Documentary Films - Competition 2016 / Solar / Argentina 2016
When ten-year-old Flavio Cabobianco published a New Age book with his brother in 1991, it became a nationwide sensation. But what if underneath it all the supposed child prodigy was, in fact, merely a lonely, wounded little soul? And how do you defy Flavio’s ambitions now that he is an adult and might choose to shake off his protagonist’s role and plonk himself down in the director’s chair? Let the remorseless tug-of-war for creative control begin…
In 1991, Flavio Cabobianco, who was ten at the time, brought out an Argentinian bestseller featuring New Age themes entitled I Come from the Sun (Vengo del Sol). The book sets down ideas formulated by Flavio and his brother Marcos on extra-terrestrial existence, and incorporates reflections on the ontology of the universe developed by the boys since their pre-school years. Twenty years later Flavio has agreed to an offer from a young documentary filmmaker who plans to shoot a film about this child prodigy and his family. When Flavio gradually realises that Solar does not show him to be a literary genius, but more a young loner with a wounded soul, he decides to intervene… Is this an unconventional documentary portrait of an unhappy childhood with controlling parents? A psychological study of an ambitious and self-important young man? Or a remorseless tug-of-war between the director and the protagonist for a hypothetical director’s chair? Whatever Solar turns out to be, it may not always be a good idea to let go of the camera. But what if handing over the creative reins is the only way to save your film?
Martin Horyna
75 min / Color, DCP
International premiere
Director Manuel Abramovich
/ Screenplay Manuel Abramovich, Fernando Krapp, Javier Zevallos, Flavio Cabobianco
/ Dir. of Photography Manuel Abramovich, Flavio Cabobianco
/ Music Sofía Straface
/ Editor Anita Remón
/ Producer Manuel Abramovich
/ Contact Manuel Abramovich
Manuel Abramovich (b. 1987, Buenos Aires) studied cinematography at ENERC and attended a film lab at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, both in Buenos Aires. In 2012 he took part in the Berlinale Talent Campus, a week-long workshop for young filmmakers. After the shorts Heladeras (2009, doc), Nubes (2012, short feature) and Mesa 17 (2013, doc) Abramovich achieved greatest success with the 19-minute short The Queen (La reina, 2013). This portrait of a girl preparing for the prestigious role of carnival queen focuses its lens on a young face filled initially with excitement, then apprehension and finally resignation, while revealing the flipside of a traditional Argentinian event. The film won a Special Mention from the doc jury at KVIFF 49, along with a series of other awards. Another short doc Las luces (2014) was followed by Solar, the director’s feature-length debut.
Manuel Abramovich
Humboldt 2433, 1425, Buenos Aires
Argentina
Phone: +54 911 587 956 65
E-mail: [email protected]
Marcos Cabobianco
Protagonist
Manuel Abramovich
Film Director
Flavio Cabobianco
Protagonist
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