Almost 25 years after his critically acclaimed feature debut ‘La libertad’ from 2001 participated in Un Certain Regard in Cannes, the Argentinian Lisandro Alonso will direct the follow-up ‘La libertad doble’.
Amsterdam-based Ilse Hughan of Fortuna Films, Fernando Bascuñán of Chile’s Planta and Augusto Matte of London’s Deptford Film join Alonso’s 4L to produce the drama. Germany’s The Match Factory, which received support from the World Cinema Fund, and Luxembourg-based Les Films Fauves have come on board as co-producers.
“Given the current economic climate in Argentina, securing the necessary financing gaps has become a crucial step in the progress of the project. Despite the challenges, the team aims to start production as planned in early 2025,” said Hughan, Bascuñan and Matte, adding: “The need for additional financing is not only a financial requirement but also a strategic decision to ensure the independence of the preserve film. creative integrity.”
Like ‘La libertad’, the sequel will explore themes of freedom and personal evolution twenty years later. The production seeks to recapture the intimate, minimalist style that characterized Alonso’s early work while exploring the complexities of adulthood and the evolving concept of freedom, the producers emphasized.
‘La libertad doble’ follows Misael who, some 25 years later, still lives alone, wielding his ax to chop down trees deep in the forest, far from the presence of others. His quiet freedom is shattered when he is forced to care for his older sister, and the familiar rhythms of his days in the wilderness begin to unravel in a place beyond human reason.
“Argentina has always been a steady co-production partner for our local industry and their current unstable institutional situation makes it crucial for us to find ways to support independent film voices beyond our borders in Latin America,” said Bascuñan and Matte, both from from Chile, who are partners in the recently launched manufacturing entity Maquina.
As preparations progress, the producers are actively seeking partners who share their vision and can provide the support needed to bring the film to life.
‘La libertad’ was the first of a trilogy that continued with ‘Los muertos’, which premiered at the 2004 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Two years later, Alonso completed his trilogy with ‘Fantasma’.
His 2008 drama “Liverpool” follows a young sailor searching for his mother in the remote villages of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
He followed it up five years later with “Jauja,” set in late 19th-century Argentina and then Denmark, starring Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen, which won the Fipresci Prize in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard .
Alonso’s recent film, “Eureka” (2023), shows his penchant for blending genres and storytelling. Described as a ‘Native American fable’, “Eureka explores the lives of indigenous communities across regions and historical periods, from the United States to Mexico and South America. The film’s production was complex, involving shooting in four countries, multiple technical crews and overcoming challenges such as harsh weather conditions and pandemic-related delays.