Borderline Films: The First Ten Years 2013 / Simon Killer / USA 2012
In this disturbing psychological thriller, the outstanding Brady Corbet (Melancholia, Funny Games) portrays Simon, who flies to Europe to forget about the recent painful breakup with his girlfriend. After getting close to a mysterious prostitute named Victoria, whom he meets while knocking around cosmopolitan Paris, disturbing hints of a complicated personality begin to appear from beneath the adventurer’s appealing exterior.
Brady Corbet, one of the most sought-after acting talents of his generation, lent his face and being to the character of Simon, a recent university graduate who takes an extended trip to Europe to forget about the girlfriend he just broke up with. After getting close to a mysterious prostitute named Victoria (Mati Diop), whom he meets while knocking around cosmopolitan Paris, disturbing hints of a complicated personality begin to appear from beneath his appealing exterior. Campos, who acknowledges the influence of such writers as Georges Simenon and Jim Thompson on his original character study, is a fan of European art films, among other things, for the provocative ambiguity of their characters. Simon, in whose creation Corbet took part as both actor and co-scripter, is remarkable for his provocative ability to grab hold of the viewer while managing to elude clear-cut categorization. As is usual for Campos, image and sound are masterfully combined to create an uneasy atmosphere that the viewer finds difficult to shake even after the lights come on.
105 min / Color, DCP
Director Antonio Campos
/ Screenplay Antonio Campos
/ Dir. of Photography Joe Anderson
/ Music Saunder Jurriaans, Danny Bensi
/ Editor Zac Stuart-Pontier, Antonio Campos, Babak Jalali
/ Producer Josh Mond, Sean Durkin, Matt Palmieri
/ Production Borderline Films
/ Cast Brady Corbet, Mati Diop, Constance Rousseau, Lila Salet, Michael Abiteboul
/ Contact Fortissimo Films
Antonio Campos (b. 1983, New York), screenwriter, producer, and director, was nominated in 2009 for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Film for his feature debut Afterschool. Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section introduced the film to European audiences. Two of his short films also screened at Cannes: Buy It Now (2005; in competition) and The Last 15 (2006; Cinéfondation, main prize). Variety magazine selected Campos as one of its "10 Directors to Watch.” He helped produce Sean Durkin’s films Mary Last Seen (2009) and Martha Marcy May Marlene (2010), and also coproduced fellow filmmaker Alistair Banks Griffin’s Two Gates of Sleep (2010). Campos’ second feature Simon Killer was screened as a world premiere last year at the Sundance festival.
Fortissimo Films
Van Diemenstraat 100, 1013 CN, Amsterdam
Netherlands
Phone: +31 206 273 215
Fax: +31 206 261 155
E-mail: [email protected]
Antonio Campos
Film Director
Brady Corbet
Actor
Niloufar Siassi
Sales Agent
First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.
