Darwin

Colour, HD CAM
Switzerland, 2011, 88 min
EP – European premiere
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

It would be difficult to find a more inhospitable place to live than the small American town of Darwin. Situated in the arid landscape of Death Valley, it is home to 35 people, among them Monty, a remarkable artist with a violent past; talented pianist Dell; a bearded anarchist named Robin; and young Ryal, who is transitioning from female to male. In this town once famous for silver mining there is no store, no government, no church, and the only locally employed inhabitant is a former hippie named Susan, now the postmaster. Now only shadows of the locals’ dark histories occasionally disturb the absolute calm of the scorched region. With a bewitching atmosphere intensified by Michael Brook’s unsettling score, Swiss director Nick Brandestini’s documentary deservedly won awards at the Big Sky, Sonoma and DocAviv film festivals.

About the director

Nick Brandestini (b. 1975, Zürich) lived in the United States in 1977–81 before returning to Zürich where he resides today. In 2002 he graduated from the University of Zurich in Business and Economics. In addition to his job in Marketing, he directs, produces, shoots, and edits documentary films. From 1999 to 2002 he worked at VIVA music TV station, producing and editing an informational program about film. He has successfully presented his movies at many festivals. Filmography: Return to Florence (2006), H.R. Giger’s Sanctuary (2007), Legacy of the Great Aletsch (2009), Darwin (2011).