DIR: Mounia Akl
COUNTRY: Lebanon, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Qatar
LANGUAGES: Arabic with subtitles
GENRES: Drama, Environmental, Political
The free-spirited Badri family has escaped the toxic pollution of Beirut by seeking refuge in a utopic mountain home they have built. Their idyllic life comes abruptly to a halt when, unexpectedly, the neighboring land is requisitioned and an illegal landfill is built just beyond their fence. The garbage and corruption of a whole country has arrived on their doorstep. As the trash rises, so do tensions as the family is divided between those who want to remain and resist at all costs and those who are desperate to escape. Anchored by exceptional performances led by Nadine Labaki (Capernaum) and Saleh Bakri (The Band’s Visit), this stirring family drama lends credence to the adage that all politics is personal.
More information: Catalan Films
The Odd-Job Men (Sis dies corrents)
DIR: Neus Ballús
COUNTRY: Spain
LANGUAGES: Berber, Catalan, Spanish
GENRES: Comedy, Social Commentary
In this wry and thoroughly charming yarn, a trio of real-life plumbers play three handymen who spend six comically tense days in one another’s company. With long-term crony Pep’s impending retirement, bullheaded Valero is assigned a new partner, and Moroccan immigrant Moha, is determined to make a good impression. As the group travels to service calls along the outskirts of Barcelona, Valero can’t help but be put off by Moha — but is it his ethnicity or his easy rapport with the clients that bothers Valero more? Equal parts sit-com and droll character study, The Odd-Job Men deftly deploys humor to raise thoughtful questions about damaging masculine stereotypes and people’s capacity to change.
More information: Catalan Films
