OCCIDENTAL
by Neïl Beloufa
synopsis
The mood is heated. Demonstrations are taking place across France, also in front of the Paris hotel where an Italian named Giorgio is booking the bridal suite for him and his boyfriend Antonio. Hotel manager Diana doesn’t trust them and calls the police to get rid of the odd couple. Italians? Homosexuals? Criminals? In the charged atmosphere of the Hotel Occidental, little is needed for initial suspicions to be aroused. While street battles rage outside and a politician tries to play down the situation in a TV interview, everyone inside attempts to turn things to their own advantage. This leads to faith in the security camera, absurd dialogues and mad conclusions, fainting spells and an explosive showdown complete with fervent gestures. The music provides the suspense, aside from the schmaltzy Italian love song. Art prints comment on the action, referencing the history of civilisation from Napoleon’s military campaigns to Warhol’s banana. The 70s look of the lobby, which evokes the set of a boulevard play, turns out to be the setting for a comedy shaped by the current social climate. Everything is fake here, including love. Or is it?
international title: | Occidental |
original title: | Occidental |
country: | France |
sales agent: | MPM Film (Movies Partners in Motion Film) |
year: | 2017 |
genre: | fiction |
directed by: | Neïl Beloufa |
film run: | 73' |
release date: | FR 28/03/2018 |
screenplay: | Neïl Beloufa |
cast: | Anna Ivacheff, Idir Chender, Paul Hamy, Hamza Meziani, Louise Orry-Diquéro |
cinematography by: | Guillaume le Grontec |
film editing: | Ermanno Corrado |
music: | Gregoire Bourdeil |
producer: | Jacques Dodart |
production: | Bad Manners |
distributor: | Vendredi Distribution |