FESTIVALS | “Last Chance Harvey” and “Burning Plain” Bookend 20th Palm Springs Film Fest

Included in this year’s line up are 12 features from international filmmakers with their first or second films. The following is a list of the films in this section with descriptions provided by the festival:

“Among the Clouds” (Iran) - In southwest Iran, near the border with Iraq, a resourceful 16-year-old baggage porter becomes smitten with a slightly older Iraqi girl who’s not what she seems in this bittersweet drama. A U.S. premiere, directed by Rouhollah Hejazi.

“Ciao Bella” (Sweden) - When Iranian-born Swede Mustafa is transformed into Latin lover Massimo, his suave manners and sense of style attract working-class beauty Linnea. This sassily humorous love story manages to address serious issues, including national stereotyping, racism, and an increasingly sexualized youth environment. A U.S. premiere, directed by Mani Maserrat-Agha.

“Eugene” (USA) - Marking its world premiere, Jake Barsha’s feature debut is a brilliantly disturbing psychological thriller about a lonely bachelor who befriends a young hustler and his girlfriend, with disastrous results for all involved. Strong performances—Stuart Bennett in the lead role is particularly fine—support Eugene’s taut script and beautiful camerawork.

“Grown Ups” (France/Sweden) - This U.S. premiere tells the story of a single French father and his shy teen daughter discover romance—and deal with a shift in their own relationship—during a Swedish summer holiday. Debuting director Anna Novion proves an astute observer of human interactions in this wistfully charming comic drama.

“Hooked” (Romania/France) - A day in the country becomes a crisis of conscience for two lovers after they hit a prostitute with their car. Presumed dead, she suddenly wakes up, and the couple lies to her about the accident. Hooked’s naturalistic, handheld visual style complements the psychological complexity of the screenplay. A U.S. premiere, directed by Adrian Sitaru.

“Machan” (Italy/Sri Lanka/Germany) - Based on a real-life event, Machan tells the story of a group of slum dwellers on the margins of society who find an invitation to a handball tournament in Bavaria, and band together to form the unlikely Sri Lanka National Handball Team. A U.S. premiere, directed by Uberto Pasolini.

“Rain” (Bahamas) - Teenager Rain (Renel Naomi Brown) embarks on a quest to find her mother, whom she has never met, and is devastated by what she finds. Director Maria Govan’s powerful debut feature, marking its U.S. premiere, exposes viewers to a side of life in the Bahamas rarely seen by outsiders.

“The Seven Days” (Israel) - When a large clan (a who’s who of Israel’s finest performers) gathers for the funeral and shiva of a loved one, bitterness and family feuds soon take precedence over mourning. A North American premiere, directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz.

“The Shaft” (China) - Set amid the imposing mountains of western China, the dreams and disappointments of a family of coalmine workers poignantly reflect the plight of a vast number of ordinary laborers unable to climb the ladder of the country’s post-Communist economy. A U.S. premiere, directed by Zhang Chi.

“South Desert” (Chile) - Young Sofia finds a letter her mother had written before her recent death. Returned because the addressee was unknown, the letter leads Sofia on an adventure from Spain to the far south of Chile looking for answers. A U.S. premiere, directed by Shawn Garry.

“Unspoken” (Belgium) - When something truly heartbreaking happens in a family, the deepest response is often unspoken. A middle-aged Belgian couple struggle with the loss of their daughter five years on. A U.S. premiere, directed by Fien Troch.

“The Wedding Song” (Tunisia/France) - This U.S. premiere is Karin Albou’s (Little Jerusalem) sophomore feature and confirms her status as a rising star in the art-film firmament. The story of a Muslim girl and a Jewish girl who bond intensely during the Nazi occupation of Tunis is taboo breaking, sensual, and political, all at the same time.