Festival recommendations

So I've made a tentative plan for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. Here are some of the films I'm going to see:

'Kings and Queen' - The new film from Arnaud Desplechin, who made one of my favorite films of the nineties, 'My Sex Life or How I Got Into an Argument.' He is once again documenting the love lives of Parisians more attractive than you and me. I am hopeful that it'll be as painful and truthful as 'My Sex Life' and have at least one scene as funny as that film's classic dead-monkey-behind-the-radiator scene.

'Ruins' - I had one of my favorite M-SPIFF experiences about five years ago. I saw a Slovenian film listed in fest guide and I thought, "What's Slovenia like?" 'Idle Running' by Janez Burger was a pleasant surprise. It was a dry comedy about growing up (or in the case of the film's hero, Dizzy, refusing to grow up). I was pleased to see 'Ruins,' a new film by Burger in the fest this year. If it's like its predecessor, a string of amusing scenes will weave themselves into a bigger, heartfelt message. I can't wait.

'Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea' - America is big and weird. This documentary profiles the residents of a forgotten man-made ecological disaster in California. Every time you think the filmmakers has shown you everything they could about the Salton Sea, a new character turns up that is more fascinating than the last.

'The World' - Jia Zhangke has been declared the "best filmmaker under 40" by someone or other at the Village Voice. His latest, about being young and disaffected in China, should be beautiful. Don't expect a lot of action.

'Kung Fu Hustle' - If you miss it at the fest, don't worry. It'll be coming to the Cities anyway. But do see it somewhere. It has great fights, good gags and a genuinely interesting plot. Director and star Stephen Chow toned down the slapstick, kidstuff of his earlier 'Shaolin Soccer' and made an eyepopping, fun film.

You can see the whole M-SPIFF listing here:

Minneapolis-St. Paul international Film Festival

If there's a film you would recommend, tell us! What movies are a must-see?

At the Cinequest film festival in San Jose, I saw "Accordion Tribe" and "Armwrestler from Solitude", two documentaries that are also playing at M-SPIFF and are really good. The first follows a group of five accordion composer-performers on a European tour; the second a family of armwrestlers, one of them a world champion, from a tiny town in Sweden. Both are great glimpses into the lives of unusual people.

Well, I'm seeing 41 films at M-SPIFF. Of the nine I've seen so far, I'd highly recommend seeing And Thereafter. Unfortunately, Wim Wenders' new film is only showing once but if that gets wider distribution, I'd recommend that. In addition, I recommend The Welts, Dancing with Myself and Shaking Hands With the Devil. Check out my website, http://www.writeousness.com for my reviews and links to films.