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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2015 40 This Week IN CINEMAS TODAY Embassy Cinemas, Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 Jurassic Wolrd 3D (12) 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 20:50, 23:30 Entourage (15) 10:35, 13:50, 16:10, 18:30, 20:55, 23:15 The Longest Ride (12A) 10:20, 14:00, 17:50, 20:50, 23:35 Spy (15) 10:30, 13:15, 15:50, 18:25, 21:00 Age of Adaline (12A) 16:05, 18:35, 21:05 San Andreas (3D) 10:15, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 Eden Cinemas, St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 Pitch Perfect 2 (PG) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:45 The Longest Ride (12A) 14:20, 18:10, 20:55, 23:35 San Andreas (12A) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:45 Entourage (15) 14:10, 16:30, 18:50, 21:10, 23:30 Turist (15) 14:00, 18:50 Big Game (PG) 14:15, 16:15, 18:30, 20:55, 23:05 Unfriended (15) 14:15, 16:15, 18:45, 21:05, 23:05 Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (PG) 14:30, 23:30 Mad Max – Fury Road (15) 14:30, 18:25, 23:30 Living in the Age of Airplanes (U) 16:30, 17:45, 21:15, 22:45 Minions 3D (U) 18:00, 20:30 Two by Two (U) 14:10, 16:15, 18:40, 20:45, 22:45 Spy (15) 14:20, 18:15, 20:50, 23:25 Jurassic World 3D (12A) 14:30, 16:20, 18:10, 20:00, 21:00, 23:00, 23:45 The Terminator (15) 21:00 Empire Cinemas, Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 Jurassic World 3D (12) 10:40, 13:15, 15:50, 18:25, 21:00, 23:35 Entourage (15) 10:55, 13:30, 15:50, 18:15, 20:50, 23:10 The Longest Ride (12) 10:50, 13:25, 15:55, 18:25, 21:00, 23:30 Two by Two (U) 10:10, 12:10, 14:05, 16:00 Spy (15) 10:25, 13:20, 15:50, 18:20, 20:50, 23:25 San Andreas (12A) 10:55, 13:30, 15:55, 18:20, 20:50, 23:15 Big Game (PG) 11:00, 13:20, 15:30, 18:00, 20:50, 23:00 Minions 3D (U) 18:00, 20:30 LOCAL cineastes finally had their prayers answered – albeit for a brief six-day period – when the Valletta Film Festival graced the capital city between June 15 and 21, presenting a varied pro- gramme of contemporary world cinema across various venues – some of them open-air. Cement- ing its efforts to present a bona fide festival with the potential to match its European counterparts, the 'VFF' also boasted its cadre of awards, delivered to a pack of lucky contenders by a pretty pres- tigious jury. So why not start with a chat about the Best Film winner at the very same fest, the sweet – in more ways than one – Japanese entry An ('Sweet Red Bean Paste')? The latest feature film from prolific director Naomi Kawase, An ar- rived to our shores with some ac- cumulated pedigree already, hav- ing opened the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. While its affectionate, broad sweep appears to grasp for a wider audience than her previous films – somewhat challenging ex- plorations of dysfunctional family dynamics and the rift between fact and fiction – An still manages to sieve some poignant angst through its borderline-saccharine setup. Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) runs a small bakery that serves doray- akis – pastries filled with sweet red bean paste ('an'). When an old lady, Tokue (Kirin Kiki), offers to help in the kitchen he reluctantly accepts – out of a sense of char- ity for the frail, eager old woman, if nothing else. But it turns out that Tokue's insistence for the job is more than justified: her 'an' are the best he's ever tasted, and the neighbourhood seems to agree, as the bakery's previously meager clientele balloons overnight after she's allowed dominance of the kitchen. But as their working relation- ship develops, the duo open up to reveal old wounds… one of which might undermine everything they've managed to build. A clear link to Kawase's previ- ous work exists here in the form of Wakana (Kyara Uchida) – a teenager reluctantly raised by an oft-drunk single mother who's none-too-keen on her only child going off to high school when she could be making more money working. Wakana fills this key void by sidling up to Sentaro and Tokue as the two get underway in revolutionizing the little bakery; a surrogate daughter of sorts who puts their halting, quirky but pro- ductive relationship into keener focus. In many ways though, Tokue is a grandmotherly figure to both of them, passing on both cooking ad- vice and the kind of hard-won wis- dom that can only be dispensed in old age. But it's Kirin Kiki's per- formance makes all the difference. Conventionally lovable she may be – the Pjazza Teatru Rjal screen- ing was punctuated by charmed "aaawww"-s from the audience whenever she did something old- lady-cute – she's also fragile to the core, and watching her also comes with a quiet suspense: you know she's on her way towards crum- bling soon. Some on-the-nose imagery in fact – unfortunately – accompa- nies this meditation on mortality and the fragility of human relation- ships (cherry blossoms? Check), but An remains an affecting tale that does good work in addressing an international audience without straining out of shape. Though it may indulge in a platitude or two and allow its pacing to peter out by the end, it remains an affecting journey. By Teodor Reljic Almost saccharine to a fault ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SWEET ★ ★ ★ ★ NEAT ★ ★ ★ TREAT ★ ★ FEAT ★ MISTREAT FILM From left: Kyara Uchida, Kirin Kiki and Masatoshi Nagase in Naomi Kawase's 'An' – winner of Best Film at the Valletta Film Festival AN – SWEET RED BEAN PASTE ★ ★ ★ ★ The feature film 'An' directed by Naomi Kawase won Best Film at the first edition of the Valletta Film Festival that was held between June 15-21. In her acceptance speech, transmitted from Japan, Kawase thanked the jury for the award and stated that the film is a very simple story going through the Japanese four seasons, with three generations of actors growing and learning from their interactions. "From the idea of crossing the borders, showing empathy to people around, I thought that it would give a warm feeling to the audience," she added. Film Director Roland Joffé ('The Killing Fields') presided over the international Jury which included actors Amber Rose Revah, Nahuel Perez Biscayart, Laura Kpegli and the director of Cork Film Festival James Mulligan. The festival was attended by more than 5,000 people and boasted films from Brazil, Japan, China and Scandinavian countries amongst many others. Anna Muyleart, director of Brazilian film The Second Mother, won the Best Director award. In her acceptance speech, transmitted via video message, Muyleart said her film reflected the aims of the festival and hoped it conveyed a common humanity. The documentary film 'Something Better to Come' directed by Hannah Polak won Best Documentary award. Receiving the Triton Award during the closing ceremony held at Fort St Elmo, Polak said that she felt privileged to be part of the lives of Yula, her friends and family. She said she was accepting the award on their behalf, knowing that the recognition that this story had affected so many people was a sign of hope that there was something better to come for the residents of the svalka. The award for Best Actress went to Kirin Kiki for her role as Tokue in the feature film 'An' whilst Polish actor Janusz Gajos won Best Actor for his role in the film 'Body'. The Best Screenplay award went to Carolina Hellsgard for her film 'Wanja' which she also directed. Best Cinematography went to Luis Armanda Arteaga for his elemental imagery in Ixcanul Volcano. Best Short Film went to the Moldavian entry Market Day. In a recorded message the filmmakers thanked the festival and said the award was an encouragement for their future projects. Valletta Film Festival – The winners