2010 Windows on Europe Film Festival 

FILMS (by country)

Daens (Belgium) 1993. Nominated for an Academy Award, this moving drama is set in the 1890s and tells the story of Father Adolf Daens, a Catholic Priest who strives to improve the miserable working conditions and exploitation of child labour in the factories in Aalst, Belgium. It tells of his struggle to overcome adversity and his choice between two callings, as priest and as champion of the workers. A winner of multiple Awards. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland

Shivachki (Seamstresses) (Bulgaria) 2007. Looking for employment and better prospects, three young girls flee their hometown and arrive in Sofia seeking a better future. While trying to survive, they face the harsh realities of life which threatens to break their innocence. One girl becomes the love-toy of a pimp, and prompted by her seeming betrayal, the second girl becomes involved in a love triangle and attempts suicide, while the third puts up a courageous struggle for the two friends' redemption. A story of love, friendship and courage. A winner of two international festival awards in 2008. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

Meli kai krasi (Honey and Wine) (Cyprus) 2006. In his feature film debut, Marinos Kartikkis takes us on a journey following the life of Eleni who lives alone and is haunted by memories from her past. Her solitary life, however, is disrupted when she witnesses a disagreement between a young couple in the neighbouring house. Following the argument, she receives an unexpected visit by Rea, the young woman involved in the fight who has locked herself out of the house wants to use her phone. Thus begins a relationship between the two women with unforeseen consequences for both of them. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland

Tobruk (Czech Republic) 2008. 102 minutes - WWII Drama. Tobruk is the story of of Jiri and Jan, two Czech soldiers, battling alongside the allied forces against the Germans, during World War II in Tobruk, Libya. Their nemesis is Corporal Kohák, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, for whom warfare is, above all, a profession. The psychological drama between these three characters, their differing attitudes and personalities, are brought into confrontation creating a harsh test of their moral character. A multiple award winner in the Czech Republic including Best Cinematography, Best Musical Composition and Best Director. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

Katastrofin Aineksia ( Recipes for Disaster) (Finland) 2008. 85 minutes - documentary. Winner of the Best Documentary Film at the 2009 Jussi Awards, Katastrofin Aineskia shows that at the core of the impending climate catastrophe are those little failures that we as individuals make every day and which are so much a part of human nature that often lead to disaster. This film shows thirteen of these little recipes for disaster as it follows the life of a family that tries to live a full year using only green products and services. Its Awards include the Jussi prize for Best Documentary Film and Best Film in 2009. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco ) ( France ) 2008. 95 minutes - comedy/drama. A brilliant and neurotic attorney goes to Monaco to defend a 70 year-old local socialite accused of murder. But, no matter how old, successful or powerful you are and no matter how much in command of your life you may be - love and sex can still make a complete idiot out of you, under the right (or wrong) circumstances. Hopefully, his zealous bodyguard will step in and put everything back in order... or will he? Nominated for César Awards for Best Supporting Actor and promising new talent. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

A Friend of Mine ( Germany ) 2006 84 minutes - comedy/drama. In an effort to help Karl discover his true potential, his boss sends him off on a fact finding mission in the company's car rental branch. Here Karl meets the dynamic go-getter Hans when he goes undercover as a driver at the rental company so he can secretly monitor the inner workings of the business. Karl becomes immersed in Hans' world of fast cars, fun and friends - a world which includes Stelle, Hans' Cleopatra, the woman he loves and intends to marry. It is a comedy about discovering love and the zaniness of friendship. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland

The Homecoming ( Greece ) 2007 97 minutes - drama. Winning the 2007 Fipresci Award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, The Homecoming is a drama centred around Petro - a handsome young Albanian who is employed by a couple (an older man and his younger wife) following their return to their home in central Greece. We are taken on a journey through the perspective of the wife, as the lonely, still attractive woman finds a fellow soulmate in the handsome Albanian. Their cautious, incremental relationship, under the stern eyes of the autocratic Ilias, is beautifully written and played right up to the tragic ending! Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

A Nyomozó (The Investigator) ( Hungary ) 2008. 107 minutes - comedy/drama/thriller This multi-award winning film tells the story of precise and silent, Tibor Malkáv - your average 37 year-old man, who though not rich, leads a comfortable and uncomplicated life. All this changes when he finds out his mother is dying of cancer and the cost of surgery is well beyond his means. A one-eyed man known as the Cyclops offers Tibor a solution to his financial woes, however, there is a catch and Tibor has to kill someone in return. What follows is a chain reaction that has long lasting and unexpected results. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

Alles is Liefde (Love is All) (The Netherlands ) 2007. 110 minutes - comedy/romance. Winning a multitude of awards, including two Golden Calves for best feature film Alles is LiefdeI follows the life of Klaasje who, folllowing her husband's infidelity with their son's teacher, falls for a teenage Don Juan. Her best friend Simone seems happy with her own husband but her tenacious pursuit for perfection is beginning to take its toll on the marriage. Kiki is in love too, and enjoying her fling with Prince Valentijn, the most eligible prince within the Dutch royal family. Kees, an undertaker, and lifeguard Victor are in love. They intend to get married soon, but now Kees seems to be holding back. All the story-lines within this romantic comedy are somehow interlinked. But sooner or later, every character ends up meeting Jan, our hero , who, in his role of deus ex machina, sees to it that in the end love conquers all. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland

Mala Moskwa (Little Moscow ) ( Poland ) 2008. 114 minutes - drama/history/romance Taking out the Best Actress and the Golden Lion Award at the Polish Film Festival, Mala Moskwa takes us back to the Cold War where, a young Soviet officer and a local Polish woman are drawn together by music. Mala Moskwa revolves around the love story between the Russian wife of a Soviet military pilot and a young Polish lieutenant. Viera and Michal meet in 1967 in Legnica, the Polish city with the largest Russian army, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. The story inexorably leads to tragedy as Vera desperately tries to stop herself from falling in love with Michal. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

Cristóvão Colombo o Enigma' (Christopher Columbus, the Enigma) (Portugal) 2007. 75 minutes - drama/history. Inspired by the book 'Cristovão Colon era Português' and winning the 'Il Bisato d'Oro' /Golden Medal at the Venice International Film Festival, we are taken on a journey with Manuel Luciano who follows his passion to discover the true identity of Christopher Columbus. Accompanied by his wife, he visits the places linked to the Portuguese discoveries, both in Portugal and in the United States in an attempt to unveil the mystery that has fascinated him since his youth. He is now very close to revealing the truth. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

Hector ( Spain ) 2004. 112 minutes - drama. With 9 wins and 12 nominations, this award winning film takes us on a journey with Héctor who, following the death of his mother, moves from his family home to a small flat on the outskirts of Madrid to live with his aunt. Trying to come to terms with a different lifestyle, his life is again thrown into chaos with the arrival of his long lost father whom he has never met. A very touching film from Director Gracia Querejeta which portrays the problems of a family in which the father figure is missing. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland

The Swimsuit Issue ( Sweden ) 2009, 100 minutes - comedy The Swimsuit Issue is an underdog comedy about male friendship, sexism and difficult family relations. After a wild bachelor party and an excruciating defeat in floor ball, Fredrik, an out-of-work, over the hill, would-be athlete discovers his passion and talent for synchronized swimming. He soon dreams of competing with his friends for the gold as Sweden 's only male team at the world championship in Berlin . The only problem is that despite their newfound enthusiasm and passion for the pool, none of the guys swim well, neither do they know the first thing about performing - other than what they've seen Esther Williams do. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne

The Age of Stupid ( United Kingdom ) 2009. 50 Minutes - documentary. The Age of Stupid is a drama-documentary-animation hybrid from director Fanny Armstrong and starring Oscar nominated Pete Postlethwaite as a man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching archive footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance? A very powerful film which has been used by the Department for Energy and Climate Change in support of their climate change activity. Shown in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne