Well….words, I have none.

Thanks to Protagonist Pictures for the cropped version on their site here.

Reviews from the ‘The Childhood Of A Leader’ screenings at Venice have begun to roll in. Below are excerpts & you can read the full review by clicking the links but be aware, there are some spoilers. We will keep on adding as the reviews come in.

THE SWEET

Screen Daily:

Like nothing you’ve quite seen before, US actor-editor-scriptwriter Brady Corbet’s directorial debut is a historical psychodrama, or perhaps a drama of historical psychoanalysis, which draws a study of the rise of fascism out of a wilful young boy’s tantrums and power struggles. Set against the background of the 1919 Paris peace conference that led to the Treaty of Versailles, The Childhood Of A Leader is as relentlessly sombre and compelling as the film’s remarkable, full-volume orchestral soundtrack by musician’s musician Scott Walker.

The Film Stage:

The feature debut from young actor turned screenwriter-director Brady Corbet, The Childhood of a Leader is an ambitious choice for a first project — a period piece tying together the post-WWI political climate and the upbringing of a child in a chateau outside Paris. The film, premiering in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival, is a huge psychological and tonal balancing act that could crumble at each turn, and yet never does.

…What could very easily be received as an irritating, pretentious feature debut is actually a display of controlled madness full of astute touches, like the use of Robert Pattinson’s persona in the few scenes he’s in. Let’s just hope the devoted fanbase he’s been leading into uncharted territory in the last few years will make it to the end of this one.

CineVue

The Childhood of a Leader is a dark, enigmatic piece of work that hovers between visionary greatness and petty domestic triviality. Corbet’s inaugural stint behind the camera marks a stunning debut and the finest film at Venice thus far.

Eye for Film

It is true that the film is divisive, but only in a good way; anyone with a high tolerance for slow, impressionistic cinema will find plenty to get lost in. Though Corbet regularly cites eastern European cinema in his interests, his debut has much more of traditional European feel; indeed it may seem like unfeasibly high praise but there are echoes of the masters (Luchino Visconti, notably) in Lol Crawley’s superb 35mm cinematography.

How GORGEOUS is this still!

Via

I suppose these are just a continuation of the edits I’ve been working on lately and shared in my recent couple of posts – as usual, all just for fun and a very mixed bunch!  Happy Friday/weekend 🙂

It has been confirmed by both Alberto Barbera (The Venice Film Festival’s Artistic Director) & Deauville Film Festival Twitter that Rob will be unable to attend both festivals:

 

Looks like we should just have a “most anticipated list” post.  From The Film Stage:

“Actor Brady Corbet makes his directorial debut with The Childhood of a Leader, an original project (co-written with Mona Fastvold) concerning a post-World War I leader. Aside from Corbet’s attachment, the film boasts a very curious cast that includes Robert Pattinson,Nymphomaniac’s Stacy Martin, Bérénice Bejo, and Tim Roth, who are no strangers to throwing themselves into such ominous projects. It will certainly be curious to see the 27-year-old, Arizona-born Corbet’s visual inclinations, given his experiences with directors such as Michael Haneke (the Funny Games remake), or directors who want to be Haneke (Sean Durkin, Antonio Campos, Ruben Östlund). There’s not much available on the film, but it will premiere at Venice next month. Whoever does pick up this very intriguing venture should at least keep the title. – Nick A.””

I must say I have to agree with The Film Stage’s comment “we’ve rounded up 20 pictures that we’ll be checking out over the next few weeks, some of which will hopefully arrive in theaters before year’s end.”  Yes please re TCoaL.  Greedy I know.