The
International Feature Film Season is a date not to be missed for film buffs; the perfect review of a year's worth of
cinematography represented by the outstanding films from 2008. This year's crop will be screened
from Wednesday the 10th to Sunday the 14th of December on the screens of the
Teatro Salón Cervantes (TSC); a meaty selection of eight feature films selected by the organization.
The Season is proud to present the two films that shared the most prestigious Oscars:
'No Country For Old Men' and
'There Will Be Blood'. The first part of the
Che Guevara biopic made by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benecio del Toro will also be on show. Independent cinema is represented by
'Juno', by Jason Reitman, and Woody Allen's latest production,
'Vicky Cristal Barcelona', also appears in the definitive programme.
'The Other Side of Heaven', from Turkish-German filmmaker Fatih Akin, shines a light on the European industry, and
'The Blind Sunflowers', chosen to represent Spain at the next Oscar ceremony, and
'Camino', a radical change in direction from the experienced Javier Fesser, who has moved from surrealist comedy into dramatic territory, are there on behalf of Spain.
The main spotlight of the International Feature Film Season will be shone on feature films such as
'No Country For Old Men', winner of this year's Best Film Oscar. This violent road-movie based on a novel by Cormac-McCarthy was directed by the
Coen Brothers. The role of the arch-villain was played by
Javier Bardem, a portrayal that won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. 'No Country For Old Men' can be seen on Friday the 12th (22:00) and Sunday the 14th (17:30).
Bardem also stars in another of the selected films,
'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', as part of a threesome completed by
Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson. Woody Allen divided the production between
Oviedo and
Barcelona, to create a bittersweet tale of unconsummated desire. 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' will be screened on Saturday the 13th (19:45) and Sunday the 14th (22:00).
Another American film follows, and will be the only film screened just once;
'There Will Be Blood', on Saturday the 13th at 22:00. The presence of
Daniel Day-Lewis brings stature to a mega-production that was nominated for eight Oscars, two of which it won in the end (best lead actor and best photography). Another memorable interpretation according to specialist reviews can be appreciated in
'The Argentine' in which
Beneficio Del Toro takes the lead depicting
El Che. This is the first instalment of the biopic on the celebrated revolutionary, doctor and politician made by
Steven Soderbergh. It will be screened at the TSC on Wednesday the 10th (22:00) and Thursday the 11th (17:30).
The fifth film made in the United States is
'Juno', one of the year's revelations, which won best original script at the last Oscars ceremony. This brings
independent cinema into the limelight, with a story starring a sharp-witted 16 year old girl who has just realized she is pregnant. 'Juno' will be screened on Saturday the 13th (17:30) and Sunday the 14th (19:45).
'The Other Side of Heaven' will inaugurate the International Season on Wednesday the 10th at 17:30. An award-winning Turkish film at the
2007 Cannes Film Festival, in which the fragile lives of six characters cross on emotional journeys to forgiveness and reconciliation between
Germany and Turkey. This feature written and directed by Fatih Akin will be screened for a second time on Thursday the 11th (19:45).
Lastly two Spanish film projects have been included in the season:
'The Blind Sunflowers' is the latest production by veteran filmmaker
José Luis Cuerda, with the last script written by the recently departed
Rafael Azcona. Stories of the losers of the
Civil War taken from a
book by Alberto Méndez, which will represent Spain at the next Oscars Ceremony. 'The Blind Sunflowers' will be screened on Wednesday the 10th (19:45) and Friday the 12th (17:30).
And finally,
'Camino',
Javier Fesser's third feature film following 'El milagro de P. Tinto' and 'La gran aventura de Mortadelo y Filemón'. His latest film centres on an eleven year old girl who faces two things that are completely new to her; love and death. The film is based on a real situation experienced by the youngest daughter of a family belonging to
Opus Dei, who died following illness in 1985. 'Camino' will be screened no Thursday the 11th (22:00) and Friday the 12th (19:45).
