Ukraine, Iran, Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke… The Sundance festival starts with a bang
The show, created by Robert Redford and Mecca of American independent cinema, recreates its scale before the health crisis in Utah.
Starting this Thursday and for ten days, Hollywood is moving to the snowy slopes of Utah. For the first time since the advent of the pandemic, the Sundance festival, where the best of independent cinema and its new talents are revealed, will take place in its usual scale and splendor without lowering the sails.
Co-founded by actor Robert Redford, the event runs until January 29 at a ski resort 2,000 meters above sea level. It’s an important launching pad for many low-budget films looking for a distributor. After several online and hybrid editions, Sundance is the latest major film festival to return to the classic format. It is still unknown whether the auctions of the studios will be connected to it. Giants Netflix and Warner Bros are adopting austerity and economy treatment after spending unreservedly to boost their streaming offerings.
About 110 films share the bill this year. They are their creators “very enthusiastic” finally being able to meet in person, according to festival programming director Kim Yutani. “At the end of the day, the moment the piece meets the audience is something we all really cherish”, he explains. “Nothing can replace the director’s nervousness before the screening, being in front of this audience, experiencing the reaction and questions and answers (…).»
Featured Documentary
Documentaries are traditionally the cornerstone of the festival. This year is one of the most anticipated Deep rise. Narrated by a Hawaiian actor and starAquaman Jason Momoa, The investigation opens up a worrying race to mine the seabed in search of rare metals useful for “green revolution” batteries.
Another American star, Dakota Johnsonlends his voice to the script The disappearance of Shere Hite. The documentary follows the forgotten story of the author of the Hite Report, a seminal study on female sexuality that sold millions of copies but sparked a fierce misogynistic backlash. Judy Blume Forever this American author describes how she introduced a generation of young girls to adulthood and sex, only to be attacked by conservative activists.
As in Cannes, it is the center of war in Ukraine. Iron Butterflies It examines the 2014 downing of flight MH17 by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine and links the lack of consequences for those responsible to the current war. It is a subject of conflict 20 days in Mariupol.
Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Adèle Exarchopoulos on the screens
Iran is also at the center of concerns. Jonam Iranian director Sierra Urich follows three generations of women in her family. Feature films Persian version and thing, Produced by Cate Blanchett Zar Amir Ibrahimi Commentary awards at Cannes also explore the stories of women in Iran and its diaspora as the country is rocked by massive protests.
Sundance will also be a hangout for stars who are happy to wear sweaters and boots rather than evening gowns and stiletto heels and swap red carpets for runways. This Thursday’s star Game of ThronesEmilia Clarke and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor will present on the opening night Pod Generationsocial satire set in the near future, where a company has invented a removable uterus that allows couples to share their pregnancies.
‘s star appeared in the American remake of the Aries family CODAEmilia Jones back to defend Cat Man. Adapted from a popular short story The New Yorker, the drama follows a date between a young student and an older man that culminates in an affair and explores the gray areas of consent. with fairyland, inspired by the British bestseller, goes back to when HIV ravaged San Francisco. CODA became the first Sundance film to win the Best Picture Oscar. Apple TV+ has bought the family comedy at a golden price.
In Eileen, Anne Hathaway portrays an attractive employee who forms an ill-fated friendship with a lonely colleague (Thomasin McKenzie). All under the supervision of William Oldroyd, the author noticed Lady Macbeth Florence Pugh put it in the spotlight.
You hurt my feelings brings together Julia Louis Dreyfus (Veep) and director Nicole Holofzener. The duo describes the frustration of a writer who learns that her therapist husband doesn’t read her. This brutal confession goes against his unwaveringly supportive wife.
Marvel superhero on the slopes
Marvel’s Future Star Jonathan Majors, who transferred his traits to the monstrous Kang Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniawill be presented Journal Dreamsa portrait of a bodybuilder pushing his body to its limits.
The French will also participate in Sundance. Especially Adele Exarchopoulos. detection Adele’s life meets British camper Ben Whishaw and German Franz Rogowski, a gay couple in search of extramarital adventures. Transitions By Ira Sachs. One finds a lover, the other a mistress.
