On the 25th of June in “Khudozhestvenny” cinema hall within the framework of Main Competition program there will be presented two films: “As God Commands” (“Come Dio comanda”) by Gabriele Salvatores and “Little Moscow” (“ Mala Moskwa”) by Waldemar Krzystek. In Perspectives Competition there will be shown “Coma” (“Koma”) by Ludwig Wüst and “Moon” by Duncan Jones. A new film by Lars von Trier “Antichrist” will be presented during 8 ½ Films Program. “Border” (“Sahman”) by Harutyun Khachatryan demonstration will finalize the day.
Gabriele Salvatores`s film “As God Commands” was created after Niccolo Ammaniti`s, a modern Italian writer, novel. The book got ambiguous critics, though was rewarded with the most prestigious Italian literary award «Premio Strega» in 2007. It`s not the first collaboration of the eminent director and popular novelist: in 2003 Salvatores produced a film “I`m not Afraid” (“Io non ho paura”) after Ammaniti`s novel, that had a great success and received many national and international awards.
Gabriele Salvatores was born in 1950 in Naples. In 1972 he started staging at Teatro dell’Elfo. He became world popular after “Mediterranean” film that got Oscar in 1991 as the best foreign film. In 1997 there appeared “Nirvana”, that brought Salvatores success and iconic status.
Filippo Timi, the actor who performed a father in the movie, is familiar to Moscow audience for the Italian film “The Demons of St. Petersburg”, shown during the 30th MIFF Gala-Screenings program. And one of the actors, Elio Germano, is famous for his role in “My Brother Is An Only Child“, from the 29th MIFF “Italian Cinema Today” program. For Alvaro Caleca and Angelica Leo “As God Commands” became the debut in feature length.
“Little Moscow”- is a Polish film about love of a Russian pilot’s wife and a polish officer in Soviet Legnica. Lead roles are preformed by Russian actors: Svetlana Khodchenkova, Dmitry Ulyanov, Aleksey Gorbunov, Artem Tkachenko, Yuri Itskov.
The free pass to film land was given to Svetlana Khodchenkova by Stanislav Govorukhin, who invited a Shukin Theatre Institute student for the lead role in “Bless The Woman”. After it there came work in series and in youth films: “Kilometer Zero” and “No Love in the City”, and etc.
One of the leading men is one of the most interesting young Polish actors Leslaw Zurek, who played the supporting role in “It`s A Free World” (2007), the last but one film of great Ken Loach.
Waldemar Krzystek, the filmmaker, was born is 1953 in Swidnica, Poland. He spend his childhood in Legnica shown in “Little Moscow”. Krzystek`s debut in cinematography was “Kinship” (1984), a horror film. His following films: “Under Suspicion” (1986), “Dismissed from Life” (1992) were rewarded by different film festivals.
“Little Moscow” got the grand prize at Gdynia Polish Film Festival, and Svetlana Khodchenkova, who plays two roles in the film, was rewarded as the best actress. The film was also rewarded with the “Golden Eagle”- the Polish Film Academy reward for the best scenario (Waldemar Krzystek), best scenography (Tadeusz Kosarewicz), best costumes (Malgorzata Zacharska), Best sound (Vaclav Pilkovski, Petr Knop, Michael Kosterkevic) and “The opening of the year” reward (Elena Leshinska). After announcement of the winners, the film got bad press in Poland:
Waldemar Krzystek: “Political resonance must not be of concern either in Poland or in Russia, while watching the film. We don`t have to consider relation between the two presidents nowadays. It is a film about people and their relation. The viewers will find everything beautiful, that a movie has, in it: love, laughter, tears, dramas and joys, and also the truth about those times and deep feelings”.
“Coma” director Ludwig Wüst was born in Bavaria in 1965. In 1990 after school of dramatic arts he was given to directing, acting skills and script and literary work writing. He started with short films shooting in 1999 and in 2002 he established a film company Film planet. His debut was the film “Two Women”, 2006. “Coma” is his second feature length.
Claudia Martini is known to the Russian audience after “Dog Gays” by Ulrih Zaydl.
“Moon” is a science fiction film by a young director Duncan Jones.
Duncan Jones was born in 1971 in the family of David Bowie, a British rock-musician, singer and actor. Duncan started his career as Tony Scott`s director of photography. In 2002 Duncan produced a short film “Whistle”. “Moon” is his feature length debut.
Duncan Jones is the creator of the original idea, and Nathan Parker helped him with scenario.
The premiere took place at Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. “Moon” was demonstrated at European cinema market in Germany, during Tribeca Film Festival, Philadelphia International Film Festival and other American competitions. It was released in the USA on the 17th of June, 2009.
Sam Rockwell is in the lead role. Rockwell made film debut when he was a student of High School of Performing Arts, in “Clownhouse” by Francis Ford Coppola. He also acted in “Welcome To Collinwood” with the participation of George Clooney , by Russo brothers; “Heist” by David Mamet; “Charlie’s Angels” with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu; “Matchstick Men” by Ridley Scott and “The Green Mile” involving Tom Hanks.
In 8 ½ Films Program there will be presented a new film “Antichrist” by iconic Danish director Lars von Trier. The film participated in 62nd Cannes Film Festival and got ambiguous estimation and critics.
The director considers his “Antichrist” to be a half documentary and a half stylization, with shade of romance. He calls his movie “childish”, though notes that children are not allowed to watch it.
It is a film about an afford of a family couple to live through the lost of their only child. The lead actors are a famous American film actor Willem Dafoe (“Manderlay” by Trier) and Charlotte Gainsbourg, who was awarded by Cannes Film Festival for the role. In on of the interviews the actress said that the roles she was to act in this film were close to pornography. Lars von Trier dedicated the film to Andrei Tarkovsky.