Coriolano in concorso alla Berlinale, 10 - 20 Febbraio 2011

Un articolo di The Guardian in cui Ralph parla un pò del film:

Ralph Fiennes takes Coriolanus to Berlin film festival

It's the 15th-century tale of a renegade Roman general from the 5th-century BC. But for Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus is not just Shakespeare's most urgent, complex tragedy – it's also a war story that speaks directly to the conflicts of today.

The big-screen Coriolanus, which marks Fiennes's debut as a director, was today confirmed as the sole British production in competition at next month's Berlin film festival. The modern-day interpretation was shot in Belgrade by the cinematographer Barry Ackroyd, who last worked with Fiennes on the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker. Fiennes stars in the title role as the loyal soldier turned vengeful exile, while his supporting cast includes Gerard Butler, Brian Cox and Vanessa Redgrave.

"The film is not portraying any specific conflict, though it obviously has parallels with recent social unrest in Greece, Tunisia, or even here, where police are carrying riot shields and kettling protesters," Fiennes told the Guardian. "Before we started, I was prompted by descriptions of Russians going into Grozny and Americans going into Fallujah."

The play was briefly banned in 1930s France due to its perceived fascist sensibilities. "In the past it has been linked with fascist ideology. But that's not the right way to go," Fiennes said. "It's a story of loss and waste and devastation. Shakespeare is about provoking questions as opposed to telling you which way to vote, so to give it any overtly pro or anti-fascist slant is wrong."

But Fiennes's decision to update the play was sparked by aesthetic as well as political considerations. "Having acted in various Shakespeare productions over the years, I think that to be completely modern is the only way to go. Have the actors in modern clothes, drinking coffee, talking on mobile phones. It releases the energy somehow."

Coriolanus is one of 22 films in contention for this year's Golden Lion award. Other potential highlights include Margin Call, a drama of the financial crisis starring Kevin Spacey and Demi Moore, director Wim Wenders's homage to choreographer Pina Bausch and Tales of the Night, a 3D cartoon from French animator Michel Ocelot.

The event also plans to honour the dissident Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi with a career retrospective and a panel discussion on censorship in Iran. Panahi, the director of the award-winning The White Balloon and The Circle, was last month sentenced to six years in prison for his support for the Green uprisings that followed last year's disputed presidential elections. "We are going to use every opportunity to protest against this drastic verdict," said festival director Dieter Kosslick.

The 61st Berlin film festival runs from 10-20 February. It opens with the European premiere of the acclaimed Coen brothers western True Grit.

www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/19...n-film-festival

ancora un articolo sulla partecipazione di Coriolano al festival di Berlino:

Coriolanus Now In Competition at Berlinale + Fiennes Joins Berlinale Talent Campus Panel

As I reported earlier, Ralph Fiennes will be premiering his directorial debut, Coriolanus, at Berlinale, the Berlin International Film Festival. The movie, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name, was originally slated as an out of competition selection at the festival, but has now joined 15 other films in competition for Berlinale’s highest honor, the Golden Bear award.

For Coriolanus, Fiennes pulled double-duty as actor and director, with him playing the title role of Caius Martius Coriolanus. His character was once the hero of his country, but when his views clash with the politicians of his country, and with his mother, Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave), he ends up banished. The soldier then allies with the enemy of his country, Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler). When they return to attack his country, Coriolanus’ mother Volumnia appeals to him to stop. When Coriolanus finally bows to his mothers wishes, Aufidius feels betrayed and attempts to destroy him.
Coriolanus - Vanessa Redgrave as Volumnia & director Ralph Fiennes

The rest of the fantastic cast Fiennes lined up for his first directorial effort are Brian Cox, James Nesbitt, and Jessica Chastain.

With Coriolanus in competition one would expect Ralph Fiennes to be in Berlin for the festival. He will be, but he’s not just going to be waiting around. It was just announced that Fiennes will take part in the Berlinale Talent Campus, which is a five-day film school that runs the same week in conjunction with Berlinale Festival. Fiennes will participate in an “In the Limelight” session with Hungarian filmmaker István Szabó, where they will “give insights into the mutual commitment between directors and actors during challenging projects.” Singer Harry Belafonte and actress Isabella Rossellini will each have their own “In the Limelight” session during the Talent Campus as well.

The 61st edition of Berlinale runs February 10–20 this year. Berlinale Talent Campus runs February 12-17.

Fiennes is currently filming David Hare’s Page Eight, a political thriller where he will play the Prime Minister. Page Eight also stars Bill Nighy and Rachel Weisz. The movie will air on Britain’s BBC Two later this year.

http://entertainmentalley.com/