Special programme of culture and music documentaries "A Structural World"

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: LIFE THROUGH A LENS
CASTELLS
GLASS: A PORTRAIT OF PHILIP IN TWELVE PARTS
HOME - SIGUR ROS / HEIMA – SIGUR ROS 
THE RED ELVIS / DER ROTE ELVIS
SCOTT WALKER – 30TH CENTURY MAN
STILL ALIVE – A FILM ABOUT KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKIST / STILL ALIVE – FILM O KRZYSTOFIE KIESLOWSKIM
STRANGE CULTURE
YOUNG YAKUZA

The special programme of culture and music documentaries of 11th BNFF carries the title “A Structural World”. Under that denominator we have gathered films that observe and document both fascinating cultural constructs and persona’s whether the field being photography, cinema, traditional culture, music or freedom of speech. Hopefully will these magnificent films inspire the viewer to elaborate on the relationships of internal and external elements, form and content, phenomena and it’s surrounding society.

An up-and-coming German director Gereon Wetzel has brought us “Castells”, an award winning captivating study of the national sports of the Catalan region - building of 10 meter high human structures. Wetzel has succeeded to make his subjects forget the camera and that paves the way to adrenaline filled and captivating portrait of the victories and defeats of bold faced Catalans.
The selection of music documentaries features three remarkable works. Stephen Kijak’s “Scott Walker-30th Century Man”, blending cinematic language, VJ arts and animation, is a fascinatig dive into the surreal inner-space one of the greatest shapers of pop music, a reclusive singer and composer Scott Walker who’s work is praised by David Bowie, Brian Eno and alike. Australian veteran Scott Hick paints a rather intimated and etude driven picture of the genius of “structuralist music”, Philip Glass. Rock fans however will be carried away by “Heima”, a mysterious journey on the Nordic landscapes with the soundtrack of a living Icelandic legend Sigur Ros, that has been praised by critics and audiences as the music documentary of the year.

The programme sheds also some light into the shadow-world of the society. “Young Yakuza” depicts fascinatingly the everyday of yakuza, the members Japanese Mafia, who dwell between public acceptance and official despise. Lynn Hershman Leeson’s “Strange Culture” is in contrary a must-see for activists demonstrating how easily can an individual find him or herself on the mercy of terrorist fear driven authorities.

In addition “A Structural life” features a range of other acknowledgeable works that will be definitely a source of great pleasure. To conclude I hope however, that the special programme that debuted with immense success last year, will evolve into a continuing tradition and a enjoyable addition to the rest of the festival.

Have a nice glimpse of the “Structural Life”!

Sten Saluveer
Programme Coordinator