
20 apr 2022
The intense Opera Prima directed by the eclectic actress CLAUDIA GERINI, “TAPIRULÀN” and “LASCIARSI UN GIORNO A ROMA” directed and interpreted by EDOARDO LEO
This year, the films in and out of competition at the 19th edition of the Montecarlo Film Festival de la Comédie (April 25-30) come from Europe, Canada, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Argentina in the name of pure entertainment to guarantee laughter, filter out society's prejudices and offer interesting food for thought: a film program imagined to go beyond our dark times, to a future - hopefully not impossible - in which laughter is the only fuel in the world.
Between ruthless parodies, remakes, returns to the roots, family clashes, families in disarray, generational conflicts, female emancipation, sexual liberation and LGBTQ+ themes, Paul Haggis and the jurors - Tom Leeb, Clara Ponsot, Pierpaolo Spollon - will have a lot to do this year to decree the winners of the various sections of the renowned Kermesse conceived and directed by Ezio Greggio.
Penélope Cruz, with irony and elegance, symbolically inaugurates a week of cinema full of more or less new talents. The most popular Spanish actress in the world, together with Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez, is the protagonist of Competencia Oficial – in the selection of Venice 2021 - which opens the 19th edition of the Monegasque festival, anticipating its release in France scheduled for June and just as it arrives in Italian theaters with Lucky Red. A Spanish-Argentine film written and directed by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn which (despite the title) will be presented out of competition.
Among the jewels of this edition, the international preview of Babysitter, the second feature film by actress Monia Chokri (Les amours imaginaires by Xavier Dolan, 2010), arrives in competition in Monte Carlo. Its incipit will remind many of a news story from a few months ago: a man on high harasses a journalist on live television at the end of a match and the next day it's a case. A provocative and kaleidoscopic comedy that tells of postpartum depression and erotic games in a farcical satire of the post #metoo society. And again: the kings of Spanish comedy Paco León and Dani de la Orden, the extraordinary Sandra Hüller and the histrionic Bernhard Schüz from Germany, the protagonists of the only Italian film in competition Aldo Baglio and Lucia Ocone and the eccentric protagonists of Monte Carlo 2022 that we will discover in the films: an elderly Danish drug dealer and a Puerto Rican widow who organizes real funeral parties.
There are eight films in competition, one out of competition (Competencia Oficial) and two special events.
Two veterans of comedy (from Spain and Norway), two second works (the French and Italian films in competition), three first works arriving from Puerto Rico, Denmark and Germany. There is also an Italian debut film, signed by an iconic actress of comedy. It is a day dedicated to cinema made in Italy with two special events (scheduled for Friday 29 April). The first is with Claudia Gerini, who will be in Monte Carlo to accompany her Tapirulàn - presented a few days ago at the Bari festival. The other is the meeting with the director and protagonist Edoardo Leo and the actor Stefano Fresi for Lasciarsi un giorno a Roma, which also stars the Spanish actress Marta Nieto (Coppa Volpi in Venice in 2019 for Madre by Rodrigo Sorogoyen). Both will have their international debut in Monte Carlo.
A breath of fresh air - world premiere by Alessio Lauria
Italy, 2022, 100' with Aldo Baglio, Lucia Ocone, Giovanni Calcagno, Ludovica Martino, Davide Calgaro. Produced by Matteo Rovere. A Groenlandia production with Rai Cinema.
Das Schwarze Quadrat (The Black Square) - international premiere by Peter Meister Germany, 2021, 95' with Bernhard Schüz, Sandra Hüller, Pheline Roggan, Jacob Matschenz. From Germany comes Peter Meister's debut film, The Black Square, a comic spy story starring a German film star such as
Bernhard Schüz and Sandra Hüller, who many will remember for the Silver Bear won in Berlin for Requiem by Hans-Christian Schmid (2006) and for the 2016 European Film Award for Best Actress for Toni Erdmann (by Maren Ade).
Perfume de Gardenias - European premiere of Macha Colón - Puerto Rico - Colombia, 2021, 97'. With Luz María Rondón, Sharon Riley, Kara María, Carmen Nydia Velázquez, Flor Joglar de Gracia, Milagros Orkz, Abner Rivera. Perfume de Gardenias is the debut work of Macha Colón, a queer multidisciplinary artist and Afro-Puerto Rican singer.
Mamá o papá (You Keep the Kids) - international premiere Spain, 2021, 95'
by Dani de la Orden, with Paco León, Miren Ibarguren, Laura Quirós, Sofía Oria, Iván Renedo, Eva Ugarte, Miquel Fernández, Berto Romero, Pedro Casablanc, Ester Exposito.
Dani de la Orden (at only 33 years old) directs his ninth feature film: Mamá o papá
(remake of the French Papa ou Maman from 2015, which also gave rise to the Italian remake Mamma o papà by Riccardo Milani in 2017) which arrives in Monte Carlo for its international premiere. After Hasta que la boda no nos separe, Dani de la Orden is in competition in Monte Carlo for the second consecutive year. Paco León (director of Kiki, el amor se hace – in Monte Carlo in 2016), Miren Ibarguren and Ester Exposito (influencers and among the protagonists of the series Élite) and other well-known faces of contemporary Spanish cinema, make up what is the absolute protagonist of the film: the family.
Miss Viborg - international premiere by Marianne Blitcher - Denmark - Argentina, 2022, 100', with Ragnhild Kaasgaard, Isabella Møller Hansen, Kristian Halken
Babysitter - European premiere by Monia Chockri - Canada, 2022, 88'
Film adaptation of the play of the same name written by Catherine Léger (also author of the screenplay) with Patrick Hivon, Monia Chokri, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Steve Laplante.
Irréductible (Employee of the month) - Monegasque preview by Jérôme Commandeur
France, 2021, 84'. With Jérôme Commandeur, Pascale Arbillot, Malik Bentalha, Karina Beuthe Orr, Nicole Calfan, Christian Clavier, Michel Crémadès, Éva Darlan, Gérard Darmon,
Jérôme Commandeur, the famous comedian who starred in numerous French comedies in cinema and theatre, is Irréductible.
Ingenting Å Le Av (Nothing to laugh about) - French premiere by Petter Næss
Norway, 2021, 70', with Odd-Magnus Williamson, Sara Khorami, Øystein Martinsen, Elisabeth Karoline Krüger.
On Saturday 30 April, during the usual Gala evening where talents from all over the world will take turns, the winners of the Festival de la Comedie in Monte Carlo will be announced, considered one of the most renowned film festivals exclusively dedicated to comedy, which over the years has received growing appreciation from audiences and critics worldwide.
The event, in collaboration with EFG Bank (Monaco), has always taken place under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Italian Embassy. Like last year, Radio Monte Carlo is the official Radio of the Festival.