Prominent ZFF Gala Premieres
New feature films from Ozon, Seidl, Hansen-Løve,Fincher and others
Zurich, September 2, 2014
Together with the Competition section, ZFF’s Gala Premiere section forms the core of the Zurich Film Festival, and once again features numerous prominent names. Among the approx. 30 productions in this year’s line-up are new films from such international directors as François Ozon, Ulrich Seidl, Mia Hansen-Løve, David Fincher, Andrew Niccol, Theodore Melfi and Antoine Fuqua.
EDEN
Mia Hansen-Løve
Fascinated by American garage house, the shy teenager Paul lays down his first record in 1990s Paris. This new electric-wave dominates party life, and cocaine and ecstasy turn every night into day. Paul tumbles into an exhilarating world of beats and volatile bedtime stories. Soon thousands are dancing to his rhythms in trendy Parisian clubs. In this atmospherically dense social study, director Mia Hansen-Løve traces the development of electronic music in France. Greta Gerwig und Brady Corbet shine in the leading roles.
GONE GIRL
David Fincher
Directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn – unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick kill his wife?
GOOD KILL
Andrew Niccol
A ‚good kill’ is when an enemy has been killed precisely – in this case, via computer. American officer Thomas Egan (Ethan Hawke), an ambitious fighter pilot until being exempt from service, controls fighter drones. He sits at a computer and fights terrorists in the Near East at the touch of a button. When Egan is ordered to carry out instructions that have a questionable goal, he finds himself faced with a moral dilemma. With GOOD KILL, director Andrew Niccol broaches a highly controversial subject: Conducting war on a computer.
IM KELLER
Ulrich Seidl
IM KELLER, the latest documentary film from Austrian film author Ulrich Seidl, explores what people get up to in their basements. “Many Austrians spend more time in the basement of their family home than in the living room, where they indulge in their actual passions and obsessions”, says Siedl. The film deals with fitness and fascism, dolls and whips, sexual obsessions and dirty jokes. IM KELLER is a journey into the basement of the Austrian soul.
ST. VINCENT
Theodore Melfi
A dream part for the reticent Bill Murray, who plays the title role in director Theodore Melfi’s melancholic comedy ST. VINCENT – a bitter war veteran of the same name whose days living in Brooklyn centre around alcohol, gambling and prostitution. When Maggie and her twelve-year-old son, Oliver, move into the neighbouring house, St. Vincent takes care of the boy. Their gradually increasing affection for each other changes both their lives dramatically.
THE EQUALIZER
Antoine Fuqua
The fast-paced American action thriller THE EQUALIZER sees Denzel Washington play a former special task force undercover agent who faked his own death to ensure a life of peace. He reverts back to his former self in order to rescue a prostitute, and suddenly finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters: When there’s nobody else to turn to – the Equalizer can help. Having previously worked with Denzel Washington on TRAINING DAY, director Antoine Fuqua’s latest production also features Chloë Grace Moretz and Melissa Leo.
UNE NOUVELLE AMIE
François Ozon
French director François Ozon’s film DANS LA MAISON screened at the ZFF two years ago. Now his latest production UNE NOUVELLE AMIE will also be shown in Zurich. This intimate film tells the story of the two friends Léa und Claire. Léa dies shortly after giving birth to her first child. Claire takes care of the child – and discovers that Léa’s husband has a preference for wearing women’s clothes. She is both shocked and fascinated… French shooting star Anaïs Demoustier puts in a convincing performance as Claire.
Further Gala Premieres have been published August 14th: www.zff.com
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