Seattle International Film Festival

I don't remember when I started going to SIFF. It might be several years ago. This year I bought six movie tickets.

Gagarin's Grandson--Russia
A talented artist learns that he has a long lost brother living in an orphanage. To his further surprise, not only is he black, he also claims to be the grandson of the famed astronaut Yuri Gagarin. A film about family, friendships and the end of preconceived notions, filled with wise charm and true Russian soul.

It is an interesting story. I liked the movie.

Children of the War--USA
This powerful documentary explores the roles of social causes and government agencies in the rise of the Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13) in the US and Central America. Estimated to have more than 100,000 members, it has the distinction of being the largest and most violent street gang in the world.

The movie was quite depressing.

Bad Faith--France
A Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? for the 21st century. This is a romantic comedy about faith, love and the difficulties combining the two. When Jewish Clara discovers that she is pregnant with her Muslim boyfriend’s baby, they realize that they are going to have do the unthinkable: meet each other’s families.

It was an entertaining movie with a happy ending.

The Planet--Sweden
This highly ambitious Scandinavian production draws on some of the poetic, observational strategies of Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi, allowing us to reflect on patterns and phenomena of human and natural existence from both intimate and sweeping viewpoints. The truths of The Planet, if frankly confronted, will move viewers viscerally and pragmatically to new levels of understanding and action.

One of scholars interviewed in the movie said that the problem of environmental protection is the developed countries. The out-sourced factories with heavy pollutants and low technology went to the developing countries. E-wastes have been shipped to the developing countries. People, then, complaint that environment is getting worse because the developing countries didn't clean up their environment?!

Confession of Pain--Hong Kong
Detectives Bong and Hei were once partners, until a tragedy turned Bong into an alcoholic private eye. When Hei's father-in-law is murdered, Bong's aid is enlisted into an investigation that grows increasingly treacherous. A twisty, thoughtful crime story from the directors of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. A remake is already in the works from Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company.

I enjoyed watching this movie. It is better than "The Departed", yet not as good as "The Infernal Affairs".

Getting Home--China
When his old friend Liu suddenly drops dead, Zhao has no money for a coffin to transport him home in, so he pretends Liu has passed out drunk and gets on the bus with him. A series of gently comic misadventures dogs their homeward odyssey.

I like this movie a lot. It not only travels through different parts of China, but also shows some characteristics of Chinese people. It's a movie worth watching. A similar book from the perspective of American, "China Road", might be worth reading as well.