The bold, relatively brief life of Serge Gainsbourg, the French singer, songwriter and svengali who died in 1991, is twice removed from the story told by Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life . First-time writer and director Joann Sfar has said that polishing the fine points of that life — ceding to biographical “truth” — was of no interest to him. A top-flight fan and best-selling comic book artist, Sfar was intent on avoiding the brash outlines of a biopic in favor of a certain sort of homage, the tender evocation of style and personality in place of strict chronology and narrative arc. A parallel determination to inhabit his hero’s life with an intensely personal, interpretive gusto bends the film back into a more conventional shape; the big moments play out with the giddy gratification of fan fiction. Both abstract and very specific, Sfar’s inspirations abound such that they frequently overshadow those of his subject.
They say to write what you know. Unfortunately, in the case of screenwriter Will Reiser, what he knew was cancer. Six years ago, Reiser was diagnosed with cancer in his back, and — after surgery to remove the tumor — decided to handle the life-changing situation the only way he knew how: by finding the humor. Thus, 50/50 was born.
Just ask Movieline Chief Critic Stephanie Zacharek, who is already stationed in Venice for the season’s first major film festival: Fall is the happening time for these organized movie galas. In honor of this fest upswing — and Movieline’s week-long seasonal cinema celebration — we contacted authorities at the Telluride, Toronto, New York, London and AFI film festivals to pick their brains about the programming process, their events’ unique identities in the fest circuit and much more. For festival novices, consider this a primer for the autumn film festivals. And for the seasoned vets out there, enjoy these behind-the-scenes accounts of the rigorous preparation that goes into selecting tomorrow’s award-winning films.
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