FRED Film Radio - English Channel

PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews James Demo, director of the film The Peacemaker.

Director James Demo presented his film The Peacemaker at the 29th Galway Film Fleadh. The documentary is an intimate portrait of international peacemaker Padraig O’Malley. But, as Demo himself states in this interview, it is more about the “why” he does what he does than the “how.” The director also explains that he didn’t necessarily set out to make a documentary, but that Padraig’s story was very unique. He tells us what it is that interested him about Padraig, the personal connection between Padraig and his work, how he was able to establish a level of trust with him, and more.

The Peacemaker is an intimate portrait of international peacemaker Padraig O’Malley, who helps make peace for others but struggles to find it for himself. The film takes us from Padraig’s isolated life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to some of the most dangerous crisis zones on Earth – from Northern Ireland to Kosovo, Nigeria to Iraq – over five years – as he works a peacemaking model based on his recovery from addiction. We meet Padraig in the third act of his life in a race against time to find some kind of salvation for both the world and himself.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

The Peacemaker – Trailer from Central Square Films on Vimeo.

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Aisling Walsh, director of the film Maudie.

Aisling Walsh talks about her film Maudie, which was featured in the program of the 29th Galway Film Fleadh. The film is based on the life of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, here interpreted by the great actress Sally Hawkins. Ethan Hawke is also featured in the movie and plays the part of Maud’s husband. Walsh talks about Maud Lewis and how she became involved in the project. Later in the interview, she also talks about how her training in painting influences her filmmaking. Other topics discussed include working with Hawkins and Hawke on the film, the “love story” aspect of Maudie, the importance of landscape in the film, and more.

Maudie is based on the true story of folk artist Maud Lewis (Sally Hawkins) and the unlikely romance between Maud and a hardened reclusive bachelor, Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke). Maud, a bright-eyed, intelligent woman, hunched with crippled arthritic hands, yearns to be independent from her overprotective family. She escapes her solitary existence through her art, dreaming away the days, until in her early 30s she finds, and answers, an ad for a housekeeper. Everett Lewis is a 40-year-old bachelor. Tall, skinny and shabby, abandoned by his parents at a very young age, he has nevertheless managed to become a proud and self-sufficient man, largely by collecting scraps and peddling fish. He lives in a 10×12 foot house that has neither running water nor electricity, but at least it’s all his.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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PODCAST | Chiara Nicoletti interviews Tom Holland and Jon Watts, actor and director of the film Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Director Jon Watts and actor Tom Holland have traveled around the world to introduce Spider-Man: Homecoming, the first chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe dedicated to the teenager superhero. In Rome, Tom Holland reveals how he wanted his Spider-Man to be a real teenager, enthusiastic about his superpowers but at the same time having to face adolescence and its big and complicated issues. Spiderman is an entry level superhero and so is the villain he has to fight against: The Vulture played by Michael Keaton. After Batman and Birdman, the actor portrays a working class villain who thinks capitalism has ruined the world. In the Marvel cinematic universe where everything takes place, capitalism is represented by Tony Stark/Iron Man aka Robert Downey Jr. Tom Holland shares a lot of anecdotes with the audience, from his “unusual” way of finding out he got the part to the first time he wore the Spiderman costume and his weird first encounter with Robert Downey Jr.

Spider-Man: Homecoming: young Peter Parker/Spiderman (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

For the film official website, click here

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PODCAST | Samantha Sartori interviews Akihiro Shiota and Yuki Mamiya, director and actress of the film Wet Woman in the Wind – Kaze ni Nureta Onna.

At the North American Premier of Wet woman in the wind we met the director Akihiro Shiota and the protagonist Yuki Mamiya. We talk about how Shiota was involved in this project and the challenge for Yuki Mamiya to play a very physically intense role in this unique and unforgettable interpretation of a genre that reveals a new twist: the role of the woman. Thanks to the interpreter Yuko Torihara.

Wet Woman in the Wind – Kaze ni Nureta Onna: a tornado of unbridled sexual desire is unleashed when a free-spirited seductress sets her sights on a reclusive playwright in this stream-of-consciousness tale. This striking entry in Nikkatsu’s “Roman Porno” redux series transcends its sexploitation raison d’être by featuring a character who overturns the inhibitions of all who cross her path. Director Shiota cuts to the chase, taking advantage of the subgenre’s sparse requirements: there’s a sex scene every ten minutes with a total running time no longer than 80 minutes. The gleefully anarchic plot explores the human psyche through sexuality within a psychodrama that is as hilarious as it is titillating. Featuring a tour de force performance by Yuki Mamiya, Wet Woman in the Wind may prove to be the visceral climax of the series. North American Premiere.

For the official page of the festival, click here

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PODCAST | Samantha Sartori interviews Mikhail Red and Arnold Reyes, director and actor of the film Birdshot.

We meet Mikhail Red, a new talent from the Philippines. The 24 year-old director talks about his second feature film, Birdshot, already awarded the “Asian Future Best Film Award” at Tokyo International Film Festival 2016. Red was also recognized as best New Director at Vancouver Film Fest for his first feature film, Rekorder. The star of the movie, Arnold Reyes, joined our conversation and discussed his experience on the set of one of the strongest movies of this year’s festival.

Birdshot: in this intense, slow-burning thriller, farm girl Maya inadvertently commits a crime while practicing her rifle skills out in the wild. As the local police start investigating this incident they make a shocking discovery that leads to a different, truly disturbing case. Young altruistic policeman Diego pursues this mystery but is hindered by his world-weary and corrupt senior officers. Featuring a tour de force performance by newcomer Mary Joy Apostol as Maya, Birdshot folds biting social commentary into a cleverly nuanced screenplay. Buoyed by dynamic visual storytelling rich in metaphor, this deliberately paced parable about modern day Filipino society sinks its claws into you, proving director Mikhail Red one of the most eloquent voices in Asian cinema today.

For the official page of the festival, click here

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Rachel Israel, director of the film Keep the Change.

Director Rachel Israel presented her feature film Keep the Change, a romantic comedy set within a community of adults on the autism spectrum, in the official competition of the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In this interview, Israel reveals to us that the cast, also on the autism spectrum, was committed to the project before the writing of the screenplay began, and that they were very much involved in the creative process during the making of the film. Nonetheless, she also reveals that it was never her intention to make a film about autism; it was more important for her to make a movie about these particular characters. Other topics discussed include some movies that influenced her while making Keep the Change, the way in which the film’s New York’s setting influenced the movie, the use of contemporary elements in a traditional story, and more.

Keep the Change: stylish but apathetic, David meets bundle of energy Sarah at a support group. While he’s just fulfilling a court-ordered obligation, she is thrilled to be there. But as they move past their initial conflicts, they become participants in an uncommon romance that won’t yield to convention. Keep the Change is a different kind of romantic comedy about people who are not the same – like most of us.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Gustavo Salmerón, director of the film Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle.

Gustavo Salmerón presented his directorial feature debut, Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle, in the documentary films competition of the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. For his feature, Salmerón turned the camera towards his mother, as well as his family as a whole, whom he filmed for 14 years. The result of this lengthy filming process was 400 hours worth of material, which was then shaped into possibly the most charming and funniest documentary of the year. Indeed, the film is so funny that in his introduction to the movie of this interview, Salmerón calls it a “comedy” before mentioning the word “documentary.” In this interview, Salmerón talks in detail about the production, and what his mother’s reaction to this movie has been (“she doesn’t understand why this film has been selected for festivals,” he tells us). Salmerón also tells us about his background as an actor and why he decided to make a movie, as well as his ambitions of eventually making a downright fiction feature.

Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle: Julita always wanted lots of kids, a monkey, and a castle. After finally realizing these wishes, however, her family loses their property in the economic crisis. But they have not lost the disarming ease and kindheartedness that mark their domestic squabbling. A film chronicle with elements of absurd humor that serves as a madcap allegory for the contemporary situation in Spain.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Václav Kadrnka, director of the film Little Crusader.

Director Václav Kadrnka presented his second feature Little Crusader in the official competition of the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film is based on a little-known poem by Jaroslav Vrchlicky, one of the greatest Czech lyrical poets. Kadrnka talks about how he came across this poem and why he decided to turn it into a film. He also tells us whether the fact that the poetic original source material prompted him to approach Little Crusader in a poetic way. Kadrnka defines the film as a type of “medieval road movie.” The journey is that of a father in search for his lost son. Actor Karel Roden plays the role of the father, and the director talks to us about what he asked of him, and why Roden appreciated working on this particular project. Among the many topics discussed in this movie, Kadrnka finds time to share reflect upon the prominent religious themes of Little Crusaders, how his theatrical studies shape his work as a filmmaker, and more.

Little Crusader: Little Jan, the only descendant of the knight Borek (Karel Roden), has run away from home. His anxious father sets out to find him but his despair at the fruitless search gradually starts to overpower him. Václav Kadrnka has turned out a stylistically well-contoured adaptation of the poem by Jaroslav Vrchlicky, where he employs a taciturn film form in order to encourage our imagination to engage in a poetic, cinematic pilgrimage.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Onur Saylak, director of the film More.

Director Onur Saylak talks about his film More, his first feature, presented in the official competition of the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. More is based on a novel, which was adapted into a screenplay by its author, the award-winning writer Hakan Gunday. In this interview, Saylak talks about his creative collaboration with the author – a collaboration that began with Saylak’s previous short film. He also discusses the challenges of dealing with the darker aspect of the film, such as refugees to the Zola-like endless cycle of violence handed down from generations to generations, gives us an overview of the visual style of the movie, and more.

More: fourteen-year-old Gaza lives with his father Ahad on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The intelligent kid would like to continue his studies, but Ahad sees his son’s future differently. He gets Gaza to help with his side business – smuggling refugees from the Mideast. A directing tour de force, this disturbing psychological study of an adolescent boy’s transformation under the influence of those around him bears dark tidings about the contemporary world.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Michal Blaško, director of the film Atlantis, 2003.

Fred Film Radio is media partner of the European Film Promotion (EFP) Future Frames, which presents ten outstanding young directors with their latest work at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Director Michal Blaško, from Slovakia, was among those selected this year, and he presented his short film Atlantis, 2003, at the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In this interview, Blaško tells us about the road trip structure of the film, the cultural context of his film, how the credibility of the intimacy between the two leading actors of his short was essential, about his experience as part of this year’s Future Frames, and more.

Atlantis, 2003: a young Ukrainian couple plan their getaway to Germany. It’s 2003, four years before Slovakia integrates into the Schengen Area. The Slovak-Ukrainian border is controlled by smugglers and human traffickers – Martin and Denisija have no idea of the traps that await them. They only have each other but they are willing to sacrifice much to fulfill their dream.

For the official website of the festival, click here.

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