Alpine Climate Doc ‘Flower of Mine,’ Directed by ‘Eight Mountains’ Novelist, Set to Pre-Open Locarno

As a passionate follower of Italian cinema and nature documentaries, I am thrilled to learn that Paolo Cognetti’s “Fiore Mio” (“A Flower of Mine”) will be the pre-opening event at this year’s Locarno Film Festival. Cognetti, a bestselling Italian novelist, not only wrote and directed this film but also stars in it. His connection to the Alpine settings is deep as he has previously written “The Eight Mountains” and was on set during the filming of its adaptation.


At the Locarno Film Festival’s opening, “Fiore Mio” (A Flower of Mine), a mournful Alpine movie, will be shown first. This is the debut film for Paolo Cognetti, an acclaimed Italian novelist (“The Eight Mountains”) who both wrote and directed it, and also acts in it.

In addition to penning “Eight Mountains,” Cognetti was present on set as Belgian filmmakers Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch filmed the movie version of his book, which garnered the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2022.

In “Flower of Mine,” Cognetti revisits scenic Alpine locales, accompanied by cinematographer Ruben Impens from “Eight Mountains” as his cameraman. The movie showcases the breathtaking Alpine vistas and glaciers that may vanish or be forever altered due to global warming.

During the scorching summer of 2022, a drought hit Estoul, the quaint village where Cognetti resided, situated at an elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level overlooking the Brusson Alpine valley. The spring in his backyard, usually teeming with life, had run dry, leaving him inspired to create a documentary. Drawing inspiration from Hokusai Katsushika’s renowned “36 Views of Mount Fuji” series, Cognetti aimed to capture the ever-evolving mountain life in his film titled “Flower of Mine.” As per promotional materials, this production would offer various perspectives on the mountain existence.

On August 6th, “Flower of Mine” will have an exclusive preview at the Locarno Film Festival, opening the event on the large Piazza Grande stage with a seating capacity of 8,000 people.

As a film enthusiast, I’m excited to share that a documentary I’ve been looking forward to will be releasing in Italian cinemas soon. This thought-provoking production is brought to us by Samarcanda Film, Nexo Studios, Harald House, and EDI Effetti Digitali Italiani. The Film Commission Vallée d’Aoste has also lent their support to this project. Mark your calendars for November 25, 26, and 27 as we get ready to experience this cinematic gem at our local theaters, courtesy of Nexo.

Nexo, the company responsible for creating and selling theatrical content for a global audience, is in charge of distributing “Flower of Mine” worldwide.

The 77th Locarno Film Festival, known as Europe’s leading independent cinema event, will take place from August 7th to 17th.

Watch the trailer for “Flower of Mine” below.

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2024-07-25 15:16