FRED Film Radio - English Channel

The film “Sermon to the Void” marks the concluding chapter of a thought-provoking trilogy that delves into the essence of life, existence, and the infinite. Directed by Hilal Baydarov, this film distinguishes itself from its predecessors by emphasizing the power of cinematography, sound, and the spoken word, steering away from traditional landscape-driven narratives to focus on inner truths and spiritual exploration.

In a landscape dominated by narrative-driven cinema, Baydarov’s work is an ode to surrealism and abstract expression. He criticizes mainstream storytelling for its reliance on logic and sentimentality, advocating instead for films that probe into the darker, less visible facets of human nature.

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From Oscar®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes “Frankenstein”, in competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival.

It is the definitive retelling of Mary Shelley’s genre-defining novel of life and death — an epic drama about what it means to be human, to crave love, and seek understanding.

Golden Globe-winner Oscar Isaac plays the brilliant but tortured scientist Victor Frankenstein, who embarks on an ego-driven quest to bring new life into this world, resulting in the Creature (BAFTA-nominee Jacob Elordi), whose very existence provokes questions about what it means to be a human and what it really means to be a monster.

Then film also stars Mia Goth as the luminous Elizabeth, the only one who’s able to understand the creature’s true nature, identity and heart.

As Guillermo Del Toro stated in his director’s notes: “ Frankenstein is a reminder of how, at heart, we are all creatures, lost and found”.

Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth comment on this aspect and introduce us on their journey into Guillermo Del Toro’s universe, connecting to people’s heart and souls.

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Directed by Lana Daher, “Do You Love Me” was presented at Giornate degli Autori at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. It is a mesmerizing documentary that delves into Lebanon’s rich and complex cultural history through a deeply personal and artistic lens.

Directed by Lana Daher, “Do You Love Me” is an evocative exploration of Lebanon’s audiovisual landscape. The film is crafted solely from archival materials, home videos, photographs, music, podcasts, and independent cinema spanning from the 1950s to today. Daher explains that her initial intent was to fill gaps left by Lebanon’s underrepresented history books, which tend to overlook events beyond the country’s independence in 1945. However, as the project evolved, it became more of an intimate reflection on her relationship with Lebanon and Beirut that captivates the audience for its hybrid style, a seamless blend of documentary and personal essay.

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Presented at Giornate degli Autori at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, “Vainilla” strikes for its profound exploration of family, intimacy, and personal identity. Directed by Mayra Hermosillo, the film portrays Roberta, an eight-year-old girl navigating the complexities of her family of seven women as they fight to keep their home. Through this emotionally rich narrative, “Vainilla” delves into themes of emotional vulnerability, societal expectations, and authentic human connections.

“Vainilla” shines in its portrayal of familial relationships, capturing the authentic chaos, love, and conflicts within a family unit. Actors Natalia Plascencia and María Castellá portrayed characters Limbania and Alicia, childhood friends navigating their own paths amid family complexities. They described their acting experience as “free and natural,” thanks in part to the detailed costume design and the supportive environment created by Hermosillo. “We played with a lot of freedom. The characters reflect our own friendships, sometimes loving, sometimes fighting, but always genuine,” Plascencia shared.

The post “Vainilla”, interview with director Mayra Hermosillo, actors Natalia Plascencia and María Castellá appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Olivier Assayas presents his new film, The Wizard of the Kremlin at the 82° Venice International Film Festival competition.

Based on Giuliano da Empoli’s novel, the film tells the story of Vadim Baranov, the unofficial advisor to a former KGB agent destined to seize absolute power, the man who will soon be known as “The Tsar”, Vladimir Putin.

The Wizard of the Kremlin sees Paul Dano in the role of Vadim Baranov and Jude Law impersonating Vladimir Putin.

Paul Dano’s character is a fantasy character and only loosely based on real life Putin’s advisor Vladislav Surkov. The actor explains: “Surkov’s backstory is so different from Vadim Baranov. So no matter what, I would not be able to arrive at him”.

As for Jude Law’s challenging role playing Putin, the actor, who’s back in Venice after presenting last year The Order ( as the protagonist and producer) reveals: “I think one of the wonderful opportunities in acting and telling stories is to play different characters that you might learn something about yourself from or indeed about the the process of acting”.

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At the 82nd Venice Film Festival, “Cotton Queen” emerges as a striking feature film that delves into the complex intersections of tradition, colonial history, and gender roles in Sudan. The film, directed by Suzannah Mirghani, follows Nafisa, a spirited teenage girl striving to uphold her village’s ancestral customs amidst socio-economic and environmental changes. Set against the backdrop of Sudan’s historic cotton industry, “Cotton Queen” offers a vivid portrayal of a community caught between the past and the future.

“Cotton Queen” masterfully blends documentary elements with poetic storytelling, creating an authentic yet artful narrative. Mirghani highlights how her approach employs magical realism—a genre that allows for a deeper engagement with social and political realities. She notes, “Research on Sudan’s colonial past and the cotton industry informs the film’s layers, but we also used poetic imagery to evoke emotion and symbolize cultural memory.”

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Fondazione Prada Film Fund, amounting to 1,5 million euros, aims to support works of high artistic value by enhancing Fondazione Prada’s twenty-year commitment in the field of cinema. Each year, ten to twelve feature films will be selected without any restriction on geography, theme, genre, or language. The decision will be based exclusively on criteria such as quality, originality, and vision, with the intent to support directors, screenwriters, and producers across the three crucial phases of filmmaking: development, production, and post-production.

SPEAKERS:

Chiara Costa (Head of Programs, Fondazione Prada)

Paolo Moretti (Head of Fondazione Prada Film Fund)

Rebecca De Pas (Project Manager, Fondazione Prada Film Fund)

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Avec son film “À bras le corps“, Marie Elsa Sgualdo explore la vie d’une jeune fille de 15 ans confrontée à une situation bouleversante : après un viol, elle décide de garder son enfant malgré la pression sociale et une époque marquée par la guerre. Situé dans l’Allemagne des années 1940, le récit, bien que profondément ancré dans une période historique sombre, résonne aussi avec des problématiques contemporaines, notamment celles des droits des femmes et de l’indépendance personnelle. On en a discuté avec la réalisatrice, lors de la première du film  au Festival International du Film de Venise.

Marie Esa Sgualdo souligne que si le film appartient à une période révolue, ses thèmes – la lutte pour l’émancipation face à des normes oppressives – restent d’actualité. La jeune fille n’a pas encore conscience de la portée politique de ses actions, mais ses décisions, souvent silencieuses, posent les prémices d’une rébellion intérieure, qu’on peut qualifier de “Silent Rebellion”, comme le titre international du film.

“À bras le corps” met en lumière une héroïne qui, face à l’adversité, choisit d’agir à sa façon, à son propre rythme. La réalisatrice insiste sur la force de ces petits actes, ces “petites guerres silencieuses” qui, accumulées, forgent une nouvelle identité. La jeune fille, malgré un monde qui ne pardonne rien aux femmes, conserve une empreinte d’empathie et de conscience, voire une volonté de préserver ses valeurs fondamentales face à une société souvent hostile.

L’histoire aborde aussi la gestion de la grossesse chez une adolescente, un sujet difficile mais qui peut aussi devenir une source de force. Sgualdo explique que cette expérience, si elle comporte ses contradictions, peut paradoxalement devenir un moteur de transformation. La jeune fille, confrontée à la maternité précoce, puise dans cette situation une résilience insoupçonnée, illustrant que les épreuves peuvent aussi ouvrir des chemins inattendus vers la maturité. Le film explore comment, malgré un environnement difficile et souvent impitoyable, il est possible de préserver sa dignité et de continuer à se battre à sa manière.

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Global Critics Venice Voice, hosted by internationally renowned film critic Rita Di Santo, is the daily podcast of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, produced by FRED Film Radio directly from the Lido di Venezia.

Each episode takes listeners inside the Festival with exclusive and thoughtful conversations with leading international film critics, and in-depth analysis of the year’s most anticipated films.

Rita Di Santo and her guests bring to life the unique atmosphere of Venice, offering a rare insider’s view of the stories, talent, and cinematic moments that make the Mostra one of the world’s most celebrated cultural events.

In this episode of Global Critics Venice Voice Rita Di Santo hosts:

Matthew Jenner (International Cinephile Society, South Africa), Pamela Jhan (Electric Sheep Magazine, The End: An Electric Sheep Anthology, UK) and Barbara Lorey (Die Welt, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, TAZ, Germany).

The post Highlights and film critics from the 82nd Venice Film Festival – episode 5/09 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

The film “Inside Amir”, by director Amir Azizi, offers an intimate portrayal of a young man’s internal and external struggles as he contemplates emigration from Tehran. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, this compelling work delves into complex issues of identity, freedom, and the human spirit amidst Iran’s socio-cultural constraints.

“Inside Amir” is deeply rooted in the director’s own experiences and emotional ties to Iran. The story follows a young man standing at a crossroads, weighing the decision to leave his homeland. The film beautifully captures the internal conflict between the desire for freedom and the emotional ties that anchor individuals to their roots.

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