The Proxima Competition first descends into shadow with Rain Catcher (4 p.m.) before brightening with the exuberant portrait of youth Lover, Not a Fighter (7 p.m.).
Rain-soaked London streets shimmer beneath the city lights. Wandering through dark alleyways is photographer Miles, a voyeur who peers through his camera lens into strangers’ lives before turning them into profit. However, he begins to sink into a state of mysterious paranoia after a woman starts appearing in his photographs, returning his gaze.
Restlessness, tension and unpredictability define Rain Catcher, which draws on the tradition of richly atmospheric thrillers. Director Michele Fiascaris cites Brian De Palma, Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher among his key influences. He first made this stylish neo-noir, drenched in nocturnal haze, in 2018 as an eponymous short film, whose success helped pave the way for the feature version. Exploring themes of guilt and redemption, the film confronts us with the consequences of our actions, blurring the boundaries between victim and perpetrator, justice and revenge.
A far sunnier debut comes from Martina Buchelová, who was selected for Future Frames at Karlovy Vary in 2015. Her Czech-Slovak co-production Lover, Not a Fighter captures the fleeting, aimless, bittersweet impulsiveness of youth. Its protagonist Andrej enjoys drinking and has an unusual habit: after a few drinks, he climbs trees he can no longer get down from. But now he has decided it’s time for a change. He has long been in love with Míša, and his feelings continue to grow stronger.
Through the portrait of this young couple, Buchelová tells the story of a generation unprepared for a world marked by uncertainty and confusion. Andrej is a young man full of contradictions: playful yet lonely, resilient despite repeated setbacks, free-spirited yet capable of deep seriousness. Through bold stylistic choices and an exuberant screenplay, the film expresses a heartfelt belief in love, human connection and the endless search for meaning.
