Filmfestivalen 2016

With
a total disregard for political correctness tells Caviglia the all but true story of Leonardo Zulliani, the boy who grew up to become the face of antisemiphobia.

It’s a
nice idea, to flip perspective and suggesting that bigotry against bigots is
somehow also bigotry. Of course, it isn’t, and the film makes this clear by
it’s sheer audacity.

However,
some of the jokes are dragged out too long, and many are puns in Italian
(hilarious, I do not doubt, but not easily, or cleverly, translated).

Still, a
good romp.

Failed
the Bechdel test

3 bow
ties of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/burning-love

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944906/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1

As
lighthearted French comedies go, I’m all yours is the darkest ever, as we
slowly and painfully get to realise. Though the tone is light and there are
chuckles aplenty, the darkness creeps in. It’s not a dark comedy, it’s more of
a mood dissonance thing, and as such is difficult to judge. The leads are
brilliant, as is the mother. It’s obvious how environment sometimes trumps
genetics when shaping a person. I just can’t seem to be as moved as I should.

Failed
the Bechdel test

3
miniskirts of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/i-m-all-yours

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4025194/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_3

I’m not
sure if the overture was supposed to be that earspiercingly shrill, or just
that the machinist was too old to hear the higher frequencies, but the beginning is way too loud for
comfort. Perhaps intentionally done, though: it’s not supposed to be comforting
as this is a film about a child who grows up to become a dictator.

I have a
hard time empathising with the main characters. Even Bérénice Bejo fails to
fill me with awe, and the only decent one around is the boy’s tutor.

An absent
father and a less than understanding mother surely shouldn’t be enough to turn
a child into a ruthless despot, and we definitely never find out how neglecting
the boy helps him become a competent, if albeit evil, leader.

It’s
eerie, though, and it has its moments. I just had hoped for the film to reach
its full potential.

Passed
the Bechdel test

2 dresses
of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/the-childhood-of-a-leader

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2815902/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_5