Slovenian break-out director of 2008 - Vinko Moderndorfer

17-12-2008

Slovenian break-out director of 2008 - Vinko Moderndorfer

By Matevs Rudolf

Vinko Moderndorfer fulfilled the promise of his debut film Suburts with his 2008 sophomore effort Landscape No. 2.

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Modendorfer, (born 1958) graduated in theatre direction from the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, going on to direct over 90 performances in the theatre, opera and television. In addition, he is a prolific writer with over 30 published books.

His 2004 debut film was a social drama, Suburbs, and was screened in Venice, Montreal, Karlovy Vary, Cannes, and numerous other festival, winning several awards: The Young People's Award for the best film (Montpellier), Film Critics Award for the best film (Festival of Slovenian film), and was selected for the Variety Critics' Choice: Europe Now.

Based on his novel, Landscape No.2 is thriller about two burglars, Sergej and Polde, who steal a valuable painting called Landscape No.2. By accident, Sergej also steals a mysterious document dating back to the end of the Second World War. An ex-army officer is ordered to recover the stolen document, which triggers a diabolic mechanism of the past, the post-war execution of Nazi collaborators. "The untold and unreflected past, and the sins of our forefathers haunt us, especially now that the various histories of different nations are being brought together in a common European history," says Moderndorfer.

Landscape No.2 was screened at 58th Berlinale European Film Market, at the Cannes Marché du Film and had world premiere at the 65th Venice International Film Festival in the Venice Days program. The Polish premiere took place in the competition section of the 24th Warsaw Film Festival.

Critics praised the unique touch to the films' erotic scenes and applauded the decision to make a political film in the form of a thriller. The film has been called the Slovenian response to No Country for Old Men. At the 11th Festival of Slovenian Film in Portoroz, the film received six Vesna Awards, given by the expert jury of the festival: Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Maja Martina Merljak), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Music.

The film was produced by Forum Ljubljana (www.ljudmila.org/forum) and had a budget of €1.2 million. More than €1 million came from the Slovenian Film Fund (together with technical support from Viba). Landscape No. 2 has assured Vinko Moderndorfer's place as one of the most important contemporary Slovenian film directors.

CREDITS:

Landscape No.2

Production Company: Forum Ljubljana (www.ljudmila.org/forum)

Co- production Company: Delirium (www.delirium-films.com), RTV Slovenia (www.rtvslo.si), VPK (www.vpk.si)

Co-financed by: Slovenian Film Fund (www.film-sklad.si), Film Center Serbia (www.fcs.co.yu)

Technical services: Film studio Viba film (www.vibafilm.si), 100 (www.100doo.si), Studio Arkadena (www.arkadena.si), Hungarian Film Laboratories (www.filmlab.hu)

World Sales: Wide Management (www.widemanagement.com)

Slovenian distributor: Cinemania Group (www.cinemania-group.si)

Director: Vinko Moderndorfer

Producer: Eva Rohrman

Co-producer: Biljana Prvanovic

Production manager: Matija Kozamernik

Director of photography: Dusan Joksimovic

Editor: Andrija Zafranovic

Music: Borut Krzisnik

Sound designer Julij Zornik

Script consultant: Blaz Lukan

Production designer: Dusan Milavec