Day 4 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Today a film that thanks to trailer now I'm really looking forward to watch Ozon's Potiche with a Catherine Deneuve in a role and performance that has to be just delicious1

In Competition

Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia
Potiche, Francois Ozon, France ("dying" to watch what seems a fantastic Deneuve role and performance)
La Passione, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italy

Out of Competition
Tungngaan 3D (The Child's Eye 3D), Oxide Pang and Danny Pang, China and Hong Kong (I'm starting to get really curious about watching an Asian 3D production)
A Letter to Elia by Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones, USA (documentary - out of competition - yes it's Elia Kazan)

Controcampo Italiano
A Woman by Giada Colagrande, Italy (After Antichrist I'm becoming interested in William Dafoe 'tormented' performaces, seems here we have another)
Tarda Estate by Marco De Angelis and Antonio Di Trapani, Italy (out of competition) (hmm... not listed in the program but seems puzzling)
Bassa Marea by Roberto de Paolis (short film)

Orizzonti
Jean Gentil by Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzman, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Germany
Fading by Olivier Zabat, France
Robinson in Ruins by Patrick Keiller, UK (documentary -narrated by Vanessa Redgrave)
Many short films

Retrospective
Gli Allegri Masnadieri by Marco Elter, Italy, 1937
Tempo Massimo by Mario Mattoli, Italy, 1934 (not sure if I saw it, with Anna Magnani, Vittorio De Sica)

Venice Days
Noir Océan (Ocean Black), Marion Hänsel, Belgium, France and Germany

International Critic's Week
Hitparzut X (Naomi), Eitan Zur, Israel and France

Comments

There is something I'm really missing in the coverage of this fest by fest organizers, fast upload of press conferences, photo calls and press material in general, like happened in Cannes. Only in Arte.tv been able to find videos with excerpts of press conferences.

Most press coverage in Italian is about Italian movies, in English about English speaking movies and in French... not much about Potiche! Lol! Press conference already happened but no videos yet, premiere will be in a few hours.

Not Serious News

Yesterday there was a huge storm that according to a Venetian security guard was "biblical". Here are two reactions.

-In the grounds of the exclusive Excelsior Hotel, artist-director Julian Schnabel was doing a 'round-table' interview for a group of international journalists in the corner of a marquee that had been erected especially for the Film Festival. As the storm grew in intensity, rain began lashing the marquee and lightning flashes became evident, it was clear that the assembled group could be in danger from the metal framework of the marquee. They needed to move. Undaunted, Schnabel walked to the centre of the marquee, where a bar happened to be located, leaned against it and carried on fielding questions.

Not ending in a bar and not so dramatic: Director Sofia Coppola, with a group of actors and producers from her new film Somewhere, was due to give a major press conference inside the Casino. An outside photo-shoot of her party which was to precede it had to be moved inside.

Today's Photo

I'm impress, Elle Fanning looks like a taller version of her sister and is only twelve. Elle walking the red carpet at Sofia Coppola's Somewhere premiere.

Letters to Juliet

Looking to have a peaceful and very easy moment decided to watch this romantic movie and that's exactly what I found: an easy going romantic film with some absolutely beautiful Italian sights that were true pleasure to watch. I wish I was there in those beautiful grapes fields, those towns that look like architecture wonders and transit those roads in tiny -very tiny- Fiats. Definitively I was in the right mood to watch the movie and eventually I got inside it and was walking the streets, riding the roads plus having a great time.

The story? As you can imagine quite silly and predictable, but maybe my right mood made me appreciate the role of the Secretaries to Juliet as a service that could be very welcome by many women in the world. Tells about an engaged young woman finding true love thanks to answering a fifty-years-old letter to Juliet.

Performances? No, didn't enjoy them but I think was because the characters that were so silly (to use a kind word) that was at moments unbearable to watch them. But for me it's always a pleasure to watch Vanessa Redgrave that even with a terrible character she can make it look better than all her colleagues and I always liked Franco Nero so was a pleasure to watch him too.

Do I recommend the movie? Only if you want to travel the beautiful Italian sights that are colored with a golden touch to make them look even more beautiful. But if you skip it won't be missing much.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @Movie On Companion

Raising Helen

Day 3 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

Another day with some very interesting Italian films and THE movie inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy.

In Competition
Happy Few by Antony Cordier (will watch, opens on September 15)
Somewhere by Sofia Coppola

Out of Competition
Gorbaciof by Stefano Incerti, Italy (starring Toni Servillo)
Jianyu (Reign of Assassins)by John Woo and Su Chao Pin
La Commedia by Amos Poe (know will watch it as is cinema verite done with 6000 animated still images - inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy, the film is divide in three cinematic sequences with 100 minutes, like Dant'es 100 canti... yes, definitively must be watch for me)

Controcampo Italiano
Niente Orchidee by Simone Godano and Leonardo Godano, Italy (short film -out of competition)
Opening Film: II Baci Mai Dati by Roberta Torre (puzzling story that recalls Italian cinema from another era... will watch)

Orizzonti
Malavoglia by Pasquale Scimeca, Italy
Better Life by Isaac Julien, UK and China
El Pozo by Guillermo Arriaga, Mexico (short film)
Seven (7) short films program with shorts from UK, Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, and USA
Three (2) medium-length films from Austria and UK/Italy

Retrospective
Il Ragazzo di Campagna by Franco Castellano and Pipolo, 1984
6X8/48 (Tutta la Citta Canta) by Ricardo Freda,
Io Non Spezzo ... Rompo by Bruno Corbucci, 1971

Venice Days
Incendies, Denis Villeneuve, Canada and France
Il Sangue Verde (Green Blood) by Andrea Segre, Italy
Lisetta, Carmi. Un'anima in Cammino by Daniele Segre, Italy

International Critic's Week
Angèle et Tony, Alix Delaporte, France,

News

Tonight the first awards ceremony presenting the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to John Woo.

Next Sunday at the Lido in Venice will be the ceremony awards of the VIII Premio Kineo - Diamanti al Cinema Italiano. Best Film: Baaria, Giuseppe Tornatore; Best Director: Gabriele Salvatores for Happy Family. Check all winners here.

Hopefully today is my last day unpacking so I can go back to do more news about the fest.

Today's Photo

Margareth Madè from Baaria's fame red carpet walk.

37th Telluride Film Festival - Update

If you want to learn some of the films that will be screened at the fest check this LATimes article.

The full list as well as all activities are posted at the official site here.

--end of Update--

One of the most prestigious -and very selective- American festivals will take place from September 3 to 6 in Telluride, Colorado. As always the program "It's a secret" and as those lucky enough to assist, we will learn the films screened this year when fest goers reach the mountains. But you can always check last year's program to get an idea of the kind of films and events they have, go here.

To my surprise this year they have a poster, seems that they are progressing marketing wise, so enjoy! Will check the site after the fest, but think that have an idea which films they'll screen this year.

Day 2 @ 67th Venice International Film Festival

The first full day at Venice has the premiere of my most awaited film in La Mostra plus one French film that's must be seen for me. Also very puzzling Italian films that hope eventually could watch.

In Competition

Miral by Julian Schnabel (yes this is the one and from headlines I'm preparing lots of tissues as seems could be a tear-full film about a woman played by none other than excellent Hiam Abbass - ah! will be counting the days).
Noruwei No Mori ノルウェイの森 (Norwegian Wood) by Anh Hung Tran (could be visually outstanding)
La Pecora Nera, Ascanio Celestini, Italy

Out of Competition
Wanda by Barbara Loden
The Last Movie by Dennis Hopper, 1971
Yongxin Tiao (Showtime) Stanley Kwan, China (with Tony Leung Ka Fai plus story seems interesting)

Controcampo Italiano
Se Hai Una Montagna di Neve, Tienila All'Ombra by Elisabeetta Sgarbi (Out of Competiton)

Orizzonti
Opening Film: La Belle Endormie, Catherine Breillat, France (yes, must be seen for me)
Guest by Jose Luis Guerin, Spain (documentary by extraordinary En la Ciudad de Sylvia and Unas Fotos de la Ciudad de Sylvia filmmaker - have to watch this doc)
Non si Puo Nulla Contro il Vento by Flatfom, Italy (short film)
Nok Ka Mhin (Four Seasons) by Chaisiri Jiwarangsan, Thailand (short film)

Retrospective
Il commissario Lo Gatto by Dino Risi, 1986
La Lepre e la Tartaruga, by Alessandro Blasetti, 1962 (episode from Le Quattro Verita) - (with Monica Vitti, Sylvia Koscina and Rossano Brazzi - wow! - think haven't seen this one...)
Non ti Pago! by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, 1942
Un Giorno in Pretura by Stefano Vanzina, 1954 (episode)
Lo Scatenato by Franco Indovina, 1967 (with Vittorio Gassman)

Venice Days
L'Amore Buio (Dark Love) Antonio Capuano, Italy (with Valeria Golino)

International Critic's Week
Opening Film: Notte Italiana, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italia, 1987

There are some movie reprises that I'm not listing as some of you may remember that the daily list tells about the movies screened but most important about my impressions about each film as well as indentifies those that are must be seen for me.

News

Unfortunately today won't be able to spread the news because have to continue unpacking; but when I get tired maybe I'll share some news with you all. Check facebook and/or twitter for some 'interesting' news I have already published.

Thanks for visiting and hope tomorrow I could be back to more normal posting.

Today's Photo

Fabulous photo from Guardian UK showing a great couple of contemporary filmmakers. Nah! I just like the photo better than all those that populate the net.

67th Venice International Film Festival - Day 1

Believe it or not today it's a very busy at La Mostra, take a look at all the events that will take place in the inaugural day.

Opening Ceremony by Invitation Only - Nope wouldn't be able to watch, but will check it later when they upload to their Youtube channel.

Opening Film: Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky, some American critics are daring to say could win the top award, lol so early and predicting already a winner? Must be seen for me.

Out of Competition
Jingwu Fengyun Chen Zhen (Legent of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen) by Andrew Lau, is the opening night of Bruce Lee's Tribute
Machete by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis - will watch, eventually
Vittorio Racconta Gassman - Una Vita da Mattatore, Giancarlo Scarchilli, Italy (documentary) (I'm interested) Yes, there will a tribute to Vittorio Gassman.

Retrospective
Compagni di Scuola, Carlo Verdone, Italy, 1988
Imputato, Alzatevi, Mario Maroti, 1939
13 Short Films from the section La Situazione Comica, all are Silent Films from 1910 up to 1915.

Venice Days
Opening Film: Le Bruit des Glacons (The Clink of Ice), Bertrand Blier
The Happy Poet by Paul Gordon
The Accordion by Jafar Panahi, Iran - short film

So, that's what's happening in the first "short" day that actually starts at 3:30pm with the Venice Days opening short and film.

Some news

-The godmother of the 67th Biennale opening and closing ceremonies is Isabella Ragonese know as the winner of the 2010 Nastro d'Argento for her performance in Daniele Luchetti's La Nostra Vita. Her brief career started with her first film Nuovomondo (Golden Door) by Emanuele Crialese and went to win some important New Artist of the Year awards. No, never paid attention to this young actress but think I will from now on.

-This morning the Jury had it's first press conference and seems that Quentin Tarrantino said many things (!). Can't translate right now, but here is what he said in Italian.

"Quando penso al cinema italiano mi viene in mente il termine passione", cosi' Quentin Tarantino, presidente di giuria alla 67ma Mostra del Cinema di Venezia, rimedia a un commento sulla nostra cinematografia di qualche tempo fa, quando aveva dichiarato che faceva tutto schifo. "in realta' - sottolinea - sono stato citato male". Quanto all'esperienza da giurato il regista di 'Pulp Fiction' afferma: "Mi piace molto questo ruolo perche' permette a un'artista di crescere, di diventare piu' forte. Adoro mettermi a tavolino da solo per vedere film e poi magari scrivere una critica per me stesso, non per pubblicarla". "Questa selezione - aggiunge - propone lavori provenienti da tutto il mondo", ci sara' sbizzarrirsi. Anche se ci sono molti amici di Tarantino in concorso il cineasta premio Oscar promette di essere imparziale, "Se mi piace un film lo sosterro' fino in fondo, cosi' come se mi piacera' un film realizzato da un amico". Anche il nostro Gabriele Salvatores condivide la passione di Quentin, "giudicare i film e' come entrare nel sogno di qualcun altro, fa bene al tuo ego - dichiara - mi piacerebbe che un film italiano vincesse qualche premio, ma dobbiamo farci trasportare dalla passione senza considerare la nazionalita'". Quanto al cinema italiano presente in selezione Salvatores dice: "Questa Mostra offre un ampio panorama, da autori all'opera prima a cineasti ben conosciuti, da quando faccio questo mestiere si parla di crisi del nostro cinema, penso che oggi stiamo producendo ottimi prodotti".

-I keep forgetting that this is the oldest film festival in the world, so better remind you too.

Not so Serious News

-If is real or just gossip it doesn't really matter but I'm really glad that fest organizers said NO to a George Clooney film. It's been said that 'someone' requested The American to be the opening film, but as we know -and I believe it was a wise choice- Aronofsky's film opens the fest and also, is in competition.

-If you wish to read Black Swan critics browse the net you'll find them. The press screening already happened as well as the press conference. Photo is from the press conference. If you understand Italian check some press conference highlights here.

-Some international movie critics are complaining because Venice is very expensive (lol!); they say that one week working in Venice is like two weeks working in Toronto! I believe is their frustration to the world recession and media cutting back costs, as when before media sent up to 10 people, today they're sending about 3. Ah! the data is for ONE festival per year and you guessed right if you said that the coverage will be for Cannes. So the #2 fest, being Venice, Toronto, Rotterdam, Berlin or whoever you think could be #2, gets less and less international coverage, leaving the ground open to local news. Just learned that La Mostra pays for all expenses of those critics they want to attend! Business, business, that's the darkest side of any film fest -at least for me.

-This year Mostra is the one before the last that Marco Mueller will preside as he wants to go back to produce films and he will after the 2011 Biennale. Some critics are calling this year selection "bold" or the boldest that Mueller has done up-to-date. Mueller says "This is the edition that most reflects [the tastes of] my selection committee and myself" ... "we love filmmakers who still respect a contract with the audience, who will entertain them with spectacle, but when you walk out of that film you will be changed". Well, if those two particular comments means that he had to do "bold" choices, then bold has to be good.

Not Serious News

-The fest's customary lavish opening-night bash on the Excelsior beach is being replaced by a smaller party in the hotel's Sala degli Stucchi and Terrazza dei Fiori. "It's not going to be a pompous opening -- it's going to be no-frills and back to basics. It's going to be about what we love: cinematic riches," said Mueller.

-Italian Vanity Fair (or Uomo Vogue?)hosted a party on the Grand Canal for Quentin Tarantino. So? No interesting pics yet.

Have to stop here, but if have some extra time after the movers are gone, will continue the post as haven't been able to check everything I got for you.

Cheers!