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[CIFF] 49th Chicago International Film Festival Recap

_{[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 - 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year's CIFF here.]}

After screening 180 films representing over 60 different countries over the past two weeks, the 49th Chicago International Film Festival came to a close last night. With reviews going up practically everyday, it was a bit hard to keep track of all of our coverage. Luckily, as the very responsible and organization nerd that I am, I have compiled our entire CIFF coverage into one nice and neat package for all of you.

I hope you enjoyed Ruby Hornet's first film festival coverage as much as I did. We have our eyes set on some of the film industry's biggest and most influential festivals in 2014, so we'll have a whole lot more reviews and interviews from some of next year's biggest films. For now, enjoy our 49th Chicago International Film Festival recap.

ciff_recap_reviews

[CIFF Capsule Review] Stray Dogs

[CIFF Capsule Review] Blue is the Warmest Color

[CIFF Capsule Review] Under the Rainbow

[CIFF Capsule Review] Raze

[CIFF Capsule Review] Tanta Agua

[CIFF Capsule Review] Blue Ruin

[CIFF Capsule Review] Lasting

[CIFF Capsule Review] Hide Your Smiling Faces

[CIFF Capsule Review] Like Father, Like Son

[CIFF Capsule Review] La Jaula de Oro

[CIFF Capsule Review] Chasing Fireflies

[CIFF Capsule Review] Heli

[CIFF Capsule Review] The Harvest

[CIFF Capsule Review] Life Feels Good

[CIFF Capsule Review] Salvo

[CIFF Capsule Review] A Pact

[CIFF Capsule Review] Miele

[CIFF Capsule Review] La Paz

[CIFF Capsule Review] Breathe In

[CIFF Capsule Review] How I Live Now

[CIFF Interview] Diego Quemada-Diez (La Jaula de Oro)

[CIFF] The 49th Chicago International Film Festival begins tonight

[CIFF] 15 Films to see at the 49th Chicago International Film Festival

by Geoff Henao

[CIFF] 15 Films to see at the 49th Chicago International Film Festival

This year's Chicago International Film Festival will be screening 180 films made in over 60 different countries over the next two weeks. That's pretty impressive... if not intimidating. Luckily, you all have me around to help guide you along your path to foreign film enlightenment. Unlike the majority of the major American film festivals (Sundance, SXSW, NYFF, etc.), CIFF specializes in finding foreign film gems from all across the world. Because of the low profile of most of the films, they wouldn't normally garner much attention if it weren't for CIFF and other international film festivals giving them the spotlight.

That's not to say, of course, that American or English-language films won't be screening at CIFF - far from it. Rather, while high profile films will be shown during CIFF, the real fun is finding that one under-the-radar film that will surprise you. In saying that, I'm leaving a few (not all) of the big-name films that will be shown, such as 12 Years a Slave and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete simply because they'll be playing in theaters by the end of the year.

Read on as I share 15 films you should see at the 49th Chicago International Film Festival listed in chronological order for your convenience. Note: While I have yet to see the majority of the films on this list, I have seen a select few. Proper reviews for such films will be published ahead of their scheduled screenings.

Blue Ruin follows the aforementioned man as he returns to his old neighborhood to act out revenge. However, when things go wrong, he finds the tables turned against him. I admittedly don’t know much about Blue Ruin, but the first image I saw of the film (a bearded man covering in blood driving with a desperate look on his face) won me over. The film, tauted as a “classic American revenge story,” won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at Cannes this year, so the critical acclaim is already there for the rest of us to determine whether or not it was justified. Blue Ruin will be screening on October 11th at 6:15pm and October 13th at 8:15pm.

From France comes Under the Rainbow, a comedy illustrating the trials and tribulations of young love and romance. Of course, the French definition of “comedy” usually comes with much more tragedy and drama than the typical American comedy full of sex jokes and terribly cheesy innuendos. Under the Rainbow takes the typical notions of romantic comedy and mixes them up with fairy tale tropes to create a whimsical story of love. Under the Rainbow will be screening on October 12th at 1:00pm, October 15th at 5:00pm, and October 21st at 3:30pm.

How do you describe a cloud? How to Describe a Cloud comes from the Netherlands about a young DJ returning home to take care of her blind mother whose memory is slowly fading away. To stave off even more memory loss, doctors have advised her to describe the world around them. The film is described as being “beautifully dreamlike” and imaginative; how can you resist that? How to Describe a Cloud will be screening on October 12th at 2:00pm, October 19th at 4:00pm, and October 20th at 7:30pm.

I’ve raved on and on about Blue is the Warmest Color for months now, and with good reason. The film adaptation of the graphic novel Blue Angel hits all of the high notes over its admittedly overlong three hours. The story of young Adele discovering herself and her sexuality amidst a blossoming romance with an older, female art student is poignant in the way only French filmmakers are able to display. Don’t let the controversy over graphic sex scenes overshadow the film’s tender story of love and identity. Blue is the Warmest Color will be screening on October 12th at 6:30pm.

The title of Monsoon Shootout might seem like the entire film has been spelled out for you, right? The Indian film focuses on a rookie cop, Adi, on his first job amidst a monsoon in Mumbai. When he comes across an assailant, he puts a gun to his face. The film then spins off into three separate “What if?” scenarios. It’s this twist that has me excited for the film. Monsoon Shootout will be screening on October 11th at 9:00pm, October 13th at 12:30pm, and October 15th at 1:00pm.

How I Live Now is an adaptation of the novel of the same name about a teenage girl, Daisy (Saoirse Ronan), sent to England because of political turmoil in the States. While she’s initially distant, she eventually warms up to them… even questionably falling in love with her oldest cousin. When England becomes a military state due to the rising tension across the world, she has to do everything she can to survive the onset of war and reunite with her loved ones. How I Live Now will be screening on October 15th at 7:00pm.

Miele is an Italian drama about a Irene, whose nickname is the titular “Miele,” a woman who performs assisted suicides for a living. Due to her job, she has become cold to the world. However, an encounter with a depressed, yet physically healthy man challenges what’s left of her humanity. Films that tiptoe gray moral areas can oftentimes be too preachy or too shallow in their attempts to humanize an otherwise dehumanized character. Miele, however, could be the rare film that can remedy the dilemma while not alienating the protagonist’s central character… if that makes any sense. Miele will be screening on October 15th at 8:15pm and October 16th at 5:45pm.

What would you do if you found out the boy you’ve raised for six years isn’t your biological son due to a mix-up at birth? In the Japanese film Like Father, Like Son, director Hirokazu Kore-eda explores two families’ options. On one side is the strict, hardworking Ryota whose son is a smart, caring child; on the other side is Sakai, a carefree, small shop owner whose devotion to his family overshadows any notions of laziness. Like Father, Like Son examines the Nature vs. Nurture debate in the framework of a Japanese culture that sometimes values blood lineage a bit too much. Caution: You might end up crying. Like Father, Like Son will be screening on October 16th at 6:00pm and October 19th at 7:00pm.

Chasing Fireflies is about Manrique, an old man content with his lonely routine of watching an abandoned salt mine with his dog as his only companion. When his teenage daughter shows up, her positive optimism influences Manrique to break out of his isolation. The Colombian film has notions of love, self-discovery, and sheer happiness mixed into a subtlety that won’t appear overbearing to even the coldest of hearts. Chasing Fireflies will be screening on October 16th at 8:00pm, October 18th at 5:30pm, and October 19th at 11:45am.

It comes to no shock to anybody that the immigration process can be a long, sometimes unfair system that is harder than what it’s worth. For those looking for a better, more promising life in the United States, sometimes the only solution is taking matters into your own hands. La Jaula de Oro follows three teenagers from Guatemala doing exactly that: roughing it out on a 1,200 mile journey from their home to America. Along the way, they must be mindful of their surroundings and the strangers they come across. La Jaula de Oro will be screening on October 16th at 8:00pm, October 17th at 6:00pm, and October 22nd at 1:15pm.

From Argentina comes La Paz, a character study about a teenager re-adapting to life following a stay at a psychiatric clinic. However, struggle abounds as both he and those around him have trouble reconnecting with one another. La Paz sounds like a character-driven drama that examines the effects of psychiatric problems and the way people respond to those suffering from them. Given its name, I wonder what form the titular “peace” will come in. La Paz will be screening on October 18th at 2:00pm, October 20th at 4:00pm, and October 22nd at 8:00pm.

Never make a promise you can’t keep. That’s the central theme of the German A Pact. When Georg and Paul were teenagers, Paul convinced Georg to give his girlfriend, Anna, to him. Georg relented on the understanding that he’d be able to take her back at an undetermined time in the future. Decades later after Paul and Anna have started a family, Georg re-enters their life… and insists on following through with the promise made in their youths. If psychological love drama thrillers are your types of films, A Pact has you covered. A Pact will be screening on October 18th at 8:15pm, October 20th at 8:30pm, and October 21st at 1:00pm.

At the 47th Chicago International Film Festival, I found myself surprisingly enchanted by the Drake Doremus-directed film, Like Crazy (and its lead actress, Felicity Jones, in the process). At the time, I didn’t think much of the film, infuriated at the initial conflict of overstaying a student VISA. However, two years since I saw it, I still can’t shake the film off of my mind (especially with its accessibility on Netflix too convenient to resist). This year, Doremus’ follow-up, Breathe In, finds Jones as a British exchange student upending the lives of a music teacher (Guy Pearce) and his family. While the concept sounds eerily similar to Ry Russo-Young’s Nobody Walks (itself revolving around a musically-gifted person being tempted by my main actress crush, Olivia Thirlby), if it’s half as captivating as Like Crazy was, I’ll be more than forgiving for the similarities. Breathe In will be screening on October 19th at 6:00pm.

The cartel and drug situation in Mexico has been escalating for years with little to no movement towards stopping it. Heli fictionalizes the very real danger that surrounds Mexican citizens in a crime drama with devastating consequences. Heli was awarded Best Director for Amat Escalante at Cannes and has been selected as Mexico’s selection for Best Foreign Language Film at next year’s Academy Awards, so the pressure is on to see if the film delivers. Heli will be screening on October 19th at 9:30pm and October 21st at 8:30pm.

Salvo is an Italian action/drama thriller about a ruthless Mafia hitman that finds himself taking pity on his target’s blind sister. Unfortunately, his moment of redemption results in himself becoming an assassination target. Thusly, the predator becomes the prey as he must protect not only himself, but the woman he uncharacteristically showed grace to. Do you feel that? Those are the goosebumps this film’s premise just caused. Salvo will be screening on October 20th at 6:15pm and October 22nd at 8:00pm.

by Geoff Henao

Why the Ben Affleck/Batman announcement isn't a bad one

The internet collectively erupted when it was announced last night that Ben Affleck would portray Batman in theÂ Man of Steel sequel, tentatively titledÂ Batman vs. Superman. Reaction to the news was mixed, and with good reason. Those who were happy with the news cited Affleck's overall career, especially the past decade and his success behind the camera. Detractors, however, pointed at box office bombs likeÂ Daredevil,Â Jersey Girl,Â andÂ Gigli. While both sides are certainly entitled to their own opinions and reactions, I wanted to throw in my two cents not only in regards to Affleck's direct role as Batman, but what his casting could potentially represent for the future of the DC Films franchise.

by Geoff Henao

Top 10 Robot Movies

There's something about robots that appeals to the inner-child within me. It could be because Transformers was at the tail-end of its first popularity run when I was younger, or the immense popularity that surrounded Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, but I've never been able to shake off the inherent awesomeness that are robots. Japanese pop culture is full of mecha anime and robot movies; American pop culture is somewhat the same, albeit not on the same level, both in terms of emotional and production quality.

With Pacific Rim set to release this week, I feel that Guillermo del Toro's take on the robot/mecha film is the perfect breed of American production quality with Japanese aesthetic quality. To commemorate its release, I've compiled a list of my Top 10 Robot Movies. I've taken a few liberties by including cyborgs and androids, which technically aren't robots, but that's another subject in and of itself. I'm interested not just in really cool robot designs, but in the conflict of humanity in the face of a world where advanced robotics are the norm. From the emotional to the awesome, here are my Top 10 Robot Movies (in no particular order).

by Geoff Henao

"X-Men: First Class" Character Trailers

X-Men

"X-Men: First Class" takes us back to the beginning when Professor X (Charels Xavier) and Magneto (Eric Lehnsherr) were actually friends and colleagues. This prequel gives us a look at some of our favorite heroes and villains when they were just teenagers and how they dealt with their differences. Hit the jump to check out these character trailers of Mystique, Beast, Havoc, and Banshee. Movie hits theaters June 3rd.

by RH Staff