Spanish actress, screenwriter and director Aina Clotet (This is Not Sweden) is clearly alive with creative energy. And Alive is also the English title of her feature directorial debut Viva, which will world premiere in the competition lineup of the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week, the sidebar that runs alongside the main Cannes Film Festival.
The Catalan creative stars in the film, which she directed and co-wrote with Valentina Viso. Naby Dakhli,
Marc Soler, Willy Toledo and Lloll Bertrán also feature in the cast.
Clotet plays 40-year-old Nora. After coming face-to-face with death, Nora is consumed by the urgent need to feel alive, diving headfirst into passionate relationships with two very different men, Tom and Max, whose opposing natures reflect her own inner conflict. But it seems that neither may be able to fill the void Nora feels, forcing her to confront a deeper fear driving her lust for life.
Viva (Alive) was produced by Edmon Roch at Ikiru Films and co-produced by Clotet’s Funicular Films, whose Marta Baldó, Aina and Marc Clotet, and Jan Andreu also have producing credits. Nilo Zimmermann is the cinematographer, with editing courtesy of Aina Calleja. Loco Films is handling international sales.
Ahead of Viva‘s world premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week, which runs May 13-21, THR can now reveal exclusive clips from the movie. As the main image of this article teases, expect dirty little secrets that are at risk of getting exposed.
‘Viva’ (‘Alive’), courtesy of Ikiru Films and Funicular Films
In the first exclusive clip, we see Clotet’s Nora and a group of youngsters, including one of her love interests, relaxing and having fun at a fair. Watch that clip as a sneak peek of the movie here.
The second clip from Viva (Alive) drills down further (you’ll get the drill pun once you watch it). It shows Nora full of pent-up energy and features some The Texas Chain Saw Massacre vibes. Again, don’t worry, you’ll see! Watch the exclusive clip below.