Mezipatra is just around the corner. We start in Prague this Thursday, and then a festival packed with the best queer films awaits you. Still unsure which film to catch? The most qualified individuals from the Mezipatra team, program coordinators Vadim Kuskov and Viktor Licek, will help you.
Vadim Kuskov recommends: Fans of Asia will get their money's worth
PEAFOWL / Gong-jak-sae / 2022 / 115 min
There are not many feel-good trans films. There are even fewer feel-good trans films from Korea. I fell in love with 'The Bird Dance' within the first five minutes and told myself I had to bring it to Mezipatra and show it to as many people as possible. Why should you go see it? Because this film is colorful, funny, and truly unique, as it looks at traditional Korean culture from a new perspective. Imagine what the series 'Pose' would look like behind the scenes of a traditional Korean village. Can't picture it? Well, then go buy a ticket.
A SONG SUNG BLUE / Xiao bai chuan / 2023 / 92 min
The film 'Songs of the Damned' is another Asian gem. With its unique story and almost dreamlike visuals, it seeks answers to simple questions. What is it like to fall in love with someone for the first time? And what does it do to you? 'Songs of the Damned' intrigued me because the main character's story is so universal that we can connect with it regardless of cultural differences and language barriers. And as a lover of Asian culture, I want to point out an interesting fact: the song sung by the main characters is used as a lullaby in Chinese, while in Korean, it is sung as a farewell song.
Viktor Licek recommends: Locarno winner and juicy melodrama
RULE 34 / Regra 34 / 2022 / 100 min
I recommend Rule 34 wherever I go - and not just for nothing. The winner of last year's Locarno has an unconventional energy and drive, seeking common ground between a morally philosophical legal debate and immersion into the trance of sex work and BDSM in a monumental gesture of female empowerment. This crushing Brazilian piece expertly navigates the dynamics of acting and poses uncomfortable questions about responsibility, self-love, and ultimately, filmmaker ethics.
BONES AND NAMES / Knochen und Namen / 2023 / 104 min
Between the lines and between the words. What remains after us may be primarily told through grotesquely static shots of brightly painted apartments, gyms, and supermarkets. But this formal choice is proudly showcased - within its minimalist setting, a juicy melodrama unfolds about a pensive and contemplative German couple, where every second is worth it.
See you on Thursday, November 2nd, at Lucerna, where we will ceremoniously kick off the Mezipatra festival with the hosting duo from Buchty Radio Wave and one of our film recommendations, the movie 'Fireworks'.
