FRED Film Radio - English Channel

PODCAST: FRED’s Chiara Nicoletti interviews Stephan James, actor of the film Race by Stephen Hopkins.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

FRED’s Chiara Nicoletti meets Stephan James , protagonist of Race by Stephen Hopkins , in Rome for the Italian Release of the film. Race is based on the true story of James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, the afro-american atlete who, in 1936, participated in the Berlin Olympic Games and, despite racism and the Nazi regime in Germany, won 4 golden medals. Stephan James is very proud of being the voice of this great story and to have portrayed an hero in World History.

RACE: Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. Race is an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance, and friendship, and an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to become an Olympic legend.

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PODCAST | FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Jan Cvitkovič, director of the film Siska Deluxe from the 2016 Febiofest Prague International Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

This year, Febiofest dedicated a whole section as a tribute to Slovenian director Jan Cvitkovič, who also presented his latest film Siska Deluxe in its program. A comedy flirting with absurdism and also deals with some more delicate and serious issues, in this interview we ask him about the origins of the film, how he constructed it and cast it.

We also ask him more generally about what his infleunces are, and he reveals that his background is more from literature than from films. He also says that everytime he finishes a project he tells himself it will be the last, although it never is. How does he feel now that Siska Deluxe is finished? The same!

SISKA DELUXE: The absurd comedy takes place in the neighbourhood of Siska in Ljubljana. Mile is a forty-something smartass living with his mother – the same age as his friends, Fedr, a former skinhead and now a divorced father, and an ex-punk and orphan, Zekir. Their plan to open a pizza place is a chance to change their abysmal lives, but since they can’t stop acting like utter losers, customers don’t exactly flock to their venue. But then mysterious Jana inspires them to offer a unique service of “Siska Deluxe” with their pizza: Order a pizza together with anything that would make you happy, and we’ll arrange it! Business immediately skyrockets and it seems that everybody in Siska is happier thanks to the “wish-granting pizza”. Will Siska Deluxe also bring luck to the protagonists themselves?

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PODCAST | FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews director Anwar Safa and screenwriter Ana Sofia Clerici on their film Jeremy from the 2016 Febiofest Prague International Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

“3 out of 100 people in the world are geniuses, but they don’t even know it,” says director Anwar Safa. His film Jeremy, written by Ana Sofia Clerici, looks at this concept, and does so by also telling the charming story of a kid growing up in a less privileged side of Mexico. A delightful coming of age comedy.

We talk about it with Safa and Clerici, who reveal sides about the production, including working with the young boy (Martin Castro), who does an excellent job as the titular and central character. They also talk about the influences on the film, the wish to make their story universal, but also set their first feature aside from the usual Mexican film that usually makes it on the international film curcuit. “We have a lot to show in Mexico, not just the Narcos and the violence,” Safa says. “And we want to show all that.”

JEREMY: Eight-year-old Jeremy asks shocking questions about death during the routine family evening with a soap opera, responds to reprimands for his cheekiness towards nuns with Nietzsche’s quotes, and concisely comments on the troubles with his basically loving yet not very enlightened family and his bored school teacher. The young genius decides to take fate in his own hands and find out who he might be – with a picture of Albert Einstein on the wall, with old geezers whom he beats in chess, and a street gang whose homework he does. From the unique perspective of a little boy with IQ of 160 looking for his spot in the world, the comedy blends sarcasm with kindness, in bright colours and with a playful camera.

The post Director Anwar Safa, writer Ana Sofia Clerici talk about “Jeremy” #febiofest appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Dariusz Gajewski, director of the film Strange Heaven from the 2016 Febiofest Prague International Film Festival

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

Is it enough to have the best intentions in mind to do good. This is something Dariusz Gajewski examines in his latest feature Strange Heaven. Here, the story of a Polish family living in Sweden and seeing her child being taken away by social services seems to hence represent something more.

Gajewski talks about the contrast in culture between Poland and Sweden and three different languages in the film – Swedish, Polish and English. On top of this, we ask him about how he worked with the young actress who plays the important role of the child in the film, and where Strange Heaven will be screening in the near future as well as why he thinks it should particularly be screened in Europe.

STRANGE HEAVEN: The family drama about cultural dialogues, or, more specifically, about cultural differences, is inspired by true events when Polish children in Scandinavia were removed from their families and placed in foster care. Not succumbing to a black-and-white interpretation, the film sensitively ponders the consequences of people acting with best intentions. A Polish family with a seven-year-old daughter lives in a small town in northern Sweden, looking for peace and prosperity. After a series of misunderstandings, the child is taken away by Swedish social services, and the parents have a month to get the girl back before she’s permanently adopted.

Obce Niebo / Strange Heaven 2015 TRAILER from Kuba Kosma on Vimeo.

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PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Armel Hostiou, director of the film Stubborn from the 23rd Febiofest Prague International Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

Love can make you happy, love can make you sad. In the case of Stubborn, the feature film by Armel Hostiou, love is a destructive force.

The “stubborn” character in this film is Vincent, a Frenchman who travels to America to win his ex-girlfriend back. We discuss with the director this theme, as well as other elements in the film that contribute to its being so powerful, such as the setting of the city of New York being a character in the film in its own right.

Hostiou tells us that he wrote the screenplay with actor Vincent Macaigne in mind for the lead role, and we discuss his contribution to the overall project. We also talk about the production itself, and his decision to film a final act of the film almost a year later, after getting some additional funding.

STUBBORN: New York City is the stage for thousands of stories of love, breaking up and rediscovering lost love every day and night. Vincent travels from France to NYC in hopes of getting back his ex-girlfriend, Barbara. However, she has a new lover and is satisfied with her life, unlike loser Vincent. Vincent’s conviction that he will get her back with a grandiose romantic gesture clashes with Barbara’s desire to send Vincent back to France and out of her life. In an almost documentary style, the intimate New York odyssey follows the path of love which transforms into obstinate desperation in the merciless metropolis of random encounters.

STUBBORN Trailer from BOCALUPO FILMS on Vimeo.

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PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Peter Gašparík, screenwriter of The Cleaner from the 2016 Febiofest Prague International Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

Loneliness and the effects of childhood trauma. These are the two driving elements in The Cleaner, a Slovak giallo that marks the second collaboration between director Peter Bebjak and screenwriter Peter Gašparík. The two wrote the screenplay together, and Gašparík talks about where the inspiration of the film came from. Deepening the effect of the study of the theme of loneliness, is the approach used for the feature, which makes use of very little dialogue. We ask him about the challenges of using this particular approach, and how important the casting was and what the actors brought to the table in terms of making things that might have appeared to be challenging to the final work.

THE CLEANER: Tomas works for a funeral service as a cleaner. He gets the keys to the apartments of the deceased and scrubs dirt and blood while relatives mourn. He enjoys hiding behind wardrobe doors or under beds, spying on the grieving guests who have no idea that the funeral service worker has stayed a bit longer. When the granddaughter of a dead woman visits the flat, Tomas in his hideout witnesses something not intended for the eyes of a stranger. After the romantic Apricot Island (2011) and horror Evil (2012), Slovak director Peter Bebjak switches genres once again, this time presenting an unsettling drama.

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PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews actress Emília Vášáryová talks about her role in Eva Nová from the 2015 Febiofest Prague International Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

After meeting director Marko Skop at the Torino Film Festival last year, FRED catches up with the leading actress of Eva Nova, Emilia Vasaryova. Vasaryova’s over fifty year career has earned her the reputation as the First Lady of Slovak Theatre and Film.

In her latest turn in Skop’s film, she takes on one of her most difficult roles to date, in the form of the titular characters, an old washed up actress with a history of substance and alcohol abuse who tries to start life anew against all odds, including a near impossible reconciliation with her estranged son. A brave turn by Vasaryova, whose presence dominates the film, and as the camera looks upon her sometimes mercilessly, in the most physical moments.

We ask her about how her journey in the making of this film lasted, the different versions of the script that existed before the final one. We also ask her about the use of images, film posters and film stills from her own works, another element that shows her commitment not only to the character to the film. Vasaryova explains that she herself does not have a history of alcoholism, nor does her family, but the story of downfall is one that she has seen take place among other actors and actresses. This observation makes us reflect about the similarities between reality escapism in the form of acting, and in the form of alcoholism.

It is a real treat for FRED to be joined by Vasaryova, whose sunny personality can be heard all throughout the interview. “Life is tragicomic,” she observes. And Eva Nova is a feature that shows us just that.

EVA NOVA: After several previous attempts, Eva is leaving rehab once more, ready for the outside world and determined to stay sober. Above all, she hopes to gain the forgiveness of her family and especially her son, who banishes her with just a suitcase upon her return. Once a well-known actress, famous for her roles as well as her alcoholic escapades, Eva is starting from scratch. The subtle and authentically precise story about a family, alcoholism, and rediscovering one’s dignity is governed by attention to detail. The feature debut of Martin Skop, a documentary director, features excellent performances, especially by Emilia Vasaryova in the role of her life.

The post Emília Vášáryová talks about her role in “Eva Nová” #Febiofest appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Hélène Choquette, director of the documentary A Dog’s Life, from the 2016 One World Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

A dog is a man’s best friend. However, very often, a dog is much more than that. This is certainly the case for the homeless people director Helene Choquette filmed over a period of time in Canada for her latest documentary feature A Dog’s Life.

In this film, dogs also serve the purpose of shining a light on the pressing topic of homelessness, and the many different ways in which it can occur. This is a problem that materialises from different events, from drug addictions to mental illness. It is also something that doesn’t always occur on the streets; it can be found in shelters, or in cars. By focusing on the stories of individuals, Choquette humanizes the topic, and allows it to connect with the viewer in what is a very touching, opening experience.

We ask her about how she chose her protagonists, and the impact to taking her camera to their extreme conditions, filming them over a period of time. She also reveals that she wanted to keep her film “institution-free, ” opting instead for a more personal approach, which involved a lengthy issue. Finally, we ask her about her opinion on the representation of homelessness and the general media, as well as what the future holds for A Dog’s Life, which had its international premiere in Prague at the 2016 One World Film Festival.

A DOG’S LIFE: Homeless, with no family, job or belongings, but with the best possible friends in the world, for whom they are willing to sleep outside in icy weather, sharing what little they earn or beg. For 18 months this Canadian documentary tracked 10 homeless people who, thanks to the strong bonds they have with their four-legged pals, can cope better with life on the street, in a squat or shelter. Some are therapy dogs; others provide motivation to kick addiction. But all are the most faithful mates with whom these people have had a longer and stronger relationship than with any human.

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PODCAST: FRED’s Matt Micucci interviews Arto Halonen, director of White Rage, which had its international premiere at the 2016 One World Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

What makes an apparently harmless person reach breaking point, and commit terrible acts of violence? Director Arto Halonen tries to come up with an answer with this documentary, which illustrates a scholar’s theory that revolves around the principle or “white rage,” in which these actions are inspired by childhood traumas and repeated acts of bullying.

Since its theatrical release on its home turf of Finland, White Rage has inspiredmany debates among people, and now the documentary had its international premiere in the programme of the 2016 One World film festival in Prague. We caught up with the director to talk about the film, how he first first came across this theory, how the film was constructed by blending the line between the documentary and fictional form and how this film has inspired and will inspire more discussions on its central topic.

WHITE RAGE: As a boy Lauri experienced harsh bullying, in elementary, middle and high school. Everywhere he seems to have attracted the darker side of people and became an easy target. Following other attacks and humiliations the anger in him grew; he became interested in guns and fantasised with mass murder. The documentary is formally built on an impressive idea. Lauri’s voiceovers tell of the darkest recesses of his imagination and bruised soul, which are visually depicted in re-enacted scenes and TV news footage of bloody attacks by young people on their classmates, by people who likely went through the same hell as Lauri, but whom no one noticed until it was too late.

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