Eclectic European line-up
This week’s Belgian line-up has a European flavour. On the Flemish side, Kinepolis is releasing a four-print run of Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam’s The Last Days of Emma Blank [+see also:
interview: The Last Days of Emma Blank…
film profile], to be presented at Venice Days.
The film looks at the dying days of an old, tyrannical, cancer-stricken lady, who is faced with the revolt of her servants. It was produced by Graniet Film (Netherlands), and their regular Belgian partner, La Parti Production.
KFD is also launching a nine-print run of Australian director Stephen Elliott’s Easy Virtue [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which is full of British humour and adapted from a Noel Coward play. Easy Virtue was produced by Ealing Studio, who will unveil Oliver Parker’s new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray at Toronto in a few days’ time.
The other side of Europe is the setting for Spanish director Gerardo Olivares’ immigration drama, 14 Kilometres [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Like Mostefa Djadjam’s Borders (released in 2002), 14 Kilometres traces the journey of young Africans from different backgrounds who are seeking the same ideal: Europe.
Dropped off by their border escorts, they have to travel across a literal as well as figurative desert, in order to reach the other side. The film illustrates the recent growing awareness in Spain of this huge influx of illegal African immigrants, for whom the Spanish shores represent a new Eldorado.
Production was handled by Wanda Vision and Explora Films.
Finally, the line-up also includes two French films presented at Cannes: Denis Dercourt’s new work Tomorrow at Dawn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Denis Dercourt
film profile] (distributed by BFD) and the Larrieu brothers’ latest absurd and quirky offering, Happy End [+see also:
trailer
film profile].
In the latter, Mathieu Amalric is in his element, as he sets out on a final amorous odyssey on the eve of the world’s end. The film is released by Cinéart, who are also launching Israeli director Avi Mograbi’s documentary Z32 (co-produced by France’s Les Films d'Ici).
(Translated from French)
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