MWFF 2018: The Etruscan Smile

THE ETRUSCAN SMILE

WORLD COMPETITION

Montreal World Film Festival / FFM
Switzerland, Germany, UK, USA / 107 min. / English & French subtitles

This film won the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the Montreal World Film festival 2018 Closing Ceremony. See all the winners here.

The film is based on a bestselling novel by the Spanish economist and author José Luis Sampedro La sonrisa etrusca written in 1985. It was shot across two continents, with filming taking place on location in the iconic city of San Francisco as well as in Scotland's breath-taking Hebridean coast.

The Etruscan Smile is a remarkable film that deals with many modern men issues, especially how the big city life with its technically advanced but somewhat sterile, nature deprived ways that foster avant-guard theories and trends that tend to lead even to child-rearing or culinary disasters. It brings into focus the traditional ways of life values, the immediacy of feelings, freedoms, creativity, the family closeness and love. The open vistas and the ocean, the roaring waves and grass grazing sheep, become the cornerstone on which to recapture the basic human instincts and values, and to feel deeply at home. This is essentially the central message of the film.

The film has a number of interesting plot twists, as well as humour. The actor's acting is superb, and the intriguing story will not leave the audience indifferent. In fact, it is very easy to get involved with the reality that the film portrays, and even to start examining one's own life's circumstances and values.

Also, the technical aspects of the film are remarkable, as well as its photographic aspects. I highly recommend this film.

SYNOPSES

Due to a health problem, Rory, a gruff old man, reluctantly leaves his isolated island of Scotland to go to his son's home in San Francisco for medical treatment. His life takes on a new meaning when he meets his grandson with whom he develops a real bond.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Directors: Mihal Brezis, Oded  Binnun.

Script: Michael McGowan, Sarah Belwood, Michal Lali Kagan.

Photography: Javier Aguirresarobe.

Editing: Roberto Silvi.

Cast: Brian Cox, Rosanna Arquette, Thora Birch, JJ Feild.

Production / Sales: Arthur Cohn, Arthur Cohn Production,

Gellerstrasse 18, 4052 Bâle (Suisse), tél. : +41 613121242,

acohn@bluewin.ch

FILM TRAILER

For more information on the festival visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website.