AIDOL
In a futuristic gaming world, superstar pursues comeback. Geomancer sequel plays with ideas on AI, fame and the power of megacorporations.
83'
United Kingdom
IFFR 2020
'Dwelling in the Funchun Mountains' was originally the title of a legendary, 15th-century scroll by painter Huang Gongwang. Gu Xiaogang's calm, yet captivating debut was also visually inspired by the constrained humanism of Taiwanese masters such as Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien. Like a scroll which can only be seen bit by bit, the 150-minute film depicts a year in the life of the Yu Family (grandmother, four sons and all their children and dependents) in Fuyang, providing a panoramic view of the many societal changes affecting Chinese provincial towns.
Gu used personal loans to start filming in his home town before the indie start-up Factory Gate joined in. The complexity and consistent production design are all the more surprising, given the fact that the maker has never been to film school. His choice to solely use non-professionals as his cast is entirely convincing.
IFFR 2020
Programme IFFR 2020
Representing the cutting edge of contemporary feature-length filmmaking, a selection of emerging talent working with original subject matter and an individual style.
Read more about this programmeIn a futuristic gaming world, superstar pursues comeback. Geomancer sequel plays with ideas on AI, fame and the power of megacorporations.
83'
United Kingdom
IFFR 2020
Air conditioners mysteriously fall from buildings in the Angolan capital. Pleasantly free film with a great soundtrack.
72'
Angola
IFFR 2020
Entrancing underwater footage of cenotes, or holy springs, in Yucatan, Mexico. Long-lost memories echo in a hallucinatory game of light and dark.
75'
Japan
IFFR 2020