The European Films
Festival premiers

The 2007 European Film Festival started premiering yesterday with the German film “The Edukators” at the Addis Ababa National Theatre. The festival which screens in English subtitle film has its tradition of screening recently made European films in Addis Ababa and the region. And this year it will premier 30 films among which, five of them are Ethiopian.
As the film tour moves to the regions of Ethiopia, Mekele, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dire Dawa, Awassa and Jimma will once again have the opportunity to get the taste of European remarkable movies. It has been said on previous year that the festival has a role in getting the Ethiopian blossoming film industry a feel of what the contemporary cinema production in Europe is currently like.

This, however, is the first time that Ethiopian films are going to have the chance to be enrolled in the festival. The selected films for the program are Mulualem Tadesse’s ‘Abugida’, Shimelis Abera’s ‘Kal-Kidan’, Haimanot Alemu’s ‘Girdosh’, Tewodros Teshome’s ‘Red Mistake’ and Yidnekachew Shumete’s ‘Siryet’.
The festival is going to run till the 27th of May, and the films that will be aired this week are, the following:

Tonight the Belgium director F. Van Groeningen’s ‘Steve & Sky’ will be premiered at the National Theater. Starring Titus De Voogdt, Delfine Bafort and Johan Heldenbergh, the film shows how Steve, a small-time crook that is recently released from prison and Sky, a prostitute craving for some love and affection, are trying to find their own place in the world. This film shows how a strange but wonderful relationship begins.

Following the Belgium made Steve and Sky, the Ethiopian ‘Abugida’ will premier at the National Theatre. This Ethiopian made film is based on some incidents at the time of the 1999 coup d’ état attempt against Mengistu Hailemariam. Dentist Dr. Selam’s husband colonel Belay is arrested for suspicion that he might be part of the attempted coup. In actual case he has found out a secret dossier, which lists down the names involved in the coup and was ready to submit it to the president. The names listed involved high military officials and he could not get close to the president and the president thought that he was hiding something. At the end he was wanted by both sides that would not think twice before putting a bullet in his head.

The Spain made “The Bolchevik’s Weakness” is a film that will take over tomorrow. This film directed by, M. Martin Cuenca, stars Luis Tosar, Mar Regueras & Maria Valverde.
After crashing into the rear of a car, Pablo starts arguing with the driver, Sonsoles, who finally files for an injury claim against him. Pablo starts harassing her and observes her sister Maria in her schoolyard. When he gets to know her, his perception of life is changed totally, but their friendship leads into a tragedy...

Czech Republic director F. A. Brabec’s “Wild Flowers” will be aired later on Sunday. Starring Boleslav Polivka, Karel Roden & Linda Rybova, “Wild Flowers” shows how seven unseeingly unconnected fairy tales - glued together only by folklore, mood, color and light - make up the Czech collection of visual poetry. Beautiful and lovely pictures are contrasting the tragic and horror drama of the seven chosen ballads. The original piece of literature, written by Karel Jaromir Erben in 1853, contained twelve tales.

Monday the drama “Buddy” by M. Tyldum will take over. Starring Nicolai Cleve Broch, Aksel Hennie & Pia Tjelta, Buddy shows the story of Kristoffer, a carefree 24 years old billboard hanger, gets dumped by his girlfriend Elisabeth for the boss of her trend bureau and his life falls into pieces. By coincidence some of Kristoffer’s video diaries end up with the producer of a popular talk show, and a few weeks later Kristoffer’s life has become TV entertainment. Kristoffer’s future again looks bright, but revealing his life on national television comes with a price tag.

D. Levy’s “Go for Zucker!” with a starring of Henry Hiibchen, Hannelore Elsner & Odo Samel will proceed from the Norwegian Buddy. This German made film shows how on the occasion of the funeral of their mother the bankrupt gambler Jaecki Zucker gets the visit of his orthodox brother Samuel Zuckermann and his family. During the obsequies Jaeckie secretly plays a billiard tournament in order to pay back his debts with the prize-money.
The Ethiopian actor and director Shimelis Abera’s “Kal-Kidan” will follow “Go for Zucker!” Starring Shimeles Abera himself as a leading character, this film is based on the novel by Getachew Ayalke’s novel, Kal-Kidan. Digafeneh is a poor man who falls in love with Tsehay, a high-class girl from a very conservative family. Tsehay’s father vigorously disapproves this love affair and the subsequent marriage. To complicate the situation further, a villain Mesfin who is also in love with Tsehay, makes the situation impossible for Digafeneh.
Wednesday it will be time for the Switzerland “The Giant Buddhas”. Directed by C. Frei, this film stars Heloler Pazira, Xuanzang & Zémaryalaï” Tarzi.

In March 2001, two huge Buddha statues were blown up in the remote area of Bamiyantal in Afghanistan. This dramatic event surrounding the ancient stone colossi is the starting point for a cinematic essay on fanaticism and faith, terror and tolerance, ignorance and identity.
Following the historically significant film, Ethiopian legendary theatre figure Haimanot Alemu’s “Girdosh” will premier. Starring Haimanot Alemu himself, Solomon Woubayehu and Mekdes Eshetu, Girdosh is based on Sissay Nugussu’s novel, Girdosh. This film revolves around the love triangle of a man, Wondafrash who is in love with two women at the same time and his best friend Ermias who tries to save Wondafrash’s marriage and his two kids from living in a split family.

The Finish “Mystery of the Wolf” by R. O. Niemi and starring Tiia Talvisara, Janne Saksela & Vuokko Hovatta premiers on Thursday night. And the brief summary of this film states how one day life changes for the 12-year old schoolgirl Salla. Her biological mother Laila returns to the small village where Salla has been living happily with her adoptive parents for as long as she can remember. This makes Salla upset and her adoptive mother becomes afraid of losing her daughter.

“Ellis in Glamourland” is the film that will premier next Friday. The film by the Dutch film director P. Kramer, stars Linda de Mol, Chris Tates & Joan Collins. Here, Ellis, single mother, works at a hotel as a cleaning lady, when she meets Susan who wrote a bestseller on how to marry a millionaire. Susan offers Ellis free courses... With struggles Ellis finds her way to make a decision: being rich and not as loved as she wants to be or passionate. Within the worlds of both old and new money, Ellis hatches a plot to find Mr. Right...
Following the Netherlands Ellis in Glamourland, the Ethiopian high budgeted “Red Mistake” by Teowdros Teshome will be screened.

Starring Tewodros Teshome, Fikadu Teklemariam and Mestawot Aragaw, Red Mistake revolves around a man who has suffered a lot during the “Red Terror” just because he was the brother of a young resistance group.
The festival is presented in collaboration with the European Union member states, the Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

May 4, 2007