By 
By Roger Costa
The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York hosts the annual Panorama Europe 2017, a unique film festival gathering undiscovered gems through a diverse selection of contemporary, innovative and mind bending experiences coming from both established and newcomers filmmakers from all over the old world. The festival will screen 17 new features, including comedies, dramas and docs May 5-21. Here are some highlights that offer a precise introduction to different cultures mingled as communities:
AMERIKA SQUARE
Provocative and bizarre, this dark comedy from Greece examines the perspectives of two male friends, one who is challenged by the evolution of society, including the arrival of hundreds of refugees in his hometown and the other who’s a tattoo artist fascinated by people’s choices and lifestyles. While one is completely bothered by the presence of immigrants, the other embraces the idea, and has developed a romantic connection to a gorgeous foreign singer. Director Yannis Sakaridis smartly adds up the story of a Syrian father trying to emigrate to Berlin, in order to conclude his journey for freedom. A refreshing and insightful account on racial conflicts, including the immigration issue and the unemployment crisis seen through the existential conflicts of these men.
DO RE MI FA
In a gothic-style, subversive and somehow lyrical structure, Chris Zarb’s drama interconnects stories of lonely people facing the impacts of modernity. The narrative centers in the miserable life of a pedophile who dresses as a clown to entertain children at private parties, while following an actress in pursuit of her goals, a young man watching over his ill mother, and a radio broadcaster who defies his listeners with social topics such as the immigration conflict in Malta. Dangerously intense and intriguing, director Zarb extracts vivid performances from the entire cast, fortifying the credibility for each dilemma.
MARIUPOLIS
Director Mantas Kvedaravicius’s documentary depicts the unified relationship of a small community in Ukraine, made of artists, fishermen, musicians, dancers, old and young. With subtle and metaphorical images, frames of intriguingly dark spaces, the director collects stories of passion and adventure as the camera observes the residents going on with their routines, working machines, loading guns, attending religious meetings and so on. It also digs deep the affection between a father and a daughter with incredible sensibility. Filled with surprisingly and naturally honest moments, it is a stylized portrait of a unique community.
I, OLGA HEPNAROVA
This beautiful, elegantly shot in B&W scandalous coming of age tale about a young rebellious and suicidal woman ahead of her time, coming to terms with her sexuality in 1970’s Prague, brings a breakthrough performance by Michalina Olszanska. Since the opening, Olga is in trouble doing time in jail. As she returns to the streets, she starts a driving job, which will lead her to experiences that reflect into revelatory aspects of that era of political transformations, as well as societal reform. She constantly smokes, argues with her parents, and flirts with girls, yet her melancholy and anger seem to drain her enthusiasm for living and her decisions will take a tragic twist. Sensual, extremely erotic and shocking, Czech Directors Petr Kazda and Tomás Weinreb crafted an intense psychological thriller about the complete self liberation and self destruction of a precocious woman.
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