One of the most unique films we’ve seen in recent times, it echoes thematically and visually the cinematography of Ingmar Bergman and Werner Herzog while maintaining its “pure” form. At the end of the 19th century, a young Danish priest travels to Iceland (then part of Denmark) with the goal of building a church, as well as capturing landscapes and its inhabitants on camera. But as he moves deeper and deeper into a difficult, inhospitable place, his mission and his more general beliefs in life are put to the test until then.

The Icelandic Hlinur Palmasson uses a square frame, reminiscent of the frame of cameras of the time, not to limit the perspective of the viewer, but rather to place him in the logic of the unique moments (such as photographs) that make up a human life. The latter is placed here in the general natural circle along with the rest of the creatures that we see in this documentary – at least in some parts of it – the film. The protagonist, for his part, a servant of God, but also a mortal explorer, carries with him a tragic burden: “I’m tired of all this technology,” he says somewhere, having used up his photographic equipment.

The eminent Italian director Mario Martone (Cruel Love) tells here a story of taste and memory against the backdrop of the narrow streets of Naples. Pier Francesco Favino, one of the greatest European actors of his generation, plays Felipe, a middle-aged man who, after four decades abroad, returns to his hometown to see (and) his elderly mother. But soon he will contact old acquaintances, looking for traces of his childhood best friend Orestes. The latter is now the boss of the area’s underworld.

Martone organizes an endless walk through the maze-like narrow streets of the Neapolitan slums; his hero, who at first struggles to use even a forgotten language, gradually finds his way, returning to the place of the “local”. In addition, he befriends the local priest, who is also Orestes’ biggest adversary. The history of his relationship with the latter, which eventually led to his escape, is traced through nostalgic flashbacks as the two men, now quite unlike each other, meet again in the present.

Land of Joy ★★½
DRAMA (2022)
Directed by: Saim Sadiq
Interpretations: Alina Khan, Ali Juntso

Pakistan’s official Oscar entry this year was even awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. As his brother celebrates the birth of his fourth daughter, pressure on the childless Haider to have a son increases from his family’s patriarchal father. In the meantime, he gets a job at the erotic dance theater, where a beautiful and dynamic transvestite also appears. The illicit love that develops between them will turn the conservative family on its head, bringing to the surface the repressed sexual desires of other members. Saim Sadiq writes and makes a film with social commentary on the conventions and prejudices that prevail in his country, while remaining touching and human. Of course, its running time, at around two hours, could have been much shorter, and some of its scenes seem pretentious enough to evoke reflexes in the viewer.

Gerard Butler, one of today’s most popular action heroes, dresses up here in a pilot’s uniform, which, of course, goes hand in hand with… submachine guns. Brody takes off from Singapore, but bad weather forces him to land on a deserted island in the Philippines. There he commands a group of rebels who will kidnap the passengers of the plane for ransom. The fearless Brody will, of course, take action to free them.

The first part of the film – up to the capture of passengers – is quite interesting, but then exaggerations and clichés inevitably appear when Butler shoots, pilots and spews “fishing” tirades, having 2-3 bullets driven into his body.

One of the rare Japanese anime that reaches Greek cinemas is coming out this week. Suzu, a shy high school student, enters the virtual world “U” where she meets her online character Belle, a beautiful global music star.

However, during the concert, a monstrous creature, a dragon, invades and is hunted by intruders.

Fascinated by a mysterious beast, Suzu embarks on an epic and adventurous adventure to discover its identity.

The visually stunning Japanese film was the first darkroom dub of its kind in almost two decades, and the original version will also be released with subtitles.