Top 5 film tips by Rastislav Steranka – our programme team member

A selection of films by Rastislav Steranka, member of the programme team.

Das Teufels Bad / The Devil’s Bath
Directed by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

Austria, 18th century. Villages deep in the woods. A woman is sentenced to death for killing a baby. Agnes marries her beloved, thoroughly and sincerely prepares herself for married life. Soon, however, her head and heart begin to grow heavy. Day by day, she is increasingly trapped on a dark and lonely path leading to evil thoughts. Perhaps not only to thoughts…

The Grey Zone

Directed by Daniela Meressa Rusnoková

The documentary tells through the intimate confession of a mother (who is a surrogate voice of several mothers and their real stories) about the often traumatic reality of premature birth, special care for an immature newborn or later a child with special needs or handicaps.

Antiviral

Directed by Brandon Cronenberg

A dystopian world in which celebrity obsession has become a religion. A 24-hour TV broadcast constantly feeds viewers intimate information about current celebrities. Fans have never been so close to their darlings. If you have the money, a special clinic will infect you with the same virus your idol has. A connection on a biological level. Syd March is an employee of the Lucas Clinic, which sells live viruses and pathogens obtained from infected celebrities. He also makes a living on the black market – smuggling illegal virus samples in his own body and supplying them to pirate groups. In one such transmission, he becomes infected with an unknown, deadly virus.

Nu astepta prea mult de la sfârsitul lumii / Do Not Expect Too Much of the End of the World

Directed by Radu Jude

Angela, a sophisticated production assistant, is constantly on the move. She drives her car around Bucharest to film casting rehearsals for an upcoming corporate video on workplace safety, commissioned by a multinational company ostensibly to raise awareness among employees about the dangers that can lead to workplace accidents. Angela meets Marian, a partially paralyzed worker who gets a role in the video. When Marian reveals on camera that his work accident is the result of the company’s negligence, it causes a scandal. He has to invent a new story to fit the company’s narrative.

Oameni de treaba / Men of Deeds

Directed by Paul Negoescu

Ilie, a small-town police chief, wants to live a modest and comfortable life, but he doesn’t make the right choices. He is middle-aged, he has no one. He feels the need to be part of something that will be left behind – to have an orchard, his own house. All sorts of shady things start happening in the village, but Ilie sees only what he wants. The moment he finally gets involved in the village marks the beginning of the end. In the vacuum of resolution, he tries to be what he has never been before – a champion of justice who will punish anyone who breaks the law.