Tartuff 2024 will be a cinematic journey through exotic landscapes

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Laila Kaasik / Tartuff

Tartu’s Town Hall Square will be transformed into a massive open-air cinema for the annual Love Film Festival, Tartuff, from August 5-10. This year’s festival offers a unique blend of exotic films; from a Taiwanese chicken farmer seeking love via a dating app to thrilling camel races in the Saudi Arabian desert.

For the first time in Tartuff’s history, a Saudi Arabian film will be showcased on the grand outdoor screen. Abu Bakr Shawky’s adventure drama, “Hajjan-Desert Jockey,” will take viewers on an epic journey through the vast deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, invoking the spirit of American Westerns. Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival and drawing long lines at Saudi Arabian box offices earlier this year, the film tells the story of teenager Matar who, following his older brother’s mysterious death in a racing accident, mounts a camel named Hofira to seek justice. Rich in Arabian folklore, the story is a poignant tale of vengeance and honor.

Continuing the exotic theme, the festival will also screen “Salli”, a romantic comedy by Taiwanese director Lien Chien-Hung. This bittersweet tale follows Hui-Jun, a middle-aged, single chicken farmer, who meets his dream man, Martin, a gallery owner in Paris, through a dating app. Despite warnings that Martin might not be real and could be a scammer, Hui-Jun travels to Paris to find him, in a heartwarming story about hope, love, and self-discovery.

Last year, the audience award at Tartuff went to the exotic Mongolian comedy “Salesgirl”, which showcases the festival’s tradition of celebrating diverse international films.

In total, the Tartuff outdoor cinema will screen 12 films focused on love, alongside documentary and youth films at the Tartu Elektriteater. As always, all screenings are free to the public. The full programme of love-themed films will be unveiled in mid-July. 

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