Wednesday, August 17, 2011

68th Venice Film Festival (2011) Preview

The 68th la Biennale di Venezia 2011 Venice Film Festival begins two weeks from now (and runs from August 31 - September 10) with an impressive lineup of 23 world premiere films in competition for the coveted Golden Lion, many of which I am greatly anticipating to see.  So far 22 of them have been announced, with an additional surprise film expected to be named sometime during the festival.

These include David Cronenberg's Freudian thriller A Dangerous Method; Let the Right One In director Tomas Alfredson's adaptation of John le Carré's novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Fish Tank director Andrea Arnold's version of Wuthering Heights and Steve McQueen's eagerly awaited followup to 2008's Hunger, titled Shame.

The International Jury will be presided over by American director Darren Aronofsky, and alongside him are Finnish visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Talking Heads front-man and composer David Byrne, American director Todd Haynes, Italian director Mario Martone, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, and French director André Téchiné.

Read on for the full lineup, synopsis and trailers.
 
Venezia 68 - Official Competition Lineup
*Click on the to see available trailers.
Shangjun Cai - REN SHAN REN HAI 人山人海 (PEOPLE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE SEA)
China, 90'
Chen Jianbin, Tao Hong, Wu Xiubo, Li Hucheng, Zhang Xin, Wang Xu, Bao Zhenjiang, Hou Xiang, Tian Xinyu
Lao Tie decides to hunt down his brother’s killer and begins a journey that will unleash his long-suppressed inner pain and rage.
Cristina Comencini - QUANDO LA NOTTE (WHEN THE NIGHT)
Italy, 116'
Claudia Pandolfi, Filippo Timi, Michela Cescon, Thomas Trabacchi
Marina is a fragile and insecure young woman struggling to be the perfect mother. Hoping a change of scenery will improve her baby’s sleeping habits, she decides to spend the summer vacation in the mountainside.
Abel Ferrara - 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH
USA, 82'
Willem Dafoe, Shanyn Leigh, Paz de la Huerta, Natasha Lyonne
In a large apartment high above the city lives our couple. Just a normal afternoon – except that this isn’t a normal afternoon, for them or anyone else. Because tomorrow, at 4:44 am, give or take a few seconds, the world will come to an end.
Eran Kolirin - HAHITHALFUT (THE EXCHANGE)
Israel, Germany, 94'
Rotem Keinan, Sharon Tal, Dov Navon, Shirili Deshe
A man stands by and observes his own life from the outside. But is this life still truly his own?
Steve McQueen - SHAME
United Kingdom, 99'
Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge, Nicole Beharie
A New York man confronts his sexual compulsions and the self-destructive acts of his sister.
Sion Sono - HIMIZU ヒミズ
Japan, 129'
Shôta Sometani, Fumi Nikaidô, Tetsu Watanabe, Mitsuru Fukikoshi
A live-action adaptation of Minoru Furuya’s manga Himizu.

12 comments:

NeverTooEarlyMP said...

Looks like a great line up. I'm hopeful that most of these will play in a theater near me eventually.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Good plan.  I might just give that a try.

FrontRoomCinema said...

I just sent an email out to PR company stating who I am my stats and what I write and ask ever so politely for one. If you don't ask you don't get hey?

Bonjour Tristesse said...

It sure does.  Someone recently told me that they found the book boring, but the trailer makes it look very intriguing.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah it looks amazing, and that cast...

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I started out trying to make a quick lazy post with just a list, but then decided to spruce it up a bit.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

So can anyone with a blog sign up for a pass and see films for free, or is there some sort of qualification process?

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

I also think Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy sounds like a promising film.

Moviemonstrosityblog said...

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? Awesome!!!!

d_4 said...

This seems oddly exciting. It's weird, because I rarely get excited for movie award things, but since you laid it out all professional it changes my view. 

FrontRoomCinema said...

Looks like an awesome line up of films. I wish I were there.

I have just signed up for a press pass to the London Film Festival, but I have no clue of the line up of films yet

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I'm sure many of them will.  There are a bunch of potential awards contenders here.

Post a Comment