Film Reminisces and Lust

It was -9 this morning, without the wind chill (some reports put that at -30) and it makes me want to sit in a dark theater and watch a screen with actors speaking a language I don't understand. Today, like many days in the dark winter, I checked the Minnesota Film Arts website to see if they've posted any news about the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival.

MFA has done no such thing but they have finally paid their bills to their URL licencer so their festival website is up once again. This just means I can look over last year's films and lust for the time when I can once again stand in long lines and sit in poorly cushioned seats and stop at Bruegger's for a bagel because I've only got fifteen minutes to get across town before the next film starts.

So here's a list of my 2007 Best-o-Fest. Some of these films never had an American release and some aren't yet available on DVD. The films are in no particular order.

Chariton's Choir
The Chinese Botanist's Daughter
Eagle vs. Shark
Four Minutes This one was my favorite of the fest. It received the Audience Favorite award and sadly isn't yet available in the United States on DVD.
The Great Match
Madeinusa is not for the faint of heart.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
The Magician (a quirky tale that you probably haven't seen about a Turkish magician)
Milk & Opium
Once Okay, this was my favorite film of the fest. It's been nominated for an Academy Award for one of the songs.
Paprika
Schnitzel Paradise
The Seagull Diner Also my favorite of the fest. By the director of another of my fest favorites from a previous year, Yoshino's Barber Shop.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Snow Cake
Ten Canoes It's a slow film, so don't watch when you're sleepy. I did and I fell asleep. But it is beautiful and meditative.
Made in Korea
Firefly I loved this locally-made sci-fi flick. But it isn't for everyone.
August the First
Waitress My favorite. Okay, I know, I can't have ten favorites but I do. And I won't rank them for you.
Sami This was shown after the fest because customs held it up. VERY interesting film about white indigenous people of the Arctic circle. I didn't know there were still white people who could be considered indigenous.