El paraiso

El paraiso
16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul
Sunday, March 2 at 4:30pm
MIDWEST PREMIERE
Q&A with Director Enrico Maria Artale, Connecting Live from Italy
ABOUT THE FILM (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles)
Taking place in desolated, dilapidated, seaside outskirts of Rome, “El Paraiso” tells the story of a complicated, emotionally charged mother-son relationship set against the backdrop of Italy’s Colombian diaspora and drug-trafficking industry.
Julio-Cesar, a driftless 40-year-old man lives with his mother, a dynamic and complex Colombian woman who was pregnant with him when she entered Italy working as a drug mule. Their lives are completely and at times uncomfortably intertwined as they navigate survival on the fringes, working together in the shadow world of the criminal drug trade. With the arrival of a young, beautiful woman carrying drugs from Columbia, the balance of their insular world is interrupted and a chain of intense events is set into motion. Julio Cesar must search within as he grapples with his relationship with his mother, his own identity as an independent man, and his fractured relationship to a homeland he’s never seen. Featuring incredible performances, rare views into immigrant community life, and a deeply honest yet compassionate explanation of the relationship between mother and son, “El Paraiso” is a harsh, moving, poetic thought-provoking film that is not to be missed.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Enrico Maria Artale studied Philosophy at La Sapienza University in Rome and Film Aesthetics and Directing at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. He started his career writing and directing several international award-winning shorts. His first feature film, “Il terzo tempo”, premiered at the 2013 Venice International Film Festival’s Orizzonti section and was awarded the Pasinetti prize for Best First Film by the SNGCI (Italian National Union of Cinema Journalists). His autobiographical documentary “Saro” earned the prize for Best Documentary at the 2016 Turin Film Festival. “El Paraiso” has earned widespread critical acclaim as well as a number of prestigious awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Actress for Margarita Rosa De Francisco’s astounding performance at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival’s Orizzonti section. Artale’s work has been presented and recognized worldwide, and he continues to create new works in film and television.
TICKET INFO
Single Movies
$14.00 General Admission (+ $2.00 online fee)
$12.00 ICC and Film Society Members
$5.00 Students (Box Office Only)
Passes:
All-Access Festival Pass (Opening Night included):
$110.00 General Admission (+ $3.25 online fee)
$95.00 ICC and Film Society Members, Students
6-Packs Passes (does not include Opening Night):
$65.00 General Admission (+ $2.00 online fee)
$55.00 ICC and Film Society Members, Students
Passes do not guarantee admission to screenings. To ensure admittance, passholders must reserve a ticket in advance either online or at the venue.
Film Details
Cast/Crew
Showtimes
The Main 3