'Le Otto Montagne' becomes second Flemish-made film in Cannes competition

After 'Close' by Lukas Dhont, 'Le Otto Montagne' by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch has become the second Flemish-made film to be included in the Official Competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The organisation announced this on Thursday evening. Belgian directing duo Adil El Arbi en Bilall Fallah have in turn received an invitation for the official programme with their film 'Rebel', according to the Flemish Audiovisual Fund.

'Le Otto Montagne' ("The eight mountains"), which will be competing for a prestigious Palme d'Or award, is an adaptation of the bestseller of the same name by Paolo Cognetti. Besides directing, Van Groeningen and Vandermeersch also wrote the screenplay. It is the story of Pietro and Bruno, a boy from the city and one from the mountains, who become friends when they are eleven, with a forgotten part of the Alps as their kingdom. Their lives stretch out, they lose each other and find each other again. While Bruno remains faithful to his mountain, Pietro travels the world. A journey of solitude and love, along origins and destinies, across friendship, life and death.

The Italian cast consists of Luca Marinelli ('Martin Eden'), Alessandro Borghi ('Devils'), Filippo Timi ('Vincere') and Elena Lietti ('Anna').

(BRV)

Photo shows Belgian director Felix Van Groeningen and actress Charlotte Vandermeersch at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival © Geoff Robins / AFP