Venice Days: Bertrand Blier, Denis Villeneuve, Tanovic and Antonio Capuano Make the Cut

Here’s the press release for the Venice Days selections folks: lots of names we know!

OFFICIAL SELECTION

World Premiere

LA VIDA DE LOS PECES/THE LIFE OF FISH by Matias Bize

with Santiago Cabrera, Blanca Lewin

Chile – Production co.: Cenecca Producciones

A young Chilean returns to Santiago after 10 years in Europe and ponders his past and future over a long night of encounters with old friends and his great love. This sentimental, urban comedy depicts a South America far from the stereotypes and folklore.

International Premiere – Opening film

LE BRUIT DES GLACONS/THE CLINK OF ICE by Bertrand Blier

with Jean Dujardin, Albert Dupontel, Anne Alvaro, Myriam Boyer

France, Sales co.: Wild Bunch

An alcoholic writer is confronted by an incarnation of his own cancer in this no-holds-barred, black comedy on illness and death. Nothing is spared politically incorrect derision – except for the desire to live and love. Starring the new stars of French cinema, Jean Dujardin and Albert Dupontel.

World Premiere

ET IN TERRA PAX by Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini (feature debut)

with Maurizio Tesei, Ughetta D’Onorascenzo, Michele Botrugno, Fabio Gomiero

Italy – Sales co.: Ellipsis

Early Pasolini comes to mind in this powerful tale of stolen adolescence and betrayed hopes, set against a possible future and decrepit landscape of Rome’s squalid outskirts.

World Premiere

NOTRE ETRANGERE/THE PLACE IN BETWEEN by Sarah Bouyain (feature debut)

with Dorylia Calmel, Assita Ouedraogo, Nathalie Richard

Burkina Faso/France – Sales co.: Colifilms Diffusion

An African adolescent sent at a young age to live with a white family in Paris, in the hopes of a better life, sets out to find her mother. She journeys into the heart of Burkina Faso, while her mother has in the meantime moved to Paris. The feature debut of Idrissa Ouedraogu’s assistant director.

World Premiere

L’AMORE BUIO by Antonio Capuano

with Irene De Angelis, Gabriele Agrio, Luisa Ranieri, Corso Salani, Valeria Golino, Fabrizio Gifuni

Italy – Production cos.: L.G.M. Ellegiemme, RAI Cinema

A moving herd offers pity to no one, neither its victims nor its most fragile members. A dramatic story of violence and tenderness by of one of Naples’ most exceptional directors returns. Starring Valeria Golino and Fabrizio Gifuni. Venice Days uses this occasion to pay its respects to Corso Salani, a sensitive actor and unique filmmaker, who made his last appearance in this film.

World Premiere

PEQUENAS VOCES by Jairo Carrillo and Oscar Andrade (feature debut)

Colombia – Production cos.: Cachupedillo Films, Jaguar Taller Digital

Survivors of the civil war between the Colombian army and paramilitary gangs, a handful of children recount their lives through elementary but beautiful drawings, which the directors used as the storyboard to an absolutely unique animated film, seven years in the making, on a possible utopia.

International premiere

THE HAPPY POET by Paul Gordon

Con Paul Gordon, Jonny Mars, Chris Doubek, Liz Fisher

US – Production co.: St. Chris Film

With a style reminiscent of the heights of American independent cinema, such as the early works of Harry Jaglom, this heart-warming story of hope centers on a young entrepreneur who defies the global crisis and starts his own health food stand.

World Premiere

NOIR OCEAN by Marion Hänsel

with Nicolas Robin, Adrien Jolivet, Romain David

Belgium/France/Germany – Sales co.: Doc&Films International

From one of the great filmmakers of the European avant-garde, a story of three young, innocent sailors aboard a French frigate off the Polynesian coast. The year is 1972, the location Mururoa, during France’s nuclear testing. Based on two short stories from Hubert Mingarelli’s Océan Pacifique

International Premiere

CIRKUS COLUMBIA by Danis Tanovic

with Miki Manojlović, Mira Furlan, Boris Ler, Jelena Stupljanin

Bosnia Herzegovina/France/GB/Slovenia/Germany/Belgium/Serbia

Sales co.: The Match Factory

The Oscar-winning Bosnian director returns home with a story of loneliness and hope, comedy and drama, on the eve of the Balkan War. To show how, overnight, lifelong friends can become bitter enemies. Starring Miki Manojlovic and based on the eponymous literary debut of Bosnian journalist Ivica Djikic.

World Premiere

INCENDIES by Denis Villeneuve

with Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Rémy Girard

Canada/France – Sales co.: E1 Entertainment International

A mother´s last wish sends twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Lebanon in search of their tangled roots. A powerfully stirring tale of two young adults´ voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.

World Premiere

COGUNLUK/MAJORITY by Seren Yüce (feature debut)

with Bartu Küçükçağlayan, Settar Tanrioğren, Nihal Koldaş, Esme Madra

Turkey – Sales co.: The Match Factory

Life is hard for Romeo and Juliet even in Istanbul. Especially when he is a member of the conformist middle-class and she is a Kurdish girl seeking her own normalcy in a world where the majority does not allow for transgressions.

World Premiere

CIELO SENZA TERRA by Giovanni Davide Maderna and Sara Pozzoli

Italy – Production co.: Quarto Film

An experiment on cinéma vérité, with stories based on real life, where the camera and microphone seem to record the minutest details of three interwoven stories. An ensemble piece constantly suspended between the private life of a father and the public life of a director.

ITALY: PORTRAITS AND LANDSCAPES

LA VITA AL TEMPO DELLA MORTE/LIFE IN THE TIME OF DEATH by Andrea Caccia

World Premiere – Italy – Production co.: Roadmovie and Andrea Caccia

Three episodes about our society’s ultimate taboo – the suffering of the dying – blend experimental cinema, documentary and first-person accounts. With the narrative rhythm and visual language of one of the most innovative talents of Italian cinema.

IL SANGUE VERDE by Andrea Segre

World Premiere – Italy – Production cos.: ZaLab, Jole Film

The Rosarno riots “survivors” speak about themselves in a colorful mix of languages, stories and adventures that are united by an incredible will to live and stay in a land that has tried to depict them as outcasts of Paradise Lost.

LISETTA CARMI. UN’ANIMA IN CAMMINO by Daniele Segre

World Premiere –  Italy – Production co.: I Cammelli Sas

The incredible Lisetta Carmi was born in 1924 in Genoa, to a well-off, Jewish family. Today, she is one of the most important photographers of Italian and world history, which Daniele Segre captures as a soul in movement.

SCENA DEL CRIMINE by Walter Stokman

World Premiere – Netherlands – Production co.: Zeppers Film & TV

The Naples Questura, on a day like any other. An observer’s camera captures events, stories, fragments of life and death far from the cacophony of daily horrors. An unexpected “voyage to Italy” of a foreigner who does not seek spin and folklore but the truth beyond the headlines.

CINEMA UNDER THE SKY

HITLER A HOLLYWOOD by Frédéric Sojcher

with Maria De Medeiros, Micheline Presle

Belgium/France – Production co.: Saga Film

A truly unique mockumentary for European cinema, featuring an exceptional interviewer and an unforgettable star, Micheline Presle of Devil in the Flesh.

CAPO DIO MONTE by Pappi Corsicato

Italy, Production co.: Pappi Corsicato in association with Augusto Storero

In the National Museum of Capodimonte, arm-in-arm with Luigi Ontani and his unique creations. A virtual ballet of art.

LA SVOLTA. DONNE CONTRO L’ILVA by Valentina d’Amico

Italy, Production co.: Filmare srl

Losing one’s job is not only the stuff of Western headlines during a crisis. It can also be yesterday’s history that becomes a battle, defeat and victory all in one. Especially if told by a woman.

VOMERO TRAVEL by Guido Lombardi

Italia, Production cos.: Indigo Film, Figli del Bronx

The special day of a young man among the masses. Almost a metropolitan rap, in which prejudice and fear can unfold differently from how we are made to believe every day.

FATE LA STORIA SENZA DI ME by Mirko Capozzoli

Italy, Production co.: FOURLAB S.r.l.

The story of a young man whose life was full of memorable events: from the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the movements in 1968 and 1977 to the years of national terrorism, prison and his death from AIDS. A generation comes to term with itself.

E’ STATO MORTO UN RAGAZZO by Filippo Vendemmiati

Italy, Production co.: Promo Music

On the night of September 25, 2005, 18-year-old Federico Aldrovandi was stopped by the police in Ferrara, Italy – and died. The truth behind his death has been the subject of trials, examinations and dubious admissions. Today, his death is a battle for freedom and information.

The programme will include a surprise special event, to be announced at a later date, that will be the symbol of this edition of VENICE DAYS.