We’ve cherry-picked the top seven films to book tix for at this year’s European Union Film Festival. You’re welcome!
The Great Beauty (Italy)
Possibly this year’s The Artist—even the philistines are talking about this one. Paolo Sorrentino’s Fellini-esque romp about Rome is so decadent and gorgeous you’ll likely have booked your flights there before the credits roll. May 15, 7pm.
This Is Sanlitun (Iceland)
Who would’ve thought this goofball comedy about boozed-up expats in Beijing would come out of Iceland, of all places!? May 16, 9:30pm.
The Butterfly’s Dream (Turkey)
A lavishly-produced epic period drama about poet BFFs who fall for the same lady. “Poet” was a legit occupation in WWII-era Turkey, it seems. May 17, 4:30pm.
Exit Marrakech (Germany)
Caroline Link (also behind the Oscar-winning 2001 film Nowhere in Africa) plays up her filmmaking strengths here and creates a warm, rich, though perhaps somewhat exoticized, portrait of Morocco. May 17, 7pm.
Kon-Tiki (Norway)
Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sails from Peru to Polynesia on a replica of the raft that ancient South Americans would have used, just to prove that it was possible and he was right. Sure, it sounds like a history geek’s wet dream, but don’t knock this Oscar-nominated film until you’ve tried it. May 19, 7pm.
The Selfish Giant (UK)
The social realism favored by contemporary British filmmakers like Ken Loach isn’t always easy to swallow, but maybe that’s the point. Cannes darling The Selfish Giant, by up-and-coming Clio Barnard, is a gritty, tragic take on the Oscar Wilde fable. Watch this to impress all your friends who went to film school. May 23, 9:30pm.
The Hunt (Denmark)
Stars Mads Mikkelsen. Enough said. May 24, 7pm.
The European Union Film Festival is on May 15-25.
