Introduction to the Locarno Film Festival
The Locarno Film Festival is inviting audiences to explore its 78th edition this year, featuring a film called "The Seasons" (also known as "The Stations"). This film is the debut of solo director Maureen Fazendeiro, a French filmmaker and casting director who lives in Lisbon.
The Director and the Film
Maureen Fazendeiro is known for her work as a long-time employee of the Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes, with whom she co-directed "The Tsugua Diaries" and co-authored "Grand Tour". "The Seasons" will have its world premiere in the main competition of the Swiss Festival on August 11th. The film is based on accounts and stories collected during its preparation, as well as personal stories, archives, and field notes of German archaeologists Georg and Vera Leisner, who studied megalithics in Iberia.
The Story and Setting
The film weaves together reports on rural workers, field notes of archaeologists, amateur material, scientific drawings, legends, poems, and songs to create a journey through the real story and the stories of a region in southern Portugal, Alentejo. It is a portrait of the people who live there, showcasing their lives and experiences. Fazendeiro describes the film as an "archaeological film" that digs up the landscape to discover the traces of a common story, one of wars and revolutions, fear and resistance, permanence and metamorphosis.
Production and Cast
The film was written and directed by Fazendeiro, with cinematography by Robin Fosson and Marta Simões. The cast includes Simon Ramalho, Claudio da Silva, Ana Potra, Manuel Leitão, and António, along with Gerti Drassl, Michaela Kaspar, Raphael von Bargen, Toni Slama, António Abel, and Simão Romeu. International sales for the co-production between Portugal, France, Spain, and Austria are being handled by Square Eyes.
Trailer and Preview
A trailer for "The Seasons" has been released, featuring archaeologists, rocks, flowers, the moon, and many goats, along with lines such as "I heard a story" and "It was once". The trailer gives a glimpse into the film’s unique blend of storytelling and atmosphere, inviting viewers to hear a story. The complete trailer is available to watch, offering a preview of what to expect from this thought-provoking film.
