A Japanese film about an unlikely but restorative relationship that develops after a terrible school stabbing has won the top prize at Switzerland's Locarno International Film Festival.
Ai no Yokan (The Rebirth) by Japanese filmmaker Masahiro Kobayashi was named on Saturday as this year's Golden Leopard winner. The international jury chaired by Swiss actress Irene Jacob made the announcement as the festival's 60th edition wrapped.
Japanese director Masahiro Kobayashi won the Golden Leopard trophy Saturday at the close of the 60th Locarno International Film Festival.
(Martial Trezzini/Keystone/Associated Press)
Upon accepting the honour, Kobayashi, who also stars in the largely dialogue-free film, said he was "delighted" that the jury appreciated his creation.
"I am now 53 years old and I feel that efforts are definitely rewarded if you never give up," he said.
Kobayashi stars as a widower dealing with the death of his daughter, who was stabbed by a classmate.
After he moves to northern Japan, the man recognizes the mother of his daughter's killer working as the cook at the inn that is his new home. Though the two never exchange a word, they gravitate towards each other and eventually develop a relationship.
Two actors shared the best actor honour: France's Michel Piccoli, who portrays a lonely senior in Sous les Toits de Paris (Under Parisian Roofs), and Italy's Michele Venitucci, who stars as a man engulfed in the world of illegal underground fighting in Fuori dalle Corde (Off the Ropes).
Filmmaker Philippe Ramos won the best direction prize as well as the Fipresci [International Critics Assocation] award for Captain Achab, a loose adaptation of Herman Melville's classic Moby Dick.
The Locarno jury awarded the best actress honour to Spain's Marian Alvarez, who potrays a young woman fighting to save her lover in Lo Mejor de mi (The Best of Me).
The jury also awarded the Silver Leopard prize — a special jury award that "promotes understanding between peoples and cultures" — to the film Memories, a digital video project commissioned by South Korea and featuring three films by European directors.
The Prix du Public, which recognizes the viewing public's favourite festival film, went to the black comedy Death at a Funeral, by British filmmaker Frank Oz.
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