Archive of films Simon Killer / Simon Killer

USA
2012, 105 min

Section: Borderline Films: The First Ten Years
Year: 2013

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.

Synopsis

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.

About the director

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.

Contacts

Fortissimo Films
Van Diemenstraat 100, 1013 CN, Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel: +31 206 273 215
Fax: +31 206 261 155
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.fortissimofilms.com

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About the film

Color, DCP

Section:	Borderline Films: The First Ten Years

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

Guests

Antonio Campos

Film Director

Brady Corbet

Actor

Niloufar Siassi

Sales Agent