As a seasoned film critic with a soft spot for authentic storytelling and a keen eye for the human condition, I must say that “Wishing on a Star” is a captivating piece of work that showcases the magic of dreams and the power of belief. Slovakian director Péter Kerekes’ latest offering is a testament to his ability to delve deep into the heart of his subjects and bring their stories to life in a way that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Rather than waiting on a star for his dreams to materialize, Slovak filmmaker Péter Kerekes brings them to life by revisiting Lido and the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival with his most recent production.
In 2021, Kerekes shared the Horizons award for outstanding screenplay with Ivan Ostrochovský for “107 Mothers.” Now, he’s back at Venice with his new work titled “Wishing on a Star.” However, it wasn’t an instant decision to embark on this project about Luciana de Leoni D’Asparedo, a Naples-based astrologer who encourages her clients to go on transformative journeys on their birthdays as a means of rejuvenation.
“It felt like an absurd story,” jokes Kerekes.
“For three years in a row, my Austrian producer Ralph Wieser urged me to collaborate with Erica Barbiani on an astrology-themed film. He wanted me to be the director. I’d been refusing, saying things like ‘I don’t believe in it. I don’t even read horoscopes!’ But I wanted to be polite, so we had dinner with Luciana. The instant I met her, my mind was made up.” He shared this in an interview with EbMaster.
“I may not believe in astrology, but I believe in her.”
The movie created by Wieser, Barbiani, Kerekes, Lucia Candelpergher, Anna Mach Rumanová, Vít Schmarc, Vanja Jambrovic, Tibor Keser, and Stefano Centini is premiering a unique preview clip, which you can see above.
The film “Wishing on a Star,” a production by Videomante, was jointly produced with Kerekesfilm, Artcam Films, Mischief Films, and Restart. Additionally, Volos Films, RTVS Radio and Television Slovakia were involved in the project. Films Boutique is responsible for its distribution.
Recently transforming his focus, Kerekes, known for “Velvet Terrorists” and “Cooking History”, now targeted Luciana’s clientele. He was prepared to journey to the very ends of the world for their “birthday excursions.”
“He points out that many major religions feature a common idea: the journey known as pilgrimage. Whether it’s to Mecca, Santiago de Compostela, or Częstochowa [in Poland], you must depart from your familiar surroundings and secure environment in order to find self-discovery.”
“He chuckles as he tells Luciana, ‘It doesn’t matter specifically where you place these individuals, but make sure they aren’t sent to the same location twice,'”
In the movie, Kerekes journeys to Taiwan and Lebanon, yet the initial conversations held in Italy were surprisingly captivating.
“Although these scenes appear mundane, taking place within a single room, they are surprisingly full of twists and turns. A woman, wedded to a butcher, found herself discontent in her marriage. Luciana inquired if she sought romance. Tears welled up as she replied, ‘No, I yearn for the love we’ve misplaced.'”
Initially, my intention with Luciana was to reveal more aspects of her daily life, her personal challenges, and her ambition to return to Naples from the northern part of Italy. However, due to her robust character, merely observing her seated at her desk seems sufficient.
Not knowing Italian forced him to focus on other “magical” moments during the shoot.
“You observe body language and facial expressions closely. It felt like I was a traveler accepting rides from various unknown individuals, who were confiding in me their deepest secrets. They seemed to understand that our encounter would be brief. Moreover, this movie could only have been created here. In Italy, you might stop a stranger on the street and they’d act as if they were born for the stage.”
Kerekes discovered he could relate deeply to several of his characters, among them a lady grappling with personal matters concerning her father.
“He shares that this tale held deep significance for him on a personal level. As a man who often finds himself distant due to work commitments, he admits to being an absent father. In essence, the story served as a subtle communication to his children.”
He, too, discovered that the desires of Luciana’s clients offer an incredibly valuable perspective on our societal dynamics.
As a film enthusiast, I might rephrase it like this:
And has he ever considered going on a “birthday trip” himself?
“Yes, but I will keep that a secret. I can tell you one thing, though. It’s really working.”
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2024-08-22 16:19