(no subject)

For years Calexico has been making desert noir soundtrack music, and someone finally had the good sense to set a movie to it. I'm a little surprised that it was Jonny Vang, which takes place on the green slopes of Norway, but maybe because it's a story about rural desperation, when a mariachi-esque strain or an ominous folk song from Hot Rail or The Black Light suddenly breaks in, it works. Official site, Cinequest page (full film available), IMDb page.

Another Norwegian film with a good soundtrack was the festival opener, United, a romantic soccer comedy. The many pop songs on the soundtrack were all by up-and-coming Norwegian bands I've never heard of, and they were almost all good. Wish I'd managed to corner the director and try to buy a CD. The movie was charming too, if a little abrupt in its inevitable happy ending. Official site, Cinequest page (with trailer), IMDb page.