
After an anthology opening in 2021 with the premiere of the magnificent documentary Alick and Albert in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, it seems difficult to do better! And yet, this is what we will try to offer you with a 24th Festival des Antipodes in Saint-Tropez, full of surprises and wonders.
To whet your appetite, let's have a look at some indiscretions about this 2022 edition.
It is whispered that you will go on the side of love or its absence with the dazzling « Loveland » by Ivan Sen which looks at a society of the near future, perhaps ours in fact. But the world of tomorrow (but isn't it the world of today) could also be that of Jonathan Ogilvie's fascinating « Lone Wolf », an adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novel "The Secret Agent". Two films that have in common that great actor, the great Hugo Weaving, yes, the one of "Matrix". As for Leah Purcell, it is in Australia's past that she deciphers the present with the Aboriginal and feminist adaptation of Henri Lawson's classic "The Drover's Wife". In a closer past it is the Italian community that is honored with "Little Tornadoes" by Aaron Wilson whose "Canopy" had won the Jury Grand Prix in 2014 and will be our beautiful closing night film. Contemporary, the funny, deep and sensitive "How to please a woman" will also be thought-provoking. As for "Cousins" by Ainsley Gardiner and Briar Grace-Smith it offers us a beautiful and original, tender and sensitive adaptation of a classic of contemporary Maori literature.
And last but not least, there will be an air of burlesque and absurdity with "The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour" by Platon Theodoris, documentaries will always be present with, among others, "Oleg" by Nadia Tass, "Maxha, relever la tête" by Nunë Luepac & Emmanuel Tjibaou and even through the opening of the festival with the exceptional Arte preview of "Jane Campion, la femme cinéma" by Julie Bertuccelli, which was one of the events of the Cannes Film Festival 2022.
But shh, we're not going to tell you everything right away!
Let's meet on the Place des Lices, at the salle Jean Despas for a new Australian exhibition around Shona Nunan & Michael Cartwright, at the cinema La Renaissance for a trip to the Antipodes, a trip to the heart of culture in this so beautiful village of Saint-Tropez. And if, to quote André Malraux, 'Cinema is an art, and moreover, an industry', a festival realized voluntarily needs passion and energy but also generous patrons and philanthropists, so don't hesitate to help us, be 'Ad Usque Fidelis' for the love of Saint-Tropez, the love of the Antipodes cinema and the beauty of the gesture.
Bernard Bories
President of Cinéma des Antipodes