As September begins

As September begins, most people must start their daily routine again. Sometimes this month is a transition period, the time of the year when new projects or personal experiences begin to take shape. There´s excitement but there´s also uncertainty and worry, therefore some people may feel tempted to say “wake me up when September ends” as in the title chosen by Green Day for one of the songs of their 2004 album. But September is always full of good news as far as films are concerned. In August we had to face the passing of Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall and the British film-maker Richard Attenborough, but in September there is a change of mood thanks to the oldest film festival in Europe: the Venice film festival. The winner of the 71^st festival´s award – the prestigious Golden Lion – was for the Swedish film-maker Roy Andersson, whose film A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence will be remembered as an eccentric film which can´t be easily classified as a comedy or as a tragedy. Apart from its eccentricity, I believe that this film will be memorable thanks to its long and descriptive title which seems to tell a story in itself. In other words, if there were a prize for unusual film titles, I´m sure Roy Andersson´s film would also win the top prize.

The “tiff” – Toronto International Film Festival – also takes place in September but it doesn´t usually get so much media coverage, at least in Europe; however, it is worth paying attention to this festival because it often gives us the opportunity of discovering films which may go unnoticed due to lack of publicity. One of the films which I have enjoyed lately is What If, a film which premiered at the 2013 “tiff”. It stars Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan in a rom-com which has very little in common with the films of this genre: the plot is engaging, the dialogues are witty and the actors have the chemistry which this sort of story requires.

The film which premiered at the 2013 “tiff” has been recently released in European cinemas this summer.

By mid-September another European festival will make us feel that films are part of our lives: the San Sebastian film festival will enable us to walk along the promenade surrounded by the huge billboards which encourage visitors to go to the pictures. This year Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro have been chosen by the festival to be presented with the Donostia Award so that – for a few days – the glamour of Hollywood can contribute to enhancing the beauty of this seaside city, isn´t it an attractive combination?   

Can you imagine bumping into Denzel Washington while walking down the streets of San Sebastián?

Have you ever been to a film festival? Would you like to attend the premiere of a film at this kind of event? In your opinion, would it be a different experience from watching a film at your local cinema on an ordinary day?