Here are 10 films we recommend you definitely try to see at the film festival Viennale 2023 (no spoilers, we promise!):
She Came to Me
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 1:00pm @ Gartenbaukino (English version)
FRI, October 27, 3:45pm @ Gartenbaukino (English version)
Film described in a few words: Opera composer Steven (Peter Dinklage), recovering from an emotional crisis, marries his therapist Patricia (Anne Hathaway). An unexpected affair with tugboat captain Katrina disrupts his life but fuels his next masterpiece. ‘She Came to Me’ explores love, alienation, and creativity, while making you laugh at the awkwardness of life.
Kimitachi wa do ikiru ka
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 3:15pm @ Gartenbaukino (Japanese with English subtitles)
SUN, October 29, 9:15pm @ Gartenbaukino (Japanese with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: Young Mahito, grappling with his mother’s death, discovers a portal in an old tower. This leads to an adventure with giant parakeets, pirates, and demigods. Miyazaki, once again, seamlessly weaves imagination and reality, crafting a tale of loss and discovery.
Robot Dreams
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 3pm @ Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus
SAT, October 21, 11am @ Urania
Film described in a few words: A bond between a dog and a robot makes Pablo Berger’s animated film an ode to friendship with an old cartoon feel. Almost an existential fable, the film explores humanity in all beings, life’s unpredictable twists and fleeting connections.
Crowrã
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 11am @ Urania (Portuguese with German subtitles)
TUE, October 31, 1:30pm @ Urania (Portuguese with German subtitles)
Film described in a few words: Centred in the vibrant Krahô villages, the film follows Patpro as she prepares for an Indigenous rights protest in Brasília amidst pressing external threats. We are offered an intimate glimpse into a world where daily life, dreams, and memories intertwine. The film becomes a poetic tapestry of indigenous resilience and the universal quest for belonging.
Tótem
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 9pm @ Urania (Spanish with German subtitles)
SUN, October 22, 3:30pm @ Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (Spanish with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: Amidst the vibrant chaos of a Mexican family’s birthday preparation we find out that, Tona, turning 40, faces a serious illness. The film contrasts the vivacity of the celebration with the solemn curiosity of Tona’s daughter, Sol. It is an exploration of life’s ephemeral joys and the triviality of death.
Bên trong vỏ kén vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell)
When & where:
SAT, October 21, 9pm @ Metro, Historischer Saal (Vietnamese & English with English subtitles)
MON, October 30, 10:15am @ Metro, Historischer Saal (Vietnamese & English with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: During the 2018 World Cup, Thien is looking for his brother he hasn’t seen in years. His journey is interwoven with haunting memories and surreal dreams. Through meticulously crafted shots, Pham’s debut film paints a compelling tale of loss, time, and redemption.
Wu Yue Xue (Snow in Midsummer)
When & where:
MON, October 23, 2:30pm @ Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus (Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese with English subtitles)
TUE, October 24, 4pm @ Urania (Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: In 1969 Kuala Lumpur, Ah Eng and her mother attend a Chinese opera. That night violent riots erupt, leading mother and daughter to seek shelter with the opera group. Chong Keat Aun masterfully blends Malaysian literature and Cantonese opera, underscoring the timeless nature of injustice.
Eureka
When & where:
FRI, October 20, 9:15pm @ Gartenbaukino (English, North American Indian, Portuguese with German subtitles)
SUN, October 22, 5:15pm @ Urania (English, North American Indian, Portuguese with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: A showcase of the Indigenous lives of the Americas in three distinct cinematic styles: a Western, a docudrama, and art house poetry. The film focuses on loneliness, misunderstandings, and broken families. Yet amidst the desolation, it highlights the power of fantasy and cinema as a beacon of hope and escape.
La bête (The Beast)
When & where:
TUE, October 24, 9pm @ Gartenbaukino (French & English with German subtitles)
WED, October 25, 2:30pm @ Gartenbaukino (French & English with English subtitles)
Film described in a few words: In a not-so-distant future where AI and productivity reign supreme, the protagonist chooses to go through a time portal, reliving and erasing her past lives. It’s a loose adaptation of Henry James’ novella ‘The Beast in the Jungle’ turned into a sci-fi drama that you won’t want to miss.
Poor Things
When & where:
WED, October 25, 6pm @ Gartenbaukino (English with German subtitles)
SAT, October 28, 12:30pm @ Gartenbaukino (English with German subtitles)
MON, October 30, 6:30am @ Gartenbaukino (English with German subtitles)
Film described in a few words: Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter is not your typical lady of the Victorian era. Created in a kooky scientist’s lair, Bella’s all about breaking those corseted boundaries. Her journey to liberation includes literature, sex, and… cream tarts. As you have already guessed by now it’s a crazy female twist on the story of Frankenstein.
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