| Americano | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster |
|
| Directed by | Mathieu Demy |
| Produced by | Mathieu Demy Agnès Varda Lisa Blok-Linson Luisa Gomez da Silva Corina Danckwerts Johanna Colboc Angeline Massoni |
| Written by | Mathieu Demy |
| Starring | Mathieu Demy Salma Hayek Geraldine Chaplin Chiara Mastroianni Carlos Bardem Jean-Pierre Mocky |
| Music by | Georges Delerue Grégoire Hetzel |
| Cinematography | Georges Lechaptois |
| Editing by | Jean-Baptiste Morin |
| Distributed by | Les Films du Losange |
| Release date(s) | September 8, 2011 (Toronto) |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French English Spanish |
Americano is a 2011 French drama film written and directed by Mathieu Demy. Demy also stars alongside Geraldine Chaplin, Salma Hayek and Chiara Mastroianni. Demy's mother, Agnès Varda, who is also a filmmaker, served as a producer on the project. The film received its première at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2011[1] and later that month, was also screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival[2], where it competed for the Kutxa-New Directors Award.[3] In October it was played at the 55th BFI London Film Festival.[4]
Contents |
In Paris, the relationship between Martin (Demy) and Claire (Mastroianni) is at an impasse. His mother's death suddenly calls Martin back to Los Angeles to deal with inheritance formalities, the town where he spent his childhood. In Los Angeles he is helped by a family friend, Linda who takes him to his mother's home and the neighbourhood he grew up in. This return to childhood haunts provokes several buried memories that appear to disturb Martin. After speaking with a neighbour, Martin goes to Tijuana in Mexico, looking for Lola (Hayek), a close friend of his mother's. He tracks her down to the Americano, a club where Lola works as a dancer. However, to find resolution, Martin must face up to his past.[5][6]
The memory scenes of Martin's childhood in LA are derived from Demy's mother, Agnes Varda's 1981 film Documenteur in which Demy appeared as a child.[7]