MIFF – Left Overs

I meant to post this straight after the film festival. Started it then and am pleased l remembered all of these clearly some three months later. See them if they come your way.
 
 First a charming look at another place, another culture, in Village At The End Of The World. Set in Niaquornet in Western Greenland, it was a delight. Following the villagers as they seek to sustain their traditional lifestyle in a challenging global environment.
 
  A World Not Ours was a sad but seemingly truthful account of the bleak options open to a young man in a Palestinian refugee camp. The life that could have been the film maker’s had his parents remained. His regularly returns to record the lives of his friends and relatives. You see the boredom, the gradual sapping of energy and commitment to a political cause. You want his eventual attempt to flee the confines of the camp to succeed. And you wonder at the morality of the person standing by and recording it all.
 
 Elena was a hauntingly lovely recollection of a vibrant spirit who succumbed to sadness and despair. A beautiful young woman surrounded by a loving family. They, and you wonder why. A loving memorial from a younger sister. Terribly sad.
 
 Blackfish. In cinemas now. Makes you angry at the treatment of these amazing animals – Orcas – who are not meant to be cooped up performing tricks. You feel for the young people lured into the work of training them without being warned of the dangers. Hopefully you won’t go to a place that imprisons them.
 
 Valentine Road is a powerful indictment of both the American education system and the judicial process. Though there are good people in each. Great young people talking about their friend who was murdered in front of them – for being different – for being gay. The case became a cause célèbre. Some lovely people trying to do the right thing – a foster mother, teacher, prosecutor. And some weird ones.