Have you ever experienced uncontrollable emotions in the cinema, such as unavoidable sobbing, hysterical laughter, or feeling a sudden rise of personal empowerment? When films are extraordinary, they succeed in affecting our human intellect and emotions in ways that no other form of entertainment can.
Here are the remaining 10 films we know are a must-see at this year’s Singapore International Film Festival.
The Road to Mandalay
BY MIDI Z / TAIWAN, MYANMAR
In the midst of an illegal border crossing and gruelling work that barely meets the needs of basic human life, a love story blossoms. We are emotionally invested as two illegal immigrants journey through a life most have never been exposed to.
Midi Z has now delivered a tightly edited and emotionally rewarding drama that places him in the top rank of Asian social realists. - Variety
Town in a Lake
BY JET LEYCO / PHILIPPINES
Town in a Lake takes you on a mysterious and eerie hunt for a schoolgirl murderer and a missing person in the quiet town of Matangtubig. The silent screams intensify as the search proceeds.
...merging images of real catastrophes with wild stretches of the imagination resulting in suspicions and inferences that are more satisfying than easy expositions. - Rappler.com
Wild
BY NICOLETTE KREBITZ / GERMANY
When self-imposed seclusion eats away at the human instincts of a young woman, a chance encounter with a mysterious wolf alters her fate. The unique portrayal and original storyline of this feature film are refreshingly raw, yet at the same time well done.
Wild suggests all kinds of possibilities - from outright horror to a psychological drama in which Ania gradually loses her mind to an overwhelming obsession with the wolf. - Screendaily
Still Life
BY MAUD ALPI / FRANCE
Director Maud Alpi looks at the reality of slaughterhouse deaths from an unseen angle - the eyes of a dog.
The opening sequence of Maud Alpi’s harrowing yet poetic “Still Life” which covers about one-fifth of the film’s 82-minute duration, must be the worst nightmare of all animals consumed by humans. - Yam-Mag.com
Suntan
BY ARGYRIS PAPADIMITROPOULOS / GREECE, GERMANY
On a slow-paced Greek Island, many desires are left untouched until a local doctor encounters a young tourist. Obsession grows as he experiences the hard partying of her and her friends. Forbidden intrigue and illicit infatuation play out in shocking ways.
Almost everyone over 35 will feel distinctly uncomfortable watching “Suntan”, a cautionary reminder to viewers that once youth is over, it’s over for good. - Variety
White Sun
BY DEEPAK RAUNIYAR / NEPAL, USA, QATAR, NETHERLANDS
A glimpse into the personal reality of one man’s journey through Nepal after the civil war and the demise of his father. There are many gripping hurdles, including death-defying encounters with the police and rebel guerrillas.
A breath of fresh air from the top of the world. - Hollywood reporter
The Woman Who Left
BY LAV DIAZ / PHILIPPINES
(Take note: duration: 3hr 46min)
Imagine serving decades in prison for a crime you didn’t commit and then being released into a world 30 years beyond your recognition, only to find out that your ex-boyfriend, who framed you, is living an above-average comfortable life. With a deceased husband and a missing son, revenge is the name of the game.
The last 15 minutes of the film is one of the saddest moments in cinema I've experienced this year (or many years). - Bangkok Post
The Teacher
BY JAN HŘEBEJK / SLOVAK REPUBLIC / CZECH REPUBLIC
Based on a true story, The Teacher shows the destruction one person can inflict when they have the right connections. Puzzle pieces are shattered as deals are made, meetings are held and favours are requested by this seemingly ordinary teacher.
...effectively transposing “12 Angry Men” into the most intense PTA meeting of all time, Jan Hřebejk’s “The Teacher” is a sardonic, richly seriocomic morality… - Indiewire
Psycho Raman
BY ANURAG KASHYAP / INDIA
Set in present day Mumbai, a psychopath who deeply admires a famous serial killer begins a hunting challenge of his own. His target? A policeman.
His eyes are lightened so they have a tawny predator’s glint; his smile is a cruel grimace – this is a chillingly effective watch. - The Guardian
Tales of Two Who Dreamt
BY NICOLAS PEREDA, ANDREA BUSSMANN / CANADA, MEXICO
If you’ve ever wondered about the history of a building or home, this film answers questions about an apartment with many secrets, some being told for the first time. Asylum seekers make this story all the more intriguing.
The boundary between documentary and fantasy is similarly unsettled throughout the film. One can never be certain whether the dreamlike world of “Tales” is an alternate reality, a true story or a legend of its own. - The Upcoming
