Locarno

Fucking Love

Verflixt Verliebt (Switzerland/Germany)

By JAY WEISSBERG

A Spotlight Media Prods. (Switzerland) production, in association with Filume [cqFilmproduktion Gmbh (Germany)/Teleclub AG. (International sales: Spotlight Media, Zurich.) Produced by Simon Hesse, Peter Luisi. Directed, written by Peter Luisi, based on an idea by Matthew Linnell.
 
With: Pablo Aguilar, Sandra Schlegel, Philipp Stengele, Simon Desbordes, Fiamma-Mara Camesi, Norbert Schwientek, Martin Rapold, Max Rudlinger, Susanne Kunz, Patricia Boser, Jean-Baptiste Eydt-Thomas, Nicolo Settegrana.
 

An amusing, frenetically paced farce shot on nearly every type of film and video stock imaginable, "Fucking Love" is the sort of pic a talented film student can be proud of, but with too many Swiss film industry jokes, it won't be traveling far. Helmer/scripter Peter Luisi has fun with limited funds, playing with the idea of a film within a film within a film, but outside his Alpine nation, many jokes won't resonate. As a novice insider's comedy, this could have limited fest appeal, but the real future lies in Luisi's subsequent projects.

Argentinian biology student Miro (Pablo Aguilar) is mistaken for a great director when he's introduced to actress Mercedes (Sandra Schlegel). Determined to win her, he concocts an alter ego and convinces rich kinkmeister Bruno (Norbert Schwientek) to back a movie. Meanwhile, film students Peter and Luigi (Philipp Stengele and Nicolo Settegrana) make a documentary about the director's new Swiss project, hoping to spice things up by encouraging conflict. With an ever-changing p.o.v. that includes even surveillance footage, the denouement becomes too frenzied, but Luisi's creative use of low budget signals a talent to watch.

Camera (color/B&W, 35mm, super 16mm, 16mm, super 8mm, DVCAM, Mini DV, Beta SP, DVCPRO, blown-to-35mm), Nicolo Settegrana, Orit Teply; editor, Luisi, Claudio Di Mauro; music, Filippo Trecca; production designer, Joal Helmlinger; costume designer, Jean-Baptiste Eydt-Thomas. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (Appellations Suisse), Aug. 7, 2004. German, Spanish, English, French dialogue. Running time: 92 MIN.