27/07/2011

With the first Venice announcements comes the first Belgian selection! In the Venice Days section, which will run from August 31-September 10 (see news), John Shank’s Last Winter [+see also:
trailer
interview: John Shank
film profile] will compete for the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut Film.

A sidebar to the official competition, Venice Days has for some time been showing a particular interest in Belgian cinema. Last year, it opened with Marion Hänsel’s film Black Ocean [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. In 2006, Venice Days selected Karim Ouelhaj’s highly original Parabola [+see also:
film review
film profile], and in 2008, Patrice Toye’s Nowhere Man [+see also:
film review
film profile].

In the heart of deepest rural France, Johann works body and soul to maintain the family farm handed down to him by his father. He breaks the loneliness of his life spent tending to animals by seeing Julie from time to time. When he can, he looks after his sister, who is in a mental institution.

At the end of autumn, as winter gradually invades the Aubrac plateau, Johann loses control. Plagued by paranoia and self-deception, he gradually cuts himself off from the world, and clings on to what can’t be kept.

For his debut film, American-born Brussels-based Shank (who studied at IAD) has put together an enticing cast, cherry-picking from the young generation of French actors (Vincent Rottiers, Anaïs Demoustiers…), and bringing in special appearances by Aurore Clément and Michel Subor. Shank previously won wide acclaim for his second short Les Mains Froides (2004), which enjoyed an impressive festival run.

Produced in Belgium by Tarantula, the film received backing from the Belgian French Community Film Centre, the VAF and Tax Shelter. In France, where it is co-produced by Silex Films, the film received funding from the CNC and Ciné Cinéma. The involvement of Switzerland’s PCT also gave it access to support from Eurimages.

Sold by Le Pacte (who will also handle French distribution), the film will be distributed in Belgium by Cinéart. It is scheduled for release in February 2012.

(Translated from French)