Series Mania Reveals Lineup, Welcomes Pamela Adlon, Amanda Seyfried and ‘Bold, Complex’ Female Protagonists’

by

The upcoming French film series, titled Series Mania, has unveiled its schedule. Among the shows set to be screened are “Mussolini: Son of the Century,” directed by Joe Wright; “Querer,” which gained popularity at San Sebastián; “Empathy” and “Hal & Harper.

Amanda Seyfried is scheduled to introduce “Long Bright River,” while Pamela Adlon, known for shows like “Better Things” and “Californication,” has been assigned to conduct a workshop. Moreover, she’ll serve as the head of the International Competition jury.

The films “Generations” from Denmark, along with “Kabul,” “The Deal,” and “The German,” will all have their first public screenings at the festival.

At the International Panorama Competition, I’ll have the pleasure of presenting “The Danish Woman.” Alongside this premiere, we’ve got other exciting debuts such as “A Life’s Worth,” “Raul Seixas: Let Me Sing,” and “Reunion.” We’ll also be screening “Requiem for Selina,” “At the End of the Night,” “Celeste,” “Family Matters,” and “Putain.” Not to forget, “What it Feels Like for a Girl” is also on our list.

Among other notable events, the Apple TV+ series “Carême,” starring Jérémie Rénier and Lyna Khoudri, is set to kick off the festival. The festival will wrap up with “HPI,” hinting at the upcoming fifth season of a widely adored French television show. Additionally, Netflix’s “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” produced by Alain Chabat, will reintroduce cherished characters. Lastly, former President François Hollande will discuss portrayals of presidents on screen.

Rodrigo Sorogoyen is set to showcase the family drama “The New Year’s,” which has been acclaimed as the best Spanish series of the year alongside “Querer.

The updated version of our event is expected to move “from revival to birth, worry to maintaining optimism,” according to their official announcement. This season, we’re focusing on significant areas like Northern Europe, Spain, and France, with France being particularly well-represented.

As a cinephile, I ponder over the question: What is it that these films, such as ‘The German’ delving into the pursuit of Nazi war criminals in the 1970s, ‘A Life’s Worth’ revisiting the conflicts of the 1990s in former Yugoslavia, ‘The Deal’ uncovering the intricacies of the 2015 Iran nuclear negotiations, and ‘Kabul’ portraying the recent turmoil in Afghanistan in 2021, are searching for? Are they trying to stir memories of our past or provoke us to question our present?

Essentially, they are seeking to do both. They urge us to remember our history, to learn from it, and to understand the complexities that shaped our world. But they also challenge us to examine our current situation, to make sense of the ongoing geopolitical events, and to demand clarity in an increasingly uncertain world.

In many cases, the answer remains undecidable.  

In the series ‘Mussolini: Son of the Century,’ which is an Italian production using expressive storytelling and historical footage to depict Mussolini’s ascension to power, there is a notable similarity – one that echoes Trump, Meloni, and numerous other figures.

The plot will revolve around families and their hidden scandals, as shows like “Querer” tackle themes such as consent and marital rape, “Generations” delves into the topic of infanticide, while “Hal & Harper” explores the issue of paternal depression.

In many cases, the main characters are women, allowing them to take center stage. For example, similar to one of Norway’s earliest bloggers, featured in “Requiem for Selina,” or the brave wife and mother from the Spanish series, who finds the courage to leave her abusive husband and start anew.

These women are strong and complex – several of them resemble recent award-nominated actresses who possess an air of maturity. For instance, there’s ‘Celeste,’ a Spanish tax inspector about to retire, who takes on the mission of bringing down Mexico’s most popular pop star. Another example is the protagonist from ‘The Danish Woman,’ a former secret agent who now uses her skills to bring justice to her apartment building.

The organizers stated that the Quebecois series ‘Empathy’, fittingly titled, delves into the authentic empathetic method of a youthful psychiatrist on the borderline, who practices within a penal hospital, alongside other superheroes.

2019’s roster boasts 26 first-time screenings on a global scale and 12 films making their debut outside of their originating countries. A total of 19 nations will participate in this event, with Brazil and Algeria joining the lineup for the very first time.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

“Empathy”World Premiere
Canada / Crave / 10×43’

“Generations”World Premiere
Denmark / DR / 6×58’

“Hal & Harper”International Premiere
USA / 8X30’

“Kabul”World Premiere
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Greece/ News8 /France Télévisions / 6×52’

“Long Bright River”French Premiere
USA / Peacock (USA), MAX (France) / 8×60’

“Mussolini: Son of the Century”French Premiere
Italy, France / Sky / 8×50’

“Querer”International Premiere
Spain / Movistar Plus+, ARTE / 4×50’

“The Deal”World Premiere
Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium / RTS, ARTE / 6×46’

“The German”World Premiere
Israel, USA / Yes / 8×60’

FRENCH COMPETITION

“37 Seconds”
ARTE / 6×52’

“Annwyn – The Otherworld”
Prime Video, France Télévisions / 6×52’

“Clean”
M6 /4×52’

“The Rose Family”
CINE+ OCS / 6×45’

“Reformed”
MAX / 8×30’

“Log-Out”
Switzerland, France / RTS, TF1 / 6×45’

Read More

2025-02-13 14:48