Film

Visions Of Europe (2004)

Director: Fatih Akin, Barbara Albert, Sharunas Bartas, Andy Bausch, Christoffer Boe, Francesca Comencini, Stijn Coninx, Tony Gatlif, Sasa Gedeon, Christos Georgiou, Constantine Giannaris, Theo van Gogh, Peter Greenaway, Miguel Hermoso, Arvo Iho, Aki Kaurismäki, Damjan Kozole, Laila Pakalnina, Kenneth Scicluna, Martin Sulík, Malgorzata Szumowska, Béla Tarr, Jan Troell, Teresa Villaverde, Aisling Walsh

Movie review

From Time Out London

Inevitably uneven, this compendium has 25 filmmakers – one from each of the 25 member-states of the EU – reflecting, any way they please, on how the Union might affect life in their own respective countries. Best by far are those by fairly established directors: Bélà Tarr’s endless Hungarian food-queue, Malgosia Szumowska’s droll tale of a remote crucifix at a Polish crossroads, Barbara Albert’s wry evocation of a divided Austria, Aki Kaurismäki’s tribute to traditional Portuguese (!) customs; Peter Greenaway’s three-colour shower; and Sasa Gedeon’s diplomatic stab at the Czech national anthem. The Benelux countries are generally the most disappointing, and a Maltese entry the most pleasingly cheeky surprise.

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