‘Cuchera’ competes in Stockholm

After Toronto, Joseph Israel Laban’s “Cuchera” will compete at the 22nd Stockholm (Sweden) International Film Festival, set Nov. 8 to 20.  The fest’s website describes the “grisly drama” about Filipino drug mules as “an eye-opener.” The site points out: “Vibrant colors and confident cinematography do not ease the graphic images… some scenes could be part of a horror movie. Laban effectively uses the sounds of disturbing screams and groans to complete the picture of misery.”