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1:1
Denmark, 2006, 90 min.
Director Annette K. Olesen takes on the growing issue of racial conflict in Denmark in this story about how the near-deadly assault on a white boy destroys fragile peace between the local European and Palestinian communities.... more
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12:08 East of Bucharest
Romania, 2006, 89 min.
The Best First Feature winner at Cannes, this hilarious movie wrings substantial mileage out of a single joke. A television newscaster in a small Romanian town has convened a panel to discuss their town's role in the overthrow of Ceausescu, but recollections of the revolution seem to differ.... more
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The 12 Labors
Brazil, 2006, 90 min.
Heracles, a disadvantaged black youth, undertakes 12 tasks to qualify him for a job as a motorcycle delivery boy. Throughout his mission, he faces intolerance, unfairness, desire and temptation in typical situations of a city like São Paulo. An original film transposition... more
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The 2 Sides of the Bed
Spain, 2006, 108 min.
A thoroughly enjoyable musical comedy, Emilio Martínez-Lázaro’s sequel to the The Other Side of the Bed sees Javier jilted at the altar by Marta in favor of Raquel. What follows is a fast-paced and highly musical (characters sing versions of Spanish pop hits) entertainment that gently skewers... more
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53 Days in Winter
Spain, 2006, 91 min.
Three people waiting for a bus one winter's night look on as a dog is abandoned. All three set out on journeys that lead each of them to confront their fears and frustrations. 53 Days in Winter delves into the life of each passenger, and interweaves a trio of stories on psychological,... more
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9th Company
Russia, 2006, 126 min.
The Soviet Union’s ill-fated “military action” in Afghanistan in the 1980s, a taboo topic until only recently, provides the backdrop for this recent number-one hit at the Russian box office. The film provides a gritty portrayal of war with all the blood, dirt and death of a war... more
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A Dinner for Them to Meet
Italy, 2006, 108 min.
This Cannes Film Festival winner features a family of three, who were abandoned by the wife/mother of the family. When she returns unexpectedly, the son, Tommy, along with his sister Viola and their father, try to cope with unexpected changes and growing pains with determination and unspoken love fo... more
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After the Wedding
Denmark, 2006, 120 min.
When Jacob, (played by Mads Mikkelsen, the arch villain in the recent Bond film Casino Royale) who runs a struggling orphanage in Bombay, returns to Denmark to secure new funds, he discovers that his new benefactor has a secret path that will forever alter his charitable present and... more
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Agua
Argentina, 2006, 89 min.
Goyo, a former open water swimming champion wrongly accused of doping, is attempting to regain his honor while Chino, a stubborn and disciplined young pool swimmer tries hard to be selected for the national team. Chen is a brilliant child of the Argentinean New Wave.... more
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Ahlaam
Iraq, 2006, 110 min.
In Iraq’s first post-Saddam feature, three individuals from a mental hospital are forced to wander the streets of Baghdad after the U.S. invasion destroyed their home. They are stuck between the madness they once were treated for and the madness that now surrounds them. Their dreams, or hallucinatio... more
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Allegro
Denmark, 2006, 88 min.
In this cinematic tour de force from Denmark, a concert pianist, Zetterstrøm (Ulrich Thomsen from The Celebration), returns home to Copenhagen and finds himself a lost in a dreamlike odyssey to rediscover the love that he lost many years ago.... more
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Antonia
Brazil, 2006, 90 min.
Dynamic, vibrant and life-affirming, Tata Amaral’s third feature, Antonia, describes the ups and downs of a group of female rappers living on the outskirts of São Paulo. Their love of performing and creating music together—despite the many obstacles presented by being poor, black and female... more
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August Days
Spain, 2006, 93 min.
This biographical road trip features two brothers, Marc and David, as they embark on a trip in search of a dead friend’s past. This visually sublime film is a languorous stroll through idyllic nature, a strong experience of cinema, as well as a mysterious biographical portrait.... more
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Aviva My Love
Israel, 2006, 107 min.
From the director of 2004 PSIFF favorite Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi comes a delightful, richly layered story about a woman on the brink of fulfilling her lifelong dream to become a published author, when she finds that her novelist mentor has other plans for her work.... more
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Bamako
Mali, 2006, 112 min.
Leading African filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako offers this mock trial set in his hometown of Bamako, Mali. The influence of Western powers over the lives of Africans is called into question, and every argument and counterargument bristles with intense conviction.... more
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The Banquet
Hong Kong, 2006, 131 min.
Chinese director Feng Xiaogang’s lavish, tenth century spectacle recalls recent martial arts epics, but its true heart lies in its stately chamber drama intrigue starring popular actors Daniel Wu and Ziyi Zhang, loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet.... more
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Beauty in Trouble
Czech Republic, 2006, 110 min.
Another smart comedy from the team responsible for Cosy Dens and Up and Down. Ana Geislerová plays the beauty of the title, whose solution to marital problems, financial crises and family troubles comes in the form of a rich older man. ... more
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El Benny
Cuba, 2006, 120 min.
Cuba’s Oscar entry El Benny is based on the life of the famous Cuban musician, Benny Moré. The debut feature by writer/director Jorge Luis Sanchez features new versions of Morés songs performed by contemporary musicians including Chucho Valdes, Juan Formell, Haila and Orishas.... more
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The Bet Collector
Philippines, 2006, 98 min.
Three days in the life of Ami (the magnificent Gina Pareño) as she criss-crosses her slum neighbourhood in Manila, taking bets on an underground lucky-numbers draw. This powerful film has already won two festival prizes, giving the surprise revival in Filipino movies another boost.... more
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Beyond Hatred
France, 2006, 86 min.
After their gay son is murdered by a gang of skinheads, a close-knit French family tries to move toward understanding and even forgiveness in this devastating documentary. In classic vérité style, director Olivier Meyrou allows this immensely cathartic story to unfold at its own pace without unneces... more
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Black Butterfly
Peru, 2006, 116 min.
A schoolteacher of privilege, Gabriela, and a cynical tabloid journalist, Ángela, join forces to avenge the politically motivated murder of the teacher’s jurist fiancé during Peru’s corrupt Fujimori regime in a taut character study-cum-political thriller. ... more
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Black Irish
USA, 2006, 92 min.
This complex, moving coming-of-age story is about Cole McKay, a 16-year-old South Boston kid trying both to survive and to save his disintegrating Irish-Catholic family that is fueled by alcohol and anger. A brilliant ensemble cast illuminates this ultimately uplifting story.... more
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Blindsight
United Kingdom, 2006, 104 min.
This insightful documentary follows a group of blind Tibetan teenagers—outcasts in their culture—as they attempt to hike up the 23,000-foot summit of Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest with the aid of a dedicated, mountaineering dream team. Director Lucy Walker captures the monumental land... more
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The Book of Revelation
Australia, 2006, 117 min.
Ana Kokkinos, whose striking earlier films Only the Brave and Head On gripped audiences at previous editions of PSIFF, here explores a provocative world of desire, sexual power and obsession, in which a charismatic young man is kidnapped by three enigmatic women and subjected to extrem... more
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Border Café
Iran, 2006, 105 min.
A widow’s effort to run a truck stop diner near the Iran-Turkey border becomes a lesson in stifling patriarchy. Taking on gender and geography, the film deals with physical and metaphorical borders. A strong script, nuanced acting, and a sharply delineated sociopolitical sense make it as enjoyable a... more
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Border Post
Croatia, 2006, 94 min.
This comedy about people on the verge of tragedy unfolds at an army base along the Yugoslav-Albanian border in the spring of 1987. The boring daily routine of the young soldiers suddenly changes when the commanding officer decides to hide a personal problem, namely syphilis, by declaring a state of ... more
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The Bothersome Man
Norway, 2006, 95 min.
Andreas arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment, and soon finds a girlfriend. But before long, he notices that something is wrong. A strong shot of new Nordic humor, this surreal parable won Best Film at the Hamptons International Film F... more
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Buddha’s Lost Children
Netherlands, 2006, 97 min.
Mark Verkerk’s inspirational documentary follows the exploits of a Thai ex kick boxing champ and soldier turned Buddhist monk who for the last 15 years has created a safe haven and given a sense of hope to the children throughout the Golden Triangle.... more
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The Caiman
Italy, 2006, 112 min.
Nanni Moretti returns to directing with this hugely entertaining and politically charged skewering of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that centers on a crumbling B-grade film director (Silvio Orlando) trying to make a satire about the PM’s criminal excesses.... more
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The Cats of Mirikitani
USA, 2006, 74 min.
When filmmaker Linda Hattendorf turned her lens on Jimmy Mirikitani, a homeless octogenarian Japanese-American artist, she got far more than she anticipated: the collapse of the World Trade Center, a family reunion more than 50 years in the making, and a series of small miracles. Audience Award Winn... more
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Cecilie
Denmark, 2006, 100 min.
Cecilie sees and hears things no one else does. After she experiences an assault of which no traces are found, her husband commits her to a psychiatric hospital. But is she insane? With the help of a psychiatrist, Per, she begins to unravel the past, with shocking results, in this tense, psychologic... more
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Cheech
Canada, 2006, 105 min.
Neo-noir done Québecois style, Patrice Sauvé’s memorable feature debut is a stylish and darkly humorous tale that follows the destinies of six characters who are connected through a seedy Montréal escort agency. Glamorous Montréal’s dark side gets a rare showing on screen.... more
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Chronicle of an Escape
Argentina, 2006, 104 min.
The real-life events surrounding the escape of group of ‘disappeared’ (abducted) prisoners during the 1977 Argentinean Junta is the subject of this gripping political drama. Though rooted in history, the portrayal of torture feels terribly contemporary.The film’s riveting performances will keep audi... more
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Close to Home
Israel, 2006, 90 min.
Two very different young Israeli women are partnered together to patrol Jerusalem streets as part of their obligatory Israeli military service. In the process, they find that, despite the uniforms, they are just young people trying to find their place in the world. ... more
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Congorama
Canada, 2006, 105 min.
Michel, a Belgian inventor, learns he was adopted and heads off to Quebec to find his biological family. There he gets involved in an accident that has implications for the future of the automobile in this tangled comedy of hidden bloodlines and lost birthrights.... more
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Cover Boy
Italy, 2006, 97 min.
Cover Boy is the story of a friendship between two young men—a Romanian immigrant and an Italian lower-class worker—who struggle to find gainful employment in Western society. One has a dream to pursue, while the other has lost all hopes. Friendship will help them through, somehow. ... more
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The Curiosity of Chance
USA, 2006, 98 min.
When new high school sophomore Chance Marquis is bullied for being openly gay, he turns to a drag queen and a high school jock to help him fight adversity in Russell P. Marleau’s John Hughes-styled ’80s comedy. Winner of the Jury Award for Best New Director at Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.... more
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DarkBlueAlmostBlack
Spain, 2006, 105 min.
Sporting visual flair to burn and a plot that unfurls in unexpected ways, Daniel Sánchez Arévalo’s tragicomic debut chronicles twenty-somethings Jorge and Israel’s attempts to form their identities, both personal and sexual, while posing questions about love and morality in these complex times. Arév... more
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Day Night Day Night
USA, 2006, 94 min.
Julia Loktev’s hauntingly abstract portrait of a suicide bomber in New York City not only takes us deep into the terrorist mind, but also dramatically recreates the anxiety, dread and fear inherent in the act. The film received major prizes at the Cannes and Chicago Film Festivals as well as winning... more
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Deliver Us From Evil
USA, 2006, 101 min.
For over two decades, Roman Catholic priest Oliver O’Grady molested dozens of young boys and girls throughout central California. Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg uncovers the truth behind the scandal, and why the Church kept trying to cover it up. Winner of the 2006 New York Film Critics Circle Award... more
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Don’t Worry, I’m Fine
France, 2006, 100 min.
Lili returns from vacation to discover her 19-year-old twin brother has fled from home after a violent fight with their father. Her worries about his welfare eventually send her to an anorexia hospital ward where a postcard from her long-lost twin finally arrives. Lioret’s delicate direction... more
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Dreamland
USA, 2006, 89 min.
Beautifully shot and passionately acted, Dreamland is the striking feature film debut of Jason Matzner. This woozily romantic trailer park love triangle features a stunning central performance by Agnes Bruckner that, alongside rising stars Kelli Garner and Justin Long, seems to unspool... more
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The Education of the Fairies
Spain, 2006, 103 min.
When the fairy tale existence of Nicolas and his new bride and her son, Raul, comes to an end, he makes up stories of fairies to guard his stepson from the harsh reality of life. What’s he to do when a real fairy shows up?... more
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Emma’s Bliss
Germany, 2006, 99 min.
Max, a mediocre car salesman, learns that he is dying of pancreatic cancer. On a whim, he takes a road trip that introduces him to Emma, a pig farmer, and country life, both of which almost make him forget his fate. This second feature by Taddicken is a very sensual, unpredictable, and heart-warming... more
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Fair Play
France, 2006, 99 min.
The competitive nature of office politics is given an innovative approach through the extracurricular activities of sports, in this brilliantly controlled and cynical tale that takes place entirely outside the office with colleagues rowing, jogging, playing squash, canoeing and even rock climbing th... more
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Falkenberg, Farewell
Sweden, 2006, 88 min.
The struggle of five 20-something male friends to find their place in the world provides the focus for Falkenberg, Farewell, which captures the energy of youth, and with it, a strong undercurrent of melancholy. Winner for Best Film at the Athens Film Festival.... more
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The Family Friend
Italy, 2006, 110 min.
A harsh near-nihilism pervades the singular vision of director Paolo Sorrentino in this morally dark tale. Geremia de’ Geremei is a shabby loan shark who professes a deep (and deeply false) concern for the poor people who use his services. The film exposes the damage done by his squalid, soul-disfig... more
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Family Law
Argentina, 2006, 102 min.
From Argentinean director Daniel Burman, the ‘Latin Woody Allen,’ comes this witty comedy in which a successful law professor with a beautiful wife and adorable son suddenly finds himself unsure what it means to be either a husband or a father in this tender-hearted comedy of delusion and self disco... more
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Forever
Netherlands, 2006, 95 min.
Forever takes viewers on a mesmerizing tour of artists' graves in Paris' famous Pere-Lachaise cemetery, to show that art is eternal and plays a powerful role in our lives. The tombs of departed greats prompt curious stories from dedicated visitors. Best Documentary at the Netherlands Film Festival.... more
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Free Jimmy
Norway, 2006, 80 min.
Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Kyle MacLachlan and Jim Broadbent lend their voices to his outrageous Norwegian animated adventure in which a drug-addicted elephant escapes from the circus, only to be chased down by circus employees, sober animal activists, big-game hunters and the mafia.... more
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