Being big film buffs is one of the things that bonded Agung and myself. We have always been very into indie movies and cult classics. It also just so happens that we love to visit film festivals. We’ve both been doing it for years, although separately. So imagine our excitement when we found out about our mutual interest. Quickly we planned to visit Europe on Screen together. There wasn’t an elaborate plan or anything, but it fell apart immediately anyway, because Agung ended up catching dengue fever instead. That was 2019. The next year, the pandemic hit.
Needless to say, film festivals in general got cancelled or held online afterwards. There was no screenings we could attend, to really feel the film festival experience in its entirety. We finally started our relationship and the whole world’s odds turned against us. While we planned to join these festivals online anyway, it just doesn’t feel the same as back in the day. Boy oh boy, we were happy to hear that Europe on Screen 2022 would finally be held (partially) offline in June. That’s how we spent the past two weekends.
Being big film buffs is one of the things that bonded Agung and myself. We have always been very into indie movies and cult classics. It also just so happens that we love to visit film festivals. We’ve both been doing it for years, although separately. So imagine our excitement when we found out about our mutual interest. Quickly we planned to visit Europe on Screen together. There wasn’t an elaborate plan or anything, but it fell apart immediately anyway, because Agung ended up catching dengue fever instead. That was 2019. The next year, the pandemic hit.
Needless to say, film festivals in general got cancelled or held online afterwards. There was no screenings we could attend, to really feel the film festival experience in its entirety. We finally started our relationship and the whole world’s odds turned against us. While we planned to join these festivals online anyway, it just doesn’t feel the same as back in the day. Boy oh boy, we were happy to hear that Europe on Screen 2022 would finally be held (partially) offline in June. That’s how we spent the past two weekends.
Day 1: Documentary
Better in Theory
The first film we saw had such an intriguing title, Dying to Divorce. When we read the synopsis, both of our interests were instantly piqued. The film follows Ipek, a lawyer and feminist activist who fights to protect Turkish women against abuse and murder, mostly perpetrated by their own husbands and/or ex-husbands. Their sin, according to these violent men, is the audacity to ask for a divorce—which is most bizarre, because the women tend to be child brides. Some of them suffer temporary but severe trauma, some are disabled permanently, and others even lose their lives.
While the subject matter is incredibly interesting, the documentary itself is sadly lackluster. It lacks structure to draw the audience in—everything feels all over the place. There were some parts that even feel irrelevant to the topic at hand as well. All in all, I’m glad I’ve learnt about this, but the film really isn’t memorable otherwise.
Day 1: Documentary
Better in Theory
The first film we saw had such an intriguing title, Dying to Divorce. When we read the synopsis, both of our interests were instantly piqued. The film follows Ipek, a lawyer and feminist activist who fights to protect Turkish women against abuse and murder, mostly perpetrated by their own husbands and/or ex-husbands. Their sin, according to these violent men, is the audacity to ask for a divorce—which is most bizarre, because the women tend to be child brides. Some of them suffer temporary but severe trauma, some are disabled permanently, and others even lose their lives.
While the subject matter is incredibly interesting, the documentary itself is sadly lackluster. It lacks structure to draw the audience in—everything feels all over the place. There were some parts that even feel irrelevant to the topic at hand as well. All in all, I’m glad I’ve learnt about this, but the film really isn’t memorable otherwise.
Day 2: An Artificial Love Story
The next day we contemplated between catching another film or sitting this one out. However, there was a German film that intrigued me playing that night called Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man). It tells the story of a woman who takes part in an experiment to live together with a humanoid robot, who has been programmed according to her personality and needs. The deal is for them to do so for a week, in order for her to get funding for her research. What got me even more intrigued is that the humanoid robot is played by Dan Stevens. Who knew he could speak German? Needless to say, we decided to go watch it.
It’s definitely a feel-good film for the most part. The comedy is also gold, which is rather rare for a German film. Perhaps Dan Stevens brought a British flair to his acting that wins the audience’s heart over, which is entirely without flaw. He played a wonderful android, which feels almost too good to be true. His German, on the other hand, feels a little too perfect, a little bit stiff—it’s technically correct, but without the culture and mannerisms of a native German speaker to make it feel organic and real. All in all, the film was enjoyable although its premise was stronger than its storyline.
Old top + boots // thrifted pants + jacket // Roti Eneng tote bag // photos by Agung
Day 2: An Artificial Love Story
The next day we contemplated between catching another film or sitting this one out. However, there was a German film that intrigued me playing that night called Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man). It tells the story of a woman who takes part in an experiment to live together with a humanoid robot, who has been programmed according to her personality and needs. The deal is for them to do so for a week, in order for her to get funding for her research. What got me even more intrigued is that the humanoid robot is played by Dan Stevens. Who knew he could speak German? Needless to say, we decided to go watch it.
It’s definitely a feel-good film for the most part. The comedy is also gold, which is rather rare for a German film. Perhaps Dan Stevens brought a British flair to his acting that wins the audience’s heart over, which is entirely without flaw. He played a wonderful android, which feels almost too good to be true. His German, on the other hand, feels a little too perfect, a little bit stiff—it’s technically correct, but without the culture and mannerisms of a native German speaker to make it feel organic and real. All in all, the film was enjoyable although its premise was stronger than its storyline.
Old top + boots // thrifted pants + jacket // Roti Eneng tote bag // photos by Agung
Day 3: Coming-of-the
-Flood-Gates
A week later, on the next weekend, Agung and I decided to catch just one film shown at the evening screening. It is the Irish film, Dating Amber. The film tells the story of two teenagers—a boy and a girl—who decide to start a fake relationship to get through high school together, even though both of them are gay. However, one of them refuses to acknowledge their true sexual orientation, while the other cannot wait to come out into the open.
This one made me cry—not just a tear on my cheek, but full on ugly sobs. It is set in mid-90’s Ireland, back when the LGBTQ+ issues are yet to be widely acknowledged, so it can lead to complications. It is so beautifully written and shot that you can feel along with the characters themselves—which is what drove me to tears in the first place. It really captures the struggle of being a (gay) teenager in the 90s very, very well. Honestly, one of the best films I’ve ever watched.
Online Screenings
1. Short Film Pitching Project 2021 Winners
A set of three short films made by local amateur filmmakers. They are Riwayat Ceti (What Ceti Does), Laki-laki dan Burung-burungnya (Men and Their Birds) and Bibir Merah Siapa yang Punya. My favourite is the first one.
A woman pretends to have a family to secure funding for her bakery. The story makes zero sense, the execution is rather poor but it still somehow leaves you feeling warm and gooey inside.
3. Années 20 (Roaring 20s) – France
A single continuous shot, following 24 characters roam through the streets of Paris in conversation. Interesting concept, brilliant execution, might lull you to sleep.
Day 3: Coming-of-the
-Flood-Gates
A week later, on the next weekend, Agung and I decided to catch just one film shown at the evening screening. It is the Irish film, Dating Amber. The film tells the story of two teenagers—a boy and a girl—who decide to start a fake relationship to get through high school together, even though both of them are gay. However, one of them refuses to acknowledge their true sexual orientation, while the other cannot wait to come out into the open.
This one made me cry—not just a tear on my cheek, but full on ugly sobs. It is set in mid-90’s Ireland, back when the LGBTQ+ issues are yet to be widely acknowledged, so it can lead to complications. It is so beautifully written and shot that you can feel along with the characters themselves—which is what drove me to tears in the first place. It really captures the struggle of being a (gay) teenager in the 90s very, very well. Honestly, one of the best films I’ve ever watched.
Online Screenings
1. Short Film Pitching Project 2021 Winners
A set of three short films made by local amateur filmmakers. They are Riwayat Ceti (What Ceti Does), Laki-laki dan Burung-burungnya (Men and Their Birds) and Bibir Merah Siapa yang Punya. My favourite is the first one.
A woman pretends to have a family to secure funding for her bakery. The story makes zero sense, the execution is rather poor but it still somehow leaves you feeling warm and gooey inside.
3. Années 20 (Roaring 20s) – France
A single continuous shot, following 24 characters roam through the streets of Paris in conversation. Interesting concept, brilliant execution, might lull you to sleep.
4. Une vie démente (Madly in Life) – Belgium
A young couple decided to finally have a baby…when the man’s mother is suddenly diagnosed with semantic dementia. They end up taking care of her, reversing the parent-child dynamics of their relationship. A pretty heavy topic, no doubt, but handled very beautifully—actually incredibly funny, to be honest. One of the best European films I’ve ever watched.
Aside from seeing the movies, one of the great perks of Europe on Screen is being able to visit cultural centers of various European countries. Needless to say, my favourite is obviously Goethehaus—German’s cultural center. Two out of three screenings that we attended were located here and I used this chance to visit their library as well. I’ve been meaning to create a membership here for a while, but the pandemic happened and it was only available online—searching for books on the shelves is half the fun, you know. Right away, I checked out two books: the first one is Imperium by Christian Kracht, which has been on my TBR for years, and the second one is Das Fräulein von Scuderi, a random graphic novel I might return before finishing (lol). So happy to touch German books again. I’m so going to take full advantage of this membership.
Did you watch Europe on Screen? Which one is your favourite film?
4. Une vie démente (Madly in Life) – Belgium
A young couple decided to finally have a baby…when the man’s mother is suddenly diagnosed with semantic dementia. They end up taking care of her, reversing the parent-child dynamics of their relationship. A pretty heavy topic, no doubt, but handled very beautifully—actually incredibly funny, to be honest. One of the best European films I’ve ever watched.
Aside from seeing the movies, one of the great perks of Europe on Screen is being able to visit cultural centers of various European countries. Needless to say, my favourite is obviously Goethehaus—German’s cultural center. Two out of three screenings that we attended were located here and I used this chance to visit their library as well. I’ve been meaning to create a membership here for a while, but the pandemic happened and it was only available online—searching for books on the shelves is half the fun, you know. Right away, I checked out two books: the first one is Imperium by Christian Kracht, which has been on my TBR for years, and the second one is Das Fräulein von Scuderi, a random graphic novel I might return before finishing (lol). So happy to touch German books again. I’m so going to take full advantage of this membership.
Did you watch Europe on Screen? Which one is your favourite film?