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64th Critics' Week: Ava Cahen Presented Alexe Poukine's KIKA at the 23rd FICM

Brian V. Soto

The French-Belgian film Kika by French director Alexe Poukine was screened as part of the 23rd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) and its partnership with Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week, which began in 2003. The film was presented by Ava Cahen, Artistic Director of this parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival.

Pregnant with her second child, Kika faces the sudden death of her partner. Completely devastated and penniless, she determines that her priorities will be to earn money quickly and to remain strong. Dirty underwear, dildos, and neurotic parents will unexpectedly assist her.

Ava Cahen opened the presentation of the film by saying: "I am very happy to present the first feature film by Alexe Poukine, a filmmaker who has worked extensively on documentaries addressing social, humanist, and feminist issues. Kika is the story of a social worker whose life is turned upside down by a tragedy and who decides to take a very unorthodox path to deal with the blow,“ she said. ”That's the least we can say."

“There are films that slap us in the face and hug us at the same time, and Kika is one of those rare films that does both,” Cahen added. “Kika is a disconcerting film that moves us and also sometimes has a really unexpected sense of humor.”

Cahen pointed out that the film stars a young actress named Manon Clavel in her first major role, although she may already have been seen in Kore-eda's film La vérité, where she acted alongside Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche. “I won't say more, I'll let you see this film that had a huge impact on me. I hope it resonates with you, too,” she concluded.