SYNOPSIS
Winner of the 2008 San Joaquin International Film Festival
Members-Night Screening is FREE for Members of the San Joaquin Film Society
The German occupation of Denmark found Charlie Rivel and his family performing in Copenhagen. The Hitler regime forced him to return to Berlin to honour the contracts he had signed with theatres in the city for the following three years.His success was unstoppable, and he soon became one of the regime’s most acclaimed stars.
In 1944, during one of his performances at the Scala in Berlin, Krauss, a Gestapo agent, "invited" him to prepare a performance for a birthday party being organized in honour of the Führer. The situation became even more uncomfortable and complicated when Krauss revealed his admiration for the clown, and his intention to act alongside him in the circus number. Charlie Rivel and his stage mate, Witzi, were not convinced,but with intimidation in the air they had to accept the proposal against their will. Particularly Witzi, whose wife (of Jewish origin) had been murdered by the Gestapo: he could not avoid showing his deep resentment and hatred for Krauss and all he stood for.
Witzi’s deportation and the coming onto the scene of Golo, the clown who was to replace him, gives the story a new turn: Hitler’s life was under threat, something that could change the course of the war and the history of mankind.
The special interest and narrative power of THE CLOWN & THE FÜHRER gather force when we discover that the story is based on a real historical fact involving two charismatic personalities: Charlie Rivel, the great Catalan clown of international renown, and Adolf Hitler, the great dictator and probably the most universal monster.
THE CLOWN & THE FÜHRER shows us the contrast between the gentleness and innocence of a clown trapped in the barbarity of Nazism,and invites us to reflect on the relationship between art and politics in the immense circus of our human life, with all its contradictions, struggles,frustrations and injustices.
SELECT FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
• Winner, Best Narrative Film, 2008 San Joaquin International Film Festival
• Winner, Best Film, 2008 Anchorage International Film Festival
• Punto de Encuentro Section, 52 Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid
DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Eduard Cortes: Soon gave up studying History of Art to devote himself to the world of the image, where he started off making short films in super-8 format and collaborating in Sunday supplements, including those of El País and El Periodico. In 1984 he joined the recently founded TV3 as director of music and youth programmes. During this time he also made several video clips for singers like Loquillo. In 1991, he began his career as director of television series until 2000, when he made his first TV-movie, La Caverna,produced by Canal + and TV3. This work caught the eye of producer Pedro Costa, who gave him the opportunity of embarking on his first work as cinema director, La Vida de Nadie, starring José Coronado and AdrianaOzores. This film won prize for best actress for Adriana Ozores at the Festival of Valladolid in 2002, as well as the award for the best film, best director and best performance (Marta Etura) at the Festival Òpera Prima Ciudad de Tudela 2002; in 2003 it was nominated for a Goya for the best new director, the best actress (Adriana Ozores) and the best debut actress(Marta Etura). Otros Días Vendrán, with Cecilia Roth and Antonio Resines,was his second full-length film. Otros Días Vendrán has been nominated fora Goya in 2006 for the best original script (Eduard Cortés and Piti Español),the best supporting actor (Fernando Guillén) and the best photography(José Luis Alcaide),
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SHOWTIMES
FRI. 5/22 at 8:30PM
Stockton Empire Theatre
CAST AND CREW
Screenwriter: Gerard Vazquez, Joan Font, Eduard Cortés
Producer: Nuria Botelle
Cinematographer: Rafa Lluch
Music: Xavier Capellas
Principal Cast: Ferran Rañé, Manel Barcelo, Jordi Martinez, Pere Arquillué
SOURCES
World Sales: Benecé Produccion, Spain |
