#TIFF17: “GUTLAND”

Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong

Gutland is Luxembourger Govinda Van Maele’s Feature Film debut. It opens with Jens (Frederick Lau), drifting into a provincial German town. After finding work as a farm hand, Jens finds pleasure in the bed of Lucy (Vicky Krieps). Lucy is one of several local figures who introduce Jens to the dark secrets of Schandelsmillen.

The Film is beautifully-staged and brilliantly-scored. Rural landscapes are accompanied by haunting melodies, working together to enhance the eerie aura of the Film. At first Jens appears as the rogue with a troubled past, but by the end of the Second Act, it is everyone else that seems suspect. The Third Act turns everything on its head, and concludes with a memorable musical presentation that resolves the story while elevating its enigmatic nature. Expertly-acted and beautifully-presented, Gutland is the type of Indie gold that makes TIFF the “Festival of Festivals.”.

GUTLAND screens at TIFF ’17:

Sunday, September 10, 2017 6:45 PM Scotiabank 13

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 9:00 AM TIFF Bell Lightbox 3

Saturday, September 16, 2017 6:00 PM Scotiabank 9