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FESTIVALS Belgium

L'Enfer: three colours for three sisters

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The Namur Festival of Francophone Film opened its doors this week-end, beating the drum to celebrate its 20th anniversary. With a rich programme (read article) and numerous guests, the opening ceremony presented the Belgian première of the second feature by Bosnian, now Belgian, Danis Tanovic.

Written by screenwriter for Krzysztof Kieslowski , Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with the director himself, L'Enfer [+see also:
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is the first episode of a trilogy in which "Le Paradis" has already been made by Tom Tykwer (Heaven, 2001). While interested in shooting his first film in "Purgatory", Tanovic explains, with humour : "I got married, had three children. My preoccupations changed. I left the world at war to go to Hell". And his film takes a different turning, leaving behind the burlesque and absurd world of the enemy brothers of No Man's Land, he holds a magnifying glass to the faults and obsessions of three women.

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L'Enfer blends the lives of three sisters who no longer speak to one another, each one crossing her own emotional desert in a solitude without parallel. Sophie (Emmanuelle Béart in top form) stakes out a blood red apartment, tormented with jealousy for her husband (Jacques Gamblin), Anne, with a green scarf, (Marie Gillain) tries to win back her lover (Jacques Perrin) now married. Finally, Céline (Karin Viard), pale, blue eyes, timid and alone, looks after her mother (Carole Bouquet), handicapped and reduced to silence. The destiny of these three women turns around a moment from the past which will be illuminated by the arrival of a young man (Guillaume Canet). Made with longs panoramic shots which follow the actresses and wides which study their emotions, L'Enfer alternates between dreamlike sequences and ensemble shots in which the characters get lost. The screenplay has all the themes close to the Polish director’s heart (guilt and forgiveness, the weight of the past and the loss of the senses, solitude and lack of communication), Tanovic knits together the three acts of a baroque, luxuriant and cruel opera. And though he occasionally over-emphasizes, it’s with mastery and lyricism that he dons the heritage of Kieslowski, to whom the film is dedicated at the end.

"French-Italian-Belgian-Japanese" co-production, as the title announces, L'Enfer is produced by Tanovic, Cédomir Kolar (A.S.A.P Films), Marion Hänsel (Man's Film), for Italy Sintra Film and Bitter End from Japan. Belga Film will distribute in Belgium on the 16th of November, 01 Distribution in Italie and Diaphana in France on the 30th November. International sales are handled by American Focus Features.

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(Translated from French)

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