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The 2009 Hamptons International Film Festival lineup (synopses courtesy of HIFF):
Golden Starfish Narrative Competition
“A Rational Solution” (North American, Premiere) Director Jorgen Bergmark with Rolf Lassgard, Pernilla August, Stina Ekblad, Claes Ljungmark, Magnus Roosman
Against his better judgment, married Erland has fallen in love with his best friend’s wife. His rational solution is for all four to move in together until the passion inevitably subsides. Insightfully observed and superbly acted, Jorgen Bergmark’s film begins as simple and ordered, only to mature into a nuanced, heartbreakingly authentic portrait of love, fidelity, marriage and monogamy.
“Applause” (United States Premiere) Director Martin Pieter Zandvliet with Paprika Steen, Michael Falch, Sara Marie Maltha, Shanti Roney, Otto Leonardo Steen Rieks, Noel Koch-Sofeldt, Malou Reymann
Recently divorced Thea is struggling to give up drinking and regain custody of her two boys. But staying on the wagon isn’t easy when every night she receives clamorous applause from audiences for stage performances that all-to-closely resemble the former self that she is trying to leave behind.
“Jaffa” (United States Premiere) Director Keren Yedaya with Dana Ivgy, Moni Moshonov, Ronit Elkabetz, Mahmoud Shalaby, Roy Assaf, Hussein Yassin Mahajneh, Lili Ivgy
Following up her international success with Cannes Camera D’Or winning film OR (MY TREASURE), director Keren Yedaya introduces another stunning and complex family drama with JAFFA. A star-crossed secret romance develops between a Jewish girl and an Arab man, but tragedy interrupts the young lovers’ intentions to elope and escape their intolerant families.
“The Misfortunates” (United States Premiere) Director Felix van Groeningen with Kenneth Vanbaeden, Valentijn Dhaenens, Koen De Graeve, Wouter Hendrickx, Johan Heldenbergh
This Flemish seriocomedy ruminates over Gunther Strobbe’s ribald, troubled adolescence amongst three bawdy uncles, an ever-boozing dad, one put-upon grandmother, and more dysfunction than you can shake a keg at. Adapted from an acclaimed novel by Dimitri Verhulst and directed with deftness, verve and pathos by Felix Van Groeningen.
Golden Starfish Documentary
“Big River Man” (East Coast Premiere) Director John Maringouin with Martin Strel, Borut Strel, Matthew Mohlke
John Maringouin intrepidly follows unlikely long distance swimming champion Martin Strel on his journey to complete the world’s longest ever swim: the Amazon River. The adventure of a lifetime, the film follows the swimmer and his team on their wildly dangerous and life-altering journey.
“Long Distance Love” (New York Premiere) Directors Magnus Gertten, Elin Jonsson with Alisher Sultanov, Dildora Sultanov
Alisher and Dildora are in love in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. To support his new family, Alisher is forced leave his new bride to try to make it big in Moscow. While the newlyweds’ earnest love has a sweetness stronger than their 3,500 mile divide, their relationship is now beset by challenges more dire than distance alone.
“Mugabe and the White African” Directors Lucy Bailey & Andrew Thompson with Michael Campbell, Ben Freeth
“Is it possible to be a white man and African?” This daring film follows the story of Mike Campbell who, in 2008, took the government of Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe to international court for violation of human rights in an effort to preserve his farm amid state-sanctioned “Land Reform” initiatives tantamount to the ethnic cleansing of whites.
“Videocracy” (US Premiere) Director Erik Gandini
A jolly, Mussolini-loving agent, an aspiring martial artist/singer, a paparazzo wrangler-cum-outlaw and the prime minister of Italy are just a few of the outlandish personalities in this documentary that explores the mad world of Italian television.
“Waking Sleeping Beauty” (East Coast Premiere) Director Don Hahn with Roy Disney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, John Musker, Glen Keane, Howard Ashman
By the mid-1980s, the once mighty Disney Animation Studios was in a slump. By the end of 1990s, however, Disney had produced a string of bona fide hits from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” to “The Lion King.” Director Don Hahn’s juicy behind-the-scenes tell-all of this transitional period is an encyclopedia of the tragic lows and elating highs of the Disney renaissance.
Spotlight Films
“Con Artist” Dir. Michael Sladek with Mark Kostabi, Michel Gondry, Glenn O’Brien, Baird Jones, Pope Benedict XVI
Mid-level collectors and art fans around the world clamor to buy Mark Kostabi’s canvases, but his involvement in those creations is controversial. Collaborating with painters and designers, he often lends no more than his signature to a work. Intimate footage of Kostabi at home and interviews with friends and celebrities investigate the unusual motivations of this art establishment outsider.
“Dare” (NY Premiere) Dir. Adam Salky with Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Anna Gasteyer, Rooney Mara, Sandra Bernhard, Alan Cumming
In this Sundance hit, uptight A-student Alexa (Emmy Rossum) and her best friend Ben (Ashley Springer) befriend popular jock Johnny (Zach Gilford), after which their relationships take on surprising new dimensions. Featuring terrific support from Ana Gasteyer, Sandra Bernhard, Alan Cumming and Rooney Mara, DARE is that rare “teen movie” with a provocative twist.
“Desert Flower” (North American Premiere) Dir. Sherry Hormann with Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Craig Parkinson, Meera Syal, Soraya Omar-Scego, Anthony Mackie, Juliet Stevenson
The unbelievable true story of Waris Dirie, a Somalian nomad who would become a top supermodel, and use her influence to affect the lives of countless women all over the world. Tracing Dirie’s path from traumatized child to triumphant adult, the film is an incredible tale of one woman’s remarkable courage.
“Dirty Oil” (Canada, US, England, World Premiere) Dir. Leslie Iwerks with Neve Campbell (narration), Lester Brown, Kevin Timoney, Andrew Nikiforuk
The oil sands in the Canadian Providence of Alberta are a source of a vast supply of petroleum, but the effects of extracting it are highly controversial. This probing documentary explores the environmental, health and moral ramifications of this booming business, offering hard statistics, sobering forecasts and frightening cautionary tales.
“John Rabe” (Germany, France, China, North American Premiere) Dir. Florian Gallenberger with Ulrich Tukur, Daniel Bruhl, Anne Consigny, Dagmar Manzel, Zhang Jingchu
John Rabe’s spent years in Nanking building a career, remaining steadfastly loyal to his wife, his company, his country and the National Socialist party. When Japanese forces begin their brutal occupation of the city, Rabe’s conscience is awakened and he joins with a cynical American doctor and a motley group of expatriates to save the citizens of Nanking.
“Learning from the Light: The Vision of I.M. Pei” (USA, World Premiere) Dirs. Bo Landin, Sterling Van Wagenen
One of the most distinguished architects of our time, I.M. Pei has spent his storied career creating designs for some of the world’s most treasured structures. LEARNING FROM LIGHT chronicles Pei’s adventures through a recent and historically monumental challenge: his commission to design the Museum of Islamic Art for Doha, Qatar.
“The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond” (USA, USA Premiere) Dir. Jodie Markell with Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans, Ellen Burstyn, Mamie Gummer, Ann-Margret, Jessica Collins
Fisher Willow, an impulsive, wistful heiress, falls in love with righteous, “simple” Jimmy Dobyne after hiring him as an escort to Memphis debutante parties. The loss of a priceless earring, however, stirs unforeseen emotions in this handsomely photographed drama, produced from an unrealized Tennessee Williams screenplay.
“Paper Man” (USA, East Coast Premiere) Dirs. Michele Mulroney & Kieran Mulroney with Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Kieran Culkin, Hunter Parrish, Lisa Kudrow
Richard Dunn is a failed writer, husband and adult who adjourns to a cottage in the Hamptons to complete his latest novel. Unfortunately, he’s followed everywhere by Captain Excellent, an imaginary friend he has been unable to shake since childhood. Richard finds comfort in an unlikely friendship with a neighborhood teen. A darkly comic “coming-of-middle-age” story set against the picturesque backdrop of Montauk in winter.
“Tanner Hall” (USA, USA Premiere) Dirs. Francesca Gregorini, Tatiana von Furstenberg with Rooney Mara, Georgia King, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguson, Chris Kattan, Amy Sedaris, Tom Everett Scott
A vivid peek into the private world of an all-girls boarding school. The knot of adolescent complexity is unraveled through the coming-of-age stories of four teenage girls when their friendship is jeopardized by the arrival of a new girl.
“Stolen Lives” (USA, World Premiere) Dir. Anders Anderson with Josh Lucas, Jon Hamm, Rhona Mitra, James Van Der Beek, Jimmy Bennett
Cutting back and forth from present day to the 1950’s, “Stolen Lives” weaves together the stories of two missing boys. Detective Tom Adkins is obsessed by the disappearance of his son eight years ago. When the remains of a child buried alive fifty years ago are discovered they seem to shed new light on the mystery of his own son’s vanishing.
“Tenure” (USA, World Premiere) Dir. Mike Million with Luke Wilson, Gretchen Mol, David Koechner, Bob Gunton, Rosemarie DeWitt
In this comedic and romantic send-up of academia, Associate Professor Charlie Thurber begrudgingly prepares for one more attempt at a tenure position. Just as he starts to feel the long awaited promotion is within his grasp, an impressive new professor is brought on staff. Charlie’s best friend convinces him the only solution is to sabotage his new competition, but Charlie soon finds his professional aspirations and personal emotions leading him down different paths.
“Uncertainty” (USA, USA Premiere) Dirs. David Siegel, Scott McGehee with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lynn Collins, Assumpta Serna, Olivia Thirlby, Louis Arcella, Nelson Landrieu, Manoel Felciano
Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s latest film explores the very different directions our lives can take with just one decision. Perched atop the Brooklyn Bridge, young lovers Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins flip a coin and send the film’s narrative down two separate tracks that are alternately thrilling and moving: just like life itself.
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