Wednesday 19 June 2013

Screen Notes: The Venice Syndrome

Our Screen Notes series allows a more in-depth discussion of the films that we are showing this year at Open City Docs Fest. Contributors from a variety of vantage points and fields including scientists, scholars and students have given their unique perspectives on the documentaries they've enjoyed, sharing their expertise and experiences to add an extra dimension to the documentaries.

Pei-Sze Chow is currently working for her PhD in Film Studies at University College London. Her research focuses on contemporary cinematic representations of landmark architecture and space in transnational regions and cities, particularly the Øresund and Berlin. She has published a chapter on the themes of authenticity and auteurship in Lars von Trier's Antichrist and currently serves as the Arts and Humanities Editor for UCL's all-faculty journal, Opticon1826.

Chow has focused on The Venice Syndrome, directed by Andreas Pichler and released in 2012. It was produced in Germany, Austria and Italy and has a run time of 80'. We're pleased to be screening the UK premiere of this thought-provoking film on Friday 21 June at 20:30, and it has been nominated for the Open City Docs Fest Best City Film Award.

The Venice Syndrome depicts the plight of a famously beautiful and romantic city. As monstrous cruise ships dominate the skyline, Venetian residents are forced out onto the mainland by rocketing rents and crumbling infrastructure. This illuminating film makes stark predictions for the future, warning that by 2030 perhaps no-one will actually live in one of the world’s best loved and most beautiful cities. Buy tickets HERE.

To read Chow's thoughts on The Venice Syndrome, please follow this link https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2ELCplMBK2QdFhSUWtjenI1TjQ/edit?usp=sharing

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