EUFF Blog #5: 5 films of the 22nd European Union Film Festival you must not miss!

Ticket sales for the 22nd European Union Film Festival (EUFF) have already kicked off. Still unsure what films to catch that will be screening at this festival, InCinemas shall highlight 5 films that you mustn't miss. 

The EUFF will be held at GV VivoCity from 11 - 20 May. Each film has only one scheduled screening - that only means one thing: Grab your tickets before it runs out as the EUFF is one of the most popular film festivals in Singapore!

Tickets are available at any Golden Village box-office, its online website (www.gv.com.sg), and all AXS machines islandwide. 

Now hit the jump as we highlight 5 films to catch at this year's EUFF!

CELL 211 (Celda 211) 

Screening Details: Friday 11 May, 7PM

Plot Outline: The story of two men on different sides of a prison riot - the inmate leading the rebellion and the young guard trapped in the revolt, who poses as a prisoner in a desperate attempt to survive the ordeal.

[Trailer for CELL 211]

Awards: 

Get tickets for this because... this was the most successful Spanish film of 2010, winning 8 Goyas (Spain's equivalent to the Oscars), and was a box-office hit in the country. It has an Internet Movie Database (IMDB) rating of 7.7 from about 16,000 votes, and the famous film critic Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 stars out of 4. Moreover, CELL 211 is rated R21. This means it won't be available on home video in Singapore at all. All these points to a rare screening that is highly unlikely to disappoint!

THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA (O Estranho Caso De Angelica)

Screening Details: Monday 14 May, 9:30PM

Plot Outline: A photographer is asked by hotel owners to take portraits of their recently deceased daughter.

[Trailer for THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA]

Awards:

Get tickets for this because... the director Manoel de Oliveira is, believe it or not, 104 years old! He is the only filmmaker alive today whose career making films has spanned from the early silent era to the digital age. What's more admirable is that despite his age he has two upcoming projects in the works - one already in post-production, and the other in pre-production. The best tribute to Oliveira is to purchase a ticket and see his film. 

IN A BETTER WORLD (Hævnen)

Screening Details: Tuesday 15 May, 7PM

Plot Outline: The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.

[Trailer for IN A BETTER WORLD]

Awards:

Get tickets for this because... IN A BETTER WORLD is a raw, stirring drama from acclaimed Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (Brothers, 2004; After the Wedding, 2006) whose effort won her an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, beating the likes of Incendies, and Biutiful. It was previously screened in Singapore under Cathay's 'Picturehouse Selection' for a limited time. Those who have somehow missed the initial screenings will be glad for the opportunity to catch this excellent film on the big screen. Having an IMDB rating of 7.6 from about 13,000 votes also speaks volumes of this film's quality. 

THE GUARD 

Screening Details: Tuesday 15 May, 9:30PM

Plot Outline: An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is teamed up with an uptight FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.

[Trailer for THE GUARD]

Awards: 

Get tickets for this because... it looks like it's gonna be funny and exciting. With Brendon Gleeson starring alongside Don Cheadle, THE GUARD promises an acting tour-de-force. This black comedy is also the most successful independent Irish film of all time, overtaking Cannes' Palme d'Or-winner The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) in terms of Irish box-office receipts. THE GUARD achieves a respectable IMDB rating of 7.3 from about 24, 000 votes, and received 3.5 stars out of 4 from Roger Ebert.  

TRISHNA

Screening Details: Saturday 19 May, 7PM

Plot Outline: The story of the tragic relationship between the son of a property developer and the daughter of an auto rickshaw owner.

[Trailer for TRISHNA]

Awards:

Get tickets for this because... British auteur Michael Winterbottom takes a classic English literature novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' written by Thomas Hardy, and published in 1891, and transforms it into a modern tale of love and tragedy set in rural and urban India. This cross-cultural film is accessible, and features outstanding cinematography, ambient sounds, and music that give the film a strong, energetic vibe. 

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For more details on all the 23 films that are screening at EUFF, please visit www.euff.sg, or join and like EUFF Facebook page!

We hope you have a good time exploring these excellent works from all corners of Europe in May!

Previously in our EUFF Blog Series: 

• EUFF Blog #1: The 22nd European Union Film Festival is back with a bang! - Thursday 19 April 
• EUFF Blog #2: Michael Winterbottom's TRISHNA to have its Singapore premiere! - Friday 20 April
• EUFF Blog #3: Review for TRISHNA - Saturday 21 April
• EUFF Blog #4: Review for IN A BETTER WORLD - Wednesday 25 April