Gems from around world shine at film festival

MONTREAL — As expected, titles from Canada dominated the 350 films in the lineup at the 2006 Montreal World Film Festival, followed by a substantial number of submissions from France, Spain, Germany and the United States.

Still, more often than not, it was the films from many other far corners of the world that captured the imagination and admiration of this year's many filmgoers.

At the top of my own list was one from Croatia/Bosnia & Herzegovina, one from Iran and one from Switzerland.

• Expertly directed by Branko Schmidt from the former Yugoslavia was "The Melon Route," based on a true story of a group of illegal immigrants who — after being smuggled across borders in a truck ostensibly delivering melons — become victims of a rough river-crossing. All perish except one Chinese girl, who eventually finds help from a reluctant, troubled former soldier and recovering drug addict suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. The result is a fascinating and unforgettable 90 minutes, impeccably acted and directed, reassuring us that art cinema is still alive and well at least somewhere in the world.

• From Switzerland this year comes a considerably more mainstream film that is nevertheless so well done that it deserves to be a major hit around the world. It is called "Vitus" — the name of a little boy who is not only a piano prodigy but also has an impressive IQ. The amazing Bruno Ganz (after dazzling audiences playing Hitler in the highly praised "Downfall") here does an about-face as the boy's charmingly offbeat but influential grandfather, and the result is a film you'll find yourself recommending to everyone.

• From Iran comes "A Little Kiss," directed by Bahman Farmanara, who, after being forbidden by the Iranian censor board to make a film for more than two decades, created the memorable "Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine" a few years ago. "A Little Kiss" is equally intelligent and thought-provoking, based on a story in which it is said, "If your conscience is clear, death is just like a little kiss." The plot concerns two aging writers — one an exile and one who has stayed in the country — who are reunited to re-examine the choices they've made after being apart for years.

• Also from Iran, but set in a snowy forest during an ongoing blizzard, is Khosro Masoumi's unusual but attention-holding "Somewhere Too Far," concerning a man who confesses to a murder he did not commit.