In the “Viasat Comedy Festival”– a Nominee for the Golden Globe Award

February 20, 2012

 The experts of the upcoming Vilnius International Film Festival chose over ten most funny pictures out of more than 200. All of them will be shown during the “Viasat Comedy Festival”, which joined Vilnius IFF this year. One of the biggest presents to the viewers is the Irish comedy “The Guard”, which was nominated for the Golden Globe Award.

“People laugh at different things. We have a tough task – to meet different tastes, i.e. of the fans that enjoy subtle, straightforward, easy, and black humour. I think that Lithuanians, who are under pressure of cold winter and economical issues, would rather expect hopeful films, full of vivacious provocations and merry, inspiring situations”, says one of the festival programme's compilers, Edvinas Puksta.

Best in Ireland

Those who come to the festival will be invited to test their sense of humour and be cheered by the brightest star – the film “The Guard”, which was nominated for the Golden Globe Award and recognized as the best film in Ireland in 2011. “The Telegraph” newspaper foretells that this picture that reaps laurels in different film festivals worldwide seeks to repeat the success of “The King’s Speech”.

Although this film, which was directed by John Michael McDonagh, is balanced for men, women will enjoy it as well. What is more, the charming actor Mark Strong, whom we know from “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes”, is playing here. The film plot, as it should be in a criminal story, goes around the bad and the good guys. Sergeant Gerry Boyle, one of Galway cops, “tickles” his routine with drugs, tributes and prostitutes. In the short run he is forced to concentrate and investigate the murder and the case of drug smuggling which is worth more than half a billion dollars.

Fascinating Hollywood

Another novelty of the “Viasat Comedy Festival” is the closing film of San Sebastian film festival and the winner of the main prize at Tokyo festival, i. e. “Untouchable” dir. Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache. The story based on real events has become the most visited film of the year in France, outrunning even “Avatar” dir. J.Cameron. The Americans fascinated by the success of the comedy are already writing the script for the Hollywood version, while the viewers of the “Viasat Comedy Festival” will be able to giggle from the original. The French movie star Francois Cluzet is playing a paralyzed rich aristocrat who hires the least suitable candidate as his care-giver - a young immigrant man recently released from prison. After masterly played role Omar Sy became the most wanted actor overnight, and was awarded for the best role by French journalists.

Comedies for all Tastes

The lovers of black humour will be able to enjoy the Belgian “Hasta la vista” (“Come as you are”, dir. Geoffrey Enthoven), romantics – the Spanish “Extraterrestrial”, dir. Nacho Vigalondo and “The Fairy”, dir. F. Gordon, D. Abel, B. Romy, Belgium, France, and those who are interested in the psychology of wayward teenagers will be invited to watch the Nor mjwegian feature “Turn Me On, Goddammit!”, dir. Jannicke Systad Jacobsen, which was awarded the prize of New York “Tribeca” film festival for the best screenplay. Even if you missed the Italian “Mid-August Lunch” (“Pranzo di ferragosto”) which was screened two years ago and directed by Gianni Di Gregorio, you will be able to enjoy his lovely continuation of ideas in “The Salt of Life”. The cartridge of a good mood is going to be the comedy full of political and cultural jokes “When Pigs Have Wings”, dir. Sylvain Estibal, France, Germany, Belgium.

The “Viasat Comedy Festival” invites to test your sense of humour starting March 15. More information on films you will soon find on the website www.komedijufestivalis.lt.