Creditors (2015 film)

Creditors
Directed by Ben Cura
Produced by Ben Cura
Andrea Deck
Screenplay by Ben Cura
Based on Creditors 
by August Strindberg
Starring Christian McKay
Andrea Deck
Ben Cura
Tom Bateman
Simon Callow
Music by Nina Aranda
Cinematography Ben Hecking
Edited by Teresa Font
Production
company
Tough Dance
Cuibar Productions
Release dates
  • 31 October 2015 (2015-10-31) (Nordic International Film Festival)
Running time
 81 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Creditors is a British[1][2] drama film written and directed by Ben Cura, based on the play of the same title by August Strindberg and starring Christian McKay, Andrea Deck, Ben Cura, Tom Bateman and Simon Callow.[3][4] Set in present-day England and Spain in this adaptation, it had its world premiere at the 2015 Nordic International Film Festival in New York City as part of the festival's Official Selection, where it was nominated for and was awarded the Honorable Mention for Best Nordic Narrative Feature.[3][5] The film was a United Kingdom production by London-based company Tough Dance, founded by Ben Cura and Andrea Deck.[6][7] Spanish company Cuibar Productions financed the film.[8] Paris-based sales agents New Morning Films took on world sales of the film in early 2015.[9][10][11] The film is actor Ben Cura's debut as a director, screenwriter, and producer.[12]

Summary

A love triangle is unraveled when a young painter is approached by an admirer who eases him into making sense of his relationship with his wife.[13]

Cast

Production

Ben Cura and Andrea Deck of London-based Tough Dance produced the film.[1]

Filming

Filming began in September 2013. In a change of setting from the original Sweden of the play, the film was shot in Osea Island, Essex [17][18][19] and consequently, Madrid, Spain.[20]

Reception

Creditors world-premiered at the Nordic International Film Festival in New York City on 31 October 2015.[21][22] Latin Post film critic David Salazar called the film "A triumphant debut"[23] noting of the three lead actors that "the trio delivers masterful performances", calling the flashback sequences "what a Terrence Malick film would look like in black and white", and that the film "has shown that Cura has a tremendous future as a visual storyteller, his ability to deliver a strong performance coupled with a compelling film based on the work of a famed writer a truly remarkable feat".

Blazing Minds film critic Susanne Hodder said of the actors that "all give compelling performances, bringing their characters to life and giving them depth" and concluded her review saying that "Creditors is an intelligent thought-provoking film which questions gender roles, female sexuality and male anxieties, making for an enjoyable and compelling watch."[24]

Screen Relish film critic Stuie Greenfield highlighted the script structure and striking visuals by saying that "Elongated scenes provide beautiful imagery and vignettes of the Spanish landscape that are interspersed with a clever and well-developed script. These long, meaningful scenes bring with them an almost arthouse styling that adds to the charisma and allure of Cura’s magnetic film." He concluded that "Creditors is a beautiful, sometimes angry and surprising film that brings with it strong performances from the entire cast as well as an unexpected yet welcome twist. Cura has produced, written and directed a piece of film that he should be very proud of, and one that demonstrates an incredible aptitude for intense, thought-provoking cinema. He is one to watch out for, as is Creditors."[25]

Movie Marker film critic Darryl Griffiths said of the film "The initial intended seclusion and comfort of its setting is impeccably skewered and realised by director/star Cura, gradually feeding into the sinister, slow-burner tone along with the immersive, minimalist score. From the exquisitely steady aerial shots to the jarring fast-motion captures of Madrid, to the beautifully observed silence that fills the revealing flashbacks, the film’s conversion to screen thrillingly avoids the stilted, laboured approach that so often befalls such works." He added of Andrea Deck, Ben Cura and Christian McKay "Reveling in the femme fatale tendencies of her character as she embraces the classic film noir archetype, Andrea Deck’s Chloe exudes an explosive elegance whom thrives on independence and attention. Ultimately adding a compelling dimension to the powerful prose that leaves the mouths of Cura and McKay respectively. Whilst both provide distinct full-bodied performances individually, together they are terrific in conveying the theatrics of its source." Griffiths concluded his review saying that "The heightened melodrama of its brilliantly staged finale may be of acquired taste. Yet for a directorial debut, Creditors is an incisive and accomplished piece of filmmaking that defies such a tag, possessing a rich, powerful psychology that instills an unnerving modern-day relevance to age-old material." [26]

Creditors screened in competition at the 2015 Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska to further press, media, and festival audiences.[27][28] It was followed by screenings at the Borrego Springs Film Festival, the Berlin Independent Film Festival, the Big Muddy Film Festival, and the Queens World Film Festival.

The film will also screen at the Phoenix Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival, and the Houston WorldFest in April 2016.[29]

As of yet, the general release of the film is tbd.

Awards

Creditors was awarded by the Nordic International Film Festival with an Honorable Mention in the Best Nordic Narrative Feature category.[30]

The Indie Fest awarded the film with four Awards of Excellence in the categories of Feature Film, Leading Actor (Christian McKay), Leading Actor (Ben Cura) and Leading Actress (Andrea Deck)[31]

The Accolade Global Film Competition awarded the film with one Award of Excellence in the category of Cinematography (Ben Hecking), and four Awards of Merit Special Mention in the categories of Editing (Teresa Font), Original Score (Nina Aranda), Script/Writer (Ben Cura), and Feature Film[32]

The Queens World Film Festival nominated Creditors for Best Cinematography (Ben Hecking)[33]

References

  1. 1 2 British Council Film. "British Council Film: Creditors". britishcouncil.org.
  2. ↑ http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-we-are-uk-film-uk-films-for-sale-cannes-2015-05-13.pdf
  3. 1 2 http://filmcourage.com/content/writerdirector-ben-cura’s-uk-love-triangle-feature-film-creditors-world-premiering-at-nyc’s-
  4. ↑ "Your chance to star in film alongside Simon Callow on Osea Island". Gazette.
  5. ↑ "Official Selection 2015". Nordic International Film Festival.
  6. ↑ "Tough Dance [gb]". IMDb.
  7. ↑ "About & Contact". Tough Dance.
  8. ↑ "→Productions". Cuibar.
  9. ↑ Fabien Lemercier. "French sales agents looking to catch the best wave". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema.
  10. ↑ "Home". newmorningfilms.com.
  11. ↑ "Creditors". Tough Dance.
  12. ↑ "Exclusive Interview: Ben Cura Talks Directorial Debut 'Creditors,' Artistic Development, Inspirations [Video]". Latinos Post.
  13. ↑ Indiewire (20 March 2014). "Project of the Day: 'Creditors'". Indiewire.
  14. ↑ "Quick Fire Questions: This Week Christian McKay - The Bearded Trio". thebeardedtrio.com.
  15. ↑ "Quick Fire Questions: This Week Andrea Deck - The Bearded Trio". thebeardedtrio.com.
  16. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Q & A With 'Creditors' Director Ben Cura on Status of Production; Film Stars Director, Simon Callow, Christian McKay, Andrea Deck". Latin Post.
  17. ↑ "Amy Winehouse rehab clinic on Osea island opens its doors - Essex Chronicle". Essex Chronicle.
  18. ↑ "Your chance to star in film alongside Simon Callow on Osea Island". gazette-news.co.uk.
  19. ↑ "Music & Film". oseaisland.co.uk.
  20. ↑ http://filmcourage.com/content/i-think-an-actor-director-writer-or-anyone-creative’s-most-important-attribute-is-gut-instin
  21. ↑ Jamie Ellin Forbes. "Fine Art Magazine Blog". fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.co.uk.
  22. ↑ "Nordic International Film Festival 2015". um.dk.
  23. ↑ http://www.latinpost.com/articles/92820/20151106/creditors-movie-review-ben-curas-creates-a-visually-stimulating-adaptation-of-strindbergs-great-play.htm
  24. ↑ http://blazingminds.co.uk/creditors-movie-review/
  25. ↑ http://www.screenrelish.com/2015/11/10/creditors-review/
  26. ↑ http://moviemarker.co.uk/mm-supports-creditors-ben-cura/
  27. ↑ "2015 Anchorage International Film Festival Lineup; Opens with "Eadweard" - VIMOOZ". VIMOOZ.
  28. ↑ http://anchoragefilmfestival.org
  29. ↑ http://creditorsfilm.com/new-events/
  30. ↑ "Winners 2015". Nordic International Film Festival.
  31. ↑ http://theindiefest.com
  32. ↑ http://accoladecompetition.org
  33. ↑ http://www.queensworldfilmfestival.com/winners/

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.