Under the Volcano directed by Damian Kocur
Poland’s entry to the International Oscars
International Oscars Contenders
by Alexa DalbyUnder the Volcano
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
A Ukrainian family are holidaying in Tenerife. When they go to the airport to return to Kiev on their last day, they discover their flight is cancelled as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Overnight, everything changes: they cease to be holidaymakers and become refugees, like the Africans they see on TV, even though they can continue to stay in the same seaside hotel, where they encounter Russian families daily. A day trip to a volcano is a potent symbol.
The cast:
Sofia Berezovska … Sofia
Roman Lutskyi … Roma
Anastasiya Karpenk … Nastia
Fedir Pugachov … Fedir
La Luna directed by M Raihan Halim
Singapore’s entry to the International Oscars
La Luna
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Set in a traditional Malaysian village, the imam and villagers are scandalised at first by the opening of a lingerie shop. It soon becomes a safe haven for women – men are forbidden to enter.
Billed as a comedy, this is questionable, as the film’s underlying very serious themes are the battle between Muslim tradition and modern society, domestic violence, attitudes to women and women’s independence. There’s much more to it than it appears at first.
The cast:
Shaheizy Sam
Sharifah Amani
Wan Hanafi Su
