TheBIG GUNS

Catching my eye on arrival was the “newest, largest and most powerful of the big guns” - not a producer - but a British 15” naval gun previously mounted on the HMS Ramillies and first seeing action in 1920 during The Greco-Turkish War before firing on the Italian landforces and warships… it could fire a 876kg shell a distance of 29kms… that’s like propelling an equivalent of 10 well proportioned men over The EnglishChannel. This gun had shot some real live action, and was now installed in front of The Imperial War Museum, in another kind of engagement, with the public.

The Awards Ceremony for The 9thImperial War Museum Film & Festival Competition, February 2nd 2010

“Discover How War Shapes Lives” -Sponsored by October Films, PrimeFocus and History

“…And the “Best ImaginativeResponse to the Subject of War” goes to Red Letter a 10 minute film directed by Brazilian Edilberto Restino.”

Red Letter has already won 8 awards with 30 nominations at international film festivals.

The short is the first of nine chapters in the feature film A Brunette Kiss, which is shooting in the UK and France.

Recalling the facts that changed World War Two, A Brunette Kiss questions our perception on the reality of War.

The style, period setting, and charisma are superb reflections of this period. The cast confidently play out their characters in a seemingly camera sensitive tempo, with the response of Aimee et Jaguar’s director of photography, TonyEmi, to shape the scenes with light fantastic and frame action like still lives. The result is film with suspense, direction, a sexuality, and a hiddencharm that I am going to call just simply Restino in style - of few words but implicit.

Edilberto Restino’s own vision develops from fashion photography, his commercial experience from working steadicam and learning lighting from Cesar Charlone, direction from Fernando Meireilles (director of Blindness and City of God), and his natural tactile sensibilities from managing and observing SOS Fauna (fighting animal traffickers) in Brazil over the years.

The closest to an animal here in the War museum is The Jagpanther Tank Destoyer, or “Hunting Panther” which runs with a crew of six, Commander, Gunner, Two loaders, Wireless Operator/machine gunner and driver… sounds almost like a production crew…

Restino’s next film productions will bring us art and passion in the short film Bridge over Blue, which has just finished shooting in London, and a “Milonga.Rechiflao” - that’s a place where you can dance, very crazy… in his feature film on Tango set in Greece.

Red Letter is screening at the Cannes Independent Film Festival this May 18th, 1800 hrs, go to http://www.cannesfest.org/ for further information on screenings and action at this alternative festival in Cannes, May 12-23.

Conditions for submission to TheImperial War Museum’s Awards are that a film must incorporate archive film fromthe Imperial War Museum’s collection or be made in response to the Museum’sCollections and exhibitions.

by

NestaMorgan

February 2010