Due to the small selection of films in the following sections, we have decided to choose what sessions we would like to see in each of them. With picks from Masters & Restorations, and Street Level Visions: Indie Docs from China, enjoy this feature preview of the MIFF programme. Stay tuned for more!
Room 237 | dir. Rodney Ascher | USA
The Shining is one of the most critically-debated features in cinema, with academics and Kubrick fans offering a plethora of interpretations to the film. Ascher uses footage from Kubrick’s efforts and those associated with The Shining to present the merits of each theory, and explore what it is to find meaning in a film.
We Can’t Go Home Again | dir. Nicholas Ray | USA
A completion of his previously unfinished work, the restoration of the Nicholas Ray project with his students features split-screens and multiple narratives while maintaining an emotionally raw tone. This is a unique opportunity to view We Can’t Go Home in its finished state.
STREET LEVEL VISIONS: INDIE DOCS FROM CHINA
Crime and Punishment | dir. Zhao Liang
Shot through the eyes of the People’s Armed Police, the documentary explores the violence and incompetence of the group, as well as the state’s role in luring men into this service. Crime and Punishment is a balanced view of the lure of power in impoverished settlements.
Searching for Lin Zhao’s Soul | dir. Hu Jie
A portrait of female activist Lin Zhao who was expelled for her support of those who had spoken out during the “Hundred Flowers” campaign of 1956, the film documents Zhao’s disillusionment with the system she helped to create in China’s early communist era. Zhao’s enigmatic figure provides a strong basis for this interesting feature.
Hopefully this list helps decide your picks in the sections. If you have already bought tickets to any films in Masters & Restorations or Street Level Visions: Indie Docs from China, we would love to know your choices and your most anticipated in each category!
