International Films Session B

A selection of short films from around the world in a variety of genres and themes. Films included in this session include:

Where Motion Has Not Yet Ceased (Canada) Dir. Juliette Balthazard Prague, 2022 - Having found refuge from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, two women and their young daughters face the waiting and hope of an imminent return to Ukraine. Shelved in this city, these women tell the story of their past and give access to their daily life, their present, in which they try to learn how to live again.

Shirin’s Bitter Tears (Iran) Dir. Amin Fallah Shirin, a female filmmaker under a travel ban due to restrictions on artistic activities, has turned to street vending and in order to reclaim her confiscated items, she enters the cold and harsh environment of the municipal office.

I Promise You Violence (Mexico) Dir. Juan Maria Leon A visual exploration of the personal memories of coming of age during the so-called “war against narco” in Mexico.

Peace With Myself (France) Dir. Sally Boger Through animation music and voiceover, the creator looks back into her past and deals with the sexual abuse that she experienced when she was 9 years old.

The Samaritan (France) Dir. Mary Arnaud An abbey, far from the world. Thomas, 25 years old, leads a life of prayer and silence. A few days before his final vows that will make him a monk, an encounter will shake his convictions.

A Good Boy (France) Dir. Paul Vincent de Lestrade Maxime is 16 years old and a promising swimmer, he is about to enter a sport study program. One afternoon, the police interrupts a training session to question his coach, who has been accused of sexual abuse by one of the club’s young swimmers. These accusations will crack the armour of silence that Max has built to survive the abuse he himself suffered years earlier.

Lunge (Iran) Dir. Negar Hassanzadeh An Iranian fencer at the world fencing championships is not allowed to play her next match, because if she loses, she will face the Israeli team and the Iranian team is not allowed to compete with the Israeli team.