Florin Şerban's 'You Don't Belong Here' Triumphs at Locarno Festival

In a significant win at the Locarno Film Festival, Florin Şerban's poignant film "You Don't Belong Here" has secured the coveted Golden Leopard for Best Film in the International Competition. This powerful narrative explores the harsh realities of anti-Roma racism in Romania and resonated deeply with festival audiences, leading to a special mention for its young lead, Teodor Butănescu.

The film was selected from a competitive field of 17 entries, which included notable works from directors such as Hong Sangsoo and Denis Côté. The jury, led by Belgian filmmaker Fabrice Du Welz and composed of industry figures like actors Paulina Garcia and Lolita Chammah, praised Şerban's film for its emotional depth and societal relevance.

This marks a significant comeback for Şerban, whose earlier work "If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle" won the Grand Prix at the Berlinale in 2010. However, his subsequent films had not gained as much traction. "You Don't Belong Here" tells the gripping story of a doctor confronting the aftermath of his son's racially motivated crime, a theme that has sparked discussion among critics.

While some reviews, like that of Variety's Jay Weissberg, were critical, suggesting the film falters towards its conclusion, the overall sentiment at the festival leaned towards acclaim. In addition to the Golden Leopard, the film also won the Junior Jury award and the Europa Cinemas Label.

Veteran filmmaker Hong Sangsoo also celebrated success at Locarno, winning Best Director for his latest film, "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes." His long-time collaborator, Kim Minhee, received the Best Performance award alongside Italian actress Monica Bellucci, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to their respective films.

Among the other accolades, Brazilian directors Matheus Farias and Enock Carvalho's queer thriller "The Riverbank" was awarded the Special Jury Prize, while Canadian actor Xavier Bergeron received a special mention for his role in Denis Côté's "Nobody’s Violence." Notably, the film "I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming," a striking portrayal of a transgender marriage amid the turmoil of the war in Ukraine, was surprisingly overlooked in the main competition despite generating considerable buzz.

In the Filmmakers of the Present competition, Argentine-American filmmaker Alessandra Sanguinetti's documentary "The Illusion of an Everlasting Summer" emerged as a major winner, claiming both the top prize and the Best First Feature award. This documentary follows the life journey of two female cousins over 25 years and will soon be available in North America and the U.K. via Mubi.

The 79th Locarno Film Festival is set to conclude with a gala screening of Marc Fitoussi's comedy "All About Corinne," featuring stars Isabelle Huppert and Sandrine Kiberlain.

Source: variety.com