to date: One nomination - Palme d'Or at Cannes 2008

KISSES (article)
1. filmed in: Ireland, Sweden
2. director: Lance Daly
3. why we liked it: Five reasons - 1)The two kids are cute; 2)The bad world in which they live begs our compassion; 3)The use of color or lack thereof to intensify the mood; 4)The unshakable sense of hope; 5)It's kind of funny
4. awards to date: Two - Won "Best Irish Feature" and "Best Irish Feature Film" (what's the difference, exactly?) at the 2008 Galway Film Fleadh
5. when you get to see it: Oh, if only I knew....

So there you have it; the AFI Film Festival. You're welcome. No, but seriously; next year I'll (try to) do better.

--letop5