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RELEASES Italy

Darwinists or Creationists?

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Into the landscape of the endless debate in the U.S., as elsewhere in the world, between Darwinists and Creations, arrives a French film released today in Italy. The aptly titled Genesis was made by renowned duo Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou, directors of the award winning Microcosmos (1996), and took two years to prepare and three to shoot, between Madagascar and the Galapagos Islands. Crystals, spermatozoa, amoebas, jellyfish, frogs and tortoises are the protagonists of this evocative and fascinating "story" about life, as the filmmakers call it, refusing the documentary label. In Rome to the present their film, which is being distributed by Lucky Red in 20 cities, Nuridsany and Pérennou, who both hold Biology degrees, told Cineuropa that a religious interpretation is not at all alien to the film: "Genesis is not a materialist war machine that says there is nothing to life but birth, love and death. On the contrary, with its scientific approach, it wants to be a small contribution to the exploration, and the ability to be amazed, a basis for observation and an opening towards even spiritual interpretations."

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This weekend offers numerous and interesting national and European films, including the much anticipated film inspired by the criminal and political events of the 1970s, Criminal Novel, directed by Michele Placido and based on Giancarlo De Cataldo’s outstanding novel of the same name (see article). Craj, by Davide Marengo, is a journey into the music and culture of Puglia, taking its inspiration for the eponymous play directed by Teresa De Sio and written in collaboration with Giovanni Lindo Ferretti (see article).

German master Wim Wenders offers us a fresh perspective on American society with Don't Come Knocking, a German/French/US co-production featuring an excellent cast, including Sam Shepard (who also wrote the screenplay), Jessica Lange and Tim Roth (see article and interview with director).
Two very different French films are also in cinemas as of today: Big budget Empire of the Wolves by Chris Nahon and the intimate political reflection on 1968, Les amants reguliers by Philippe Garrel, winner of the Silver Lion award at this year’s Venice Film Festival (see article from Venice and interviews with director and producer).
Last, but not least, a European co-production (Germany/Spain/UK) dedicated to children: Back to Gaya by Lenard Fritz Krawinkel and Holger Tappe, an animated film made entirely using computer graphics.

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(Translated from Italian)

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