The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, now in its 18th year, runs Friday, October 26, through Sunday, November 4, at City North 14 and at Facets Multimedia Center, 1517 W. Fullerton. Tickets are $6 for children and adults, $4.50 for Facets members; various discounts are available for four or more tickets. Professional actors will be on hand to read subtitled films. For more information call 773-281-9075 or 773-281-2166. Programs marked with a * are highly recommended.
History: Up Close & Personal
A young boy and his sister journey across Venezuela in search of their anthropologist mother, mistakenly convinced that she’s deserted them and their father, and along the way they encounter a forest shaman who teaches them to respect nature (2000). Writer-director Diana Sanchez tries to wed magical realism with zany comedy, but the two mix like oil and water: every time the story’s contemplative side begins to emerge, it’s trampled by unlikely plot developments, roundhouse humor, or the actors’ shameless mugging. 105 min. (Joshua Katzman) (City North 14, 10:15 am)
School’s Cool
An 11-year-old girl, traumatized after nearly drowning, undergoes “dolphin therapy” in Florida. Christoph Schrewe directed this German feature. 90 min. (Facets Multimedia Center, 4:00)
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Toons for Tots
Nine short videos, including The Last Polar Bears from the UK and Eggnatious the Mighty from Australia. 89 min. (Facets Multimedia Center, 11:00 am)
