EUFF4

Went to the opening of the 4th EU Film Festival this evening. (Is it really a year since the last one?)  The usual format: a film from each EU country spread out over a fortnight in Beijing - followed by Chengdu and Shenzhen. In the spirit of Entente Dordiale, we've contributed Ken Loach's Looking for Eric which stars a hapless Mancunian and a suave Frenchman.

The organization of the Fest has been somewhat fraught, alluded to in the introduction by the visiting Ms Androulla Vasiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth: "I am told that Chinese people love European cinema, and yet only a handful of European films are shown in Chinese cinemas each year due to various constraints and restrctions".  Hmmm, say no more.

Anyway, post speeches, relaxed and watched the opening film: a mildly diverting Polish politics & prison caper called Trick.