Il postino (Il Postino: The Postman) (2017 Feature Film)
A cycling Italian postman only delivers to one address in the early 1950s: the temporary, remote abode of Pablo Neruda. This Chilean poet in exile teaches the unassuming and endearing postman to love the written word. Award-winning arthouse classic from 1994 that is still universally heartwarming in 2017.
Pop Aye (2017 Feature Film)
A disillusioned architect rediscovers Pop Aye, the elephant from his childhood, in the streets of Bangkok. Together they set off on a journey to the village where they grew up. Occasionally funny, occasionally moving road movie about two uprooted souls who meet the most colorful figures on their journey home.
Playing Lecuona (2017 Feature Film)
Cuban Latin-jazz pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona left behind a rich musical inheritance some decades ago. Three Spanish-speaking contemporaries use stories and music to show how greatly the ‘Cuban Gershwin’ influenced their music. Homage to the legendary Lecuona, his work and the universal love of music we all share.
Perfetti sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers) (2017 Feature Film)
When seven friends give each other control of their cell phones during an intimate supper, they all prove to harbor more secrets than they thought. This box-office hit from Italy is an intelligently written, bittersweet comedy about modern-day life and love, topped off with outstanding acting.
Pela janela (A Window to Rosália) (2017 Feature Film)
Sensitive, heart-warming debut about a journey undertaken by a middle-aged brother and sister. As they set out from São Paulo, the unhappy Rosália is a shadow of her former self. But thanks to her dedicated brother José, during the journey to bustling Buenos Aires she regains the belief that life can be joyful.
Paterson (2017 Feature Film)
Paterson (Adam Driver) gets up at six a.m., drives his bus, comes home to his wife (Golshifteh Farahani) at six p.m., walks the dog and has a beer at his local bar. Every day. In the meantime, he writes poetry. Jarmusch is the loving observer of this loving observer. A small oasis of a film.
The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen) (2017 Feature Film)
“No problem. You are not the first one”, is what a Syrian refugee is told by a dry-as-dust cop at the police station in Helsinki where he applies for political asylum. Enter the unique, mildly absurdist Finnish universe of Aki Kaurismäki in which both this newcomer and a born-and-bred Finn reinvent themselves.
Night of a 1000 Hours (Die Nacht der Tausend Stunden) (2017 Feature Film)
Hermann Ullich died in a bunker in World War II. Or did he? Why do all the dead relatives of the industrialist appear on this winter’s night in the huge family home? Agatha Christie would love this Austrian whodunnit, in which skeletons from the nation’s past also come out of the cupboard.
Neruda (2017 Feature Film)
Santiago, 1948. A police inspector (Gael García Bernal) is ordered by president Videla to hunt down poet and politician Pablo Neruda who has openly criticized the right-wing regime, and who has gone into hiding.
Moonlight (2017 Feature Film)
American indie sensation shows the life of a black man as he grows from being the poor child of a single, addicted mother into a tough adult continually wracked with doubt. This poetic narration about the exploration of identity, sexuality and bonding is pioneering in its tender portrayal of black masculinity. It has already won many prizes. Winner Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama.