Peter von Kant

France, 2022, 84'
Directed by: François Ozon

Cankarjev dom Cinema Peter von Kant

Screenplay: François Ozon (priredba po Rainerju Wernerju Fassbinderju)
Cinematography: Manu Dacosse
Editing: Laure Gardette
Cast Denis Ménochet (Peter von Kant), Stéfan Crépon (Karl), Isabelle Adjani (Sidonie), Khalil Gharbia (Amir), Hanna Schygulla (Rosemarie), Aminthe Audiard (Gabrielle)
Festivali, nagrade (izbor): Berlinale 2022
Laure Gardette
Festivals, awards (selection): Berlinale 2022

Loosely adapted from Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Ozon’s cheeky take is a feast of satirical humour. A behind-the-scenes glimpse at stardom and an exposé of the balance of power in the relationship between an influential artist and his muse.

Peter von Kant is a successful film director. He lives with his assistant Karl, whom he likes to mistreat and humiliate. Sidonie is the great actor who was his muse for many years. She introduces him to Amir, a handsome young man of modest means. Peter falls in love with Amir on the spot and offers to share his apartment with him and help him break into the film industry. The plan works, but as soon as he acquires fame, Amir breaks up with Peter, leaving him alone to face his demons.

/…/ it was clear how I should revisit the text: I would change the character of Petra into a man, Peter von Kant, and make him a director. This lets me talk about Fassbinder but also, in a mirroring effect, about myself. I “betrayed” Fassbinder in order to better find him and to find myself in this universal story of amorous passion, which is more topical than ever and explores questions of power, influence and submission in the creative process and in the muse-Pygmalion relationship.
François Ozon

François Ozon
Born in 1967 in Paris. After obtaining a master's degree in film from Paris I University, he studied directing at the famous French film school, La Fémis. Many of his short films have screened at various international festivals. Sitcom, his first feature, was in competition at the 1998 Cannes Festival. The rare combination of humour, sensitivity and psychology has earned him international acclaim and established him as one of the most daring and original French directors.

Filmography (selection)
2000 Gouttes d’eau sur pierres brulantes (Water Drops on Burning Rocks)
2002 8 femmes (8 Women)
2003 Swimming Pool (Bazen)
2004 5 x 2
2010 Potiche
2013 Jeune et Jolie (Young and Beautiful)
2020 Été 85 (Summer of 85)
2021 Peter von Kant