8

Author(s): Alex S.
Location: N/A

"8"

Written & Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Produced by Sydney Pollack, Steven Spielberg & Anthony Minghella
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski
Edited by Tim Squyres

Main Cast

Philipp Danne – Thomas Schönenberg
Kathryn Saas – Chancellor Alexandra Hasse
Giovanna Mezzogiorno – Lena Lanciotti
Giancarlo Giannini – Prime Minister Alberto Dionisi
Chris Evans – Luke Davis
Alec Baldwin – President Jack Walker
Rinko Kikuchi – Megumi Kimura
Ken Watanabe – Prime Minister Masahiko Hakamada
Gaspard Ulliel – Max Desmoulins
André Dussolier – President Philipp Grasset
Edward Speelers – Andrew Harrington
Bill Nighy – Prime Minister Geoffrey Horwood
Mia Kirshner – Sidney Callahan
Donald Sutherland – Prime Minister Edward Harris
Aleksei Chadov – Sacha Yuriev
Vladimir Mashkov – President Miroslav Gromiko

Tagline: "We are bound by the world we live in"

Synopsis: New York City, one of the biggest and most exciting cities in the world, a multicultural corner in the earth. Here the so called G8, the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world, are gathered to discuss some of the most relevant issues the world faces today. Wars, hunger, poverty, disease, famine, globalization, all of these are in the schedule, these leaders representing the ideals of their respective countries, the hopes and aspirations of every citizen, will sat down and talk.

While this happens, a scholarship program brings 8 students from the most developed countries in the world to New York for a G8 model, this 8 students come from different backgrounds and places, have different ages and different areas of study. Every character has been through a defining moment in their lives that brought them there, each one of them has experienced the hardships in the world in a different manner, from childhood memories of the communist regime to the crisis in Darfur and AIDS. From the comfortable American dream, to protests and riots in the streets of Paris. From terrorism in New York and London, to the Iraqi invasion.

During the lapse of 3 days, as they see the city and get to know different landmarks, they will face each others; they will learn what is watching the world with different eyes, with a different perception.

In these days, important decisions will be made by these worlds’ leaders, and most importantly a lesson will be learned. Even if we come from different places and have different cultures, backgrounds and points of views, we are bound by our humanity and the world we live in. Every character has a purpose and each one of them offers a piece in a multicultural puzzle that is waiting to be solved.

What the Press would say:

“When I wrote this movie, I saw this as an opportunity to find a place where everyone could express their feelings about the world, a place where every point of view could find their place and eventually send the moviegoer with different ways of thinking, let them create an opinion with the right tools, we’re not trying to make an statement here, we’re encouraging people to open their minds to new things” said Von Donnersmarck. The screenplay offers what was just said, the tools to create opinions, it doesn’t preaches its message; it extends a hand to people, to make them realize about the reality in this world.

Although most of the development focuses on the students rather than the politicians, in each one of the scenes we see all these leaders as human beings, as regular guys, we’re able to understand the great burden they carry, in some way the movie humanizes these figures and makes us empathize with them, we understand their motivations to doing the things they do, the way they do it. It offers a fresh approach into the lives of the most important heads of state.

Technically the movie achieves something beyond words; the director manages to tell the story fluently, coherently and clear. The director’s work is a magnificent achievement in storytelling; it proves his talent and reaffirms its position as one of the best directors working today. The cinematography is elegant and realistic, it creates a world of luminous presence; it places the city as another character, allowing the characters to interact with the city. The editing hits all the right notes, it efficiently works in allowing to explain what could be a sea of misconceptions, it places each idea and situation coherently among both stories, the movie moves fluidly and keeps the beholder in constant need of what comes next. The music creates emotional and heartfelt moments in a complex and difficult movie; it humanizes certain situations and allows the viewer to relate to the situations and the characters.

“It was important for the story, to have actors playing their nationalities, each one of them added some of their own points of views into the story, through this cast we achieved to express the voices from different people around the world” the director said.

Every member of the cast is splendid, but there are certain performances that stick out, this movie presents the deserving breakthrough of Gaspard Ulliel in Hollywood, his character is so emotionally powerful, it takes control of the screen whenever he’s in it, his character goes through different stages along the movie, the situations take him from a snobby know it all, to a humble person that allows himself to hear what others have to say and that he has still much to learn. Speelers from the failed movie Eragon, succeeds in creating a naïve yet brilliant kid, he reminds us all of how we used to be when we were that age, we thought we could change the world and that we had all the answers and nothing could stop us, so full of ideals and dreams. Kirshner is impressive as a very sensitive and proactive political activist she sometimes functions as the comic relief playing a cynical girl, who’s too independent for her own good. Evans changes his usual cockiness and confidence for the complete opposite, he exposes an insecure and lost soul who relies in his knowledge and trust in others, he lacks the confidence to fulfill his dreams. The characters go through a change and evolution as they share with each other, all these different point of views complete a puzzle of different ideas and create an international panorama.

This is a complex and provocative movie, filled with humanity and emotion, as I said before, it doesn’t preach the message, and it allows the viewer to determine their own beliefs. An incredible achievement in modern cinema. Von Donnersmarck has crafted the best kind of movie: one you can't get out of your head. It is an emotionally powerful movie that doesn't leave you when you walk out the theatre doors. An emotional political drama with an intelligent script that doesn't prey on the audience's emotions.

FYC

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor – Gaspard Ulliel, Edward Speelers, Chris Evans
Best Supporting Actress – Mia Kirshner
Best Ensemble