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Zurich Film Festival Films Reviews: Charter, The Father, Beyto

Feature Film in competition 

We watched the Swedish/Danish/Norwegian Drama CHARTER  and we enjoyed the film very much. The film is competing for a Golden Eye Award in the Feature Films category.

Summary:
A mother has lost custody of her two children, which she misses dearly. She takes them on a one week vacation to the Canary Island without the father’s approval. The film shows the tragic emotions of a mother trying to bond again with her children, which she had once abandoned. Will her children accept her again? Will the trip bring the trio closer together?

The acting is superb. One feels the pain this family is going through. The mother repeatedly asks the kids if they would not prefer coming back to her. She is worried for their well-being. Is her ex-husband a bad father? We just wish there would be a second part to this powerful story.

CHARTER – Credit photo ZFF

Upcoming screenings at ZFF:

Sat. 26. Sep. 13:45 Corso 2
Tue. 29. Sep. 15:45 Corso 2
Thu. 01. Oct. 20:30** Kosmos 6
Sun. 04. Oct. 20:30 Corso 2

In attendance of
** Special “Soundtrack Zurich” Screening with Live-commentary by the film’s composer Kristian Eidnes Andersen (English, without subtitles)
Online Q&A
* Amanda Kernell (Director)

Cast: Ane Dahl Torp, Sverrir Gudnason, Tintin Poggats Sarri, Troy Lundkvist

Gala Premiere

THE FATHER

We watched the French/UK drama film from Florian Zeller and can highly recommend it. The film is based on his theatre play and is a Europa Premiere here at the Zurich Film Festival.

Summary: 
Anthony has dementia and refuses any kind of caretaking in his London apartment except from his daughter, Anne. Anne has to find a solution for her dad before her move to Paris. The difficult situation is affecting her greatly and she doesn´t know what to do for her father, whose memory is getting worse daily. 
 
The acting is brilliant. The two protagonists are played by two remarkable actors, Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.
 
The film won´t keep you indifferent and it gives a shocking insight into dementia. We like the way the director mixes funny moments into the scenario. We constantly wonders what is true or not.
 

The father – credit photo ZFF

Next screenings:

Sat. 26. Sep. 20:30* Corso 1 sold out
Sun. 27. Sep. 15:45 Arthouse Le Paris
Sat. 03. Oct. 18:45 Arthouse Le Paris
Online Q&A
* Special Gala / Golden Eye Award: Live stream with Olivia Colman (Cast). In attendance of Florian Zeller (Director), Philippe Carcassonne (Producer), Christophe Spadone (Producer)

Director: Florian Zeller
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell, Olivia Williams

Focus

The World Premiere BEYTO is a Swiss drama film, which we enjoyed watching. It is competing in the section Focus. In this section are Swiss, German and Austrian films.

Gitta Gsell is a female Swiss film director, who is also a scriptwriter and director of theatre performances.

Beyto credit photo ZFF

Summary:

Beyto lives in Zurich and is in love with his swimming trainer, Mike. When his Turkish parents find out their son may be gay they make the decision to bring him to Turkey. They will marry during the Summer holidays. When Beyto realizes what his parents are planning, he tries to stop the wedding.

Having to do your coming out can be difficult enough but imagine having to do so in Turkey? What will happen after Beyto marries? Will his new wife accept his gay lover? Will Mike accept what Beyto has done or will he feel betrayed?

We got attached to the actors playing Beyto (Burak Ates), Mike (Dimitri Stapfer) and Beyto´s young bride Seher (Ecem Aydin), even if she comes rather late into the film.

Production Lomotion AG / Co-Production Sulaco Film GmbH (Basel)

Next screenings:
Sun. 27. Sep. 15:15** Filmpodium sold out
Tue. 29. Sep. 18:15*** Kosmos 6 sold out
Fri. 02. Oct. 13:15**** Kosmos 1

In attendance of

** Gitta Gsell (Director), Burak Ates (Cast), Ecem Aydin (Cast)
*** Gitta Gsell (Director), Louis Mataré (Producer), Magdalena Welter (Producer), Ecem Aydin (Cast)
**** Gitta Gsell (Director), Louis Mataré (Producer), Magdalena Welter (Producer), Burak Ates (Cast), Ecem 

Languages: Swiss German, Turkish
Subtitles: German, English

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