Ask most people in Taiwan what their impression of northern Europe is and you might have people mention Nokia mobile phones, IKEA furniture, a elaborate welfare system. But that is probably as far as it goes. Now, the first Nordic Film Festival, which begins this weekend, will offer 18 movies to expand this vision for filmgoers in Taiwan.
The festival offers a good opportunity to check out the unique style of Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki, who won the Jury's Grand Prix in Cannes last year for A Man Without a Past. Also featured will be his I Hired a Contract Killer (1990), which tells of a man who tries to kill himself by hiring a contract killer, but later he falls in love and tries to stop the hit on himself; Bohemian Life (1992), about the decadent lives of three 19th century painters, and Drifting Clouds (1996) about a couple dealing with unemployment.
Another main feature of the Nordic Film Festival will be a selection of films representing, or at least related to Danish director Lars von Trier's Dogme95 philosophy, which has proved very influential, and is definitely a defining feature of much contemporary Danish films stand out in world cinema.
Dogme95 abjures special visual or sound effects, color filters, extra lighting and artificial scenes or props. It is all about shooting in real settings and has been the philosophy behind many award-winning films.
Among the films to be screened at the festival is The Celebration (1998), by Thomas Vinterberg, a story of a family gathering that goes sour. Mifune's Last Song (1999) by Soren Kragh-Jacobsen, a riotous comedy about a man who escapes from rural life to marry a rich woman in Copenhagen, but cannot successfully cut his ties with his past.
Kira's Reason: A Love Story (2001), the opening film of the festival, is the 21st Dogme95 work, a story about a middle-aged woman's efforts to return to normal life after being released from a mental institute.
In addition, there is also Lars von Trier's pre-Dogme95 film Breaking the Waves (1996) which explores the relationship between religion and love. The film won Von Triers the Jury's Grand Prix in Cannes and won actress Emily Watson several awards in Britain and Europe.
The only film from Norway is an outstanding comedy Me, My Friend and I (2001, also released as Elling) about two retarded men who are forced to live on their own in a state-owned apartment.
The showcase also offers movie fans a chance to revisit the classics of Ingmar Bergman including the Oscar-winner Fanny and Alexander (1982) and The Autumn Sonata (1978) starring Ingrid Bergman.
The Nordic Film Festival will take place March 29 to April 11 at Taipei Film House, April 30 to May 11 at Hsinchu's Municipal Image Museum, and May 31 to June 13 at Kaohsiung City Film Library. Tickets are NT$150 and are available through Acer ticketing.
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