Natfilm 2008

So the yearly Natfilmfestival is about over, and I watched three films. Last year's (isn't it great that I've been blogging so long, that I've actually accumulated blogger history?) favorite was Kim Ki-Duk's fantastic Time, and with another Ki-Duk film on the program this year, that was an obvious choice. I think the festival is great, but I also get a bit annoyed every time it's here - first why so compact? No one could possibly watch all the films they want to, and secondly, why so expensive? Again I, for one, could not possibly see all the film I wanted to, unless I really dedicated myself to it, and bought the 600 DKK watch-all-you-like pass, but then again time becomes a problem.
Anyway, guess you can't have it all, here is what I saw.

"Breath" by Kim Ki-Duk

Rating 8/10

Being a great fan of Ki-Duk, this was the only must-see film this year. I was only slightly disappointed ;) It's about a death row inmate who gets visits from a woman, who dresses the visiting room in seasons (spring, summer etc.) on each visit, and sing a song for him. It's very absurd and very funny, but not his best work.

"Timecrimes" by Nacho Vigalondo

Rating 8/10

This Spanish time travelling film, is quite ingenious. A man stumbles upon a time machine, and goes back in time, thereby making a copy of himself (Hector 2), he must then make sure that Hector 1 goes in the time machine, so he can continue to exist (and don't destroy the time-space continuum and all that). As you can imagine things get very complicated in this time loop, but things always seems to add up - it's a brilliant script (as the program says), and actually extremely funny. The American remake is on it's way (ugh). My recommendation this year.
By the way, I love that poster, very 50'ish horror flick.

"Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina" by Shinji Aramaki

Rating 7/10

Now if I was to rate this Japanese animé on the basis of it's story, I would probably give it a 1 or a 2, but thankfully I only saw this because of aesthetic reasons - and it is gorgeous. It's a mixture of 2-D and 3-D and yeah, I've never seen anything quite as technically impressive as this (not necessarily artistic). It's a great action animé, and if you get a copy with Japanese voices, don't despair - the lines are horrendous!