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New Films From David Cronenberg And Pedro Almodovar To Play This Year’s NYFF

With this Fall film season, comes the Fall film festival season, and this is looking like one hell of a circuit to be a part of.   With films from the likes of Whit Stillman, David Cronenberg and even Chantal Akerman making their debut this year, film festivals across the world, including the likes of Toronto and Venice, will be the talk of the film world.

However, New York won’t be out done.   The NYFF has just announced two new Galas that will be a part of their lineup this year, and they are two films to really keep an eye on.

First, the festival will host Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In, a film unlike any the director has ever made.   I had the chance to see the Antonio Banderas-starring flick at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and it’s an absolute winner.   It’s a thrilling bit of off putting eroticism, and a film that again, is not liken anything the auteur has pumped out.   It’s got a great set of performances and a really rewarding twist, making this a film to keep the keenest of eyes on.

Finally, Cronenberg will be bringing his film, A Dangerous Method, to the festival.   It will be a darling of this fall season, as it will be making the rounds at every festival imaginable, with this just being another addition to its crazy lineup this year.   Personally, this is one of the films from 2011 I really can’t wait to check out.

What do you think?

Source: Press Release


The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced the first-time addition of two Galas to join the Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Night Galas for the upcoming 49th New York Film Festival (September 30 ‘“ October 16) with David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD set to screen on Wednesday, October 5 and Pedro Almodovar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN on Wednesday, October 12.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming David Cronenberg to the festival for the first time and to be welcoming back one of the NYFF’s closest friends, Pedro Almodovar,’ says Richard Peña, Selection Committee Chair & Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center. ‘It’s a special pleasure to introduce our audiences to exciting new work by two of contemporary cinema’s most challenging artists.’

Scheduled at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, October 5 will be David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD. Adapted by Christopher Hampton from his play The Talking Cure, the film chronicles the ever-shifting relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Basking at first in Freud’s approval and encouragement, Jung increasingly questions his theories and methods. At the heart of their dispute is their rival approaches to the beautiful yet deeply unbalanced Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly), who eventually draws each man under her spell. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the Sony Pictures Classics release also stars Vincent Cassel and Sarah Gordon. The film is set for a November 23 release.

Presented the following Wednesday, on October 12, will be Pedro Almodóvar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN. Reuniting the director with Antonio Banderas, the star of several of his early films, this dramatic thriller was written by Almodovar in collaboration with brother and producer, Agustin, based on Thierry Jonquet’s novel Mygale. Dr. Robert Ledgard (Banderas) is a world famous plastic surgeon who argues for the development of new, tougher human skin; unbeknownst to others, Dr. Ledgard has been trying to put his theory into practice, keeping a young woman, Vera (Elena Anaya), imprisoned in his mansion while subjecting her to an increasingly bizarre regime of treatments. Fascinated by the thin layer of appearance that stands between our perception of someone and that person’s inner essence, Almodóvar here addresses that continuing theme in his work in a bold, unsettling exploration of identity. Almodóvar regular Marisa Paredes offers another winning performance as Marilia, Ledgard’s faithful assistant. A Sony Pictures Classics release is scheduled to open October 14.

Commenting on the first-time addition of the two Galas to join the Opening, Closing and Centerpiece events headlining the NYFF lineup this year, Rose Kuo, Executive Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, said, “This year has seen a great deal of growth for us with the opening of our new Film Center and we are thrilled to continue that expansion at this year’s NYFF. We will be offering more screenings, panels, and family events as well as these two new marquee nights that feature highly anticipated fall films.”

Joshua Brunsting

Josh is a critic, a member of the Online Film Critics Society, a wrestling nerd, a hip-hop head, a father, a cinephile and a man looking to make his stamp on the world, one word at a time.