By 
By Roger Costa
MARFA GIRL 2
Two decades after his internationally acclaimed “Kids”, photographer/director Larry Clark returns with another investigation on teen dilemmas, as they seek freedom through sex, drugs and distorted relationships. In a complete different landscape, his lenses land in a small countryside, turbulent town in Texas, following the conflicts between a young man who returns home after being released from jail, and his brother who’s been struggling to commit to his premature parenthood duties. As both boys try to get back on track, they are constantly inclined to the trends of violence, easy money and discontentment. Having extraordinary actors at his favor, Clark explores the sensuality, vulnerability and endurance of his cast, composing compelling softcore explicit sex-scenes while painting a mosaic of America’s dysfunctional young generation. Raw, impressive and somehow bizarre, the film seeks through chaos and decadence, a way of reconstructing their lives. (Breaking Glass Pictures. 11/2. Cinema Village.)
BURNING
Almost a decade after his Cannes-winning “Poetry”, South Korean director Chang-dong Lee returns with this fascinating, sexy and enigmatic thriller. A study on the fragility, ambitions and desires of three young people looking for success and accomplishment, as well as love, it follows the naive, isolated worker Jong-su as he crosses path with a longtime friend, who seduces him and becomes involved in a love triangle, packed with imaginary cats, job interviews, sexual encounters, dark secrets and harmful hobbies. When the girl goes missing, he starts an investigation of his own, where everyone is a suspect. Delicately shot, yet powerful, director Lee creates visually-arresting, poetically ecstatic detailed images (the camera moves to the sunlight over the wall during a sex scene; after smoking a joint, and contemplating the border the girl dances over the sunset, and so on), demonstrating his electrifying sensibility and perception. Hypnotizing! (Well Go USA. 11/1. Film Society of Lincoln Center.)
THE GRIEF OF OTHERS
Patrick Wang’s new film delves deep inside the desperation and unbalanced emotions of a family dealing with the death of a 3-days-old baby. Based on the novel by Leah Hager Cohen (who penned the script along with the director), it depicts each member’s drama with a darkly melancholic tone, an affective dramatic skill that resonates influences of Bergman. Nominated for the Best Feature Award at SXSW Film Festival, and an acclaimed selection at Cannes, Wang fearlessly conducts the tragedy with immediacy and precise control of his actors’ edgy confrontations. (In the Family LLC. 11/2. Village East Cinema.)
WILDLIFE
Paul Dano’s directorial debut is an impressive examination on family affairs and finances, and an admirably affecting coming of age story. It is told through the perspective of a teen, who observes his parents’ behavior in order to shape his own; He naturally observes their emotions of joy and sorrow, and their sudden separation. One of the most Awards-buzzed films of the season, Dano builds up an intense and heartwarming drama with stunning performances by the entire cast, Jake Gyllenhall as the anguished and proud father, Ed Oxenbould in a breakthrough role as the son, and Carey Mulligan who steals the film, giving a tour-de-force personification of a woman searching for maturity. An acclaimed selection at Cannes, Sundance, Zurich and Toronto, it’s a well produced, crowd-pleasing, very efficient debut. (IFC Films. 11/1. Film Society of Lincoln Center.)
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