Here are 9 films we recommend you definitely try to see at the film festival Viennale 2021 (no spoilers, we promise!):
L’ Evénement
When & where:
Various screening times on 21 & 22 October at various cinemas. (French with German subtitles)
Film described in a few words: a young French student gets pregnant in the 60s during times when abortions were still illegal in France. This is a drama based on a real story and touches on the stigma of shame and pain surrounding abortions (very sadly very relevant to today’s times)
Moneyboys
When & where:
FRI, October 22, 8:30pm @ Gartenbaukino (Mandarin with German subtitles)
FRI, October 29, 2:30pm @ Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (Mandarin with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: the life of a community of gay hustlers in Beijing. It shows the conflict between capitalism and traditional China. Families struggle with bridging the gap between needing the money, their homophobia and being appalled by the lifestyle.
The Inheritance
When & where:
SUN, October 24, 8:15pm at Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (OV = English)
MON, October 25, 6:30pm at Filmmuseum (OV)
Film described in a few words: a man moves into an inherited house with like-minded people while looking at the legacy of Afro-American culture and history of resistance in the US
Crai nou
When & where:
WED, October 27, 9:15pm at Urania (Romanian with English subtitles)
FRI, October 29, 1:30pm at Urania (Romanian with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: a young woman wants to escape her dysfunctional rural entrepreneurial family. The characters are trapped in patriarchal structures, and post-communist trauma and violence are mixed amongst it all
Futura
When & where:
SUN, October 24, 1:30pm at Filmmuseum (Italian with English subtitles)
SUN, October 31, 9pm at Metro (Italian with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: a documentary in which the filmmakers ask youth throughout Italy – not kids, but not yet adults – what they think about their future, what dreams and aspirations they have. They’re asked right before the arrival of COVID-19 and are asked again after the first lockdowns
Jia ting lu xian
When & where:
TUE, October 26, 11:30am at Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (OV with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: a documentary about a woman (the filmmaker’s sister) who was supposed to be aborted because of China’s rigid one-child policy in the 90s, but instead was adopted by her uncle while living somewhat close to the birth parents who are full of guilt and regret
Delo
When & where:
THU, October 28, 1:30pm at Urania (Russian with English subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvTOt4Ge680
Film described in a few words: a Russian literature professor is charged with embezzling state funds and is thus put under house arrest until the verdict is pronounced. This is a film about intellectual resistance, and powerful people trying to silence those who speak up,
Große Freiheit
When & where:
FRI, October 29, 8:15pm at Gartenbaukino (German with English subtitles)
SAT, October 30, 3:15pm at Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (German with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: the film is set following WWII. A man is in and out of jail because he is having consensual yet illegal gay sex, and a love story takes shape
The Card Counter
Where & When: FRI & SAT, October 22 & 30 at Gartenbaukino
Film described in a few words: Oscar Isaac is a gambler with some serious card skills that he’s learned while in prison. It’s set among poker tables and motel rooms, where the ugliness of the decors seems to be yet another price to pay for our protagonist.
You can check out the full programme of this year’s Viennale film festival on their website.
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