20/02/2013 - Atiq Rahimi's film is a figurehead for diversity that includes Pinocchio, More Than Honey and God’s Horses

Unveiled in Toronto, the Franco-German co-production The Patience Stone [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Atiq Rahimi (review) is being released today in French cinemas by Le Pacte on 102 screens. The screenplay was adapted by its author (with Jean-Claude Carrière as co-screenwriter) from his novel of the same name, which won the Goncourt Prize 2008. The film benefits from strong support from the critics, who were particularly taken by the performance of Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.

The Franco-Afghan novelist, for whom this is the 2nd cinematographic adaptation of his own literary works after Earth and Ashes (award-winner at Un Certain Regard in Cannes in 2004), is in a good position to compare both arts: “What cinema can tell, a novel cannot. Cinema is first and foremost a matter of time. And it is misleading to believe that everything that seems enclosed is theatrical.” Atiq Rahimi, who was inspired for The Patience Stone by Rossellini's Allemagne, année zéro, Cries & Whispers by Bergman and Eros by Wong Kar-wai, also considers that his home country constitutes a first-class cinematographic backdrop: “Afghanistan crystallizes all possible human contradictions. Today, it is like Star Wars. Life resembles that of the Middle Ages (clothing, social life, religious values...), but on the other hand, the weapons are the most sophisticated in the world. It is a country in which things reveal themselves: human beings, light, mountains, nature, war, politics, religion...” 

The diversity and quality of European productions also have a place of honour this Wednesday with God's Horses [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nabil Ayouch
film profile] by Nabil Ayouch (discovered in Un Certain Regard in Cannes and winner of the Cineuropa Prize at the Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival - Stone Angels in 39 cinemas), the animated film Pinocchio [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Enzo D'Alò
film profile] by Italian director Enzo D'Alo (appreciated at the Venice Days 2012 – Gebeka Films on 180 screens) and Lore [+see also:
trailer
interview: Saskia Rosendahl
film profile] by Cate Shortland  (Prize of the Public in Locarno, starring the Shooting Star Saskia Rosendahl - video interview - Haut et Court on 10 screens).

Also on the bill, White Elephant [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (review) by Argentinean director Pablo Trapero (co-produced by France and Spain – Ad Vitam on 49 screens) and The Delay [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Rodrigo Pla (in the Berlinale’s Forum in 2012 – co-produced by France with Uruguay and Mexico - Epicentre Films in 19 cinemas).

Huge enthusiasm from the press also for two documentaries: More Than Honey by Swiss director Markus Imhoof (interview in English – news - Jour2Fête on 48 screens) and 5 Broken Cameras from the duo Emad Burnat - Guy Davidi, a French co-production nominated for the 2013 Oscar for Best Documentary (distribution by Zugmas Films in 8 cinemas).

Finally, 100% French production is today wagering on comedy: a family comedy with La Vraie vie des profs [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by duo Emmanuel Klotz - Albert Pereira Lazaro (article - UPI France in 287 cinemas), and a satirical comedy, Vive la France [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by and with Michaël Youn (Gaumont in 527 cinemas).

(Translated from French)