– From January 19 to 26, the festival returns to theaters to present no less than 157 films, half of which come from French-speaking Switzerland, a historic record
aya by Lorenzo Valmontone and Thomas Szczepanski
The Solothurn Daysco-driven for the first time by Marianne Wirth, David Wegmuller (the two acting artistic directors) and Veronika Roos (acting administrative director), replacing Anita Hugi, change clothes and leave behind a 2021 edition which had to be virtual out of necessity. The film that will open the ball this year is Loving Highsmith [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film]the second feature film byEva Vitijawho won the Prix de Solothurn in 2016 with his first feature, My Life as a Film – How My Father Tried To Capture Happiness [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film].
If the particularity of this 57th edition (which will be held from January 19 to 26) is the massive presence (virtually half of the titles selected) of films from French-speaking Switzerland (but also from Ticino), at a rate of 78 films out of 157, we also note the great presence of the producers, to whom we owe almost half of the titles on the program this year. It is an important objective which is achieved here and which will allow one day, we hope, to leave behind us the cumbersome binarism that is dominant (in the world of cinema but not only). This year’s opening film, which sheds new light on the life and work of American writer Patricia Highsmith, a long-time resident of Ticino, fits well in this line.
The three competitive sections (Prix de Solothurn, Audience Award and First Films) will host eight films each this year, many of which will be screened as world or national premieres. Among the feature films in the running for the prestigious Prix de Solothurn, beyond the essential Olga [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Elie Grappe
fiche film] ofElie Grappewhich represents Switzerland in the race for the Oscars, and wet-sand [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Elene Naveriani
fiche film] ofElene Neveriani, unveiled in Locarno in the Cineasti del presente section, five will make their world premiere in Solothurn, and one its national premiere. Three of these productions address the issue of migration from different perspectives. aya [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] of Lorenzo Valmontone and Thomas Szczepanski focuses on the relationship between two beings who did not seem destined to meet (Lydie and Zimako, a young illegal immigrant from Togo). Rotzloch [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film], of Maja Tschumifor its part, investigates the daily lives of four young refugees faced with their own natural propensities and impulses. Open air [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film], of Charlie Petersman, finally proposes a reflection on the question through the experiences of a group of foreign workers aware of their multiple identities. Also a world premiere, the public will be able to discover The Art of Silence, the second feature film by the very versatile Maurizius Staerkle Druxwhich focuses on the figure of the French mime Marcel Marceau, as well as(Im)mortals [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] of Lila Ribianother second feature film, where the director debates with her centenarian grandmother the question of death.
In the Audience Prize section, two films will be presented as world premieres: Everything starts of Frederic Choffatalready present in Solothurn in 2019 with his first feature film, My Little One [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] (co-directed with Julie Gilbert) and A temporary story of Romed Wyder (the author of the mighty dawn [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film]), about an atypical couple who discover each other almost without wanting to. As a Swiss premiere, the section will screen the new film by the Swiss-Italian author Silvio Soldini, 3/19 [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film], who is also interested in the shock of the encounter between very different social realities that fate decides to unite. Alongside these well-known names, there are also two young filmmakers on their first feature film: Fiona Ziegler with Lost in Paradise [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] and Florian Hoffman with Whispers of War [+lire aussi :
interview : Florian Hoffmann
fiche film], both of which explore the existential torments of their characters, straddling two distant lands. The selection is completed by Almost, of Bernard Campan and the philosopher and writer Alexandre Jollien (which has just had its world premiere at Les Arcs), Stand Up My Beauty of Heidi Specogna (seen at Critics’ Week in Locarno) and The Mushroom Speaks [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Marion Neumann
fiche film] of Marion Neumann (Visions of reality, CPH:DOX, etc.).
Among the eight titles in the running for the prize for the best first film, three will have their world premiere in Solothurn: Do You Remember Me? documentary filmmakers and activists Desiree Pomper and Helena Mullerwho speaks courageously about female circumcision, no two [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] ofElie Aufseesserwhich evokes the bond between two brothers with diametrically opposed aspirations, and Forma del primo movimento [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] from Ticino Tommaso Donati. As a Swiss premiere, the public will be able to see LUX [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film] of Mateo Ybarra and Raphael Dubachpresented at the hybrid edition of Locarno and, more recently, at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
The guest of honor of the year will be the versatile artist Jürg Hassler.
(Translated from Italian)
We would like to give thanks to the writer of this article for this incredible web content
The Solothurn Days find their public