I saw two films on the third day of my film odyssey, both involving a death in some way, as well as new love.
The first film was Über uns das All (Above Us Only Sky). Schoolteacher Martha is ready to leave Köln for Marseilles to begin a new life in the sunshine. Her plans get derailed when she discovers her husband has been living a secret life. (Funnily enough, I came home last night and watched an episode of Waking the Dead with a similar situation, but with very different results.) The remainder of the film is Martha dealing with the repercussions in the best way she knows how, which is, of course, not necessarily how most people would. Luckily, she stumbles upon someone who is in the right place at the right time, and they are able to work through it together. He just doesn’t know it right away. I wouldn’t say it is a love story so much as a portrait of acceptance and choice, and beautifully done. There are no more screenings this festival, but look out for the film later this year.
The second film was Late Autumn, a South Korean film made mostly in Seattle and entirely in the Pacific Northwest. It is a story of a young Chinese woman returning home for her mother’s funeral, yet feeling unwelcome and apart from her family and her past. At the same, she is courted by a carefree Korean man who has troubles of his own. She reluctantly accepts his attentions, which eventually allow her to process some of the baggage she’s been holding onto. Hyun Bin is delightful as the incorrigible escort, and Wei Tang has her moments, too.  A mixed bag for Seattlites, I think, for there are improbable leaps in locale (maybe that’s just me being too literal), but also nice views of the actual city. Hey folks, this is not Vancouver playing the part of Seattle! Great timing of shooting in the last days of the Fun Forest rides, the setting very much adds to the overall melancholy. Late Autumn plays again at the Egyptian on May 31.