Strange Way of Life, by Pedro Almodovar
Twenty years after refusing to direct Memories of Brokeback Mountain (2005), Pedro Almodóvar (All About My Mother, Volver) offered a half-hour queer western about the relationship between two men. The short film was not presented in the official competition.
In 1910, Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke) receives a visit from his old love, Silva (Pedro Pascal). They spend an orgiastic night, in the words of Pedro Almodóvar. But this reunion hides other reasons: Jake is on the search for Silva’s son who has committed a crime while Silva tries to convince his lover to let him escape.
The 73-year-old filmmaker explained during a conference that this short film was born out of a Brokeback Mountain-inspired idea, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film told about the homosexual relationship of two shepherds in a mountainous region of the United States: what would have happened if these men had stayed together?
This is the discussion of two lovers who have completely different reactions to an orgy night. These two facets were understood very well by both of them.
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Monsters, by Hirokazy Kore-eda
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (A Family Tale), winner of the Palme d’Or in 2018, suggested Monster featured in the Official Selection. This is a school bullying drama told from the point of view of the teacher and then his student.
The filmmaker relied on a screenplay by Yuji Sakamoto, which depicts events from multiple perspectives, allowing the characters’ humanity to emerge more clearly.
The story offers an opportunity to learn a little more each time, but still we never have a completely clear idea of what is happening. According to Hirokazu Kore-eda, it really immerses us in the film and creates a kind of suspense.
The director’s goal? Make the audience wonder who the monster among his characters really is.
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