The main character is an intellectual from Russia, who sees it as his duty to bring an idiot from an mental institution to his house. He can pick someone out, after bribing the boss of the institution, with two bottles of vodka. He chooses Vova, at first sight a silly man, and takes him home. His wife is at first not very happy with this choice. Vova says and does nothing at all. Then he becomes an aggressive man, who terrorises the house and bashes everything to pieces. After she is raped by Vova, the wife gets sexually dependant on the Idiot. Vova isn't interested anymore, when she gets pregnant and doesn't keep the baby. The idiot goes now to the intellectual for his sexual needs. The wife can't take this anymore and forces her man to take a choice: Vova out, or she will go.
In Russia at the turn of the century, a wealthy Jewish merchant enjoys the best of relations with his Russian neighbours, while his respected home forms the obvious social centre of the entire community. However, the atmosphere grows more tense as the local authorities come under pressure to fall in line with the officially sanctioned anti-Semitic policies of the Tsarist Government. The village elder is one of our hero's best friends and together they seem to find a way to outwit these evil intentions but unfortunately they fail to understand what forces they are dealing with in a country where anti-Semitism is state policy.
The tragic story of a young woman named Yulia, who fell in love with a married man and lost her only child.
Pigeon's Milk
5 people of different personalities have to take a taxi from Munich to Hamburg, as the train service is canceled. The strangers discover that every one of them has their own cross to bear, but to overcome trouble they have to work together as a group.
As The morning rises over Tel Aviv, Dror encounters Eitan, his ex. Both are on their way back home from a long night out. When it turns out that Eitan has moved right across the street from Dror’s apartment, they realize that they have no choice but to take their “walk of shame” together.
This fictional story is set in Miyagi prefecture, a decade after a devastating earthquake and tsunami. It follows Mr. Endo, a taxi driver searching for his daughter since the earthquake. Along the way, he encounters various passengers and visits a seaside town swallowed by a tsunami. The story explores themes of family, love, and resilience in the aftermath of a disaster, offering hope to survivors.
A young guy asks a prostitute to go down on him while singing La Marseillaise.
From the music of French composer Arnaud Rebotini, German filmmaker Helena Wittmann crafts a story of a solitary man walking across a desert. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.
From the music of UK composer Nainita Desai, Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza crafts a story about a widowed mother who tries to reconcile two brothers feuding over a piece of disputed land in Mindanao. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.
From the music of Tunisian composer Amine Bouhafa, Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase crafts a story of two young people ruminating on existence and life in a city. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.
From the music of Polish composer Abel Korzeniowski, Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen crafts a story that imagines spending the burning time of a cigarette between the sheets, interlocking smiles and touches with your loved one. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.
From the music of Canadian composer Howard Shore, Belgian filmmakers Anthony Nti and Chingiz Karibekov craft a story of a boy picked up from school by (presumably) his brother, who sees he’s sitting out from gym class after picking a fight. The elder brother leads his sibling to a house—empty apart from a poster of Muhammad Ali. They set up a small area to exercise and the young boy is pushed to his limits, as he is perpetually asked to hit boxing gloves harder and harder. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the rich and the poor, the son of the city's mastermind meets a prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.
A fatally ill mother with only two months to live creates a list of things she wants to do before she dies without telling her family of her illness.
An assassin is shot by her ruthless employer, Bill, and other members of their assassination circle – but she lives to plot her vengeance.
Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.
Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, is given the mission to track down and kill the very old Alfred Himmelman, an ex-Nazi officer, who might still be alive. Pretending to be a tourist guide, he befriends his grandson Axel, in Israel to visit his sister Pia. The two men set out on a tour of the country, during which Axel challenges Eyal's values.