28/07/2017 - The second film by the director of Medeas is in competition at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and is the first chapter in a trilogy centring on women. An Italian-Belgian-French co-production

Hannah by Andrea Pallaoro

After his brilliant debut in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival back in 2013 with Medeas [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], a film that went on to be awarded at a number of international festivals, Andrea Pallaoro is back on the Lido, this time in the Competition, with Hannah [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], the intimate portrait of a woman going through an identity crisis, starring iconic British actress Charlotte Rampling. The director, who’s originally from Trentino (but lives between Los Angeles and New York), class of 1982, now brings us his second feature film, which will be presented at the 74th Venice International Film Festival (30 August – 9 September 2017) and is the first chapter in a trilogy centering around female protagonists.

Penned by Pallaoro with Orlando Tirado, Hannah portrays a woman who, left all by herself after her husband is arrested, can’t face up to the reality of the world around her. “Hannah explores the inner torment of a woman trapped by her own life choices, paralysed by her insecurities and dependencies, by her own sense of loyalty and devotion”, says Pallaoro in the director’s note. “Hannah’s desperation moves me deeply, perhaps because I know how cruel the world can be to her, or perhaps because I see myself in her to some extent. What I do know is that with this film I wanted to feel close to her, to hold her hand, encourage and reassure her. More than anything, I wanted the world to see her, to see her pain and watch her try to redefine and find herself on her own, before disappearing”. 

Hannah is a co-production between Italy, Belgium and France through Partner Media Investment, Left Field Ventures, Good Fortune Films with Rai Cinema, with support from Eurimages – Council of Europe, the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism – Directorate General for Film, the Lazio Region – Regional Fund for Film and Audiovisual Works, The Film and Audio-Visual Center of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Federation, The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, Casa Kafka Pictures empowered by Belfius, in co-production with To Be Continued, and in association with Solo Five Productions, Lorand Entertainment, Take Five, TF1 Studio, and Jour 2 Fête. International sales are being handled by TF1 Studio, and the film is being distributed in Italy by I Wonder Pictures.

(Translated from Italian)