IFFK 2022: The best titles in World Cinema that graced the festival this year

For over two decades now, the International Film Festival of Kerala has offered cinephiles a place to celebrate the best of cinema from across the globe. The 27th edition of the festival, which kicked off on December 9 at Thiruvananthapuram, saw over 180 titles from over 70 countries being screened across 14 screens. Attendees were able to witness the best in French, Russian, Italian, Danish, Persian, Hungarian, English and German cinema, among others, in addition to a plethora of titles from Indian cinema as well.

Here are some of the best titles falling under the World Cinema category, that graced IFFK this year.

Paloma

Starring Kika Sena, Ridson Reis and Anita de Souza Macedo, Paloma follows the story of the titular protagonist, a trans woman and farmer whose lifelong dream is to marry her boyfriend in a traditional church wedding. However, she soon finds herself at odds with the church and her entire small village after the priest refuses to oblige to her request. Marcelo Gomes has directed the Portuguese film.

How is Katia

This Ukrainian drama follows the story of a paramedic named Anna, and her 10-year-old daughter Katia. When the latter loses her life in a car accident caused by the daughter of a powerful politician, Anna decides to go to any lengths to get justice for Katia. The film, directed by Christina Tynkevych, stars Anastasia Karpenko, Yekateryna Kozlova and Tetyana Krulikovskaya.

Godland

Set in the late 19th century, Godland follows the story of a Danish priest who decides to build a church in a remote part of Iceland. As his journey takes him further and further into the unforgiving landscape, the man of God finds himself starting from his purpose. The Hlynur Pálmason directorial stars Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson and Vic Carmen Sonne.

The Lord of the Ants

This Gianni Amelio directorial is inspired by the true story of Aldo Braibanti, an Italian poet and playwright, who was sentenced to prison for nine years, accused of "enslaving the mind of another man for his evil purposes” or ‘plagiarism of the mind’. Luigi Lo Cascio, Elio Germano, Sara Serraiocco, Leonardo Maltese, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Rita Bosello, Davide Vecchi and Maria Caleffi star.

The Cathedral

Set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, The Cathedral follows the only child of the Damrosch family, Jesse, and her meditative accounts of the rise and fall of the American family. The film, directed by Ricky D'Ambrose, stars Brian d'Arcy James, Monica Barbaro, Hudson McGuire, Henry Glendon Walter, V Robert Levey II, William Bednar-Carter, Mark Zeisler and Geraldine Singer.

Unruly

Set in 1930s Denmark, Unruly revolves around the story of a teenager who is forcefully institutionalised citing her ‘rebellious nature’. Malou Reymann has directed the film, which stars Emilie Koppel, Jessica Dinnage, Lene Maria Christensen and Anders Heinrichsen.

Tropic

Tropic follows the tale of twin brothers who are training for the entrance exam to an astronaut academy. Their lives turn upside down when one among them becomes infected by a mysterious residue, which results in him becoming monstrously transformed.