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NAPOLI - NEW YORK
Director: Gabriele Salvatores
The Italian city of Naples, devastated by World War II, lies in ruins; orphaned children Carmine and Celestina survive life in the rubble-strewn streets by helping each other. Like so many others, they dream of going to America, where Celestina’s sister went two years earlier. One night, they stow away on a ship with an eccentric captain bound for New York, where they join hordes of Italian emigrants hoping for a better life in this strange new country. Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores shoots a rediscovered script by the Italian maestro Federico Fellini and scriptwriter Tullio Pinelli, who wrote it together 80 years ago as young aspiring film-makers before they collaborated on such classics as La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. A story by Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli
MY FRIEND AN DELIE
Director: Zijian Dong
This remarkable adaptation of Shuang Xuetao’s novel is the debut film from actor-turned-director Dong Zijian that flashes back and forth in time to tell a touching story of friendship and family strife. Following his father’s death, Limo (Liu Haoran) is flying back to his hometown in northeastern China, when he spots his childhood friend An Delie (played by director Zijian) (Dong) on the plane, who fails to recognise him. When their flight is diverted because of heavy snow, the duo go on a journey that brings back long-forgotten memories in which Limo has to deal with the demons from his past. Beautifully photographed by Pema Tsedan across two time periods, the film shows the long-term emotional impact of the traumas of our childhood.
THE LEGEND OF THE VAGABOND QUEEN OF LAGOS
Director: James Tayler
The Agbajowo Collective bring a lively mix of legend and community struggle to a fable grounded in Nigeria’s real-life mass evictions. In 2017, the state government and corrupt police colluded to burn out and bulldoze the waterside shanty town of Otodo-Gbame, leaving thousands homeless. Those who resisted were beaten, jailed or worse. In the fictionalised version - called Agbojedo - young mother Jawu, living in the floating slums on the lagoon that gives Lagos its name, is compelled by the spirit of the great warrior king Egbaezen to stand firm against these forced evictions, unifying her poor but loyal community behind her in an epic multi-genre adventure containing a stash of extorted money and a magical African Grey parrot.
THE INEVITABLE JOURNEY TO FIND A WEDDING DRESS
Director: Jaylan Auf
On the eve of her wedding, Warda has a disastrous accident with her bridal gown, ruining it completely. The show is going to go on, however, so she and her best friend set out to find another white dress in a hurry. Their search takes them from one shop to the next across Cairo, giving these two working-class girls a new vision and experience of the city where they have grown up and which becomes a major character in the film. For Warda, it is also a journey of self-discovery, challenging her relationship with herself. The wedding dress becomes the central motif in a social drama about life in modern, rapidly changing city.