Exclusive: New films by Dominique Deruddere, Alfonso Zarauza and Chus Gutiérrez are among five new titles acquired by Cologne-based Media Luna New Films ahead of Cannes’ Marché du Film.
There will be market premieres of:
Belgian director Deruddere’s ninth feature, the romance Flying Home, starring Jamie Dornan, Anthony Head, and Jan Decleir, was released by Kfd in Belgian cinemas on April 2.
Zarauza’s dark comedy The Aces, with Spanish actors Lola Dueñas, Luis Tosar and Juan Carlos Vellido, Miguel de Lira, competed in Malaga’s Spanish Film Festival last month.
One of Spain’s foremost women directors, Gutiérrez cast more than 200 professional dancers including world champions for her salsa musical romance Ciudad Delirio between a dedicated Spanish dancer and a beautiful Colombian salsa dancer.
Mexican director Jorge Pérez Solano’s second feature, the drama La Tirisia, starring Amores Perros’ Gustavo Sanchez Parra.
Fellow countryman Jack Zagha’s road movie comedy One For The Road with three 80-year-olds...
There will be market premieres of:
Belgian director Deruddere’s ninth feature, the romance Flying Home, starring Jamie Dornan, Anthony Head, and Jan Decleir, was released by Kfd in Belgian cinemas on April 2.
Zarauza’s dark comedy The Aces, with Spanish actors Lola Dueñas, Luis Tosar and Juan Carlos Vellido, Miguel de Lira, competed in Malaga’s Spanish Film Festival last month.
One of Spain’s foremost women directors, Gutiérrez cast more than 200 professional dancers including world champions for her salsa musical romance Ciudad Delirio between a dedicated Spanish dancer and a beautiful Colombian salsa dancer.
Mexican director Jorge Pérez Solano’s second feature, the drama La Tirisia, starring Amores Perros’ Gustavo Sanchez Parra.
Fellow countryman Jack Zagha’s road movie comedy One For The Road with three 80-year-olds...
- 4/25/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Nenette et Boni
Written by Claire Denis and Jean-Pol Fargeau
Directed by Claire Denis
France, 1996
A more urban escapade for Denis, Nenette et Boni looks at two conflicted siblings searching for normality in one another. Boni, an over-sexualized and underachieving pizza maker lives a remarkably uneventful life, lusting over the local baker-lady and chronically masturbating. It’s only when his estranged sister Nenette shows up with a devastating secret that Boni begins to question the validity of his lifestyle and decisions.
The plot is focused on the burgeoning relationship between the siblings, but it’s undeniable that Denis shot this film with the intention of painting a picture of everyday people. Being a slice-of-life movie helps illustrate the commonality of the siblings’ issues, more or less so as to get across that everyone encounters similar problems. The film is shot well and is full of visual metaphors that do more...
Written by Claire Denis and Jean-Pol Fargeau
Directed by Claire Denis
France, 1996
A more urban escapade for Denis, Nenette et Boni looks at two conflicted siblings searching for normality in one another. Boni, an over-sexualized and underachieving pizza maker lives a remarkably uneventful life, lusting over the local baker-lady and chronically masturbating. It’s only when his estranged sister Nenette shows up with a devastating secret that Boni begins to question the validity of his lifestyle and decisions.
The plot is focused on the burgeoning relationship between the siblings, but it’s undeniable that Denis shot this film with the intention of painting a picture of everyday people. Being a slice-of-life movie helps illustrate the commonality of the siblings’ issues, more or less so as to get across that everyone encounters similar problems. The film is shot well and is full of visual metaphors that do more...
- 10/16/2013
- by Taegan J. Brown
- SoundOnSight
Chicago – Africa has routinely played a major role in the work of Claire Denis, a French writer/director deservedly hailed as one of the greatest living filmmakers. Her upbringing in colonial Africa certainly proved to be an influence on her 1988 directorial debut, “Chocolat,” as well as 1999’s equally evocative “Beau travail.” Both films centered on protagonists re-connecting with their deep-seated memories of life on the continent.
“White Material” could easily be seen as the completion of a thematic trilogy, though it also stands on its own as a singularly haunting and disturbing work of art. The death of European colonialism is reluctantly witnessed through the eyes of Maria (Isabelle Huppert), a white plantation owner in Africa whose love of the land and devotion to her coffee crop causes her to deny the civil war gradually consuming her country. Even with a gun pointed at her head, Maria’s determination remains unflinching.
“White Material” could easily be seen as the completion of a thematic trilogy, though it also stands on its own as a singularly haunting and disturbing work of art. The death of European colonialism is reluctantly witnessed through the eyes of Maria (Isabelle Huppert), a white plantation owner in Africa whose love of the land and devotion to her coffee crop causes her to deny the civil war gradually consuming her country. Even with a gun pointed at her head, Maria’s determination remains unflinching.
- 4/26/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Some films out on DVD/VOD today that you may want to check out this week…
First, The Inheritance… the story of five ambitious cousins who set out in a winter storm to a reunion at the family estate. They hope to please the elders and secure their inheritance, a fortune that dates back to days of slavery. Their Uncle Melvin welcomes them with open arms, but warns them to respect their family traditions. During the weekend, as each of the cousins mysteriously disappears, they learn the truths about their family legacy, blood ancestor, and the ultimate sacrifice they must make in exchange for their beloved inheritance.
The film was produced by Effie Brown and her Duly Noted production company. For those unfamiliar with either name, some titles Brown has produced in recent years include, Stranger Inside (directed by Cheryl Dunye, 2001); Real Women Have Curves (directed by Patricia Cardosa, 2002); and...
First, The Inheritance… the story of five ambitious cousins who set out in a winter storm to a reunion at the family estate. They hope to please the elders and secure their inheritance, a fortune that dates back to days of slavery. Their Uncle Melvin welcomes them with open arms, but warns them to respect their family traditions. During the weekend, as each of the cousins mysteriously disappears, they learn the truths about their family legacy, blood ancestor, and the ultimate sacrifice they must make in exchange for their beloved inheritance.
The film was produced by Effie Brown and her Duly Noted production company. For those unfamiliar with either name, some titles Brown has produced in recent years include, Stranger Inside (directed by Cheryl Dunye, 2001); Real Women Have Curves (directed by Patricia Cardosa, 2002); and...
- 4/12/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Chicago – Can dedication overcome all odds? Film has taught us for years that it is the truly justified, righteous, and committed that will prevail. Of course, life is not that simple. And the films of the masterful French director Claire Denis often brilliantly portray the true complexity of life. Her newest film, “White Material,” completes an amazing 2010 one-two punch with the excellent “35 Shots of Rum” released earlier this year. She’s one of our best international filmmakers.
The dedication I speak of belongs to Maria, perfectly played by one of our best living actresses, Isabelle Huppert. One could call Maria dedicated or merely stubborn but as “White Material” progresses it becomes clear that whatever you call her, her story is unlikely to end happily. Maria runs a coffee plantation in an unnamed African country in tumultuous times. As the film opens, she is traveling back to her plantation and...
Chicago – Can dedication overcome all odds? Film has taught us for years that it is the truly justified, righteous, and committed that will prevail. Of course, life is not that simple. And the films of the masterful French director Claire Denis often brilliantly portray the true complexity of life. Her newest film, “White Material,” completes an amazing 2010 one-two punch with the excellent “35 Shots of Rum” released earlier this year. She’s one of our best international filmmakers.
The dedication I speak of belongs to Maria, perfectly played by one of our best living actresses, Isabelle Huppert. One could call Maria dedicated or merely stubborn but as “White Material” progresses it becomes clear that whatever you call her, her story is unlikely to end happily. Maria runs a coffee plantation in an unnamed African country in tumultuous times. As the film opens, she is traveling back to her plantation and...
- 11/19/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
We finally get our first trailer for Claire Denis’ White Material, a film I saw last year at the New York Film Festival, and appreciated, but is only now getting a stateside theatrical release; specifically, it’ll see a limited release beginning November 19th.
It was shot entirely in Cameroon, West Africa, set on coffee plantations, and stars Isabelle Huppert, Isaach De Bankolé, William Nadylam, and Christopher Lambert, in a story scripted by Senegalese novelist Marie N’diaye. On paper, all that talent alone working together on any project will certainly get my attention.
Like most Denis films, it’s a laconically narrated, visually accomplished film. Not her best work, but worth a look if it opens in your city. I reviewed it last October, and you can read my thoughts on it Here (although, my view of it has changed a bit since then, but I won’t say...
It was shot entirely in Cameroon, West Africa, set on coffee plantations, and stars Isabelle Huppert, Isaach De Bankolé, William Nadylam, and Christopher Lambert, in a story scripted by Senegalese novelist Marie N’diaye. On paper, all that talent alone working together on any project will certainly get my attention.
Like most Denis films, it’s a laconically narrated, visually accomplished film. Not her best work, but worth a look if it opens in your city. I reviewed it last October, and you can read my thoughts on it Here (although, my view of it has changed a bit since then, but I won’t say...
- 10/21/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Her first project back in 1988, Chocolat, was nominated for the Golden Palm Award at Cannes and marks the beginning of her long running working relationship with Isaach De Bankolé. Here she follows up the success of the highly praised 35 Shots of Rum, by reuniting with De Bankolé and teaming up for the first time with stalwart actress Isabelle Huppert for the socio-political drama, White Material.
LOVEFiLM: Can you give us a brief overview of the film?
Claire Denis: The film is about a French woman who stands alone in Africa and she owns a coffee plantation. During the Civil War, the French army try to tell her to leave because the political situation means it is not safe for her and her family to stay. She decides to stay and take the risk, because she does not want to surrender.
Lf: Where did you and Marie N’Diaye get your ideas from?...
LOVEFiLM: Can you give us a brief overview of the film?
Claire Denis: The film is about a French woman who stands alone in Africa and she owns a coffee plantation. During the Civil War, the French army try to tell her to leave because the political situation means it is not safe for her and her family to stay. She decides to stay and take the risk, because she does not want to surrender.
Lf: Where did you and Marie N’Diaye get your ideas from?...
- 6/28/2010
- by jennifer.trevorrow@lovefilm.com (Jennifer Trevorrow)
- LOVEFiLM
I saw this last year at the New York Film Film Festival, and reviewed it afterward. You can read my full review Here. Suffice it to say that I dug it! At the time, a trailer wasn’t available, but one has finally surfaced. It’s officially a 2010 release, as it opens theatrically in France next month, and the rest of the world will have to wait until further notice. But I think this will show up on a few best of 2010 lists by the end of this year.
Shot entirely in Cameroon, West Africa. The film, set on coffee plantations, stars Isabelle Huppert, Isaach De Bankolé, William Nadylam, and Christopher Lambert, in a story scripted by Senegalese novelist Marie N’diaye.
The trailer is in French, sans subtitles, but, if you’ve read all my previous posts on the film, including my review, I think you’ll get the idea.
Shot entirely in Cameroon, West Africa. The film, set on coffee plantations, stars Isabelle Huppert, Isaach De Bankolé, William Nadylam, and Christopher Lambert, in a story scripted by Senegalese novelist Marie N’diaye.
The trailer is in French, sans subtitles, but, if you’ve read all my previous posts on the film, including my review, I think you’ll get the idea.
- 2/24/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
- #94. White Material Director: Claire Denis Writer(s): Denis and Marie N'DiayeProducers: Pascal Caucheteux (The Beat That My Heart Skipped)Distributor: Rights Available. The Gist: This is a contemporary tale set on coffee plantations. Troubled by the rebellion, Maria refuses to abandon her business, which has been in the family for generations. Fact: Denis' last film, 35 Rhums (2008) was extremely well received by Venice and Tiff critics. Why is it on the list?: The director spent her entire childhood in Cameroon (see her excellent directing debut in the little seen 98' film Chocolat) - so she has an aptitude and understanding for the narrative's terrain.Release Date/Status?: Isabelle Huppert being named to be the president of the Cannes jury in 2009 - this means that in all likelihood, this would be showcased out of competition at Cannes. ...
- 1/6/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
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