The Wisconsin Film Festival has been an annual event in the city of Madison, Wisconsin for over 20 years. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the festival and the first year I volunteered with it for free movie tickets. These are the movies I saw and, briefly, my thoughts about them.
Woman at War
The last time I saw a movie that billed itself as an oddball Icelandic comedy, I didn’t laugh very much. That was not the case with Woman at War, a film that tells the story about a woman sabotaging heavy industry in Iceland for the sake of future generations. Just when you think the drama is getting a little intense, the camera pans to the three man band providing the soundtrack. This band will randomly appear throughout the film as Halla, our main character, does what needs to be done to either hide her identity or take down heavy industry once and for all.
Halfway through the film, the band is joined by a trio of Ukranian singers dressed in traditional Ukrainian dresses. The reason for them? Halla was approved to adopt a child from the Ukraine. The child’s name is Nika, and her role is largely as inspiration for Halla and her actions. She also represents of the future of humanity.
Despite the absurdist humor, an underlying theme of Woman at War is the imminent ecological disaster that is all the greenhouse gases currently in our atmosphere and the bureaucratic engines in place throughout the world that is doing nothing about it. The reality of our future is bleak, and there’s no three-man band to remind us not to take things seriously.
Directed by Benedikt Erlingsson
My Ballot Rating: 4/5
Recommended to people with a sense of humor.
The Good Girls
The synopsis for The Good Girls makes this film read as a critique of upper class Mexico in the 1980s. Main character Sofia is the wife of a businessman dealing with the social consequences of going broke and learning to readjust to a new lifestyle. Really, the only thing I enjoyed about this film is the cinematography. It’s beautifully shot, and the aesthetic of the 1980s, with oddball knick-knacks and shoulder pads, adds to the beauty.
There was one scene about 3/4 of the way through where Sofia attends the birthday party of a friend’s son. It’s told non-linearly, and it was the most interesting thing in the entire movie. With her status crumbling and no money to support her, Sofia makes decisions for the good of her family. The viewer is guided through a sense of insecurity and guesswork, much like Sofia’s state of mind at the party.
If I were more academic or knowledgeable of Mexican history, I might have praised it more. As it stands, I found myself questioning throughout the whole thing when and how the film will end.
Directed by Alejandra Marquez Abella
My Ballot Rating: 2/5
Recommended to people who need something pretty in the background.
Rafiki
This film arrived on my radar via Tumblr, when news got around that it was showing at the Cannes Film Festival despite (or because of) being banned from Kenya, where it was made. Rafiki (which translates to friend) tells the story of two girls, Kena and Ziki, who fall in love. In addition to the taboo nature of their same-sex romance, both their fathers are running for the same political office. Truly star-crossed lovers if ever they existed.
While this film built up to an act of violence that leaves our young lovers scarred and out of sync, it was not as grotesque as I anticipated. I might even call it tame, but it was a welcome tameness. The girls’ love is portrayed so innocently, and any act of violence more intense than what was shown would have been too jarring to save the movie.
My one actual critique is the ending, which was maybe too ambiguous for my tastes.
Directed by Wanuri Kahiu
My Ballot Rating: 4/5
Recommended to people who like a good old-fashioned love story.
Asako I and II
When Asako meets Baku, she falls head over heels for him. His sense of adventure keeps him aloof, and one day he goes away and doesn’t return. Two years later, Asako meets Ryohei. Ryohei looks exactly like Baku, and they start a romance that is threatened by Baku’s return.
Asako is the main driver of this film. She’s delicate and shy, but she’s also incredibly selfish. Dangerously so. Yet as the film progressed, I found myself rooting for her. She’s complex, almost directionless, and perhaps a little too spontaneous. I was also rooting for Ryohei, her main love interest, who gets more screen time than Baku and is portrayed as down-to-earth and compassionate. He’s too good for Asako, but perhaps that’s why she loves him so.
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
My Ballot Rating: 4/5
Recommended to people who want a bit more drama in their romance.
The Wisconsin Film Festival is presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts and Department of Communication Arts. Every year, they present 150 films in 8 days of cinema, making it the largest university-run film festival in the nation. For more information on the festival, visit wifilmfest.org.
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