10th edition CIFF – 10-14 April 2024

The Favourite (2019 Feature Film)

Yorgos Lanthimos | Ireland, United Kingdom, USA | 2018 | color | DCP | 120′ | English | s.s

This absurdist-comedic costume drama has been overloaded with prizes. Intrigue at the court of Queen Anne played with relish by three actresses at the height of their game. While England is at war with France, the queen eats blue cakes. A deliciously devious film like no other.

At the close of the 18th century, England is at war with France. Nevertheless, there is plenty of time at the British court of Queen Anne (a fabulous Oscar-winning role by Olivia Colman) to indulge in duck-racing, pigeon-shooting and lobster-eating. The Queen’s health is brittle and she suffers from mood swings. Her gout causes unbearable pain. Loyal support is provided by her friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), who simultaneously influences politics. But then the new maid Abigail (Emma Stone) appears and a deliciously devious power struggle ensues between Queen Anne’s two favorites.

Absurdist Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) interprets history freely. There are plenty of powdered wigs, pouts and beautiful gowns in this costume drama, but it’s far from entirely historically correct. At the same time, Lanthimos reveals the machinations behind the royal scenes more honestly than ever before. The eternal struggle for power and influence, the fawning over the Queen, strategic marriages, and illicit sex: it’s all there. That and profanity-laced language concerning female genitalia and a lot of blue cakes.

Place: The Cinemas 4

Date: 10 April 2019

Time: 20:15

Duration: 1:30

Place: The Cinemas 1

Date: 13 April 2019

Time: 10:00

Duration: 1:30

Place: The Cinemas 1

Date: 13 April 2019

Time: 10:00

Duration: 1:30

Year in
Festival

2019

Director

Yorgos Lanthimos

Camera

Robbie Ryan

Cast

Olivia Colman
Rachel Weisz
Emma Stone

Country

Ireland
United Kingdom
USA

Editor

Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Language

English

Length

120′

Music

Komeil S. Hosseini

Producer

Daniel Battsek
Deborah Davis
Rose Garnett
Ken Kao
Andrew Lowe
Tony McNamara
Josh Rosenbaum

Production Design

Fiona Crombie

Year of Production

2018

Yorgos LANTHIMOS (1973, Griekenland) studeerde film- en televisieregie in Athene. Sinds 1995 heeft hij films, toneelstukken en een groot aantal commercials geregisseerd. Zijn tweede speelfilm Dogtooth won in 2009 de Un Certain Regard-prijs op het filmfestival van Cannes. De film werd tevens genomineerd voor de Oscar voor Beste Buitenlandse Film. Voor The Lobster, zijn eerste Engelstalige film, won hij de Juryprijs in Cannes en twee European Film Awards. The Favourite won zeven Bafta’s en sleepte tien Oscarnominaties in de wacht.

 

Filmography

O viasmos tis Hlois (1995, short), O kalyteros mou filos (2001, co-dir), Uranisco Disco (2001, short), Kinetta (2005), Kynodontas/Dogtooth (2009), Alpeis/Alps (2011), Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013, doc), The Lobster (2015), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), The Favourite (2018)