After a stellar limited opening last weekend, A24’s Friendship jumps from 6 to 60 screens in top ten markets plus Detroit, the hometown of star Tim Robinson. The comedy bromance with Robinson and Paul Rudd soared to $451k on screens in New York and L.A., the top limited opening of 2025, with a per screen average of over $75k. Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung. With Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer. Robinson, the former SNL performer and writer is the face of his popular Netflix sketch comedy I Think You Should Leave.
Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing opens Sister Midnight, the debut feature of London-based Indian artist and writer-director Karan Kandhari starring Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam and Smita Tambe, at the Angelika Film Center in NYC. A rebellious small-town misfit Uma (acclaimed Indian actress Apte) arrives in Mumbai to find herself totally unsuited to life as a housewife.
Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing opens Sister Midnight, the debut feature of London-based Indian artist and writer-director Karan Kandhari starring Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam and Smita Tambe, at the Angelika Film Center in NYC. A rebellious small-town misfit Uma (acclaimed Indian actress Apte) arrives in Mumbai to find herself totally unsuited to life as a housewife.
- 5/16/2025
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Ahead of its world premiere tonight, the Zorro TV series adaptation has landed a trio of European deals, as Mediawan Rights leans further into big-ticket IP.
M6 Groupe in France, Mediaset in Italy, Dpg Media’s Tvm channels in Flemish-speaking Belgium and Rtl Klub in Hungary have acquired the series, which is a Secuoya Studios production for Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. Other deals are in negotiations.
The ten-part series premieres tonight at the Grand Auditorium in the Palais des Festivals, with the screening of the the iconic franchise’s reinterpretation followed by a Q&a with actors Miguel Bernardeau (Elite), Renata Notni and Dalia Xiuhcoatl and executives including Secuoya Studios’ Sergio Pizzolante.
Mediawan has been pushing into louder and more expensive scripted IP over the past few years, and has supercharged its efforts after striking a $100M+ funding deal with Entourage Ventures.
M6 Groupe in France, Mediaset in Italy, Dpg Media’s Tvm channels in Flemish-speaking Belgium and Rtl Klub in Hungary have acquired the series, which is a Secuoya Studios production for Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. Other deals are in negotiations.
The ten-part series premieres tonight at the Grand Auditorium in the Palais des Festivals, with the screening of the the iconic franchise’s reinterpretation followed by a Q&a with actors Miguel Bernardeau (Elite), Renata Notni and Dalia Xiuhcoatl and executives including Secuoya Studios’ Sergio Pizzolante.
Mediawan has been pushing into louder and more expensive scripted IP over the past few years, and has supercharged its efforts after striking a $100M+ funding deal with Entourage Ventures.
- 10/15/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Since taking a step back from acting after a series of sexual misconduct allegations in 2018 and 2019, Oscar nominee James Franco is slowly building a comeback effort. The latest is Bille August’s post-World War II drama “Me, You” opposite Tom Hollander and Daisy Jacob; principal photography is scheduled for September in Ischia.
Based on Erri De Luca’s novel “Tu, Mia,” the 1950s, Ischia-set film stars Franco as Nicola, a veteran-turned-fisherman who takes the story’s teen protagonist, Marco, under his wing while Marco’s family is on holiday. Hollander will play Marco’s father, Edward, and Jacob will play Caia, a summer love interest who, along with Nicola, ignites Marco’s impassioned coming-of-age and political fieriness.
Also Read:
James Franco Addresses Sexual Misconduct Accusations, Admits Sleeping With Students in His Acting School (Video)
Per the film’s logline: “Deeply tender and bittersweet, ‘Me, You’ explores the raw beauty and tragedy of love,...
Based on Erri De Luca’s novel “Tu, Mia,” the 1950s, Ischia-set film stars Franco as Nicola, a veteran-turned-fisherman who takes the story’s teen protagonist, Marco, under his wing while Marco’s family is on holiday. Hollander will play Marco’s father, Edward, and Jacob will play Caia, a summer love interest who, along with Nicola, ignites Marco’s impassioned coming-of-age and political fieriness.
Also Read:
James Franco Addresses Sexual Misconduct Accusations, Admits Sleeping With Students in His Acting School (Video)
Per the film’s logline: “Deeply tender and bittersweet, ‘Me, You’ explores the raw beauty and tragedy of love,...
- 7/12/2022
- by Benjamin Lindsay
- The Wrap
Principal photography is set to take place on the Italian island of Ischia from September.
US actor James Franco is to star in Danish director Bille August’s new coming-of-age drama Me, You, alongside Tom Hollander and Daisy Jacob, for London and Rome-based Brilliant Pictures.
Principal photography is set to take place on the Italian island of Ischia from September 2022.
The 1950s-set feature follows a 16-year-old boy across a life-changing summer on the island where he is holidaying from his Scottish boarding school. He spends his days sailing with a fisherman, played by Franco. Hollander plays his father, and Jacob...
US actor James Franco is to star in Danish director Bille August’s new coming-of-age drama Me, You, alongside Tom Hollander and Daisy Jacob, for London and Rome-based Brilliant Pictures.
Principal photography is set to take place on the Italian island of Ischia from September 2022.
The 1950s-set feature follows a 16-year-old boy across a life-changing summer on the island where he is holidaying from his Scottish boarding school. He spends his days sailing with a fisherman, played by Franco. Hollander plays his father, and Jacob...
- 7/12/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
James Franco is set to star in Bille August’s post-Second World War drama “Me, You.”
Franco will play “one of the lead roles” in the feature, which also stars Tom Hollander (“The Night Manager”) and Daisy Jacob (“Vanity Fair”).
A coming-of-age drama, “Me, You” takes place on the Italian island of Ischia in the 1950s. That’s where Marco, a 16-year-old on break from his dreary Scottish boarding school, befriends U.S. GI turned fisherman Nicola (played by Franco). The duo while away the hours sailing in the bay of Naples while Nicola regales his young friend with tales of war and oceans.
But when Marco meets the mysterious 20-year-old Caia (played by Jacob) he is entranced and upon finding out she is a concentration camp survivor, he vows to take revenge. Soon he is plotting to set fire to a villa occupied by a group of boorish German...
Franco will play “one of the lead roles” in the feature, which also stars Tom Hollander (“The Night Manager”) and Daisy Jacob (“Vanity Fair”).
A coming-of-age drama, “Me, You” takes place on the Italian island of Ischia in the 1950s. That’s where Marco, a 16-year-old on break from his dreary Scottish boarding school, befriends U.S. GI turned fisherman Nicola (played by Franco). The duo while away the hours sailing in the bay of Naples while Nicola regales his young friend with tales of war and oceans.
But when Marco meets the mysterious 20-year-old Caia (played by Jacob) he is entranced and upon finding out she is a concentration camp survivor, he vows to take revenge. Soon he is plotting to set fire to a villa occupied by a group of boorish German...
- 7/12/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
James Franco is stepping up his acting comeback and will play one of the lead roles in Danish director Bille August’s post-World War II coming-of-age drama Me, You, adapted from the novel Tu, Mia by Erri De Luca.
Franco will star alongside Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) and Daisy Jacob (Vanity Fair), with principal photography set to take place in Ischia starting in September.
Franco stepped away from acting after a series of allegations of sexual misconduct made by multiple women in early 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement. Additionally, in 2019, students at Franco’s now-closed film and acting school, Studio 4, sued the actor and his partners accusing them of pushing acting students into performing in increasingly explicit sex scenes on camera. In 2021, Franco and associated entities agreed to pay 2,235,000 to resolve the lawsuit.
Set in Ischia in the 1950s,...
James Franco is stepping up his acting comeback and will play one of the lead roles in Danish director Bille August’s post-World War II coming-of-age drama Me, You, adapted from the novel Tu, Mia by Erri De Luca.
Franco will star alongside Tom Hollander (The Night Manager) and Daisy Jacob (Vanity Fair), with principal photography set to take place in Ischia starting in September.
Franco stepped away from acting after a series of allegations of sexual misconduct made by multiple women in early 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement. Additionally, in 2019, students at Franco’s now-closed film and acting school, Studio 4, sued the actor and his partners accusing them of pushing acting students into performing in increasingly explicit sex scenes on camera. In 2021, Franco and associated entities agreed to pay 2,235,000 to resolve the lawsuit.
Set in Ischia in the 1950s,...
- 7/12/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Daisy Jacob and Alessandro Gassmann also set to star.
Bafta-winner Tom Hollander is to play one of the lead roles in post-World War II coming-of-age drama, Me, You directed by Oscar and Palme d’Or winner Bille August.
The film will begin shooting in Ischia, Italy, in September 2022 with Daisy Jacob and Alessandro Gassmann also starring.
Set in 1950’s Ischia, Me, You is the story of a shy 16-year-old Marco who falls in love with 20-year-old Caia while on holiday with his father. When she reveals her painful childhood caused by the SS during World War II, an infatuated Marco...
Bafta-winner Tom Hollander is to play one of the lead roles in post-World War II coming-of-age drama, Me, You directed by Oscar and Palme d’Or winner Bille August.
The film will begin shooting in Ischia, Italy, in September 2022 with Daisy Jacob and Alessandro Gassmann also starring.
Set in 1950’s Ischia, Me, You is the story of a shy 16-year-old Marco who falls in love with 20-year-old Caia while on holiday with his father. When she reveals her painful childhood caused by the SS during World War II, an infatuated Marco...
- 5/24/2022
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
Tom Hollander (“The Night Manager”) has been cast in an adaptation of Erri De Luca’s novel “Me, You” alongside Alessandro Gassmann (“Transporter 2”) and Daisy Jacob (“Vanity Fair”).
The film, set to be directed Bille August (“Pelle the Conqueror”), is set to go into production this Fall on the island of Ischia, near Naples in Italy.
“Me, You” is set in the 1950s, in post-war Italy, where 16-year-old London native Marco is on holiday with his father Edward (Hollander). He soon finds himself accompanying fisherman Nicola (Gassman) on his sojourns into the bay of Naples. For Marco, who has been condemned to a Scottish boarding school, the tranquil waters and Nicola’s war stories provide a blessed distraction from his usual life, especially when he meets the 20-year-old Caia (Jacob) and immediately falls for her. When Marco finds out she narrowly escaped a concentration camp after her father threw her out of a train,...
The film, set to be directed Bille August (“Pelle the Conqueror”), is set to go into production this Fall on the island of Ischia, near Naples in Italy.
“Me, You” is set in the 1950s, in post-war Italy, where 16-year-old London native Marco is on holiday with his father Edward (Hollander). He soon finds himself accompanying fisherman Nicola (Gassman) on his sojourns into the bay of Naples. For Marco, who has been condemned to a Scottish boarding school, the tranquil waters and Nicola’s war stories provide a blessed distraction from his usual life, especially when he meets the 20-year-old Caia (Jacob) and immediately falls for her. When Marco finds out she narrowly escaped a concentration camp after her father threw her out of a train,...
- 5/24/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Hollander Starring In Billie August Post-wwii Drama ‘Me, You’
The Night Manager and Gosford Park star Tom Hollander has landed a lead role in Billie August coming of age post-World War II drama feature Me, You. Adapted from Erri De Luca’s novel Tu, Mio, it also has Daisy Jacob (National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem) and Alessandr Gassman (Transporter 2) attached and will begin principle photography in Ischia, Italy in September. The plot follows teenage boy Marco, who sails the tranquil seas around Naples with a hardened fisherman. Marco falls love with an enigmatic girl, Caia, whose painful past fuels a ferocious resentment in him, setting off alarm bells. August is directing, with Greg Latter writing the screenplay. Brilliant Pictures’ Sean O’Kelly and Marc Bikindou are producing along with Cristaldi Pics’ Mark Hammond. Hollander is represented by Anonymous Content in the US...
The Night Manager and Gosford Park star Tom Hollander has landed a lead role in Billie August coming of age post-World War II drama feature Me, You. Adapted from Erri De Luca’s novel Tu, Mio, it also has Daisy Jacob (National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem) and Alessandr Gassman (Transporter 2) attached and will begin principle photography in Ischia, Italy in September. The plot follows teenage boy Marco, who sails the tranquil seas around Naples with a hardened fisherman. Marco falls love with an enigmatic girl, Caia, whose painful past fuels a ferocious resentment in him, setting off alarm bells. August is directing, with Greg Latter writing the screenplay. Brilliant Pictures’ Sean O’Kelly and Marc Bikindou are producing along with Cristaldi Pics’ Mark Hammond. Hollander is represented by Anonymous Content in the US...
- 5/24/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Some directing news to get y'all over that midweek hump. Screen Daily has two pieces of intriguing news for us: first up, Tobias Lindholm, director of the absolutely stellar “A Hijacking," has announced his new project, “The War,” about Danish soldiers in Afghanistan. Lindholm likes simple titles, it seems, and simple set-ups: “The War” will form the third part of a thematic trilogy about “desperate men in small rooms”, following on from “A Hijacking” and the even simpler “R” from 2010. This third film will also feature "Borgen" star Pilou Asbaek, as the previous two did. (Lindholm is a writer on that show).In more Danish directing news, Bille August, of “Night Train To Lisbon” and “Goodbye Bafana” fame has announced his new project, “Beware of Pity,” based on the Stefan Zweig novel of the same name about a young lieutenant in the 1930s who falls for a paralyzed aristocrat. Greg Latter will write the script,...
- 9/18/2013
- by Ben Brock
- The Playlist
Pedro Almodóvar Set For Career Honor From European Film Academy Pedro Almodóvar will receive the European Achievement in World Cinema award at the 26th European Film Awards in December. The European Film Academy is feting the filmmaker for his body of work, including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – his 1988 breakout film – All About My Mother, Talk To Her and this year’s I’m So Excited. “I am very thankful for this award,” Almodóvar said in a statement. “From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators. I share with them the joy of this award.” He will receive the award December 7 at the the Efa Awards in Berlin. Senator Film To Finance Bille August’s ‘Beware Of Pity’ Germany’s Senator Film is backing the latest feature adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s Beware Of Pity. Danish helmer Bille August will direct.
- 9/17/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
Bille August ("The House of the Spirits," "Smilla's Feeling for Snow") is attached to direct an adaptation of Stefan Zweig's 1938 novel "Beware of Pity" at Senator Films.
August and scribe Greg Latter, who previously worked together on "Goodbye Bafana" and "Night Train to Lisbon," are re-teaming on the English language project which will sport a German and international cast.
The story follows a young lieutenant invited to dine at at a Hungarian aristocrat’s castle. There he meets a parylysed young woman who falls in love with him.
Lars Sylvest and Helge Sasse will produce. Filming takes place next year in Bavaria, Austria and Hungary ahead of a 2015 release.
Source: Screen Daily...
August and scribe Greg Latter, who previously worked together on "Goodbye Bafana" and "Night Train to Lisbon," are re-teaming on the English language project which will sport a German and international cast.
The story follows a young lieutenant invited to dine at at a Hungarian aristocrat’s castle. There he meets a parylysed young woman who falls in love with him.
Lars Sylvest and Helge Sasse will produce. Filming takes place next year in Bavaria, Austria and Hungary ahead of a 2015 release.
Source: Screen Daily...
- 9/16/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Senator backing adaptation of 1938 novel.
Bille August is attached to direct an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s novel Beware of Pity for UK producer Lars Sylvest and Senator Film’s Helge Sasse of Germany.
Hallstrom’s frequent collaborator Greg Latter will write the script. The pair previously worked together on Goodbye Bafana and Night Train to Lisbon.
The 1938 novel by the Vienna-born author is about a young lieutenant who is invited to dine at at a Hungarian aristocrat’s castle, where he meets a parylysed young woman who falls in love with him.
The film will be in the English language with a German and international cast. It will shoot in 2014 in Bavaria, Austria and Hungary. Senator will release in 2015.
Bille August is attached to direct an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s novel Beware of Pity for UK producer Lars Sylvest and Senator Film’s Helge Sasse of Germany.
Hallstrom’s frequent collaborator Greg Latter will write the script. The pair previously worked together on Goodbye Bafana and Night Train to Lisbon.
The 1938 novel by the Vienna-born author is about a young lieutenant who is invited to dine at at a Hungarian aristocrat’s castle, where he meets a parylysed young woman who falls in love with him.
The film will be in the English language with a German and international cast. It will shoot in 2014 in Bavaria, Austria and Hungary. Senator will release in 2015.
- 9/16/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Wrekin Hill Entertainment has picked up U.S. rights to Bille August’s thriller Night Train to Lisbon from K5 International. Based on the novel by Pascal Mercier, with a screenplay by Gregg Latter and Ulrich Herrmann, the film follows a Swiss professor, played by Jeremy Irons, who meets a beautiful and mysterious young Portuguese woman, played by Sarah Spale-Buhlmann, and then decides to seek out a new life in Lisbon. The cast also includes Jack Huston, Melanie Laurent, Martina Gedeck, August Diehl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Christopher Lee and Charlotte Rampling. Berlin Review: Night Train to Lisbon Studio
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- 5/10/2013
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wrekin Hill Entertainment is acquiring U.S. rights to Bille August’s thriller "Night Train to Lisbon," which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, and plans a release later this year. Gregg Latter and Ulrich Herrmann adapted the bestseller by Pascal Mercier about Swiss professor Raimund Gregorius (Jeremy Irons) who learns of a mesmerizing book by Portuguese author Amadeu de Prado, which compels him to ditch his boring life and embark on an adventure in Lisbon. The sprawling international cast also includes Jack Huston, Melanie Laurent, Martina Gedeck, August Deihl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Christopher Lee and Charlotte Rampling. August also directed "Pelle the Conqueror," "The Best Intentions," "House of the Spirits" and "Smilla's Sense of Snow." Studio Hamburg FilmProduktion and C-films Ag Zuerich produced the film, in co-production with C-Films Deutschland GmbH, Cinemate Portugal and with Tele Muenchen Group. The film has already been performed well in several...
- 5/9/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Wrekin Hill Entertainment has picked up domestic distribution rights to Night Train to Lisbon, directed by BIll August. The film is adapated by Greg Latter and Ulrich Herman from Pascal Mercier's novel, and also includes Martina Gedeck, August Deihl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Christopher Lee and Charlotte Rampling. The film premiered on February 13th, 2013 at the Berlin International Film festival. Night Train to Lisbon follows an aging classical languages Swiss professor who, after meeting a Portuguese woman in a chance encounter, drops his job and heads off to Lisbon to find an author, a doctor and poet who fought against Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the Portuguese dictator.
- 5/9/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Catch the third poster for Night Train to Lisbon, starring Jeremy Irons, Mélanie Laurent and Jack Huston. Based on the novel by Pascal Mercier, the script's adapted by Greg Latter and Ulrich Hermann, and has no U.S. release date set at this time. The story follows an aging classical languages Swiss professor who, after meeting a Portuguese woman in a chance encounter, drops his job and heads off to Lisbon to find an author, a doctor and poet who fought against Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the Portuguese dictator. The cast also includes Martina Gedeck, August Diehl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Burghart Klaußner, Nicolau Breyner and Charlotte Rampling. Night Train to Lisbon made its premiere at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
- 2/16/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Catch the third poster for Night Train to Lisbon, starring Jeremy Irons, Mélanie Laurent and Jack Huston. Based on the novel by Pascal Mercier, the script's adapted by Greg Latter and Ulrich Hermann, and has no U.S. release date set at this time. The story follows an aging classical languages Swiss professor who, after meeting a Portuguese woman in a chance encounter, drops his job and heads off to Lisbon to find an author, a doctor and poet who fought against Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the Portuguese dictator. The cast also includes Martina Gedeck, August Diehl, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Burghart Klaußner, Nicolau Breyner and Charlotte Rampling. Night Train to Lisbon made its premiere at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
- 2/16/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Hey guys, today we have the first poster, great images and one short teaser trailer for the upcoming Night Train to Lisbon film, which is based on the bestselling novel by Pascal Mercier. Directed by Danish helmer Bille August, this romance thriller has an awesome cast on board which includes Jeremy Irons, Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Lee. Guess that should be enough for you to check out the rest of this report…
August directed the movie from a script written by Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter, and the whole thing centers on Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss Professor who encounters a mysterious woman, which leads him to purchase a mysterious text.
In other words, the movie follows:
…a Swiss professor who, having saved a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author that compels him to leave his boring life and embark...
August directed the movie from a script written by Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter, and the whole thing centers on Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss Professor who encounters a mysterious woman, which leads him to purchase a mysterious text.
In other words, the movie follows:
…a Swiss professor who, having saved a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author that compels him to leave his boring life and embark...
- 1/8/2013
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
Before reading about the casting for Night Train to Lisbon, I had never even heard of the film. After reading about said casting, though, I’m pretty damn excited. That’s because, as Variety tells us, the existential thriller from Bille August will have Melanie Laurent, Vanessa Redgrave, and Bruno Ganz starring with Christopher Lee, Lena Olin, Martina Gedeck, and Jack Huston (who’s been absolutely amazing on Boardwalk Empire). Jeremy Irons previously joined the cast, and he will be leading the film.
The picture, based on Pascal Mercier‘s novel and written by Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter, centers on “a Swiss professor who, having saved a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author that compels him to leave his boring life and embark on an adventure in search of the scribe.” Considering its predominantly European cast, a continent-hopping quest seems likely.
The picture, based on Pascal Mercier‘s novel and written by Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter, centers on “a Swiss professor who, having saved a beautiful Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author that compels him to leave his boring life and embark on an adventure in search of the scribe.” Considering its predominantly European cast, a continent-hopping quest seems likely.
- 10/19/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Vanessa Redgrave, Melanie Laurent and Bruno Ganz have joined the cast of Bille August's thriller "Night Train to Lisbon" reports M&C.
Based on the book by Pascal Mercier, the story follows a Swiss professor (Jeremy Irons) who finds a book by a Portuguese author that makes him leave his old life behind in search of the writer
Christopher Lee, Jack Huston, Lena Olin and Martina Gedeck also star. Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter adapted the script.
Based on the book by Pascal Mercier, the story follows a Swiss professor (Jeremy Irons) who finds a book by a Portuguese author that makes him leave his old life behind in search of the writer
Christopher Lee, Jack Huston, Lena Olin and Martina Gedeck also star. Ulrich Herrmann and Greg Latter adapted the script.
- 10/18/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
You can tell how massive and diverse a festival like Tribeca is by the fact that I saw 10 features and a whole bunch of shorts, yet only one film I saw won an award and none received special mention. I want to congratulate Rider & Shiloh Strong for winning best online short for their amazing film, The Dungeon Master. I have been pushing it as my favorite short of the festival and apparently many people agreed with me. Below is the list of all the winners & special mentions. Congratulations to all of them and congrats to everyone who just played at the festival, which is a huge honor by itself.
World Narrative Competition Categories:
The jurors for the 2011 World Narrative Competition were Souleymane Cissé, Scott Glenn, David Gordon Green, Rula Jebreal, Art Linson, Jason Sudeikis and Dianne Wiest.
The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature . She Monkeys (Apflickorna), directed by Lisa Aschan,...
World Narrative Competition Categories:
The jurors for the 2011 World Narrative Competition were Souleymane Cissé, Scott Glenn, David Gordon Green, Rula Jebreal, Art Linson, Jason Sudeikis and Dianne Wiest.
The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature . She Monkeys (Apflickorna), directed by Lisa Aschan,...
- 5/4/2011
- by Jerry Cavallaro
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival announced the winners of its competition categories Thursday night at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City.
Not that the festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, is finished. It runs through May 1, giving audiences time to go see the films that topped their respective categories.
“It’s wonderful to have reached our 10th edition and to be able to celebrate with all of these gifted filmmakers. We’ve been fortunate that as we have grown we have remained a place that welcomes a diverse range of stories told by compelling and exciting filmmakers,” said Jane Rosenthal, festival co-founder. “We are truly honored that the community has supported the Festival all these years – the community of New York and the international film community.”
Screenings of all winning films will take place throughout the final day of the Festival,...
Hollywoodnews.com: The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival announced the winners of its competition categories Thursday night at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City.
Not that the festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, is finished. It runs through May 1, giving audiences time to go see the films that topped their respective categories.
“It’s wonderful to have reached our 10th edition and to be able to celebrate with all of these gifted filmmakers. We’ve been fortunate that as we have grown we have remained a place that welcomes a diverse range of stories told by compelling and exciting filmmakers,” said Jane Rosenthal, festival co-founder. “We are truly honored that the community has supported the Festival all these years – the community of New York and the international film community.”
Screenings of all winning films will take place throughout the final day of the Festival,...
- 4/29/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Lisa Aschan's She Monkeys She Monkeys, Carice van Houten, Bombay Beach: Tribeca 2011 Awards World Narrative Competition Jury: Souleymane Cissé, Scott Glenn, David Gordon Green, Rula Jebreal, Art Linson, Jason Sudeikis, Dianne Wiest. Best Narrative Feature – She Monkeys (Apflickorna), directed by Lisa Aschan, written by Josefine Adolfsson and Lisa Aschan (Sweden) Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Ramadhan 'Shami' Bizimana as Yvan in Grey Matter (Matière Grise), directed and written by Kivu Ruhorahoza (Rwanda, Australia) Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Carice van Houten as Ingrid Jonker in Black Butterflies, directed by Paula van der Oest, written by Greg Latter (Germany, Netherlands, South Africa) Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film – Jannicke Systad Jabobsen, Turn Me On, Goddammit (Få meg på, for faen) (Norway) Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film – Luisa Tillinger, Artificial Paradises (Paraisos Artificiales) (Mexico) Best New Narrative Director Jury: Paul [...]...
- 4/29/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Today the Tribeca Film Festival awarded $185,000 in cash prizes for both narrative and documentary films. Some notable awards include: She Monkeys for Best Narrative, Artificial Paradises for Best Cinematography, Turn Me On Goddammit for Best Screenplay, and Carice van Houten as Ingrid Jonker in Black Butterflies for Best Actress. Check out the press release below for the full lineup of awards.
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Awards
She Monkeys, Journals Of Musan, Bombay Beach And Like Water
Win Top Awards In Juried World Competitions
Festival Awards More Than $185,000 In Cash Prizes
[April 28, 2011 – New York, NY] – The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City. The Festival runs through May 1, 2011.
The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen...
2011 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Awards
She Monkeys, Journals Of Musan, Bombay Beach And Like Water
Win Top Awards In Juried World Competitions
Festival Awards More Than $185,000 In Cash Prizes
[April 28, 2011 – New York, NY] – The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City. The Festival runs through May 1, 2011.
The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen...
- 4/29/2011
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
Tribeca Film Festival has announced the line up of this years competition categories, including World Narrative Feature, World Documentary Feature, and the brand new Viewpoints which highlights eleven independent features and nine documentaries.
Tribeca Film Festival is one of leading film festivals located in New York City, showcasing many films not screened in any other U.S. film festival along with forty three world premieres and fifty four directorial debuts. Cameron Crowe’s premier of his concert documentary, The Union, will start the festival followed by a performance by Elton John. The rest of the lineup will be announced March 14th, and look out for coverage of the festival in April. Below you can find the complete press release on the lineup.
10th Tribeca Film Festival Announces World Narrative
And Documentary Competition Selections, And New Viewpoints Section
Tribeca Expands Awards Scope
2011 Festival to Present 88 Feature-Length and 61 Short Films April 20 – May...
Tribeca Film Festival is one of leading film festivals located in New York City, showcasing many films not screened in any other U.S. film festival along with forty three world premieres and fifty four directorial debuts. Cameron Crowe’s premier of his concert documentary, The Union, will start the festival followed by a performance by Elton John. The rest of the lineup will be announced March 14th, and look out for coverage of the festival in April. Below you can find the complete press release on the lineup.
10th Tribeca Film Festival Announces World Narrative
And Documentary Competition Selections, And New Viewpoints Section
Tribeca Expands Awards Scope
2011 Festival to Present 88 Feature-Length and 61 Short Films April 20 – May...
- 3/9/2011
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (April 20-May 1) on Monday announced the first 44 feature films of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival slate, comprising the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections, and one new section: Viewpoints.
In a record year for submissions, the 2011 film slate was chosen from a field of 5,624 entries. Tff 2011 will include feature films from 32 countries, including 43 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 19 North American premieres, seven U.S. Premieres and nine New York premieres.
“It’s our 10th Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Tff executive director Nancy Schafer in a statement. “The festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
A complete list of the films announced Monday follows, with descriptions provided by the festival.
World Narrative Features
“Angel’s Crest”
Directed by Gaby Dellal
Written by Catherine Trieschmann
(UK,...
In a record year for submissions, the 2011 film slate was chosen from a field of 5,624 entries. Tff 2011 will include feature films from 32 countries, including 43 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 19 North American premieres, seven U.S. Premieres and nine New York premieres.
“It’s our 10th Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Tff executive director Nancy Schafer in a statement. “The festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
A complete list of the films announced Monday follows, with descriptions provided by the festival.
World Narrative Features
“Angel’s Crest”
Directed by Gaby Dellal
Written by Catherine Trieschmann
(UK,...
- 3/7/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (April 20-May 1) on Monday announced the first 44 feature films of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival slate, comprising the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections, and one new section: Viewpoints.
In a record year for submissions, the 2011 film slate was chosen from a field of 5,624 entries. Tff 2011 will include feature films from 32 countries, including 43 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 19 North American premieres, seven U.S. Premieres and nine New York premieres.
“It’s our 10th Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Tff executive director Nancy Schafer in a statement. “The festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
A complete list of the films announced Monday follows, with descriptions provided by the festival.
World Narrative Features
“Angel’s Crest”
Directed by Gaby Dellal
Written by Catherine Trieschmann
(UK,...
In a record year for submissions, the 2011 film slate was chosen from a field of 5,624 entries. Tff 2011 will include feature films from 32 countries, including 43 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 19 North American premieres, seven U.S. Premieres and nine New York premieres.
“It’s our 10th Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Tff executive director Nancy Schafer in a statement. “The festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
A complete list of the films announced Monday follows, with descriptions provided by the festival.
World Narrative Features
“Angel’s Crest”
Directed by Gaby Dellal
Written by Catherine Trieschmann
(UK,...
- 3/7/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival revealed the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections for the 10th annual Tff, which will be held April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
In addition, Tff organizers unveiled the first edition of the new section — Viewpoints.
Forty-four of the 88 feature-length films that will screen during the fest have been announced. Much more information on each title can be found below.
“It’s our tenth Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “The Festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
So what will screen at Tribeca this year? In part, the following:
World Narrative Feature Competition
· Angels Crest, directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) – World Premiere.
Hollywoodnews.com: The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival revealed the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections for the 10th annual Tff, which will be held April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
In addition, Tff organizers unveiled the first edition of the new section — Viewpoints.
Forty-four of the 88 feature-length films that will screen during the fest have been announced. Much more information on each title can be found below.
“It’s our tenth Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “The Festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
So what will screen at Tribeca this year? In part, the following:
World Narrative Feature Competition
· Angels Crest, directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) – World Premiere.
- 3/7/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival today announced their 2011 world narrative and documentary lineup as well as introducing a new out-of- competition sidebar, Viewpoints, which highlights international cinema.
A total of 45 features were unveiled for the 10th edition, taking place April 20-May 1, from a record number of over 5,600 submissions. The fest also introduced at a press conference today, according to indieWIRE, new awards that will be handed out this year from the competition slate: achievements in cinematography, screenwriting, editing and Best New Director awards for narrative and doc sections.
The remaining features will be announced next week. Last week Tribeca announced its opening film will be a free outdoor screening of the Elton John documentary, The Union, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Competition and Viewpoints lineup below.
World Narrative Feature Competition-
“Angels Crest,” directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) World Premiere.
In the working-class Rocky Mountain town of Angels Crest,...
A total of 45 features were unveiled for the 10th edition, taking place April 20-May 1, from a record number of over 5,600 submissions. The fest also introduced at a press conference today, according to indieWIRE, new awards that will be handed out this year from the competition slate: achievements in cinematography, screenwriting, editing and Best New Director awards for narrative and doc sections.
The remaining features will be announced next week. Last week Tribeca announced its opening film will be a free outdoor screening of the Elton John documentary, The Union, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Competition and Viewpoints lineup below.
World Narrative Feature Competition-
“Angels Crest,” directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) World Premiere.
In the working-class Rocky Mountain town of Angels Crest,...
- 3/7/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
And the festival beat marches on… nothing on this list immediately jumps out at me… no titles I recognize. These are just the World Narrative and Documentary competition selections, so, there’ll be more announcements made later. I do see representation from South Africa, Egypt and Rwanda. As I always do, I’ll be taking a closer look at the lineup for any titles worth profiling on this website. The festival runs from April 20th to May 1st. It’s in my backyard, so you know I’ll be covering it!
For now, here’s the full press release:
New York, NY [March 7, 2011] – The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express®, today announced the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections and the first edition of the new section—Viewpoints. Forty-three of the 87 feature-length films were announced. The 10th edition of the Festival will take place from April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
For now, here’s the full press release:
New York, NY [March 7, 2011] – The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express®, today announced the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections and the first edition of the new section—Viewpoints. Forty-three of the 87 feature-length films were announced. The 10th edition of the Festival will take place from April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
- 3/7/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The Tribeca Film Festival announced selections for its World Narrative, World Documentary, and Viewpoints competitions at its 10th annual event, running from April 20 to May 1 in New York. Eighty-eight features (such as Angels Crest, with Jeremy Piven) and 61 short films from 32 different countries were selected from more than 5,600 submissions to screen at the festival. “In programming the Festival this year we had to make some incredibly difficult decisions, but we are excited about the quality, ingenuity, risk-taking and diversity of this year’s program,” David Kwok, Director of Programming, said in a statement. “We are particularly proud that we have...
- 3/7/2011
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Getty Robert DeNiro
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, which will run from April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan, has announced the films that will play in this year’s World Narrative and Documentary Competition film categories, which are both competition sections. The also named the films that will will play in its new, out-of-competition section “Viewpoints.”
Now in its tenth year, this year’s festival features movies from 32 different counties and 99 different filmmakers, who were selected from a pool of 5,624 entries.
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, which will run from April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan, has announced the films that will play in this year’s World Narrative and Documentary Competition film categories, which are both competition sections. The also named the films that will will play in its new, out-of-competition section “Viewpoints.”
Now in its tenth year, this year’s festival features movies from 32 different counties and 99 different filmmakers, who were selected from a pool of 5,624 entries.
- 3/7/2011
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Filed under: Drama, Casting, Deals, Scripts
She might not get the chance to shine as Pope Joan, but it looks like Run Lola Run star Franka Potente is getting a different dramatic chance to shine. Variety reports that she is going to headline a new lost-at-sea film called Wave -- joining the likes of Dougray Scott and Marianne Faithful.
Based on Louise Longo's Let Me Survive, the film will focus on an English family -- mom (Potente) plus husband and 5-year-old daughter -- who set out for a three-week cruise on the Bay of Biscay. But a storm rushes in as they're just 40 miles from the Spanish coast, and the family decide that they'd be safer in the life raft, waiting to be rescued. But Bernard is injured getting into the liferaft and dies, as does the young girl. And that's not the end of the story -- after being rescued two weeks later,...
She might not get the chance to shine as Pope Joan, but it looks like Run Lola Run star Franka Potente is getting a different dramatic chance to shine. Variety reports that she is going to headline a new lost-at-sea film called Wave -- joining the likes of Dougray Scott and Marianne Faithful.
Based on Louise Longo's Let Me Survive, the film will focus on an English family -- mom (Potente) plus husband and 5-year-old daughter -- who set out for a three-week cruise on the Bay of Biscay. But a storm rushes in as they're just 40 miles from the Spanish coast, and the family decide that they'd be safer in the life raft, waiting to be rescued. But Bernard is injured getting into the liferaft and dies, as does the young girl. And that's not the end of the story -- after being rescued two weeks later,...
- 11/5/2008
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Franka Potente, who kicked major ass in Run Lola Run and starred opposite Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity, has signed on to star in Wave, a lost-at-sea tragedy being directed by Maria Ripoll (Tortilla Soup). Based on true events, Wave recounts the story of an English family of three adrift at sea without water or food for two weeks. Only the mother (Potente) survives. But she’s then alleged to have killed her husband. Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II, Hitman) is also in talks to join the film. Wave was written by Marie-Laure Bertehlin and Greg Latter, it’s based on the Louise Longo’s novel Let Me Survive. Jean Luc Van Damme (Goodbye Bafana) is producing for Banana Films in Belgium. The flick looks to be among the first films to use the new water tank at Spain’s Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante. Filming begins in February.
- 11/4/2008
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
Goodbye Bafana
BERLIN -- "Goodbye Banfana" is yet another movie about the revolution against South Africa's brutal apartheid regime told from a white man's point of view. This time it is Nelson Mandela's warden, during much of the activist's 27 years in prison, who receives the star treatment in Bille August's film. At the very least, one would expect this white protagonist to bear witness to a change in thinking among many whites about a new South Africa. Even here, though, those key scenes are missing in a script August wrote with Greg Latter.
This French/German/Belgian/Italian/South African co-production will benefit from a continuing worldwide fascination with Mandela's story, even if he is only a supporting player here. Since the sincere but dramatically flaccid story doesn't pack much punch, theatrical engagements will be short.
Dennis Haysbert does manage to capture the dignity and steadfastness Mandela exhibited during his long ordeal. But he can only hint at the charisma and savvy that would change a white man's closed mind. Meanwhile, Joseph Fiennes as warden James Gregory is perhaps too smart for the fairly uneducated man he plays: He seems too sharp to be saying and doing many of the things he does.
Gregory's only ambition is to be an excellent prison warden, move up in the system and support a wife, Gloria (Diane Kruger), whose need for material goods and status knows no bounds.
He arrives with his wife and two children at the notorious Robben Island prison in 1968, where one quirk stands him in good stead. Growing up on a lonely farm where his only playmate was a black boy, Gregory became fluent in the Xhosa language. So a security czar assigns him to guard Mandela and his comrades so Gregory can be "a window into their soul -- if they have a soul."
The movie is pretty heavy-handed in the early going with all the whites spouting racist doggerel. Mrs. Gregory even gets to affirm that the separation of whites from blacks is "God's way."
But in the first half of the movie Mandela himself is little more than a rumor. From Gregory's brief encounters with him, remarkably, he starts to change his mind about apartheid. How does this happen? What does he see, or what Nelson tell him, that he doesn't already know about the racist white regime? That blacks are mistreated everywhere but especially in prison? That the government's labeling of all black activists as "communist" is pure cynical spin?
Mandela does tell him to go read the African National Congress' Freedom Charter, a document few whites have read since it is banned literature. But would that document really be such an eye-opener, especially since the ANC had by then abandoned its non-violent ways?
The film never gets to the heart of what it should be about -- the turning of a man's heart and mind. Instead, much time is taken up with petty jealousies and feuds within the white colony of penal authorities and their wives. And Mrs. Gregory is always good for a harangue to her husband about not jeopardizing the family's security by doing anything "foolish."
When a small kindness toward Mrs. Mandela (Faith Ndukwana) by Gregory gets blown out of proportion and his family's life becomes untenable on the island, he demands a transfer. Soon enough, Mandela also is transferred away from the island for fear he may be assassinated. Gregory is ordered to again act as his warden, a job that increasingly looks like that of a valet.
The second half of the movie brings the two men into more contact, yet nothing significant ever happens between them. Perhaps nothing ever did. Gregory, a man with some compassion after all, simply came to his senses when he saw that Nelson Mandela was no mad terrorist. Whatever the case, there is little here to justify a two-hour movie, even with some forced intrigue about threats to Gregory's children and a family tragedy that mirrors one of Mandela's own.
Production values are sharp as August crew makes good use of Robben Island and other actual locations where the story took place. But sentimentality and even sometimes triviality undermine this bizarre buddy film.
Goodbye Bafana
An X Filme Creative Pool in association with Arsam International/Banana Films with Future Films/Marmont Film Production/Film Afrika
Credits:
Director: Bille August
Writers: Greg Latter, Bille August
Producers: Jean-Luc van Damme, Ilann Girard, Andro Steinborn
Executive producers: Kami Naghdi, Michael Dounaev, Jimmy de Brabant, Kwesi Dickson
Director of photography: Robert Fraisse
Production designer: Tom Hannam
Music: Dario Marianelli, Johnny Clegg
Costume designer: Diana Cilliers
Editor: Herve Schneid
Cast:
James Gregory: Joseph Fiennes
Nelson Mandela: Dennis Haysbert
Gloria Gregory: Diane Kruger
Brent: Shiloh Henderson, Tyron Keogh
Natasha: Megan Smith, Jessica Manuel
Winnie Mandela: Faith Ndukwana
Zindzi Mandela: Terry Pheto
No MPAA rating, running time 119 minutes.
This French/German/Belgian/Italian/South African co-production will benefit from a continuing worldwide fascination with Mandela's story, even if he is only a supporting player here. Since the sincere but dramatically flaccid story doesn't pack much punch, theatrical engagements will be short.
Dennis Haysbert does manage to capture the dignity and steadfastness Mandela exhibited during his long ordeal. But he can only hint at the charisma and savvy that would change a white man's closed mind. Meanwhile, Joseph Fiennes as warden James Gregory is perhaps too smart for the fairly uneducated man he plays: He seems too sharp to be saying and doing many of the things he does.
Gregory's only ambition is to be an excellent prison warden, move up in the system and support a wife, Gloria (Diane Kruger), whose need for material goods and status knows no bounds.
He arrives with his wife and two children at the notorious Robben Island prison in 1968, where one quirk stands him in good stead. Growing up on a lonely farm where his only playmate was a black boy, Gregory became fluent in the Xhosa language. So a security czar assigns him to guard Mandela and his comrades so Gregory can be "a window into their soul -- if they have a soul."
The movie is pretty heavy-handed in the early going with all the whites spouting racist doggerel. Mrs. Gregory even gets to affirm that the separation of whites from blacks is "God's way."
But in the first half of the movie Mandela himself is little more than a rumor. From Gregory's brief encounters with him, remarkably, he starts to change his mind about apartheid. How does this happen? What does he see, or what Nelson tell him, that he doesn't already know about the racist white regime? That blacks are mistreated everywhere but especially in prison? That the government's labeling of all black activists as "communist" is pure cynical spin?
Mandela does tell him to go read the African National Congress' Freedom Charter, a document few whites have read since it is banned literature. But would that document really be such an eye-opener, especially since the ANC had by then abandoned its non-violent ways?
The film never gets to the heart of what it should be about -- the turning of a man's heart and mind. Instead, much time is taken up with petty jealousies and feuds within the white colony of penal authorities and their wives. And Mrs. Gregory is always good for a harangue to her husband about not jeopardizing the family's security by doing anything "foolish."
When a small kindness toward Mrs. Mandela (Faith Ndukwana) by Gregory gets blown out of proportion and his family's life becomes untenable on the island, he demands a transfer. Soon enough, Mandela also is transferred away from the island for fear he may be assassinated. Gregory is ordered to again act as his warden, a job that increasingly looks like that of a valet.
The second half of the movie brings the two men into more contact, yet nothing significant ever happens between them. Perhaps nothing ever did. Gregory, a man with some compassion after all, simply came to his senses when he saw that Nelson Mandela was no mad terrorist. Whatever the case, there is little here to justify a two-hour movie, even with some forced intrigue about threats to Gregory's children and a family tragedy that mirrors one of Mandela's own.
Production values are sharp as August crew makes good use of Robben Island and other actual locations where the story took place. But sentimentality and even sometimes triviality undermine this bizarre buddy film.
Goodbye Bafana
An X Filme Creative Pool in association with Arsam International/Banana Films with Future Films/Marmont Film Production/Film Afrika
Credits:
Director: Bille August
Writers: Greg Latter, Bille August
Producers: Jean-Luc van Damme, Ilann Girard, Andro Steinborn
Executive producers: Kami Naghdi, Michael Dounaev, Jimmy de Brabant, Kwesi Dickson
Director of photography: Robert Fraisse
Production designer: Tom Hannam
Music: Dario Marianelli, Johnny Clegg
Costume designer: Diana Cilliers
Editor: Herve Schneid
Cast:
James Gregory: Joseph Fiennes
Nelson Mandela: Dennis Haysbert
Gloria Gregory: Diane Kruger
Brent: Shiloh Henderson, Tyron Keogh
Natasha: Megan Smith, Jessica Manuel
Winnie Mandela: Faith Ndukwana
Zindzi Mandela: Terry Pheto
No MPAA rating, running time 119 minutes.
- 2/11/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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