Acknowledgements for Swiss documentary films in Paris
03.03.2006
On March 1, 2006, “Maria Bethânia, música e perfume”, the portrayal of the famous Brazilian singer by Georges Gachot, began its movie theatre run in Paris with strong press acclaim. In January, “Feline Masquerade” by Veronika Minder and “Coca: The Dove from Chechnya” evoked favorable reviews by the media. With its theatrical release on February 22, the Swiss co-production “Massaker” by Monika Borgmann, Lokman Slim, and Hermann Theissen, also attracted attention. Similarly, “L’accord – Un plan de paix né à Genève” by Nicolas Wadimoff and Béatrice Guelpa is the fifth documentary film shown on Parisian movie screens within two months, and a positive response is anticipated (premieres on March 15, Distributor: Solaris Distribution).
In the cultural magazine “Les Inrockuptibles”, Richard Robert spoke of „Maria Bethânia, música e perfume“ (Distributor: Les Films du Paradoxe) in the highest terms: “The fatal beauty of the characters in this story ranks “Música e perfume” among the best documentary films about music of the past years.” Mathilde Blottière from the weekly cultural magazine Télérama also praised it equally: “In this documentary film, which moves between portrait and music film, the director successfully gives life to a musical voice, and thus, with its fluid editing, allows for the viewer to immerse in to the intimate world of the singer and her musicians.” “Feline Masquerade” (Distributor: Epicentre Films), which illuminates the history of lesbian love in Switzerland, was described by Benjamin Mallet in the movie magazine “Première”: “With an elegant patchwork of film clips, television shows and songs, the film captures memories of first encounters and self-acceptance.” In the daily newspaper “Le Monde”, critic Jacques Mandelbaum wrote: “Even though the lengthy struggle (for acceptance) would have warranted a more sociological and political perspective, the film’s serious yet empathic portrayal of five strong women incorporates some of these missing aspects.” Thomas Sotinel, also a critic for “Le Monde”, speaking about the movie “Coca -The dove from Chechnya”(Distributor: K Films) emphasizes: “This documentary film by Eric Bergkraut is solid journalistic work, which describes the immeasurable courage of its heroine on the one hand, and the obstacles she encounters on the other”. “As the portrayal of an extraordinary woman, this engaged documentary film denounces the unbearable inertia of European democracies”, observes Jérémie Couston in “Télérama”. The film “Massaker” (Distributor: Zootrope Films) received mixed reviews. Film critics François Bégaudeau (“Cahiers du cinema”) and Jacques Mandelbaum “(Le Monde”) both wrote lengthy and critical comments on the selection of the film’s interview materials, which are witness accounts of the murders of Sabra and Chatila.
Zurich, March 3, 2006
filmsduparadoxe
solaris-distribution
epicentrefilms
k-films
Zurich, March 3, 2006
filmsduparadoxe
solaris-distribution
epicentrefilms
k-films