FRED Film Radio - English Channel

Fred Film Radio heard from filmmaker and historian Luis E. Parés during the London Spanish Film Festival about his documentary “The First Look” or “La Primera Mirada“.

Parés gave an insight into the painstaking process of viewing the entire archive created by students of a film school created during Franco’s dictatorship, which was nonetheless necessary due to Parés’ obsessive nature and thorough approach to his work. He shared what stood out to him on first seeing these images, showing a part of Spanish history not caught on camera before, from the extreme poverty that existed in the wake of civil war to the provocative political views, absurd humour and repression of sexual desire they explored, something otherwise forbidden during that time.

He explained that the fact the film school lacked funding and was seen as only the innocuous experimentation of students, their work went under the radar of government censorship, opening up a space of relative freedom to create subversive art and capture unseen parts of the country in inventive ways, telling a different story than the one told in mainstream channels and defying the otherwise pervasive oppression.

Parés further expressed his views about the importance of knowing and understanding Spain’s history, cinema history and the context in which older generations grew up in order to understand the present and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, something we are able to do most powerfully through cinematographical images.

The post “The First Look”, interview with director Luis E. Parés appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

During the London Spanish Film Festival, Fred Film Radio caught up with the co-directors María G. Royo and Julia de Castro on their blisteringly original wild trip of a road movie “On the Go“.

They shared how they deeply connected over the idea of an homage to 1980s movie “Corridas de alegría” while sat in a tax office, not least because it looked like a lot of fun was had making it. Staying true to the original, they shot on 16mm despite everyone telling them not to, needing to develop their own non-conventional methodology to make it work, often only shooting one take and only being able to see what they’d filmed days later.

We discussed the idiosyncratic voice of the feature, which Royo described as exploring the “fertile space between delirium and surrealism”, often shifting seamlessly between realism and fairytale-like otherworldliness, moments of tragedy and absurd humour, dealing with sex, relationships and queer identity in rebellious, fun and frank terms.

They further explained how they found a key thread for the film was the common ground the two shared about ambivalence and uncertainty about motherhood, with their two differing perspectives, presented in a raw, irreverent and playful way, creating the central conceit of the film. The movie also emerged as an ode to friendship, particularly intergenerational friendship, which isn’t often shown on screen.

Finally, they gave us a sneak peek into the epic and varied soundtrack, which featured both local artists and the likes of Nina Kravitz, and their hope to find distribution in and collaborate with the UK on productions in future.

The post “On the Go”, interview with co-directors María G. Royo and Julia de Castro appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

On the opening night of the 20th anniversary of the London Spanish Film Festival, Fred Film Radio spoke with Laura Jou about her second feature, the psychological thriller “Free Falling” or “Caída Libre“.

The director shared how her jumping-off point was her central character of Marisol, a woman who wears a mask both literally in the per cent make-up she wears and figuratively, a veneer of strength hiding intense vulnerability and insecurity.

She explained how she worked to craft the gymnast-turned-coach along with her actress Belén Rueda, both inside and out in terms of her look and also her inner conflicts, as well as casting Ukranian Mariia Netavrovana, a gymnast who, although had no acting experience or Spanish language skills, was perfect for the part of Angelica.

We further discussed the importance of the striking visuals, colours and sound design in the film, which add to the tense atmosphere, and the role of symbols and metaphors.

Jou expressed her desire for viewers to see past Marisol’s tough exterior to see the journey she takes toward redemption and self-acceptance through the movie, raising questions about societal pressures on women to look, age, behave and succeed in particular ways, often with dire consequences.

The post “Free Falling”, interview with director Laura Jou appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

On the second night of the 20th edition of London Spanish Film Festival, Fred Film Radio spoke with the creators of “Birds Flying East” or “Pájaros“, director Pau Durà and producer David Ciurana.

The filmmakers shared how the feature not only follows a physical road trip across Europe but an interior one, as two seemingly opposite individuals both clash and find connection, run away from and face their pasts.

Durà spoke about how, although the feature is not autobiographical, it is informed by his own position in life, and his desire to unpack themes around parenthood, ageing and death but with humour and lightness, through “anti-heroic”, flawed characters. The creative duo also explained how they brought together their central trio, Javier Gutiérrez, Luis Zahera and Teresa Saponangelo, and the fun they had on set, particularly with the comedic scenes. And while the shoot across borders presented endless challenges, it was also key to the storytelling.

Finally, they expressed their wish that audiences find hope in humanity in their film, despite its tragic moments.

The post “Birds Flying East”, interview with director Pau Durà and producer David Ciurana appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Since winning the Gran Jury Prize at Cannes, this drama centered on sorority has become one of the most significant international films of 2024.

At 38, the Indian filmmaker makes her debut at the San Sebastian International Film Festival (SSIFF) in the Perlak section with a film that will hit Spanish cinemas on December 13th.

The post “All we imagine as light”, interview with director Payal Kapadia appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The German director is at his first time competing for the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Film Festival, only two years after the success of his previous film, “Nothing New in the West“.

This first adaptation of the classic novel by Erich Maria Remarque won 4 academy Awards despite the most prestigious festivals in the world leaving it out their selection. 

Berger is now coming to Zinemaldia right after participating to Telluride and Toronto with a thriller counting on an exceptional cast led by Ralph Fiennes. 

“Cónclave“ is already on paper, one of the films with the strongest chances to get to the Oscar night. 

The post “Conclave”, interview with director Edward Berger appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The Australian director is premiering in Zinemaldia right after the film won the last edition of Festival de Annecy, the most important recognition for an animation film in the film festival world. 

Oscar winner in 2004 with his short film “Harvie Krumpet“, Adam Elliot competes in the Perlak section where “Memoir of a snail“ is one of only two animation films. The other one competing for the audience award is a US production, “The Wild Robot“. 

The post “Memoir of a snail”, interview with director Adam Elliot appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The film is competing for the Golden Shell at the Festival and it is opening its 72nd edition. 

It is Audrey Diwan’s first time competing for the biggest prize in San Sebastián after participating as a member of the jury in the 2021 edition, one year after winning a Golden Lion in Venice for “L’événement“. 

Noémie Merlant is well known to SSIFF as she already presented, among others, the following films: “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” by Sciamma, “The innocent” by Louis Garrel and “One Year, One Night” by Isaki Lacuesta

It is instead the first time in San Sebastián for Spanish actress Chacha Huang. 

The artists talk about their surprising decision of revisiting an  erotic cinema classic by giving it a contemporary look and a feminist approach. 

The post “Emmanuelle”, interview with director Audrey Diwan and actresses Noémie Merlant and Chacha Huang appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

In her controversial documentary “Russians at war”, the Canadian-Russian documentarist and reporter Anastasia Trofimova follows soldiers and medics on the front lines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trofimova claims she filmed the Russian battalion over seven months without Moscow’s permission.

In the film, we see soldiers struggling with the mismanagement of the Russian armed forces. Some express doubts about the war and question their roles in it even as they proceed to follow orders and assert their patriotism.

Trofimova sais that focusing on, and humanizing Russian soldiers is a way to combat further anger and violence.

The post “Russians at war”, interview with director Anastasia Trofimova appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

At the 81st Venice International Film Festival, Justin Kurzel presents, in competition, “The Order“.

With Jude Law as lead actor and co-producer, the film is based on the book The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, a chronicle of the rapid rise and fall of a group of disaffected young white men.

Producer Bryan Haas and screenwriter Zach Baylin came across this provocative story and got inspired by a real-life terror plot led by Robert Jay “Bob” Mathews, a longtime member of the neo- Nazi group Aryan Nations.

Justin Kurzel, who had impressed the producing team pair with his talent for visual storytelling in the 2021 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or nominee “Nitram“, was asked to direct after a conversation with lead actor and producer Jude Law.

The director points out that, even though it is a film that follows the rules of the thriller genre, “family is the theme that plays through all the characters”.

The post “The order”, interview with director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Zach Baylin appeared first on Fred Film Radio.