"There are two ways to conceive of the cinema of the Real: the first is to pretend that you can present reality to be seen; the second is to pose the problem of reality. In the same way, there were two ways to conceive cinéma vérité. The first was to pretend that you brought truth. The second was to pose the problem of truth."
- Edgar Morin
Directors
HARRY OTTO BRUNJES - Harry has been making films since aged ten. At 23 years old 'La Bella Figura' is his first feature film.
GENRE: Romantic Drama
LOCATIONS: Rome/London
LANGUAGE: English & Italian
STYLE: Black & white
RUN TIME: 84 mins
SYNOPSIS
Clara, a beautiful American opera singer seeks a fresh start in Rome. She meets Oliver, a disillusioned young English tour-guide, whose frivolous advances are an enticing but ominous breath of fresh air. With a sense of excitement back in her life, the two flirt with irresponsibility until the consequences can no longer be ignored: Clara becomes pregnant. Oliver lacks both strength and desire to face up to their predicament. Alone and flustered Clara rapidly finds her world spiralling out of control, as the reality of her carefree existence comes tragically crashing home.
The foreseeable cycle of events are overseen by the understanding Giuseppe, who runs a bar near the Vatican City. His brother, Luca, is an angry and frustrated tour-guide, who ironically feels threatened by foreigners. Both brothers sense the inevitable catastrophe approaching: both are powerless to prevent it. The ephemeral wave of expatriate romances rolls on. As Oliver leaves, another young idealist arrives. Clara is left to struggle with the sweeping delights and ensuing drama that the lifestyle inherently dictates.
With Rome as their playground, the characters and events expose the deep composition of the Italian mantra.
‘La Bella Figura’ is Italy’s soul; the essence of appearance over substance.
Who I'd like to meet:
Bella Production …..how it happened and how it nearly didn’t happen!
"EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU TERRORISTS?"
Harry and Ede were so short of time they didn’t capture the essential plane shots, so on their return from Italy, they decided to drive to the end of the runway at Gatwick airport to film an arrival and a departure. Just as Ede was unhooking the camera from the tripod, the last shot of the film complete, he turned to see an intimidating armed police van approaching. The police immediately accused them of being terrorists (unfortunately, unbeknown to the boys, it happened to be the day the country was brought to a standstill by a terrorist alert at Gatwick airport!) Fortunately, after the boys explained, the police let them off with just a caution and more importantly with the tapes and the desperately needed shots!!
BREAKING THE RULES
In fact, the whole process from script, through direction, to production was an exercise in freedom; an exercise in breaking the rules. The two man crew and a digital camera provided the flexibility required to capture, at every opportunity, the essential spontaneity of life in Rome.
SOURCING PROPS
The logistics were extremely difficult, but the team achieved almost everything they set out to do. There were some tight calls… such as managing to find a real baby to participate in a scene minutes before the shoot after all other possibilities fell through. And finally finding a group of gypsy buskers willing to take part after several previous failed attempts and 3 hours of searching!
HIDDEN SECRETS
Midway through shooting the moterino sequences, the machine’s engine breathed its last breath. As it was an old bike, no replacement could be found and even though a similar looking model was tracked down, the owner would not co-operate! Consequently two different makes of moterino were used; hopefully nobody notices.
The entire production has been made on a true zero budget. In fact £65 (the cost of two Ryanair flights to Rome for director and photographer) was the total company spend. Everybody has generously contributed all their time and efforts for free in order to realise the project.
We are trying to raise interest and funds as we enter into festivals. Your support is essential to getting us up on the big screen!
To help? PLEASE ADD US TO YOUR TOP FRIENDS, and we can hopefully keep you posted about future screenings!
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German w/English subtitles. Directed by Stefan Krohmer. An official selection at Cannes and Toronto film festivals. At 40, Miriam (Martina Gedeck, LIVES OF OTHERS, MOSTLY MARTHA) radiates serene beauty and tranquility, a confidence and self-assurance as vast as the sea close to her summer home. There are no taboos in the polished, urbane life she shares with her partner André and their 15-year-old son Nils; there is understanding and tolerance. If Nils invites his 12-year-old girlfriend Livia to spend the holidays with them, fine. But when the brazenly sensual Livia begins flirting with an older man, Bill, Miriam feels it is her responsibility to stop the questionable relationship. But as she does so, it is she herself who falls for the shy and charmingly insecure Bill. Miriam forges ahead, seducing him, seeing him secretly. But it is Livia that Bill loves, not Miriam. And suddenly the vast horizons of her life vanish in a fog of jealousy and rejection - emotions that prove to be far less controllable than she thought...
Believe me I'd love to live in Italy, to saty in touch with you. You have become real all the dream of any young filmmaker: to make your first feature film. Because of the Digital, making movies is available to more people. What I'm waiting for?
Eurocinema is the only cable network (its new) that is dedicated to bringing the best European films to US television. We are totally independent and not aliggend with any of the big media companies. We need people to join our friends so we can show cable operators that people care about more than Hollywood blockbusters. Please go to myspace.com/eurocinematelevision and put in a friends request. Pass this along to all your friends. Maybe if enough real film fans and filmakers make their feelings known we can make an impact.Eurocinema is the only cable network (its new) that is dedicated to bringing the best European films to US television. We are totally independent and not aliggend with any of the big media companies. We need people to join our friends so we can show cable operators that people care about more than Hollywood blockbusters. Please go to myspace.com/eurocinematelevision and put in a friends request. Pass this along to all your friends. Maybe if enough real film fans and filmakers make their feelings know we can make an impact.
