Ceasefire deserves the Ecumenical prize because of its focus on human suffering in war von Naso skillfully places the viewer directly into the situation of the protagonists Ceasefire is a timely film where the physical journey parallels the inner transformation of the characters. He challenges the audience to examine their perspective on the consequences of war and our responsibility in the face of human suffering. (It is the first feature lengthfilm of the 33 years old director.)
33rd World Film Festival Montreal
Awards of the Ecumenical Jury
Ceasefire
Directed by:
2009
Freedom
Directed by:
2009
The film received the Montreal Festivals major award, selected by an international jury chaired by Iranian director Jafar Panahi. The film is set in World War II Occupied France. It focuses on a large Gypsy family which travels through France to find work. The family remains for a time in a village, working in the vineyards, as is their custom, only to discover that a new law has been passed that forbids them from continuing their nomadic existence. They are befriended by a wealthy land owner who gives him part of his farm on which to live. This allows them to stay within the law prohibiting their traditional nomadic existence. Director Gatlif, 61, has developed a reputation as a cinema specialist in Roma (Gypsy) life and culture. He currently lives and works in France.
More about the festival
Ceasefire was honored with the Ecumenical Jury prize as the best competition film in the Montreal World Festival at ceremonies, Monday, September 7 2009. The prize was presented to Director Lancelot von Naso by Jury chair Julia Laggner, an Austrian documentary film maker.
