Keep The Lights On
Official Selection
Panorama
Teddy Award
Keep The Lights On
A Film by Ira Sachs
2012 - USA - Drama - 102 min.
The story chronicles an emotionally and sexually charged journey of two men in New York City through love, friendship, and addiction. Documentary filmmaker Erik and closeted lawyer Paul meet through a casual encounter, but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. Individually and together, they are risk takers — compulsive, and fueled by drugs and sex. In an almost decade-long relationship defined by highs, lows, and dysfunctional patterns, Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries and dignity while being true to himself.
Official Selection
Panorama
Teddy Award
More Films
She, A Chinese
A film by Xiaolu Guo
2010 - France/Germany/United Kingdom - Drama - 1.85 DCP - 98 min.
She, A Chinese tells the story of, a young Chinese woman, MEI, who leaves her monotonous village life behind for the excitement of the nearest big city, Chongqing. However, life there doesn't quite turn out as she expected it; fired from her factory job, she falls in love with SPIKEY, a hit man whose own past soon catches up with him. A spur of the moment decision takes Mei to London, where she marries an elderly man, MR HUNT. A new life begins for Mei, trapped in the silence of Mr Hunt's house, alienated and bored. Her frustration at life with Mr Hunt leads Mei into an affair with RACHID, an Indian immigrant who runs a local take away restaurant, and she moves into the backroom of the restaurant to live with him. Rachid decides to return to his own country, leaving Mei pregnant and alone, facing an uncertain future.
Charlatan
A film by Agnieszka Holland
2020 - Czech Republic/Ireland/Poland/Slovakia - Drama - 2.35 - 118 min.
Inspired by the true story of herbalist Jan Mikolasek, who dedicated his life to caring for the sick in spite of the immense obstacles he faced in his private and public life. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mikolasek wins fame and fortune using unorthodox treatment methods to cure a wide range of diseases. Already a local institution in Czechoslovakia before World War II, the healer gains in reputation and wealth whether during the Nazi occupation or under the Communist rule. One after the other, every regime will want to use his skills and in return gives him protection. But how high shall be the costs to maintain this status as the tide turns?
The River
A film by Emir Baigazin
2018 - Kazakhstan/Norway/Poland - Drama - 2.39 - 108 min.
A family with five sons lives in a remote Kazakh village. In accordance with the Eastern tradition, the eldest son Aslan (13) becomes the Father's deputy, in charge of all the work, and delegating the tasks. One day Aslan takes his brothers to the River for a swim - a moment of deep happiness. From then on, life is different. And when Kanat, an unknown cousin, unexpectedly arrives at the village, the structured life of the family begins to fall apart for good.