Slovak archives in the Midnight Sun
Significant film titles from the Slovak archives will introduce themselves to the audiences of the Midnight Sun FF (10. - 14. 6. 2015) in the Finnish country of Lapland, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The film festival, which takes its name by the nights during which the sun does not fall behind the horizon, offers new successful films as well as timeless masterpieces of veteran filmmakers. The Slovak retrospective section entitled Master Class on Slovak Cinema will offer five titles: The Organ (1964) by Štefan Uher, Before Tonight Is Over (1965) by Peter Solan, Dragon's Return (1967) by Eduard Grečner, Wild Lilies (1972) by Elo Havetta and Pictures of the Old World (1972) by Dušan Hanák, a documentary. All film will be screen from 35 mm prints.
All Slovak films will be introduced by Olaf Möller, the curator of the archive selection. „When people mention the Nová vlna, they usually talk only about Czech directors, many of which are well known to Sodankylä habitués - for example Ivan Passer, Miloš Forman. Yet: All things changing towards a cinema more modern, in synch with the New Waves happening between France and Japan, the Soviet Union and Brazil, began in the Slovak part of the CSSR, in 1963, with Štefan Uher Slnko v sieti – a title by now mostly forgotten (at least beyond the borders of the Slovak Republic). Unjustifiedly so. Personally speaking: I find the Slovak element(s) of the Nová vlna far more intriguing and inspiring than the Czech part,“ Möller says.
The Midnight Sun FF was founded in 1986 by Finnish filmmakers, including the Kaurismäki brothers, and the Municipality of Sodankylä. The village of Sodankylä is located in the heart of Finnish Lapland, some 120 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, where the sun doesn't set at all in the summertime. „The atmosphere of the festival is one of the most unique in the whole world: the most fascinating film directors around the world, up-and-coming talents, the international audience and the inhabitants of Sodankylä meet under the midnight sun in a relaxed and informal spirit. Without any formal restraints, the festival is best characterised by its pure love for cinema. Films are shown in four venues for 24 hours a day, and the actual time is easily forgotten as the sun shines as brightly at 4 a.m. as it does at 4 p.m.,“ the organizers describe the festival.
MASTER CLASS ON SLOVAK CINEMA
THE ORGAN / June 10 / Wednesday / 22:45 / Koulu (School)
BEFORE TONIGHT IS OVER / June 11 / Thrusday / 15:15 / Pieni teltta (Small tent)
DRAGON'S RETURN / June 12 / Friday / 15:15 / Pieni teltta (Small tent)
PICTURES FROM THE OLD WORLD / June 13 / Saturday / 15:15 / Pieni teltta (Small tent)
WILD LILIES / June 14 / Sunday / 15:15 / Pieni teltta (Small tent)
The co-organizers of the Slovak section are the Slovak Film Institute and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Helsinki.
More information at:
www.msfilmfestival.fi
published: 08.06.2015
updated: 10.06.2015