Luzifer (film)

Luzifer is a 2021 Austrian drama film written and directed by Peter Brunner.[1][2][3] Starring Susanne Jensen and Franz Rogowski, the film centers on a man who lives in a secluded alpine hut with his mother and his pet eagle, their relative peace and faith shattered as developers move into their region to develop a ski resort. The pressures from the unscrupulous developers drive the secluded family deeper into Christian mysticism as a means of coping with events as their losses mount.

Luzifer
Directed byPeter Brunner
Written byPeter Brunner
Produced byUlrich Seidl
Starring
CinematographyPeter Flinckenberg
Music byTim Hecker
Production
company
Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion
Distributed byFilm Republic, London
Release date
Running time
103 min
CountryAustrian
LanguageGerman

The film had its world premiere in August 2021 at the Locarno Filmfestival, before premiering in the United States at Fantastic Fest the following month.[4] There Franz Rogowski received the award for the best actor for his role as "Johannes". In October 2021, Rogowski was awarded Best Actor for this role ex-aequo with Caleb Landrey Jones (Nitram) at the Sitges Filmfestival. Also Susanne Jensen was awarded Best Actress for her role as "Maria" ex-aequo with Noomi Rapace (Lamb) at the Sitges Filmfestival.[5]

Plot

Maria (Susanne Jensen) lives secluded in the mountains with her mentally handicapped adult son Johannes (Franz Rogowski).[6] Her husband died. Their everyday life is determined by religious rituals and familiarity. Johannes' best friend is the eagle Arthur. When the area is to be converted into a ski resort, the devil awakens. Maria tries to protect her son. Faith, trust, powerlessness and childishness become an explosive mixture. Is an exorcism the solution? Where is the devil?[7][8]

Inspired by a true story, Luzifer is a drama, horror film and an anti-exorcism film.

Reception

After the world premiere in Locarno Festival in August 2021, Luzifer was positively received in Spanish, French and English press. 

Martin Kudlac writes: "The sociopathic mother is raising a psychopathic son. Luzifer is a modern-day Frankenstein, where boundaries between moral and amoral have been blurred by a distorted interpretation of a strict religious doctrine."[9]

After permiere in North America at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, where Franz Rogowski was awarded best actor for Luzifer, Adam Symchuk notes that because of its beauty, tragedy and love of nature in all the destruction, the film as a powerful piece of cinema deserves a wider audience than is usual in arthouse productions. Susanne Jensen and Franz Rogowski would give a career-defining appearance as mother and son.[10]

At the Sitges Filmfest, Susanne Jensen and Franz Rogowski are awarded best actress and best actor for their performance in Luzifer.

There is no date for the worldwide cinema release yet. In Germany, the cinema release is on April 28, 2021.[11]

The Film is also part of the Filmfest in Belgrade,[12] the Pendance Filmfest in Toronto, Canada[13] and the Fantasy Film Fest in six german cities.[14]

Awards

References
  1. "Ulrich Seidl – LUZIFER". ulrichseidl.com. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  2. "Luzifer". austrianfilms.com (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  3. "Luzifer". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  4. "FANTASTIC FEST 2021 AWARDS". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  5. "THE FESTIVAL - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  6. "Review: Luzifer". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  7. "LUZIFER". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  8. "Ulrich Seidl – LUZIFER". ulrichseidl.com. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  9. "Locarno 2021 Review: LUZIFER Rising in Oedipal Horror, Veiled as Lyrical Drama of Atonement". ScreenAnarchy. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  10. "Luzifer Film Review - Religious Fervor and Isolation". Grimoire of Horror. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  11. "Indeed Film - Independent-Film-Label | line-up - Luzifer". indeedfilm.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  12. "LUCIFER - Filmovi - LUZIFER". 50. FEST Međunarodni filmski festival - CEBEF (in Serbian). Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  13. pendancefilmfestival (2022-02-23). "Feature Films 2022". Pendance Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  14. "luzifer". fantasyfilmfest (in German). 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  15. "Kaup-Hasler: „Internationale Erfolge des österreichischen Films in Locarno"". OTS.at (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  16. "FANTASTIC FEST 2021 AWARDS". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  17. "Pastor from SH wins film award for leading role in horror film | NDR.de – culture". News in 24 Lifestyle English. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  18. "THE FESTIVAL - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  19. Roxborough, Scott (2021-10-17). "Noomi Rapace Icelandic Horror 'Lamb' Wins Sitges Fantasy Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  20. Pendance 2022 Award Winners, retrieved 2022-03-19
  21. pendancefilmfestival (2022-03-19). "Luzifer Takes the Top Prize at Pendance 2022". Pendance Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
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