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FESTIVALS Spain

L'Iceberg opens Belgium’s presence in San Sebastian

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L'Iceberg [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, the first of the two Belgian productions presented in the San Sebastian International Film Festival (sidebar section "Zabaltegi – New Directors") gave the Basque audience the occasion to get to know the first feature film written, performed, produced, and directed by a trio of performers from the world of the theatre and the circus: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordan and Bruno Romy.

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The plot of L'Iceberg focuses on a fast-food restaurant manager, Fiona, who develops an unexpected attraction towards ice elements after being accidentally locked in the big fridge of her restaurant. Coming home on the following morning, Fiona sadly realises that neither her husband nor her two children noticed her absence. That is a turning point in Fiona's life. She decides to travel to the north of France and ends up convincing a sailor to take her to a real iceberg in his tiny boat, ironically named "Titanic". Fiona's husband is, however, determined to get her back and chases after them.

As a physical comedy, the script of L'Iceberg is strongly based on the characters’ actions rather than on their psychological motivations. Burlesque wins over the sitcom style and, in several scenes, dialogues tend to be short, or non-existent. In line with their theatre background and their fascination with Tati and Keaton, the trio of authors create what seems to be a funny "stage movie" - a feeling that becomes stronger as the film is mostly composed of master shots.

L'Iceberg is a 750.000€ project co-produced by Fiona Gordan and Dominique Abel's production company, Courage Mon Amour Films, RTBF (Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française) and FAG prod. Unlike the second Belgian presence in San Sebastian, Fien Troch's Someone else's happines [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, exclusively financed by the Flemish community of Belgium, L'Iceberg was co-financed both by the Centre of Cinema and Audiovisual from the French community of Belgium and by the Flemish Audiovisual Fund.

After San Sebastian, the national premiere of this "sea movie" will take place at the Namur Francophone Film Festival (23-30 September 2005).

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