Amon Warmann returns with his thoughts on this year’s five Best International Independent Film nominees, sponsored by champagne taittinger
This year’s selection of international independent films hail from France, Denmark, Sweden, America, and Finland.
Petite Maman
France 2021 Dir. Céline Sciamma 72 min.
Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to the critically acclaimed Portrait of a Lady on Fire is only 75 minutes long, but it still packs just as much of an emotional punch. The story – which centres on eight-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) befriending her mother’s younger self, Marion (Gabrielle Sanz) – defies simple explanation.
It’s a credit to the filmmaking that you never find yourself wishing for one. From the note-perfect child performances to the intimate, naturalistic cinematography, this meditation on grief is haunting, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
Flee – WINNER
Denmark 2021 Dir. Jonas Poher Rasmussen 90 min.
The blend of animation and archival footage works a treat in Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee, which tells the story of Amin Nawabi who arrives in Denmark seeking asylum in the 1990’s. We soon come to learn all about his harrowing journey as he recounts his experiences as a child, teenager, and a gay man.
The use of animated visuals to accompany Amin’s narration is just one way the stylings of this unique documentary benefits the story. Indeed, the depiction of the refugee experience is just as if not more poignant in this setting. More impressively, while there is much darkness to Amin’s story, the attention paid to his humour and warmth – facets we get because the interviewer he’s recounting his story to for the first time is a good friend – means the film never becomes overly grim.
Pleasure
Sweden, Netherlands, France 2021, Ninja Thyberg 109 min.
There have been many films that deal with characters who put ambition before friendship. There are very few films which deal with said characters in the porn industry. In this regard, Pleasure is in a category all by itself.
Directed by Ninja Thyberg, the film focuses on Bella Cherry (Sofia Kappel in her film debut), who arrives in America from Sweden with dreams of becoming an international porn star. Thyberg’s non-judgemental, no-holds-barred approach in depicting the world of porn is as provocative as it is honest, with multiple scenes showing just how fine the line is between consent and coercion. As Bella’s physical and emotional turmoil mounts, Kappel’s fearless performance finds new ways to impress.
First Cow
US 2019 Kelly Reichardt 122 min.
Kelly Reichardt’s seventh indie – and her first since 2016’s Certain Women – is a simple tale that’s effectively told. Taking place in 1820 Oregon County, it stars John Magaro as Cookie, a pastry chef who teams up with an on-the-run Chinese immigrant King-Lu (Orion Lee) to start a bakery business. The catch? To do so, they must steal milk from the first cow in the region, and it’s the property of a wealthy landowner, Chief Factor (Toby Jones).
What follows is by turns a low stakes heist thriller and an understated meditation on friendship that’s beautifully played by Magaro and Lee. They’re aided by a sublime, unconventional score from William Tyler, who instantly announces himself as a composer to watch.
Compartment No. 6
Finland, Russia, Estonia, Germany Dir. Juho Kuosmanen 2021 107 min.
What if a seemingly random, fleeting encounter led to more than you initially expected? Such is the conceit of Juho Kuosmanen’s second feature Compartment No. 6, which focuses on Laura (Seidi Haarla), a Finnish grad student in 90’s Moscow who embarks on a days-long journey to the Northern Arctic city of Murmansk to see ancient petroglyphs. It was a trip she meant to take with her partner Irina, before their relationship withered. But on the train ride over, she shares a compartment with Ljoha (Yuriy Borisov). Initially coming off as unpleasant and boorish, they slowly develop a connection.
That we ultimately root for them is as much a testament to the storytelling – which contains thoughtful observations on loneliness, isolation, and our need for human connection – as well as the nuanced performances.
Head to BIFA Instagram for highlights of the 24th British Independent Film Awards ceremony, which took place on Sunday 5th December 2021
