Audio By Carbonatix
Again this year, Denver Film Festival artistic director Brit Withey is offering his must-see picks for each day of the fest – including many flicks that movie lovers might otherwise miss amid the flood of silver-screen goodies. Today, he spotlights selections for Wednesday, November 11: Virgin Mountain.
Virgin Mountain
Directed by Dagur Kári
1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 11
6:15 p.m Friday, November 13
2:15 p.m. Saturday, November 14
UA Pavilions
According to fest artistic director Brit Withey, Iceland’s Virgin Mountain doesn’t pull any punches. “This is a total heartbreaker,” he says. “Just a kick-in-the-stomach weeper of the sort that I love when they’re done really well. And this is done really well.
“It’s the story of this guy, a big mountain of a guy, who’s probably around forty and lives with his mom. He works in the baggage department at the airport and has one friend. They reenact World War II battles with toy tanks and little set-ups. But most of the time, he just stays at home. He doesn’t have much of a life whatsoever.
When news happens, Westword is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
“As sort of a last-ditch effort to get him out of the house and give him something in his life, his mother and her boyfriend buy him a gift certificate for his birthday to a Western line-dancing class. He reluctantly attends and meets a girl – and the rest of the film is this on-again, off-again friendship between them. He’s smitten by her immediately, and she at least finds him interesting. But she’s a problematic character – she’s got some emotional problems – and the movie is about what their relationship is going to be, if anything. He puts himself out there so nakedly and she just can’t quite accept him completely,” he continues. “It’s a heartbreaking film, but it’s also very sweet. You just root for him so much.”
Look below to see the trailer for Virgin Mountain. To access all the film festival’s selections and purchase tickets, click here.
