Opening of the European Film Festival: Heartwarming Life Stories
"The Mischievous Teacher, the Mischievous Student" - a hilarious and entertaining Dutch film - will open the European Film Festival in Hanoi at 8 PM today, May 13th (National Film Center, 87 Lang Ha Street). On this occasion, 12 other outstanding films reflecting contemporary society with simple yet touching stories of life will also be screened during the festival, which runs until May 22nd.
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Scene from the movie "The Mischievous Teacher, the Mischievous Student".
The event, organized by the European Union (EU) in Vietnam and the embassies of EU member states, aimed to provide Vietnamese audiences with an experience of European cinema through 13 films ranging from dramas and tragedies to comedies. Many of these works have won national and international film awards. The opening film was the family comedy "The Super Troublemaker," which won Best Film at the 2013 Carrousel International Film Festival. The main character is Tobias – a smart, cheerful, and incredibly funny boy, but his teacher, Sanne, only sees him as a source of trouble. Then, the trainee teacher, nicknamed "Mees Kees," arrives and brings wonderful things to Tobias and the whole class…
Following this opening film, the festival showcased the diverse faces and destinies of women in contemporary life. "Two Days, One Night" from Belgian cinema is a prime example, winning numerous awards such as Best International Film (Australian Film Critics Association Award 2015), European Actress (European Film Award 2014), Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor (Magritte Award, Belgium 2015). In it, the captivating female character is Sandra, a young mother who, along with her husband, spends just two days of their weekend fighting to protect her right to work. The Washington Post once commented, "Sandra, portrayed by leading actress Marion Cotillard, contributed significantly to the film's powerful appeal."
Another equally captivating female character is Mae in the Austrian film "Live, Love, Dance." Mae wanders the streets of Vienna wearing her late brother's Converse shoes. She seeks out life experiences on her own until she's punished by working at an AIDS center, where she meets and falls in love with Paul... The film is adapted from the successful novel by Cornelia Travnicek, with many humorous details and a lighthearted feel for the viewer. Mae is so interesting that someone wrote, "If I were stuck in an elevator with a contemporary literary character, I'd want to be with Mae. I don't know if I'd get out safely, but I'm sure it would be a precious time."
The women depicted in European cinema are not limited to just that; audiences also see them in the glitz and glamour and hardships of everyday life. For example, the story of a single mother and generational conflict in "My Daughters" from Poland or "Love Me or Leave Me" from Slovakia…
It can be said that many touching stories of everyday life reflecting contemporary social issues were also explored through the films participating in the festival. Among them, "The Road of Life" was particularly moving, winning the Best German Actor award (Jupiter Award 2015). Hannes intended to organize a cycling trip with his wife and friends, as they did every year, but this time to Belgium. Although not enthusiastic about the destination, everyone happily set off, until Hannes revealed that the reason he wanted to go to Belgium was because he was seriously ill and only Belgium had a law allowing him to choose to end his life with "euthanasia." After the shock, Hannes' wife and friends did everything they could to ensure he could enjoy his last days as contentedly as possible…
Many other themes are also reflected at this festival. With 13 films, a diverse selection, the 2016 European Film Festival continues to hope to further encourage a love of cinema in general among Vietnamese audiences. Audiences can obtain free tickets at the Goethe Institute Hanoi (56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street) and the National Film Center (87 Lang Ha Street).
According to Hanoi Moi
