Lucky 13 for Cine Europa

CEBU, Philippines - CINE EUROPA, the highly-anticipated annual film festival showcasing the finest in European cinema, is now celebrating its 13th anniversary. To highlight this lucky year 13, Cine Europa continues its tradition of bringing to Cebu powerful, evocative and carefully chosen movies from different member states of the European Union. And for the very first time, this year's edition of the popular film fest will screen films from Bulgaria, Greece and Slovakia.

Here are some of the films to hit Ayala Center Cebu (Onstage Cinema) from Sept. 22-24, 2010.

De Kus (the kiss), belgium

Beautiful and gifted 15-year-old Sarah comes from a wealthy but chaotic family. She longs to run away from home and be a professional ballet dancer. She meets the good-looking and charming 30-year-old Vic and trusts him blindly. He turns out to be dangerous, but she's already entangled in his web.

Svetate e golyan i spasenie debne otvsyakade (the world is big and salvation lurks around the corner), bulgaria

Clouds are gathering over Alex's idyllic childhood in a small provincial town. Militia wants his father to spy on Alex's grandfather, Bai Dan, the local king of backgammon. 25 years later, Alex is in a German hospital after a severe car crash that killed his parents. Bai Dan goes to him, but he does not recognize his grandfather because he now suffers from amnesia. Bai Dan teaches his grandson backgammon. The ancient game restores Alex back to life. Bai Dan drags Alex out of hospital and onboard a tandem bicycle, they go on a journey to the past, as Alex gets his memory back, and the will to live again.

Vratné lahve (empties), czech republic

Czech literature teacher Josef Tkaloun, who is past retirement age, realizes one day that he no longer understands his pupils, and so he quits... dramatically. What he does not see is that by doing this, he finds himself isolated in his city flat with only his wife Eliska for company. Unsure of how to deal with the situation, Josef tries to find a way out. He accepts a position at a refundable bottles counter in a supermarket, and in this seemingly inhospitable place, he solves what had been the root of his unhappiness and finds his way back to his wife.

Frygtelig lykkelig (terribly happy), denmark

Robert has skeletons in his closet, which he is determined to bury. Although hardly his dream job, Robert sees the position of temporary village constable as first step to rehabilitation. He just needs to do well. But village life and the macabre provincial order don't fit easily into Robert's plans.

All is forgiven (tout est pardonne), france

Victor lives in Vienna with Annette and their little daugther, Pamela. It's spring and Victor, who avoids working, spends his days, and sometimes his nights, outside. Deeply in love with him, Annette trusts him to get himself together as soon as they get back to Paris. But in France, Victor resumes his bad habits. After a violent argument, he moves in with a junkie with whom he's fallen in love. Annette leaves Victor and disappears with Pamela. Eleven years later, a 17-year-old Pamela lives in Paris, at her mother's place. She learns that her father also lives in the city. She decides to see him again.

Towards zero, france

Whatever possessed Guillaume Neuville to invite his ex-wife Aude and his current wife Caroline to his rich Aunt Camilla Tressilian's house in Pointe-aux-Mouettes to spend the end of summer vacation? It was completely foolhardy for, though these two women who have nothing in common have yet to tear each other to pieces, things won't stay that way for long. This strange family reunion takes a tragic turn when Mrs. Tressilian is found murdered in her bed.

Der räuber (the robber), germany & austria

Johann Rettenberger is a successful marathon runner and a serial bank robber. Soberly and precisely, he measures his heart rate, strain, stamina and efficiency-both during training runs and bank raids as he takes flight from the police.

El Greco, greece

An epic tale of an uncompromising artist and fighter for freedom, Domenicos Theotocopoulos, known to the world as El Greco since he was born Greek. Set in the 16th century, El Greco, in his search for freedom, and love, is confronted by his greatest adversary, the Holy Inquisition. Never backing down in his fight, El Greco's story is one of unusual heroism and enduring inspiration.

Mio Fratello E` figlio unico (my brother is an only child), italy

Accio and Manrico are two brothers always at odds due to their choices and their life in a provincial Italian town during the 60s - 70s. A succession of extraordinary and intense adventures tests their relationship: stormy and uneasy, but always marked by reciprocal affection and solidarity.

Storm bound, the netherlands

Three boys embark on their first voyage across the ocean and find themselves shipwrecked on a tropical island where they are introduced to challenges everyday, including island natives intent on killing them. One local girl befriends the boys and leads them on a perilous journey through the jungle to safety.

PHILANTROPIQUE, ROMANIA

Ovidiu Gorea is a high-school teacher still living with his parents in Bucharest, Romania at 35. As a teacher, he is not earning enough so he aspires to be a writer. He believes his talent in writing will bring him fame and fortune. He then meets Diane, a toothpaste commercial model. His lifestyle changes as he tries to impress her by being extravagant.

Mircea, romania

In 1393, the Ottoman Empire was able to contain all provinces and distant lands known to them except for Wallachia which was led by the great ruler, Mircea the Old. For years, he enforced many strongholds in their land and fought against the Turks and other invaders to keep their country's independence. To keep his only legacy, freedom, he faced his final confrontation against the Turks.

Juana la loca, spain

In 1496, Juana de Castile, daughter of the Catholic Kings, travels to Flanders to marry the Archduke Felipe de Austria, known as 'El Hermoso' (The Handsome) and son of the emperor Maximilian. At the beginning, the marriage is a political alliance. Then passion and desire grow between the couple. Juana becomes Queen of Spain in 1504, but due to the pressure and discovery that her husband has many lovers, she breaks down. Felipe prompts the Burgos Court to declare Juana legally insane and recluses her in the Monastery of Las Huelgas, proclaiming himself King of Spain.

El Abuelo (the grandfather), spain

At the turn of the XX century, the Spanish aristocrat Don Rodrigo, Count of Albrit, returns penniless and almost blind to Spain after losing his large fortune in America. The death of his only son brought him back to his family estate, now in the hands of his beautiful daughter-in-law, Lucrecia. Upon his return, Don Rodrigo is pleased to meet his granddaughters, Doli and Neli, who are both loving towards him. But he is burdened by a secret. When his son died, his belongings, including an unfinished letter, were shipped to the Count. From the letter, he learns that his daughter-in-law was unfaithful to his son. He also learns that one granddaugther is not his true heiress and he is determined to find out which grandchild is worthy of his name and love.

An education, united kingdom

In a London caught between the drab, post-war 50's, and the glamorous, more liberated 60's, Jenny stands on the brink of becoming a woman. A brilliant and attractive 17-year-old girl whose suburban life of dull family meals, giggling schoolgirls and homework, she's about to be blown apart by David-older, urbane and unsuitable. He introduces Jenny to an exciting new world of chic dinners, art auctions, smoky clubs and foreign trips. He charms her parents. But just as their long-held dream of Jenny getting into Oxford University seems within reach, another kind of life now tempts her. Will it set her free or trap her?

Soul at peace, slovakia

Tono returns from prison, having spent the last five years there for stealing lumber. But he finds out that everything has changed: he is a stranger to his wife, hardly knows his five-year-old son, and fails to find a decent job. But Tono does not want to earn his living by stealing again. His childhood buddies-Marek the Catholic priest and successful businessman Peter-do their best to help him. Unfortunately, they have their own problems. Tono feels lonely and desperately looks for a way out of his problems.

Marcello marcello, switzerland

In the picturesque island of Amatrello, a unique custom keeps the young men of the village busy: when a girl turns 18, every boy is invited to bring a gift for her. But the gift is not for the girl, but for the father who will ultimately determine which boy takes her on her first rendezvous! Fisherman's son Marcello doesn't care about this tradition until he sets eyes on the enchanting Elena, the Mayor's daughter, who has returned to the island and has come of age. As the competition rises, Marcello comes up with the perfect gift for the Mayor. But getting that gift isn't easy. Soon, he is forced to barter with the entire village, as everyone seems to want something from someone else. Marcello's frantic quest ensues, evolving into a process of reconciliation among the village's inhabitants.

For the complete list of films and their screening schedules, please call the Arts Council office at 233-0452 or email at [email protected].