Latest news with #VicCarmenSonne
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Birthday Party review – Willem Dafoe is the life and soul as menacing Onassis-alike
Willem Dafoe brings star wattage to this watchable drama, playing brooding Greek plutocrat and alpha-patriarch Marcos Timoleon, transparently based on Aristotle Onassis: gazing impassively at people through his heavy glasses, doting menacingly on his dependents and given to exercising in the nude in front of the servants. Spanish film-maker Miguel Ángel Jiménez directs and co-writes this adaptation of the novel by Panos Karnezis. Bringing star power also is charismatic Danish star Vic Carmen Sonne; she plays his daughter Sofia, who has the honour and the terrible burden of a massive 25th birthday party thrown for her by the overbearing Marcos on his private island. The guest list consists almost entirely of his heavily tanned Eurotrash acquaintances and hangers-on, but this claustrophobic party is all the more painful as (like Onassis) Timoleon has recently suffered the terrible anguish of his son and favourite child dying in a plane accident. The film shows us that he concerns himself now with who Sofia is to marry and who his son-in-law is therefore to be – questions that, if his son had lived, would not be nearly so important – and he is nettled to see a close relationship between Sofia and his young English biographer Ian Forster, played by Joe Cole. In his heart, of course, Marcos would have preferred the other child to die and he has terrible plans for Sofia at the end of her party. This is a strong, confident picture that hits its measured stride early on. Its pace and style and language are dictated by a charismatic Dafoe; however, he gives the impression that this performance is not exactly a stretch for him. But he is always commanding, especially when talking to his various consiglieri, confiding amusingly to one intimate that it is good that children become rebellious and disagreeable; if they stayed as adorable as when they were young, parents could never part with them. The Birthday Party screened at the Locarno film festival.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Birthday Party review – Willem Dafoe is the life and soul as menacing Onassis-alike
Willem Dafoe brings star wattage to this watchable drama, playing brooding Greek plutocrat and alpha-patriarch Marcos Timoleon, transparently based on Aristotle Onassis: gazing impassively at people through his heavy glasses, doting menacingly on his dependents and given to exercising in the nude in front of the servants. Spanish film-maker Miguel Ángel Jiménez directs and co-writes this adaptation of the novel by Panos Karnezis. Bringing star power also is charismatic Danish star Vic Carmen Sonne; she plays his daughter Sofia, who has the honour and the terrible burden of a massive 25th birthday party thrown for her by the overbearing Marcos on his private island. The guest list consists almost entirely of his heavily tanned Eurotrash acquaintances and hangers-on, but this claustrophobic party is all the more painful as (like Onassis) Timoleon has recently suffered the terrible anguish of his son and favourite child dying in a plane accident. The film shows us that he concerns himself now with who Sofia is to marry and who his son-in-law is therefore to be – questions that, if his son had lived, would not be nearly so important – and he is nettled to see a close relationship between Sofia and his young English biographer Ian Forster, played by Joe Cole. In his heart, of course, Marcos would have preferred the other child to die and he has terrible plans for Sofia at the end of her party. This is a strong, confident picture that hits its measured stride early on. Its pace and style and language are dictated by a charismatic Dafoe; however, he gives the impression that this performance is not exactly a stretch for him. But he is always commanding, especially when talking to his various consiglieri, confiding amusingly to one intimate that it is good that children become rebellious and disagreeable; if they stayed as adorable as when they were young, parents could never part with them. The Birthday Party screened at the Locarno film festival.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Girl With the Needle' Stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne Ready for Oscar Campaign in the Trump Era, Talk Abortion Rights: ‘Every Woman Should Be Able to Choose'
'The Girl with the Needle' stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne are slowly readying for the Oscar campaign. But following the U.S. election, the film – set in the early 20th century and dealing with unwanted pregnancies – feels increasingly timely, they say. 'Since Trump's inauguration at the White House it has been hard to keep up with what's going on and with what all of this is going to mean. Same goes for the abortion ban. We know what has already happened in several states, and it's devastating. But it's almost like people want to acknowledge these themes the film is revolving around. And that's a positive sign,' argues Vic Carmen Sonne at Göteborg. More from Variety Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg's Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: 'Fight Back' 'Black Crab' Writer Pelle Rådström Wins the Nordic Series Script Award for 'Pressure Point' Girl in Red to Make Feature Film Debut in Maipo's 'Low Expectations' (EXCLUSIVE) The Danish actor plays Karoline: a young woman who, following a failed abortion, begins working at an 'adoption agency.' But its mastermind Dagmar (Dyrholm), always eager to help those who can't raise their children, seems to be hiding something. Directed by Magnus Von Horn, the drama – which premiered in Cannes and is now Oscar nominated as Best International Feature Film – is loosely based on a true story. 'It already felt very contemporary when we shot it in Poland. They are dealing with the same issues. They don't have free access to abortion, so the whole team was really affected by the film. You could feel it,' notes Dyrholm. 'Up until the election, I was very depressed. I wondered: 'What are we going to do?!' And then it happened, and I am getting more and more optimistic. It's very weird, actually. We need to stick together, we need to fight for a stronger Europe. Talking about love is more important than ever. We have to say: 'We dare to share, because we care.' I really mean it now.' During trying times, people want to share their 'fears and desperation,' she argues. 'We need topics that are difficult to deal with. This film is about abortion, about the unwanted, about PTSD experienced after the war. So many countries are dealing with these things. We have the right to choose and to have a good life, but it's not a given. The world is getting more and more divided, and when that happens, we need nuances. Complexity is exactly what's missing. We need a place where we can breathe and right now, that's cinema.' She noted: 'Why do we say 'yes' to projects like this one? Because we have the opinions we have. Every woman should be able to make a choice, of course. In Denmark, we changed the abortion law, and it will be legal up to the 18th week of pregnancy. But trying to say why we need art is also political.' According to Vic Carmen Sonne, the film's characters 'are trying to do the best they can with what they've been dealt.' 'When you have a marginalized group and you take away their rights, also the right to choose, you take away their voice and their existential freedom. And then what's going to happen? They're going to fucking rebel and revolt, and they're going to hit back,' she says. 'Karoline doesn't accept the state of things. She wants a good life, so she meets Prince Charming and comes to his castle. There's a pact between the Prince and the Beggar Girl, but it's something she enforces on him. It's not manipulation: it's determination.' Ultimately, 'The Girl with the Needle' should be viewed as a critique of society – not as a critique of its characters, often pushed to the edge. 'It's all about structures and hierarchies. If you push people too hard, they create an underworld. That's what Dagmar does. But she's also taking away these girls' guilt. She tells them: 'Maybe you don't have a future, but your child will.' She also says, 'Life is horrible but we have to pretend it's not.'' 'The key is to never judge your characters; the same way you shouldn't judge people. We put them into boxes. We say: 'Okay, here's Trump and his team, and over there you have the good guys.' It doesn't work like that. You can say when you don't like something, but you also need – at some point – to walk together. We don't have to agree. But we have to take care of each other. And bring back all these 'old-fashioned' words: Peace, love, caring.' Her co-star adds: 'A lot of this comes from fear. If you feel you are losing power, losing money, losing the capacity to provide for your family and friends, you seek a dictator. You seek the one who screams the loudest. I think most people on this planet haven't been told: 'You are amazing, we love you, your voice matters.' And that's important.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Girl With the Needle' Stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne Ready for Oscar Campaign in the Trump Era, Talk Abortion Rights: ‘Every Woman Should Be Able to Choose'
'The Girl with the Needle' stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne are slowly readying for the Oscar campaign. But following the U.S. election, the film – set in the early 20th century and dealing with unwanted pregnancies – feels increasingly timely, they say. 'Since Trump's inauguration at the White House it has been hard to keep up with what's going on and with what all of this is going to mean. Same goes for the abortion ban. We know what has already happened in several states, and it's devastating. But it's almost like people want to acknowledge these themes the film is revolving around. And that's a positive sign,' argues Vic Carmen Sonne at Göteborg. More from Variety Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg's Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: 'Fight Back' 'Black Crab' Writer Pelle Rådström Wins the Nordic Series Script Award for 'Pressure Point' Girl in Red to Make Feature Film Debut in Maipo's 'Low Expectations' (EXCLUSIVE) The Danish actor plays Karoline: a young woman who, following a failed abortion, begins working at an 'adoption agency.' But its mastermind Dagmar (Dyrholm), always eager to help those who can't raise their children, seems to be hiding something. Directed by Magnus Von Horn, the drama – which premiered in Cannes and is now Oscar nominated as Best International Feature Film – is loosely based on a true story. 'It already felt very contemporary when we shot it in Poland. They are dealing with the same issues. They don't have free access to abortion, so the whole team was really affected by the film. You could feel it,' notes Dyrholm. 'Up until the election, I was very depressed. I wondered: 'What are we going to do?!' And then it happened, and I am getting more and more optimistic. It's very weird, actually. We need to stick together, we need to fight for a stronger Europe. Talking about love is more important than ever. We have to say: 'We dare to share, because we care.' I really mean it now.' During trying times, people want to share their 'fears and desperation,' she argues. 'We need topics that are difficult to deal with. This film is about abortion, about the unwanted, about PTSD experienced after the war. So many countries are dealing with these things. We have the right to choose and to have a good life, but it's not a given. The world is getting more and more divided, and when that happens, we need nuances. Complexity is exactly what's missing. We need a place where we can breathe and right now, that's cinema.' She noted: 'Why do we say 'yes' to projects like this one? Because we have the opinions we have. Every woman should be able to make a choice, of course. In Denmark, we changed the abortion law, and it will be legal up to the 18th week of pregnancy. But trying to say why we need art is also political.' According to Vic Carmen Sonne, the film's characters 'are trying to do the best they can with what they've been dealt.' 'When you have a marginalized group and you take away their rights, also the right to choose, you take away their voice and their existential freedom. And then what's going to happen? They're going to fucking rebel and revolt, and they're going to hit back,' she says. 'Karoline doesn't accept the state of things. She wants a good life, so she meets Prince Charming and comes to his castle. There's a pact between the Prince and the Beggar Girl, but it's something she enforces on him. It's not manipulation: it's determination.' Ultimately, 'The Girl with the Needle' should be viewed as a critique of society – not as a critique of its characters, often pushed to the edge. 'It's all about structures and hierarchies. If you push people too hard, they create an underworld. That's what Dagmar does. But she's also taking away these girls' guilt. She tells them: 'Maybe you don't have a future, but your child will.' She also says, 'Life is horrible but we have to pretend it's not.'' 'The key is to never judge your characters; the same way you shouldn't judge people. We put them into boxes. We say: 'Okay, here's Trump and his team, and over there you have the good guys.' It doesn't work like that. You can say when you don't like something, but you also need – at some point – to walk together. We don't have to agree. But we have to take care of each other. And bring back all these 'old-fashioned' words: Peace, love, caring.' Her co-star adds: 'A lot of this comes from fear. If you feel you are losing power, losing money, losing the capacity to provide for your family and friends, you seek a dictator. You seek the one who screams the loudest. I think most people on this planet haven't been told: 'You are amazing, we love you, your voice matters.' And that's important.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
