Program Guide - Cleveland International Film Festival

62 FILMS A – Z [C] The 37th Cleveland International Film Festival
PACIFIC PEARLS
10% CINEMA
The Coin Bearer
(Oros)
Directed by Paul Sta. Ana
PHILIPPINES 2012
81 minutes
Thursday, April 4 Friday, April 5
4:25 PM I Code COIN04 11:50 AM I Code COIN05
Wednesday, April 10
9:10 PM I Code COIN10
In the Philippines, where gambling is illegal, families of the
deceased are allowed to hold “sakla” games in order to make
money during weeks-long wakes. And, in a place where poverty
is prevalent, many take advantage of the license for personal
gain. Makoy and his reluctant brother Abet organize these
casino-style events using unclaimed cadavers, thus helping
out many of the impoverished families in the slums where they
live. Concocting stories of relationships for the bodies while
arranging mass fraud is their only source of income. And dodging
crime bosses and corrupt police is beginning to catch up
to the brothers as they struggle to coexist in a world where
anonymity is crucial and also elusive. Brilliantly acted and
daringly directed, THE COIN BEARER is an intense look at
the underbelly of a society for the desperate and a brave story
of two brothers who risk everything to provide for those with
nothing. Edge-of-your-seat drama and a haunting finale make
THE COIN BEARER one film you won’t be able to shake.
(In Filipino with subtitles) —T.W.
Producers~JD Beales, Joey Abacan, Joji Alonso Screenwriting~Paul Sta. Ana,
Obet Villela Cinematography~Rommel Sales Editing~Lawrence Fajardo
Principal Cast~Kristoffer King, Tanya Gomez, Kristofer Martin, Diva Montelaba
Print Source~Zapixel / jdbeales@gmail.com / www.zapixel.com
About the Director~Paul Sta. Ana graduated from Ateneo de Manila University
with a degree in Philosophy. He’s produced and directed several television specials
including “Project Runway Philippines” and has been nominated for several
awards for his writing and directing. Filmography~“Huling Pasada” (2008),
“Marino” (2009), THE COIN BEARER (2012)
The Comedian
Directed by Tom Shkolnik
UNITED KINGDOM 2012
80 minutes
Saturday, April 6 Sunday, April 7
6:20 PM I Code COME06 11:30 AM I Code COME07
“You know you’re gonna be all right?” is the last line in
Tom Shkolnik’s debut film about a thirty-something Londoner
attempting to get a grip on his life. While trying his hand at
stand-up comedy, Ed (played subtly by Edward Hogg) meets
Nathan on his way home. What begins as an honest assessment
of Ed’s awful comedy, turns into a romantic tryst and
burgeoning relationship. Ed is depressed about his job at a
call center and can’t seem to grasp the basic concepts of successful
comedy. But meeting Nathan has finally given him a
promising outlook on life. THE COMEDIAN is not a silly romp
through sex-crazed London; it is an intelligent depiction of a
young man searching for the identity that has eluded him for
his entire life. Utilizing an improvised script, the film gives an
honest and fresh look at the current crop of adults (“Reality
Bites” for the next generation) and their seemingly non-existent
place in the world. Ed soon realizes his love for his flatmate
Elisa. And his ever-drifting life sets off again on another freefall.
Excellently shot and wonderfully acted, THE COMEDIAN
may not be slap-stick comedy, but it reveals the pain hiding
inside all clowns and wayward jokers. —T.W.
Producers~Bertrand Faivre, Dan McCulloch Screenwriting~Tom Shkolnik
Cinematography~Benjamin Kračun Editing~Pierre Haberer Principal Cast~
Edward Hogg, Elisa Lasowski, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Steven Robertson, Jamie
Baughan
Print Source~Pascale Ramonda / pascale@pascaleramonda.com /
www.pascaleramonda.com
About the Director~Born in Israel in 1980, Tom Shkolnik moved to London in
2002 to train as a director at the Drama Centre London. Filmography~THE
COMEDIAN (2012)
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