Program Guide - Cleveland International Film Festival

54 FILMS A – Z [B] The 37th Cleveland International Film Festival
WOMEN OF THE WORLD
GREG GUND MEMORIAL
STANDING UP FILM COMPETITION
JEWISH AND ISRAELI VISIONS
WOMEN OF THE WORLD
Blondie
Directed by Jesper Ganslandt
SWEDEN 2012
88 minutes
Thursday, April 4 Friday, April 5
4:30 PM I Code BLON04 1:50 PM I Code BLON05
Saturday, April 6
9:00 PM I Code BLON06
Brilliant Swedish director Jesper Ganslandt has an unfailing
eye for character and an uncanny ability to work in wildly varying
styles. After making one raw film about rural slackers and
one disturbing suspense thriller, he now presents BLONDIE, an
acerbically funny take on the melodramatic Scandinavian family
drama. Sigrid’s three daughters are convening in her elegant
country home for her 70th birthday. Following a brief cheerful
reunion, their happy-family veneer quickly starts to peel away.
Elin is a fashion model, bitter at being sent to work in Milan
at 15. Unhappy Katarina is a mom and a doctor who’s having
incredible sex with a colleague. Youngest sister Lova dreads
the drama she knows is just waiting to happen. Following a
panic attack and a fire at her carefully planned party, Sigrid
is stricken and becomes comatose—which, oddly enough,
allows her daughters to talk to her for the first time. All four
actresses deliver lovely performances, but the hilarious family
theatrics alone are worth the price of admission. (In Swedish
with subtitles) —B.B.
Producer~Jesper Kurlandsky Screenwriting~Jesper Ganslandt Cinematography~
Linda Wassberg Editing~Johan Bjerkner, Anna Ivanova Principal Cast~
Carolina Gynning, Helena af Sandeberg, Alexandra Dahlström, Marie Göranzon,
Olle Sarri
Print Source~Swedish Film Institute / gunnar.almer@sfi.se / www.sfi.se
About the Director~Jesper Ganslandt was born in Falkenberg, Sweden. He graduated
from Lund University with degrees in the History of Ideas and Philosophy. A
self-taught filmmaker, Ganslandt was our “Someone to Watch” director at the 34th
CIFF. Filmography~“Falkenberg Farewell” (2006)—30th CIFF, “The Film I’m No
Longer Talking About” (2009), “The Ape” (2009)—34th CIFF, BLONDIE (2012)
Brave Miss World
Directed by Cecilia Peck
USA, ISRAEL 2013
99 minutes
Thursday, April 11 Sunday, April 14
7:15 PM I Code BRAV11 12:20 PM I Code BRAV14
Linor Abargil, an Israeli beauty queen, was raped two months
before being crowned Miss World in 1998. Ten years later,
she’s ready to talk about it—and to encourage others to speak
out. Now a globe-trotting victims’ advocate, Linor encourages
people to stand against sexual violence by putting an end to
their silence. She travels to speak with teens in South Africa,
where girls are statistically more likely to be raped than educated.
She visits Princeton and UC Santa Barbara, where
women describe a campus culture that fails to take assaults
seriously. From Cleveland’s Rape Crisis Center to Hollywood’s
living rooms, Linor is met with emotional support. Yet when
she attends a celebrity rape trial that hits too close to home,
she suffers a breakdown. In searching for something to ease
her pain, Linor turns to Orthodox Judaism. For victims of sexual
assault, the journey toward wholeness never ends; still, Linor
Abargil, the BRAVE MISS WORLD, continues her unflinching
efforts to keep the nightmares at bay. (In English and Hebrew
and Italian with subtitles) —B.B.
Producers~Cecilia Peck, Inbal B. Lessner, Motty Reif Cinematography~
Uri Ackerman, Tamara Goldsworthy Editing~Inbal B. Lessner
Print Source~Linor Documentary, LLC / cecilia@linordocumentary.com /
www.linorspeaksout.com
About the Director~Cecilia Peck, a graduate of Princeton University, is drawn to
stories of individuals who stand up for their beliefs. She produced “A Conversation
with Gregory Peck,” an intimate portrait of her father, which premiered as a
Special Selection at the Cannes Film Festival. Filmography~“Shut Up & Sing”
(2006), BRAVE MISS WORLD (2013)
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