IFC Films and the Sundance Channel have teamed for a multi-platform release of Oliver Assayas’ crime epic “Carlos,” the story of notorious Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal, which will kick start this October.
Originally envisioned as a television mini-series, the film will now be shown in both its full five and a half hour, three part form and the shortened theatrical cut, depending on the platform and time of release this fall; the Sundance Channel will premiere the mini-series version in October before both versions will be distributed nationally in theaters by IFC Films with IFC’s On Demand service to offer only the shortened cut later on.
It’s a release reminiscent of its cousin picture, Steven Soderbergh’s “Che,” and if that film proved anything, it’s probably worthwhile going out of your way to catch the director’s vision in whole. Assayas is taking a 180 degree turn from his tender look at family and legacy in “Summer Hours” with this portrait of Carlos the Jackal. The titular role is played by Edgar Ramirez, who incidentally had a supporting role in “Che” and is also just a great underrated actor– we’re hoping this turn in ‘Carlos’ will help him stand out (American audiences probably remember him as the assassin in “The Bourne Ultimatum”).
“Carlos” will premiere out of competition this coming Wednesday, the 19th of May, at Cannes in its extended form and reviews from the Croisette will likely be a strong barometer for the project which placed first on our Most Anticipated Arthouse Films for 2010 (which in many ways was just our, non-American, foreign films list).