Isabel Coixet to open 65th Berlin Film Festival with 'Nobody Wants the Night'
The Catalan film director Isabel Coixet, most known for her internationally proclaimed films ‘My Life Without You’ (2003) and ‘The Secret Life of Words’ (2005), has been selected to open this year’s upcoming Berlin International Film Festival with her newest work ‘Nobody Wants the Night’. The film, inspired by true events, has been and adapted to the screen by writer Miguel Barros. It is set in early 20th century Iceland and tells the inspiring tale of two women who risked their lives for the polar adventurer Robert Peary.
Barcelona ( ACN ) .- The Catalan film director Isabel Coixet, best known for her internationally proclaimed films ‘My Life Without You’ (2003) and ‘The Secret Life of Words’ (2005), has been selected to open the 65th Berlin International Film Festival this February with her latest work ‘Nobody Wants the Night’. The film is inspired by true events and has been adapted to the screen by writer Miguel Barros. Set in early 20th century Iceland, it tells the inspiring tale of two women who risked everything in a twisted love triangle with polar adventurer Robert Peary.
Josephine Peary, played by French actress Juliette Binoche, sets out on a journey to save her relationship with her husband, explorer Robert Peary. Her adventure takes her to the North Pole where she meets a young but wise girl Allaka, played by Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi. Despite Allaka being pregnant with Peary's child, the two women have to work together to survive in the harsh conditions.
Coixet is now a fixture at the Festival with this film being the sixth time she has showcased her work in Berlin and her third film to be chosen to compete at the Festival. In addition to this, in 2009, she was selected as part of the Festival´s Jury. Festival director and legend in the world of European cinema German Dieter Kosslick, explained that Coixet has created "an impressive and insightful story of two women in extreme circumstances." Kosslick announced that Coixet's work will be the first film to be screened at the Berlin Festival.
The film was made with the participation of a number of companies across Europe such as Spanish public television broadcaster TVE, Spanish company ONO, French broadcaster Canal +, and Catalan group Mediapro, amongst others. Considered a cross-European work, it was also shot in numerous locations including Finse in Norway, Sofia in Bulgaria, and Tenerife. Post-production of the film was completed in the Catalan capital, Barcelona.