PENELOPE WORLD PREMIERE IN CROATIA
November 7th 2008 04:26
The First Australian-Croatian Feature Art Film 'Penelope' opens the 4th One Take Film Festival in Zagreb, Croatia on November 20
Penelope, the first Australian / Croatian art film shot entirely on location in Croatia, is a fresh interpretation of Homer's tale of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, who waits for twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War.
The film will have its world premiere at the 4th One Take Film Festival in Zagreb Croatia on November 20 as the Opening Night film, following in the footsteps of Alexander Sukurov's long-take masterpiece Russian Ark which opened the inaugural festival in 2003.
In celebration of its world premiere in Croatia, production company Artemis Projects held a special exhibition in Sydney entitled Penelope 16 x 9, on November 5 at Global Gallery in Paddington, featuring 24 luscious photographic images from the film.
Influenced by world class art film directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky (The Mirror), Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita) and Bela Tarr (The Man from London) who champion the long-take filmmaking style, Penelope favours a psychological narrative over a conventional chronological one, pushing cinema storytelling into a new dimension.
"I'm not so interested in conventional story-telling," says Australian director Ben Ferris about his debut feature film. "In my mind books do that better than films can. I'm interested in exploring those qualities native to cinema: for instance its manipulation of time and space."
The exhibition Penelope 16 x 9 also incorporated costumes by Jennie Tate, a short extract from the art film itself, and the haunting original sound track by British composer Max Richter.
"It's all about being able to think outside the square. A film like Penelope presents cinematographic challenges which allow for a true creative exploration. I am a great believer in the artistic potential that cinematography can bring to the filmmaking process" says James Barahanos, Director of Photography.
About the film
Adapted from one of the most famous stories of all time, award-winning Australian writer-director Ben Ferris gives us a fresh interpretation of the tale of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, who waits for twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War.
Set in a mythic time and space, the film's unconventional power lies in its ability to step inside Penelope's head tormented by the loss of her great love and her yearning for his return. Her nightmares, hopes and memories become so entangled that reality grows as intangible as her distant husband. Finally, pushed to her limits, Penelope confronts her inevitable and tragic destiny.
The film is visually intoxicating with its use of long take cinematography & chiaroscuro lighting designed by award-winning Director of Photography James Barahanos, sumptuous costume design from Jennie Tate, the beautifully choreographed performance of Natalie Finderle and a melancholic, ethereal score from renowned composer Max Richter.
Photographed within Brezovica Castle in Zagreb, Penelope is the first ever Australian-Croatian co-production. The film is produced in the Croatian language with English subtitles.
In July 2008 Penelope was selected for the 43rd Karlovy Vary Film Festival Work in Progress screenings.
It will have its world premiere at the 2008 One Take Film Festival held in Zagreb, Croatia on November 20.
The Australian premiere will be held in 2009 (dates to be announced).
Penelope, the first Australian / Croatian art film shot entirely on location in Croatia, is a fresh interpretation of Homer's tale of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, who waits for twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War.
The film will have its world premiere at the 4th One Take Film Festival in Zagreb Croatia on November 20 as the Opening Night film, following in the footsteps of Alexander Sukurov's long-take masterpiece Russian Ark which opened the inaugural festival in 2003.
In celebration of its world premiere in Croatia, production company Artemis Projects held a special exhibition in Sydney entitled Penelope 16 x 9, on November 5 at Global Gallery in Paddington, featuring 24 luscious photographic images from the film.
Influenced by world class art film directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky (The Mirror), Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita) and Bela Tarr (The Man from London) who champion the long-take filmmaking style, Penelope favours a psychological narrative over a conventional chronological one, pushing cinema storytelling into a new dimension.
"I'm not so interested in conventional story-telling," says Australian director Ben Ferris about his debut feature film. "In my mind books do that better than films can. I'm interested in exploring those qualities native to cinema: for instance its manipulation of time and space."
The exhibition Penelope 16 x 9 also incorporated costumes by Jennie Tate, a short extract from the art film itself, and the haunting original sound track by British composer Max Richter.
"It's all about being able to think outside the square. A film like Penelope presents cinematographic challenges which allow for a true creative exploration. I am a great believer in the artistic potential that cinematography can bring to the filmmaking process" says James Barahanos, Director of Photography.
About the film
Adapted from one of the most famous stories of all time, award-winning Australian writer-director Ben Ferris gives us a fresh interpretation of the tale of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, who waits for twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War.
Set in a mythic time and space, the film's unconventional power lies in its ability to step inside Penelope's head tormented by the loss of her great love and her yearning for his return. Her nightmares, hopes and memories become so entangled that reality grows as intangible as her distant husband. Finally, pushed to her limits, Penelope confronts her inevitable and tragic destiny.
The film is visually intoxicating with its use of long take cinematography & chiaroscuro lighting designed by award-winning Director of Photography James Barahanos, sumptuous costume design from Jennie Tate, the beautifully choreographed performance of Natalie Finderle and a melancholic, ethereal score from renowned composer Max Richter.
Photographed within Brezovica Castle in Zagreb, Penelope is the first ever Australian-Croatian co-production. The film is produced in the Croatian language with English subtitles.
In July 2008 Penelope was selected for the 43rd Karlovy Vary Film Festival Work in Progress screenings.
It will have its world premiere at the 2008 One Take Film Festival held in Zagreb, Croatia on November 20.
The Australian premiere will be held in 2009 (dates to be announced).
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