Best of the 2022 Seattle Intl. Film Festival
The sizable, viewer- and press-friendly and eclectically programmed Seattle International Film Festival, recently wrapped on April 24, can boast of many releases that have already been praised in this column. Foremost is the marvelous Javier Bardem starrer, The Good Boss, written and directed without a flaw by Spain’s Fernando León de Aranoa. But Seattle as well spooled the humorous doc Alien on Stage, as Brit postal workers inadvisedly adapt Ridley Scott’s Alien for one-night on the West End. And there was also Young Plato, the emotional powerhouse doc about a teacher of philosophy trying to help primary school boys, at-risk in Belfast’s most violent neighborhood.
Of significant note at SIFF:
Charlotte (Canada/France/Belgium) An animated biography of German Jewish visual artist Charlotte Salmon, who fled from Berlin to the South of France to pursue her work, only to succumb to the Nazi regime. Co-directors Eric Warin and Tahir Rana beautifully merge Charlotte’s stunning work with a palette of dazzling colors.
Fire of Love (Canada/USA) Married volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft explored fiery, astounding lava hot spots world round and despite their sudden, tragic end, this doc by Sara Dosa shares with cinema goers some of the most captivating eruptions ever captured.
Nothing Compares (Ireland/UK) Sinead O’Connor’s music has sold megaplatinum but she infuriated millions for her stance on the Catholic Church. Kathryn Ferguson directs this doc, which delves into the physical and emotional cruelty O’Connor suffered at the hands of her mother and how it created an iconoclastic musician-activist who never backed down, no matter the societal pressure.
Between Two Worlds (France) Juliette Binoche sensitively plays an author surreptitiously posing as a cleaner with other poverty stricken women, in order to document the hardships of their lives. But some newfound friends are decimated when they learn of her true socioeconomic status, in Emmanuel Carrére’s inspiring feature.
Everybody Hates Johan (Norway) Hallvar Witzø has directed an odd, pleasing black comedy about small town love and the male protagonist’s fondness, instilled by his parents, for blowing up things with dynamite. There are some wonderful curves thrown and no duds in this incendiary yet passionate comedy-drama.
