Fantasporto

The trio running the festival is busy answering journalists in the main lobby of Rivoli Theater. 8.30 Action kicks in, Series of great ads from sponsor, festival trailer, opening speech by Beatriz : crisis? what crisis...Lights out... Che in!

Che (The Argentine) - Opening film
Spanish version with portugese sub titles...kind of hard for me

Finally, the American cinema yielded to one of its greatest enemies and those who still wear the T-shirt and Ernesto "Che" Guevara-style hat have now the chance to know the true story of the hero they praise.

"Che" is the look of the most independent American director on the legend of one of the great revolutionary figures of the twentieth century. After the "Oceans" trilogy, Steven Soderbergh did not resist the lure of romanesque, adventurous and exciting life of the Argentine without nation that continues to be a myth for successive generations.
Reconstituting the crusade of this warrior since the landing in a Cuba dominated by autocratic and pro-American regime of Fugencio Batista, up to taking over the power in Havana, passing by the mythical guerrilla in Sierra Maestra, was the goal affixed to this epic saga, of which "The Argentine" is the first part.
 In the main role - a gigantic Benicio del Toro who received the Award of Interpretation in Cannes and gives a performance worthy of his character.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh After his promising debut with an intimate "Sex, Lies and Videotape" which snatched the Golden Palm at the Cannes, Steven Soderbergh asserted itself as one of the most solid creators of successes in American cinema, combining works of a markedly more political character as " Erin Brockovich "with the cynical entertainment of "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels, and the socially committed "Traffic"

The Deal (Directors week)

Fun even for someone who worked with Hollywood majors as I did...Business as usual, swimming with sharks and fun...I liked it, a bit of humor before fantasy kicks in..

Meg Ryan (nominated for three Golden Globes for the "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail") and William H. Macy (nominated for Oscar for "Fargo") are two of the stars of this actors parade, where we can also find Elliot Gould and LL Cool J.
"The Deal" is a comedy about the cinema and all the business and the scam that is made around it. The world belongs to the smart ones and Charlie Berns is one of these men fated with the gift to mislead others. This film producer convinces the studio to finance his latest project with one hundred million dollars. What the studio has not yet discovered is that there is no screenplay and the potential movie star has just been kidnapped. So what to do with the money? Perhaps go to Europe, accompanied by a beautiful executive, stay in the romantic Prague, and finally direct the movie of his life.
A funny reflection on life, love and the cinema.