New films by Martin Scorsese, Frederick Wiseman and Hirokazu Kore-eda will be part of the San Sebastian International Film Festival’s Zabaltegi special screenings program.
As already announced, Zabaltegi-Specials will present six Spanish movies: “14 d’abril Macià contra Companys,” by Manuel Huerga; “Al final del tunnel” (A light at the End of the Tunnel in the Basque Country), by Eterio Ortega; “El cuaderno de barro” (The Clay Diaries), by Isaki Lacuesta; “Extraterrestre” (Extraterrestrial), by Nacho Vigalondo; “Madrid, 1987,” by David Trueba and “Puzzled Love” by the ESCAC (Escola Superior de Cinema i Audioviuals de Catalunya).
The 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival takes place in Spain’s Basque region September 16 – 24.
Ten films unveiled for SSIFF’s Zabaltegi section with descriptions and credits provided by the event:
“Carrière. 250 Metros” is a documentary directed by Juan Carlos Rulfo giving us deeper insight to the author and screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, Luis Buñuel’s faithful collaborator, the author of over 100 movie screenplays recently decorated with the Spanish Order of the Arts and Letters. Carrière recalls in an emotional sentimental voyage the places and people that have marked his life, cities like Toledo, Paris and New York, and old friends like Peter Brook and Milos Forman. Juan Carlos Rulfo (Mexico City, 1964) made an international name for himself with the documentary En el hoyo (In the Pit, 2006), winner of awards at the Sundance, Karlovy Vary and Guadalajara Festivals; in collaboration with Carlos Hagerman he went on to direct Los que se quedan (2008), also the recipient of awards at the Los Angeles and Guadalajara festivals.
“Le Chat du Rabbin” (The Rabbi’s Cat) is an animated film helmed by Antoine Deslevaux and the illustrator Joann Sfar on the incredible adventures of a rabbi and his talking cat when they set out on a quest to find a mythical African city. The film carried off the Cristal Award for best feature at the Annecy Animated Film Festival. Joann Sfar (Nice, 1971) is a cult figure in the comic field, particularly thanks to his Dungeon series; in 2010 he made his directorial debut with Gainsbourg, vie héroïque (Gainsbourg, a Heroic Life).
“Crazy Horse” is the new documentary by Frederick Wiseman, who plunges his cameras into the entrails of the famous Parisian cabaret, “Crazy Horse”. Wiseman (Boston, 1930) is a living legend in American documentary, highly feted for his sharp portraits of American society, public institutions and the professional worlds: Titicut Follies (1967), High School (1968), Welfare (1975), Meat (1976), Model (1980), La danse – Le ballet de l’Opéra de Paris (La Danse: The Paris Ballet Opera, 2009) and Boxing Gym (2010), to name but a few.
“George Harrison: Living in the Material World,” Martin Scorsese’s latest documentary, takes a closer look at Beatle George Harrison through testimonies by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, among others. The film features previously unreleased recordings and images. Martin Scorsese (New York, 1942) is an essential name in modern American cinema, having put his name to titles that have made history: Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976) –Golden Palm winner at the Cannes Festival– Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Casino (1995) and The Departed (2006), thanks to which he landed the Academy Award for Best Director. His other documentaries are The Last Waltz (1978), No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005) and Shine a Light (2008).
“Nochi No Hi” (The Days After) is the contribution of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda to the fantasy TV series KAIDAN-HORROR CLASSICS produced by NHK and NHK Enterprises. His episode is a poetic reflection on mourning and the loss of a loved one portrayed through the story of a couple visited every night by their dead son. Hirokazu Kore-eda (Tokyo, 1962) further participates this year in the Official Selection with Kiseki (I Wish), having already entered the San Sebastian competition with three earlier films: Wandâfuru raifu (After Life, 1998), Hana yori mo naho (Hana, 2006) and Aruitemo, aruitemo (Still Walking, 2008).
“Sur La Planche” (On the Edge), by the Moroccan filmmaker Leila Kilani, secured Cinema in Motion Award at the 58th edition of the San Sebastian Festival, and took part in the Cannes Festival Directors’ Fortnight. This film about two Moroccan youngsters and their harsh living conditions is the first fictional feature by Leila Kilani (Casablanca, 1970), who had previously directed two documentaries: Tánger, le rêve des brûleurs (2003) and Nos lieux interdits (2009).
Zabaltegi Special Midnight Showings:
“Le Moine” (The Monk) is an adaptation of the great classic Gothic novel written by Matthew Gregory Lewis in the 18th Century. Dominik Moll helms this Spanish-French co-production, a powerful thriller about a monk who makes a pact with the Devil. On the cast we find Vincent Cassel, Deborah François, Sergi López and Geraldine Chaplin. German moviemaker Dominik Moll (Bühl, 1962) made a name for himself on the international film scene with his disturbing thrillers: Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien (With a Friend Like Harry, 2000), earning him the César for Best Director, and Lemming (2005).
The Australian production “Snowtown,” directed by Justin Kurzel, is a disturbing portrait of the relationship between an adolescent and his new found father-figure who draws him into a world of bigotry and violence. Kurzel competed with this opera prima in Critics’ Week at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, winning a special mention; the film also bagged the Audience Award at Adelaide Film Festival.
“Pinku Eigu” is the name given to Japanese erotic cinema principally produced in the 60s and 70s, always revolving around tales of extreme passion and violence. Consumer films the delirious proposals of which have now become cult objects for movie buffs with a strong penchant for strange, unclassifiable works. The “Pinku Eiga Night” will include two classics by masters in the genre:
“Edogawa Ranpo Ryoki-kan: Yaneura No Sanphosha” (Watcher in the Attic, 1976), by Noboru Tanaka.
“Hana To Hebi” (Flower and Snake, 1974), by Masaru Konuma.
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