Director’s Fortnight 2010: Bron, Civeyrac, Sivan, Kubat, Vandenberghe and Masset-Depasse

Cleveland Vs. Wall Street – Jean-Stéphane Bron
The doc film unfolds in Cleveland, in a small town shattered by a severe crisis stemming from low-cost mortgages. The mayor blames the big banks in America for the disaster. While two attorneys confront each other in the courtroom, seven witnesses are called up one after another. A jury court has to submit their verdict: guilty or not guilty? The Wall Street process as a modern fable about capitalism.

Des Filles en noir – Jean-Paul Civeyrac
Noémie and Priscilla, two teenage girls from poor families, nourish the same violence, the same revolt against the world. They strongly disturb their loved ones who feel they could be capable of anything…

The Wanderer – Avishai Sivan
Isaac, a young yeshiva student, an only child to born-again orthodox parents. Trapped in a dysfunctional family and a failing body, Isaac finds refuge in wandering. Tormented by his newfound infertility, Isaac looks for answers in his father’s dubious past. Wandering through the backstreets of the city, he seeks deliverance. Up for the Camera D’or award.

Illégal – Olivier Masset-Depasse
This European co-production is centred on 39-year-old Russian-born Tania, the film recounts her fight to avoid deportation from Belgium, where she has lived for many years and is an integrated member of society. During a police check, she is arrested and locked up in a detention centre, while her son manages to escape. Tania thus begins a fight to preserve her dignity, identity and humanity, as well as find her son.

The Light Thief – Aktan Arym Kubat
From the director who gave us We Love Our Skies, this project was supported by the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund.

Little Baby Jesus of Flandr – Gust Vandenberghe
Three poor beggars think they witness the birth of little baby Jesus. But they are not sure at all. Based on an old Flemish theater play by Felix Timmermans. Up for the Camera D’or award.