The film festival in Indonesia, Europe on Screen 2023, has already started screening in 7 cities in Indonesia from June 16th, 2023. Europe on Screen 2023 will present 73 films from 24 European countries, and one of the movies that will be featured at the festival is "First Snow of Summer," directed by Chris Raiber.

 

 

 

 

 

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The film tells the story of an eccentric man named Alexander (played by Thomas Prunn) who makes a promise to himself never to fall in love, fearing that he would end up like his father, consumed by sadness since the loss of his mother. Alexander has a unique hobby and a special mission that leads him to work in the Lost and Found department of an underground train station. One day, he meets and falls in love with a girl named Caro (played by Verena Altenberger), who works at a hat store in the same station.

This captivating Austrian film has been chosen as the opening film for this year's Europe on Screen festival. With a runtime of 90 minutes, the film captivated audiences by introducing the cool and unusual character of Alexander, who was quite different from other kids.

Raised by his grandmother, Alexander spent his days watching cowboy movies with her. He had a unique habit of recording the temperature by sensing it through his own body every day. He followed his grandmother's advice to always take a bath when feeling scared.

Unlike his close bond with his grandmother, Alexander and his father seemed to have an invisible barrier between them. They communicated in an unconventional way, with Alexander drawing pictures in a hidden area as a way to connect with his mother. He painted a dandelion helmet as one of his protective tools.

At the beginning of the film, Alexander takes center stage. However, the camera gradually shifts its focus to Caro, his coworkers with their own hobbies and fears, his gloomy father, and other characters who breathe life into the story.

The presence of Alexander's coworkers and the train passengers who visit the office adds excitement to the film, rescuing the audience from potential boredom. The behaviors of the coworkers and customers may seem strange, but their peculiarities make the audience burst into laughter. The introduction of each character reminds us of the style of Wes Anderson.

With a slow-paced narrative and a character like Alexander, who is emotionally reserved, don't expect this love story to be filled with intense emotions and drama. Instead of being purely romantic, their relationship develops awkwardly. However, Chris Raiber, the screenwriter, attempts to infuse classic romantic elements while staying true to Alexander's eccentric nature.

"First Snow of Summer" is a romantic drama with strong and distinct characters set in the confined world of an underground station. Away from the sunlight, the two unique characters in the story captivate the audience, aided by captivating scoring and a visually appealing color palette.

Released in March 2023, the film received four nominations at the Austrian Film Awards, Verena Altenberger was nominated as the audience's favorite actress at the Romy Gala in Australia, and it won the award for Best Original Score in Film at the Diagonale festival in Australia.

The film premiered in Indonesia during the First Screening of "First Snow of Summer" held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the Goethe-Institut Jakarta. The event was part of the Europe on Screen 2023 festival and was attended by important guests, including ambassadors from various European countries to Indonesia and many others.

Prominent figures at the event, such as H.E. Mr. Thomas Loidl, the Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Stefan Dreter, the Regional Director of Goethe-Institut, Mr. Stephane Mechati, the Deputy of Mission for the European Union, and Meninaputri Wismurti and Nauval Yazid, the Europe on Screen Festival Co-Directors, delivered special remarks.