Special invited guest Director Quentin Tarantino signing autographs. Photos Courtesy of the FICM, IMAGEN LATENTE / Paulo Vidales or Francisco Suárez.

For the seventh year Morelia, Michoacán, hosted the increasingly prestigious international film festival, Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia (FICM).  This year the special invited guest was Quentin Tarantino and his movie, Inglourious Basterds, inaugurated the week-long event.

As every year, there was a wide offering of selections in many genres, with films and filmmakers from across the globe, and special features on the history of cinema.  In competition were Mexican short films, Mexican documentaries, Mexican feature films and a special category for films from the state of Michoacán.

The winners were, 5 Recuerdos, by Alejandra Márquez y Oriana Alcaine in the category of Mexican Short film, 1kg- $2, by Zoi Sucarrats in the category of Mexican documentary,  Alamar, by Pedro González Rubio in the feature films category and, Barbara, by Ignacio Martínez Casares was the winner in the Michoacán Section.

Beyond the films in competition, many other presentations were offered:

A tribute to legendary diva and film star from Michoacán, Fanny Cano, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1983, after a string of films in the 60’s and 70’s; Cameras of Diversity, a forum and presentation on preserving Indigenous cultural heritage through film and communication technology, organized through UNESCO; A selection of films about Mexican Independence, with historic films from the early 1900’s, the 1940’s and contemporary films in honor of this year’s 200-year anniversary of Independence; the annual section, Cinema without Borders, which offers films dealing with Mexico/USA border and immigration themes;  Imaginary Mexico, a tribute to the films of John Huston filmed in Mexico; A tribute to critically acclaimed Mexican filmmakers Julio Bracho and Roberto Gavaldon; a presentation on women in film with a screening of the 1940 film, Dance Girl Dance, starring Lucille Ball and directed by Dorothy Arzner—one of the very few female directors to work in the early days of Hollywood; Selections from the Cannes Film Festival’s search for emerging talent, Cannes Critics’ week;  For the first time in 2009, the FICM featured a guest country, Romania, and presented a comprehensive sel3ction of Romanian short, feature and documentary films, with Palme D’Or wining director, Cristian Mungiu, acting as curator; A retrospective on influential French Director Alain Resnais; A presentation in conjunction with the Oberhausen International Short Film festival, after 50 years one of the world’s most respected film events; Mexican short and feature films, not in competition, international films in wide release and special screenings such as childrens films, films celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, and even bring your own dog screenings of films celebrating canines in film, with films by Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy with live piano accompaniment, benefiting animal organizations in Morelia.

As always, a very full week of incredible cinema and well worth the trip three hours inland into the mountains of Michoacán.  An entertaining introduction to Mexican culture and a great venue for exposure to contemporary film making.

Quentin Tarantino’s Eloquent Defense of Violence: snippets from Tarantino’s press interview at FICM

Quentin Tarantino was the special invited guest at this year’s Morelia film fest, he screened his new film, Inglourious Basterds, at its Mexico premier for the inauguration of the event.  Critically acclaimed and controversial, his movies are as often hailed for their vision and panache as derided for their blood and gore.  Despite any personal feelings you may have about his particular vision (witty, kitschy and always violent), or his right to the legendary status he has carved out for himself in contemporary cinema, be assured he is a force, on screen, and in person.  His bold story telling style creates unforgettable characters, unforgettable images (some perhaps you’ll wish you could forget), and it’s obvious he has a real passion for what he does.  At the festival he was accessible and friendly and was very well received.  During the press event, he spoke knowledgeably about Mexican cinema with a palpable enthusiasm for cinema or all kinds.  He has obviously had much practice defending his love of blood, and here’s a few random snippets of what he had to say:

Violence is an aesthetic thing, part of your palette as an artist … like a color…like red.  One person´s violence is another person’s action.  I like action movies, I like horror movies!  I have no problem saying I love violence in movies—I don’t like violence in real life…The reason we can enjoy it is because we know its fake…the fact that it is make-believe is everything.  I don’t like real death in movies, not even killing a fly in a film.  I didn’t pay to see real death, I didn’t sign on for that…I don’t think film has to be so serious or that the defining cinema of a nation has to be serious.  I’m a big fan of genre films, B films…I like taking a genre and making it my own way for a new audience.  Reservoir Dogs was a heist movie without the heist, Inglourious Basterds, is a war movie without the war…To make a well rounded cinema you have to have all types… –Quentin Tarantino

Standouts

2^nd prize winner: The Border Armadillo, by Mexican director, Miguel Anaya Borja, a delightful animated short film about a resourceful armadillo who has to find a way to cross the fence to find food for his growing family.

3^rd prize winner: A documentary by Argentinean director, Shula Erenberg, Under the Same Sun, on the efforts of human rights legal activists to develop an international court of conscience to prosecute crimes against humanity, and all the diplomatic obstacles they face from within and without the perpetrating countries.

When you’re feeling lucky, go fishing.   It wasn’t that kind or day for the wrestler & the prince in Alvaro Brechner’s Cannes Critics Week selected film, Mal Dia para Pescar (Bad Day for Fishing).  Jacob is a washed up former champion wrestler who dreams of getting back in the game, and Orsini “the prince,” is his con man manager.  They travel across the South American countryside putting on side shows, trying to convince people in small towns to take on Jacob for a large cash prize they don’t actually have.  No one ever wins but this time it might be different.  A beautifully filmed and engrossing tale about the type of desperation that always follows fallen heroes, and those who dream above their stations.

Movie Moments and FICM quotes

“You don’t learn “Oomph” you are born with it” – Madame Basilova, of Lucille Ball’s character Bubbles, in Dance, Girl, Dance.

”The best films are like dreams you`re never sure you had “ –Tilda Swinton’s character in Jim Jarmusch’s Limits of Control.

“Everyone has to follow their own road, we are all living different moments.” – Pedro Gonzalez Rubio, prize winning director of, Alamar, of his characters.

“To believe in a better world, is to acknowledge that [crimes against humanity] are everyone’s responsibility.”—Under the Same Sun, director Shula Ehrenberg on why legal activists are invoking Spanish or Belgium law to try crimes perpetuated in Mexico, Guatemala, Africa or the United States.

“I believe Mexico is in a resurgence of its golden age, like was alive in the 40’s and 50’s.” –Fernando Carnillo, Venezuelan actor.