Episode 15 | Gaston Solnicki | filmmaker

Good day fair people,

From the personal to the universal or from the universal to the personal – the quest of artists. To nail that very thing that grabs at us in our core. A hit and miss type of thing, but the noblest of efforts. Well, Argentinean filmmaker Gaston Solniki has an uncanny ability to achieve just that, every single time it seems. He’s known for his non-fiction documentaries Süden (2008) and Papirosen (2011).

I didn’t know of Gaston until a few weeks back when Cinema Tropical sent out the press release announcing the premiere of his latest film Kékszakállú, his first fiction feature, an official selection at this year’s Venice, Toronto and New York Film Festivals. He won the FIPRESCI Award (International Federation of Film Critics) a few weeks back at Venice. Sold on Kékszakállú with the opening line of the press release: “Kékszakállú is a singularity: a playful portrait of spiritual lethargy. A portrait of several young women at the threshold of adulthood…” 

Kékszakállú did not disappoint me. Quite the contrary. I saw myself. When I dug him up to prepare for our chat I found Enjoy Yourself, one of the shorts for which he’s known for. Marvelous. There I was again. I was that girl at the Quinceañeras, disco parties, andBar Mitzvahs dancing my ass off. Alas! 

Most of you know I wear my heart on my sleeve, I can’t help it. So I tell Gaston about that, and he responds. A sweetheart and a great talent. Partly inspired by Béla Bartók’s sole opera Bluebeard’s Castle, Kékszakállú is a must see.

If you’re in New York City try catching one of two NYFF Screenings:
Tuesday, October 4, 8:45pm at Walter Reade Theater
Wednesday, October 5, 8:45pm at the Bruno Walter Auditorium

If not, be on the lookout for streaming.

May today be grand.

Sol