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.