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Post-Katrina murder mystery electrifies Berlin fest
2009-02-08
BERLIN (AFP) - "In the Electric Mist," a murder mystery set in the Louisiana bayou in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and starring Tommy Lee Jones and John Goodman, sent a jolt through the Berlin Film Festival Saturday. The picture, directed by France's Bertrand Tavernier, tells the story of a decent cop and Vietnam veteran (Jones) confronted with a series of grisly murders of young white prostitutes in the backwaters outside New Orleans. The discovery of the remains of a black man killed decades before awakens ancient memories for Jones' character Dave Robicheaux, and casts a long shadow over his investigation. Goodman plays a mafioso who makes a fortune from underhanded reconstruction deals after Katrina whipsawed through the region in 2006, in a cast that also features Peter Sarsgaard, Kelly Macdonald and blues legend Buddy Guy. The picture, set to a soundtrack of rollicking zydeco and mournful country music, drew enthusiastic applause at a press screening here. Jones gives a Cajun accent to his familiar character of the laconic lawman who does not suffer fools. As in the Coen Brother's "No Country For Old Men," he despairs over a world gone mad, overrun by mayhem and corruption. The film is based on a novel by James Lee Burke which he helped adapt for the screen. Tavernier said that although the book was written earlier, it was crucial for him to confront the aftermath of Katrina in the film. "I could not have adapted this book and filmed in Louisiana without setting the plot after Katrina," he told AFP. "I thought it was great that Balboni, instead of making his money from porn movie theatres like in the book, he swiped federal aid for Katrina. That is authentic -- tens of millions of dollars just disappeared." The local dialect comes thick and fast from amateur actors from the region and the festival even provided English subtitles to help decipher the more colourful passages. Tavernier said Jones, who did not attend the premiere in Berlin, adapted quickly to new surroundings and left an indelible mark on key scenes. "He has such control, is so focused and knows every aspect of the character that every time he blinks an eye, the world trembles," he said. "Tommy also helped in making sure only the key parts of a scene made the final cut -- he is merciless in that respect and that was excellent." "In the Electric Mist" is one of 18 films vying for the festival's prestigious Golden Bear top prize, to be awarded by the jury president, Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, at a gala ceremony February 14. The 11-day event wraps up the following day.
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