02-04-2012

FESTIVALS: Febiofest Grand Prix 2012 goes to The Good Son

By Febiofest

    {mosimage}PRAGUE: The winner of the festival's Grand Prix is The Good Son (Hyvä poika) by the Finnish director, Zaida Bergroth. The thrilling family drama has won against 11 other films competing in the New Europe Competition.

    The jury especially praised the fast tempo of the film, marvelous camerawork, and exquisite acting performances. The jury members declared that "it is an unusual picture which says something crucial about our times" and that it "managed to combine a serious topic with humor".

    The Grand Prix of the 19th IFF Prague - Febiofest will be presented by Miroslav Ondříček, the honorary chairman of the jury, during the festival's Closing Night on the 30th of March 2012 in Hall no.10 in Cinestar Andel. The evening will culminate in awarding the Polish-French director, Agnieszka Holland, the Kristian Award for her Contribution to World Cinema. The award will be presented by Dagmar Havlova. (Apart from directing Vaclav Havel's plays, Agnieszka Holland directed a TV film based on his play, Largo Desolato, in France in 1991. Together with another prominent personality of the Polish cinema, Andrzej Wajda, they signed the petition to the Czech government to name Prague airport after Vaclav Havel). Her latest film In Darkness, which competed for this year's Oscar, will have its exclusive Czech pre-premiere in Hall no.7.

    The other films in the competition weren't left far behind. The winner, The Good Son, got 60 votes, Loverboy and Twilight Portrait also placed well. The members of the jury remarked that "all the films in competition touch some important social theme", and that the questions of morals and choice in life return to the contemporary European cinema, thus making the process of choosing the winner of the Grand Prix difficult.

    Synopsis of The Good Son: An actress named Leila leaves the city with her two sons in order to avoid the tabloids. While the younger son, the reclusive Unto, wanders the neighborhood with his camera, the older Ilmari is annoyed by any "intruder" who would threaten the relationship with his beloved mother. When mother's new lover begins to stay with the family, Ilmari's "protective tendencies" become increasingly more dangerous. Director Zaida Beregroth focuses on a psychological portrait of the unhealthy relationship of a son and his mother. The picture was awarded the Gold Hugo at last year's IFF in Chicago (New Directors Competition).