Highlights from the 51st Deauville American Film Festival: Charlie Polinger's 'The Plague' Takes Grand Prize
Charlie Polinger's first film, "The Plague," a gripping psychological thriller featuring Joel Edgerton, took home the Grand Prize at the 51st Deauville American Film Festival. The movie, which premiered at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, received positive feedback. It follows the story of a timid teenager facing severe bullying at an all-boys water polo camp. The Independent Film Company acquired the North American distribution rights, while AGC Studios is handling international sales. Edgerton, who also presented his Netflix film "Train Dreams" at Deauville, produced "The Plague."
The festival's jury, led by French-Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani, awarded two Jury prizes ex aequo to Fernando Eimbcke's "Olmo" and Cole Webley's "Omaha." "Olmo," produced by Plan B and Michel Franco, depicts the experiences of a Mexican-American family through the perspective of a 14-year-old boy caring for his ailing father. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. "Omaha," a road trip drama that premiered at Sundance, follows a grieving widower who embarks on an unexpected cross-country journey with his children after a family tragedy.
Kristen Stewart's "Chronology of Water" received the Revelation Award, while Scarlett Johansson's "Eleanor the Great" won the audience's approval. "Chronology of Water," based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, portrays a woman (Imogen Poots) who overcomes a traumatic childhood by immersing herself in competitive swimming, exploring her sexuality, navigating toxic relationships, and battling addiction before finding her voice as a writer.