“Four years ago I started writing the new movie. When I write, it’s like I write very visually, images, locations and there I am building the whole script, ”explained Franco, an Argentine director and screenwriter who six years ago settled in Paraguay and runs the production company Lemon Cine with his wife .
“What shot me was like an image, a scene from a motorhome with a diva from the 70s, in the middle of nowhere, that bothers her from a job, like they are looking for her,” he added. From there, she explained, she began to build the character of Charlotte and her story, in which this diva decides to come to Paraguay upon learning that the director who brought her to fame chose our country for the filming of her latest film. However, on this unusual journey, he will seek more than just the leading role that he feels belongs to him.
The film’s journey through our country included locations such as the international crossing located over the Yacyretá dam, San Bernardino and Asunción, as well as images taken en route.
Franco stressed that from the beginning he imagined that the protagonist had to be a recognized actress. “She really had to be a diva. At the beginning we were with another very firm name that later, due to family problems, could not be in the film, but I also met. With the Argentine producer we began to see options and Angela came out, “he said.
After contacting the representative of the Spanish actress and sending her the script, the artist responded to films such as “Carne trémula”, by Pedro Almodóvar; “That dark object of desire”, by Luis Buñuel; and “Lola”, by Bigas Luna. “He told us that he liked it a lot and that he wanted to talk to me. There we already started to chat, she in Spain and I in Paraguay. We started having very long phone conversations, ”Franco recalled.
The filming of “Charlotte” took place between November and December 2019, for four weeks. Molina arrived four days before the start of filming for the wardrobe, camera and makeup tests.
Made in co-production with Argentina, the work team was made up of professionals from both countries, according to Franco. The photography was in charge of the Argentine Pablo Desanzo, while in other areas local professionals worked such as Tania Simbrón, in costumes; Adri Ovelar, in Art direction, Edi Romero, in makeup; and Diego Kartaszewicz, in direct sound. As for the Paraguayan cast, it is made up of Lali González, Nico García and Belén Fretes.
From the neighboring country, Fernán Mirás (“Tango feroz”), Ignacio Huang (“A Chinese story”) and Gerardo Romano (“El marginal”) also joined the cast.
“It is a very aesthetic film. Each shot is very careful, both in the setting of the camera, the framing, the costumes, and the art. We put together a nice crew between Argentines and Paraguayans ”, Franco stressed.
Next release
A few days ago the trailer of the film was released, which this March 11 will have its premiere in Argentina through the platform Cine.Ar.
Regarding the premiere in Paraguay, Franco pointed out that it would be in April, so as not to separate much from the premiere in Argentina and anticipate the Hollywood “tanks” that usually hit theaters in winter.
The filmmaker also anticipated that they already have an agreement with FilmSharks, which sold the international rights to “Los Buscadores” and “Morgue”, to reach other countries and international platforms with the film.
Franco, who was also a scriptwriter for “Guaraní”, highlighted the technical-artistic level that exists in Paraguay, noting that with support at the state level, it could be a regional audiovisual pole.
Angela Molina, Goya of honor
Coincidentally last night the Spanish Film Academy awarded Ángela Molina the Goya Award of Honor, in recognition of her almost five decades of cinematographic work that includes films with Pedro Almodóvar, Ridley Scott, Giuseppe Tornatore, Luis Buñuel, Marco Bellocchio and others.
“Ángela Molina is really to take off her hat because she played it completely. Just for talking on the phone she came alone to an unknown country and put her breast, love, talent, everything, ”Franco highlighted.
