Programme of the film forum “And the Word became film”:
Monday, 2.04, opening at 17:00
Disappearance (Verdwijnen), Boudewijn Koole, Netherlands, Norway, 90’, 2017 – Ecumenical Jury Award at the Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, with the motivation: Seeking reconciliation with her mother, a photojournalist returns to the harsh Norwegian mountain landscape. With the help of her younger brother, the two women gradually manage to overcome their reticence. Through an expressive language of film and sound, the director succeeds in confronting us with existential questions.
Discussion with Piet Halma (Netherlands)
Seminars on 3 and 4 April
Tuesday, 3.04, from 14:00 seminar “Giving Europe a soul” 14:00 Johannes Feisthauer (Germany). Love, faith, hope (the criteria of the Ecumenical Jury over 20 years) 14:50 Piet Halma (Netherlands) How a film becomes a Word; how to speak about a film Coffee break 15:30 – 16:0016:00 Dagmāra Beitnere-Le Galla. Does art have a task? Cinema as imperceptible indoctrination16:50 Arne Kutsche (Germany) How forgiveness and reconciliation are reflected in films 17:40 Rudīte Losāne (Latvia) The role of art in working with convicted persons in the alternative resocialization programme “Mirjama”.18:30 Discussion
Wednesday, 4.04, from 11:00 continuation of the seminar11:00 Guntis Kalme (Latvia) Theological aspects of the artist’s responsibility in the context of European identity.11:40 Jan Erik Holst (Norway) The Norwegian Church’s film award “Andreas”. The life of Liv Ullmann – a dream.12:50 Anita Uzulniece (Latvia) Spiritual dimensions of the art of cinema13:30 Closing discussion
Baltic film afternoon
At 15:30
The Class of 1943 (The Class of 1943), Helga Merits, Estonia, 52’ (“Remember us when we are no longer here!” A documentary story about five classmates who were conscripted into the German army. The director is currently making a film about a Latvian legionnaire.)
Discussion – Arnis Šablovskis
At 17:00
The Chronicles of Melanie, Viesturs Kairišs, 2016, 120’ (about the strength of spirit that helped to endure deportation to Siberia. In the role of Melanie – the Swiss actress Sabine Timoteo)
Discussion
At 19:30
Jesus of Montreal, (Jesus de Montreal), Denys Arcand, 1989, 120’
The young actor Daniel is invited to modernize a dusty staging of the Passion story of Jesus. Delving into the gospels of Mark and John, the production is not only “breathed new life into”, but also achieves a new degree of identification – up to the point of the audience’s urge to join in the “play”. The action of the film develops on two levels – as an approach to the gospel Jesus and Daniel’s real life as a confrontation with the message of Jesus.
Discussion with seminar participants and viewers – Piet Halma
Thursday, 5.04, at 18:30
A Life Without Me (Une vie ailleurs), Olivier Peyon, France, Uruguay, 2017, 96’, – Ecumenical Jury Award at the Mannheim/Heidelberg film festival, with the motivation: To whom does the child belong? In an impressive emotional language the film focuses on this question. It depicts how painful the process of asking the question is and underlines the central importance of truthfulness. The ethical premise is something far greater than the legal one. The protagonist’s gaze (viewpoint) finally opens up to the child’s perspective and is important for his dignity – with all the consequences for their lives.
Discussion
Friday, 6.04, at 18:30
Marija, Michael Koch, Germany, Switzerland, 2016, 100’, noted by the Ecumenical Jury at the Locarno film festival, with the motivation: “Marija” tells of a Ukrainian woman in Germany who, despite all the obstacles on the path of an immigrant, strives for a better life. The film is about Eastern European women who have to fight for survival, often even selling their bodies. Marija follows her dream, putting to use her intelligence and powers of persuasion with great perseverance. (the path of a young Ukrainian woman in Dortmund – what she is prepared to do, even to sacrifice, to achieve her goal – to open her own salon.)
Discussion – chaplain Rudīte Losāne
Saturday, 7.04, at 16:00
Kills on Wheels, (Tiszta szívvel), Attila Till, Hungary, 2016, 103’– Ecumenical Jury Award at the Cottbus film festival, with the motivation: May the Ecumenical Jury give an award to a film about a murderer? Actually no, not even if he sits in a wheelchair. We give our award to a deadly serious film which, in the end, is not about a murderer, but about the strength of the human spirit, about the will to live and the passion never to give up. For the true hero, drawing comics is not a salvation, but his art of mastering life. The filmmakers have captured the situation of a person with disabilities with great respect
Discussion – pastor Ivars Jēkabsons
At 18:30 Lucky, John Carroll Lynch, USA, 2017, 88’ – Ecumenical Jury Award at the Locarno film festival, with the motivation: Conceived as a tribute to Harry Dean Stanton, one of the greatest portrayers of character roles, the film poses the question of the meaning of life on the eve of death. Directed by a knowledgeable actor and with David Lynch in an impressive supporting role, the action of the film takes place in a small town on the edge of the desert. Lucky, portrayed by the 91-year-old Stanton, though angry, fearful and lonely, learns to love others more and more and finally – the spirituality at the foundation of life. Discussion – pastor Agris Sutra
Admission by donation