Virginia Film Society to Screen Austrian Film 'Revanche'

September 30, 2009 — The Virginia Film Society continues its fall schedule with a screening of "Revanche," directed and written by Götz Spielmann. It will be shown Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 Market St., in Charlottesville.

Since its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in 2008, "Revanche" has received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Oscar nomination in 2009 for best foreign language film.

Austrian filmmaker Spielmann's thriller takes place in a ragged section of Vienna. Hardened ex-con Alex (Johannes Krisch) works in a brothel, where he falls for Ukrainian hooker Tamara (Irina Potapenko). Desperate to escape their circumstances, they meet a rural cop (Andreas Lust) and his seemingly content wife (Ursula Strauss), who live in the same town as Alex's grandfather. In this journey of vengeance and redemption, violence and beauty exist side-by-side.

In a 2008 review in Variety, critic Alissa Simon wrote, "Stillness and sounds of nature play a key role in creating pic's intense atmosphere. Eschewing a music track makes a scene in which the grandfather finds joy playing his beloved accordion again especially poignant. Asking the question, 'Whose fault is it if life doesn't go your way?,' the cleverly constructed script introduces some fresh and surprising twists and turns."

The Virginia Film Society will continue Nov. 6-7 with screenings of director Kenneth Bi's "The Drummer," as part of the Virginia Film Festival. "Missing Person," by director Noah Buschel and starring Michael Shannon, will be shown Nov. 17. The fall season will close with "Peter and Vandy" by writer/director Jay DiPietro. The film stars Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler, Jesse L. Martin, Tracie Thoms and Noah Bean.

About the Virginia Film Society


The Virginia Film Society is the yearlong extension of the Virginia Film Festival, the University of Virginia's annual four-day celebration of cinema. The festival features film screenings and commentary from U.Va. faculty experts and Hollywood insiders.

Many screenings feature guest speakers. Screenings are held at 7 p.m. at Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 Market St., in Charlottesville.

Admission to individual screenings is $9 ($5 for seniors and students) and free to Film Society members. Tickets not taken by Film Society members can be purchased 30 minutes before the screening when seats are available.

Dues for membership in the Virginia Film Society are $65 a year ($50 for students and seniors). Benefits include admission to Film Society screenings, one free pass to Regal Cinemas, $2 off Mondays at Sneak Reviews and $6.50 Tuesday movies at Vinegar Hill Theatre.

For information on membership in the Virginia Film Society, to download an application form or to view the fall season schedule, visit www.vafilm.com.

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