The end is near. No, no, don't feel sad, nothing apocaliptic, nor a fatal illness. It's just that the wrap is right up ahead. Until that, this post will be about the MOVIES of this filmfest. Fresh ones, older ones back from the very end of November, and all the stuff that was in between. Analysis on the VOD and the on-line stuff will be in the final post. So just sit back and enjoy random but perhaps cohesive thoughts on all the content that was provided at European Film Month.

First of all it's always special when you watch thematically selected movies in a certain time, even if it's unconventional like this month was. Most of us movie-heads try to squeeze in a quality movie once or twice a month, perhaps even more, but over 10 indie films in a relatively short period is not the same as your brain gets in a regular month, filled with TV ads and mainstream movies.

I must say I enjoyed them, most of the time. Technical errors were there, but nothing too serious. There were some dull moments, dull flicks, but the majority was ok to excellent. I've listened to six languages and looked into six cultures. Every one had its characteristics. The strongest were Russian and British for me. Gruz 200 and The Trial of Tony Blair stand out. The weak link was perhaps the Italian palette, but luckily My Brother Is an Only Child redeemed them in the end. Not that there are no good Italian movies, it's just that this receiver (me) and these movies didn't mix that well.

All were character driven, and the best were the ones that best achieved this aspect. As the budget of these films was just a fragment of a Hollywood production, they needed to rely on this. There are some indies with, like, zero budget that achieve visual triumphs as well. That wasn't the case here. Nothing innovative, but in one aspect most used visuals well. Mood -- Gruz 200 -- its broken-down environments were soaking with mood. Other than that the visual arsenal was subtle in most pictures. Oh, I almost forgot the Norwegian Reprise had quite astonishing visuals, perhaps the clever use of filters, and carefully chosen angles, but it looked very pro for a small project.

It was a dual experience. The VOD approach of the filmfest ruled over the whole. Other than the movies, this strong line of conduct was decisive throughout the month. Perhaps when festivals like this become more common, one can focus solely on the movies. It's like your first 3D experience, the 3D comes first, then the movie. Luckily with this supply I forgot the medium and everything for most of the time.

One last thought on them: you need to surprise yourself with the likes of these more often. Just go on and pick one, and new thoughts will pop out most of the time. I promise.