Navigating the expansive lineup of the London Film Festival can be daunting, transforming initial enthusiasm into uncertainty. To help you sift through the myriad offerings, we’ve curated a list of 20 standout films from the festival’s themed, non-gala strands. This selection includes titles we’ve previously discovered at other festivals, as well as those that have piqued our interest and deserve attention.
A Fidai Film
Strand: Experimenta
In 1982, during the Israeli invasion of Beirut, the army raided the Palestinian Research Centre, seizing a trove of archival footage. Kamal Aljafari’s latest project, an experimental film, intricately combines this lost and reclaimed footage, offering a poetic reflection on Palestinian life before and after the 1948 Nakba. This work serves as a cinematic act of defiance against a history marked by visual erasure.
Manji
Strand: Treasures
While the Treasures section may be smaller this year, it features a notable restoration of Yasuzô Masumura’s 1967 melodrama. This sexploitation film follows two women entangled in a forbidden affair, leading them into a web of chaos, all presented in vivid color on a grand widescreen format.
Collective Monologue
Strand: Documentary
Jessica Sarah Rinland’s film takes viewers on a journey through various zoos and animal sanctuaries in Argentina. By adopting an animal’s viewpoint, the documentary explores emotional connections that transcend species barriers, inviting a deeper understanding of animal lives and experiences.
Small Hours of the Night
Strand: Experimenta
Daniel Hui’s docu-fiction uses haunting 16mm cinematography to evoke key moments in Singapore’s troubled history. The minimalist approach centers on a woman trapped in an interrogation room, skillfully utilizing light and shadow to enhance the narrative’s emotional weight.
Julie Keeps Quiet
Strand: Debate
This psychodrama, directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, follows a young tennis player torn between exposing her abusive coach and jeopardizing her career. Ruth Becquart delivers a powerful performance, co-writing a narrative that balances moral ambiguity with the pressures of ambition.
Youth (Homecoming)
Strand: Debate
In this second installment of his exploration of China’s low-wage textile industry, Wang Bing continues his observational style. Instead of offering overt political commentary, he presents a candid look at young workers striving for better livelihoods within a restrictive economic framework.
Grand Tour
Strand: Love
Miguel Gomes returns with a whimsical tale set in Southeast Asia, where a groom leaves his bride at the altar, prompting her to chase after him. The film reflects on romantic notions of colonialism and challenges how stories are traditionally told.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Strand: Debate
Göran Olsson’s extensive documentary employs decades of Swedish archival footage to unravel the complex media narratives surrounding Palestine’s occupation. This three-and-a-half-hour film meticulously examines how these portrayals have shaped public understanding over the years.
Collective Summoning
Strand: Experimenta
This collection features three innovative short films—Noor Abed’s A Night We Held Between, Komtouch Napattaloong’s No Exorcism Film, and Maryam Tafakory’s Razeh-del. The films explore themes of ritual, myth, and national history, aiming to foster a sense of solidarity across diverse cultures.
Universal Language
Strand: Laugh
Canadian director Matthew Rankin’s film is a surreal homage to the Iranian New Wave, set in a whimsical blend of Winnipeg and Tehran. The plot follows a young girl on a quest to retrieve a banknote found frozen in ice, delving into themes of culture and community.
The Ballad of Suzanne Cesaire
Strand: Experimenta
In this tribute to Suzanne Césaire, an influential Afro-Surrealist, Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich crafts a heartfelt, unconventional narrative that highlights her artistic legacy. The film defies traditional storytelling, offering a dreamlike exploration of a life dedicated to anti-colonialism.
The Sealed Soil
Strand: Treasures
Marva Nabili’s debut feature from 1977 is a pivotal restoration, representing the earliest known Iranian film directed by a woman. It tells the story of a young woman challenging societal expectations as she approaches marriage, addressing themes of resistance against patriarchal norms.
Chain Reactions
Strand: Cult
Swiss filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe examines the legacy of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in this documentary, featuring insights from filmmakers, journalists, and scholars. It provides a thoughtful analysis of the horror genre’s evolution over the last five decades.
The Wailing
Strand: Cult
Described as a Spanish version of It Follows, Pedro Martín-Calero’s psychological horror centers on a woman’s unsettling search for her biological mother, intertwining her quest with a series of eerie and unexpected events.
Eephus
Strand: Journey
This charming film explores the culture surrounding baseball through a diverse group of players who come together for one last game before their field is demolished. It touches on themes of camaraderie and nostalgia, appealing even to those unfamiliar with the sport.
Abiding Nowhere
Strand: Create
Renowned Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang returns to his “Walker” series, featuring his longtime collaborator Lee Kang-sheng. Dressed in orange monk robes, Lee moves slowly through various landscapes, creating a meditative experience that blurs the line between reality and performance.
I’m Still Here
Strand: Special Presentation
Walter Salles’ first narrative film in over a decade tells the story of Rubens Paiva, a former congressman who was forcibly disappeared by a military regime. Focused on the resilience of his mother, Eunice, played by Fernanda Torres, the film offers a poignant exploration of memory and resistance.
The Treasury of Human Inheritance
Strand: Experimenta
This program features three poetic short films alongside Alexis Kyle Mitchell’s abstract essay on the ‘lived body’. Each work delves into themes of care, community, and resilience, highlighting the importance of connection in times of crisis.
Harvest
Strand: Special Presentation
Athina Rachel Tsangari’s debut English-language film critiques industrialization’s impact on nature. Set in a medieval village, the narrative examines themes of community and capitalism, beautifully enhanced by striking cinematography and a compelling performance by Caleb Landry Jones.
The Stimming Pool
Strand: Create
This innovative project, part of The Neurocultures Collective, empowers neurodiverse artists to share their creative voices. Director Steven Eastwood crafts a visceral experience that invites viewers into the mind of an autistic artist, blending literal and metaphorical representations of their unique perspective.
This selection offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of stories and voices featured at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival, highlighting works that challenge conventions and invite viewers into new realms of understanding.