April 22, 2024
Open-air Cinema Ellinis Cinemax
(29 Kifissias Av., Athens)
THURSDAY 30th MAY
21:15 – OPENING NIGHT FILM
UNDER THERAPY
Gerardo Herrero, Spain, 2023, 93’
Three married couples undergoing therapy are summoned by their female psychologist to a meeting. The psychologist won’t be attending the reunion herself, but she will give to them instructions about what they must do. . Thus, to the sound of a trumpet (literally), the six protagonists will gradually air their dirty laundry concerning their relationships and bring up issues like taking care of the kids, the different home tasks, money, jealousy and sex, until it all leads to a most unexpected and equally shocking end. Directed by Oscar winning producer Gerardo Herrero. In collaboration with Cinobo.
With the presence of director Gerardo Herrero and producer Mariela Besuievsky.
Accompanied by refreshing cocktails sponsored by Jose Cuervo
FRIDAY 31st MAY
20:50
CHAMPIONEXT
Javier Fesser, Spain, 2023, 124’
Highest grossing Spanish film of 2023. Our team of “champions” abandons basketball to mistakenly enter the fascinating world of athletics with the help of a rookie coach. Between the harsh demands of the new discipline and the coach’s surprising ability to attract all kinds of misfortunes and calamities, everything will end up.
Goya Awards: 2 nominations
With the presence of director Javier Fesser and screenwriter Athenea Mata.
23:15
WILD WOMAN
Alán González, Cuba, 2023, 93’
In a Havana slum, a woman survives a bloody fight between her husband and her lover. In a desperate attempt to spare her son from the scandal, she decides to run away with him, but a video of the incident has already gone viral.
SATURDAY 1st JUNE
20:50
THE RESCUE: THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
Daniela Goggi, Argentina, 2023, 95’
After fleeing the brutal military dictatorship, Julio and his family return full of hope from exile to their home country of Argentina in the 1980s. As part of a Jewish industrial dynasty, it’s now up to him to manage the business in Buenos Aires alongside his brother Miguel. But Miguel is kidnapped, and in order to free him, Julio has to negotiate ransom demands with a band of criminals. He soon realises that the newly-formed democratic government still has a long way to go before it can break free from the ties of the former regime.
22:50
UPON ENTRY
Alejandro Rojas – Juan Sebastián Vasquez, Spain, 2022, 72’
Diego, a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a family in ‘the land of opportunities’.
But upon entering New York airport’s immigration area, they are taken to the secondary inspection room, where border officers will subject them to an unpleasant inspection process and a psychologically grueling interrogation.
SUNDAY 2nd JUNE
20:50
CLOSE YOUR EYES
Víctor Erice, Spain– Argentina, 2023, 170’
The new film by legendary director Victor Erice. Famous Spanish actor, Julio Arenas, who disappears while filming a movie. Although his body is never found, the police conclude that he has suffered an accident at a cliff by the sea. Many years later, the mystery is brought up once more by a TV program that tries to evoke the actor, offering as a scoop images of the last scenes in which he participated, shot by his close friend, director Miguel Garay.
Goya Awards: 11 nominations
MONDAY 3rd JUNE
20:50
ADIÓS BUENOS AIRES
German Kral, Argentina, 2023, 90’
From the director of the movie “The Last Tango.”
Buenos Aires, November 2001. Argentina is embroiled in crisis. The country‘s economy is stagnating and the peso is plunging deeper and deeper, while the anger and distrust of the Argentinian people towards their corrupt government is growing steadily. In the midst of these troubled times, the Vecinos de Pompeya – a five-piece tango band – are trying to keep their heads above water. Julio the bandoneon player plans to emigrate to Germany together with his daughter Paula and his mother Dorothea. Julio sets about taking care of his last affairs in Buenos Aires – but he can‘t get away from the city so easily.
22:45
CASSANDRO
Roger Ross Williams, Mexico – USA, 2023, 107’
Gael García Bernal is Saul Armendariz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to worldwide fame after creating the character of Cassandro, the ‘Liberace of Lucha Libre’. In the process, he not only drastically turns the traditionally masculine world of wrestling on its head, but also his own life. By Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams. Based on real events.
World premiere: Sundance 2023
TUESDAY 4th JUNE
20:50
SELF DEFENSE
Andrea Braga, Argentina, 2022, 97’
Eduardo, a prosecutor, decides to return to his hometown to investigate a series of murders and he starts unveiling a corrupt ecosystem based on agrochemicals abuse at the expense of the locals, who live in very poor conditions. Driven by these findings, Eduardo will try to overcome trauma. He’s not alone, though: there are stories of shattered lives everywhere he looks.
22:50
THE INITIATED
Juan Felipe Orozco, Colombia, 2023, 110’
Inspired by acclaimed Colombian author Mario Mendoza. In a near future plagued by water shortages Frank Molina a gruff journalist must face his demons to get to the murder.
WEDNESDAY 5th JUNE
20:50 – CLOSING NIGHT FILM
RADICAL
Christopher Zalla, Mexico, 2023, 127’
Sergio Juarez is the new teacher at a poor school in a Mexican border town. Ravaged by negligence, corruption and violence, neither the town nor the school offer many options for the lost youth.
Audience Festival Favorite Award at Sundance.
23:15
THE GIRL FROM URUGUAY
Ana García Blaya, Argentina – Uruguay, 2022, 78’
Based on the novel by Pedro Mairal. A writer pins his hopes on a free-spirited 25-year-old he meets in Montevideo to overcome his midlife crisis. But that day turns out to be the most unexpected and transformative day of his life.