This year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival announced their first wave of films and it looks like the 66th anniversary of the fest is going to be pretty great. Leading the way, we have the long-awaited films from Claire Denis, Naomi Kawase, and Kim Jee-woon.
Perhaps most exciting is the news that Denis’ latest film “High Life” will be making an appearance at the fest and will compete with the coveted Golden Shell. Details of her latest film, starring Robert Pattinson, have been scarce, as we’ve only seen a few pictures and the briefest of plot descriptions. However, now we know of one of the first places you’ll be able to check out this film. It should be noted that this won’t be a world premiere for the film, as many are expecting “High Life” to have a big premiere at one of the upcoming North American festivals.
However, we did get one of the better plot descriptions for “High Life” from the festival’s announcement:
Deep space. Beyond our solar system. Monte and his infant daughter Willow live together aboard a spacecraft, in complete isolation. A solitary man, whose strict self-discipline is a protection against desire –his own and that of others– Monte fathered the girl against his will. His sperm was used to inseminate Boyse, the young woman who gave birth to her. They were members of a crew of prisoners: space convicts, death row inmates. Guinea pigs sent on a mission to the black hole closest to Earth. Now only Monte and Willow remain. And Monte is changed. Through his daughter, for the first time, he experiences the birth of an all-powerful love. Willow grows, becoming a young girl, then a young woman.
Joining Denis is filmmaker Naomi Kawase and her film “Vision,” which will also compete at the festival. “Vision” stars French actress Juliette Binoche and actor Masatoshi Nagase. Another standout for the first wave of announced films is from director Kim Jee-woon, best known for his work on “I Saw the Devil.” His latest, “Illang: The Wolf Brigade,” will also be shown at San Sebastian.
The 66th San Sebastian Film Festival will begin September 21.