Essential Killing
Encyclopedia
Essential Killing is a 2010 Polish
political thriller film
directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
, starring Vincent Gallo
and Emmanuelle Seigner
.
forces, finds himself transported to Poland
. He manages to escape into the vast frozen woodland, a world away from the desert home he knew. In order to survive he kills some of those who stray into his path and forages for food both from nature and from those he encounters. A woman gives him shelter, treats his wounds and feeds him before sending him back out into the wilderness. He departs on a white horse and, as the first shoots of spring are seen through the snow, appears to die.
The film saw the Polish director reunite with Jeremy Thomas
, who previously produced his feature The Shout
in 1978, which went on to win the Grand Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival
.
Skolimowski had been searching to replicate the conditions of his previous film, Four Nights with Anna
, most of which was filmed near his home in the Polish Masurian forests. He had heard of rumored (and later revealed ) CIA use of the nearby Szymany
Airfield for flights carrying prisoners from the Mid-East. Subsequently, Skolimowski skidded off the road during winter while driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Noticing he was two kilometers from Szymany, it occurred to him that the same could easily happen to a prisoner transport and, from this, he found the initial inspiration for the Essential Killing scenario.
He shared a draft script with Jeremy Thomas
who encouraged him to think beyond the modest local production Skolimowski had initially envisioned and the project grew, with Thomas as a producer, into a multi-national coproduction made under challenging circumstances:
Aware of the potential political overtones of the film, Skolimowski initially nearly dismissed the project as being "too political", he strove to make it non-political:
The film is deliberately non-specific as to locations:
As was also true with his protagonist's identity:
This enigmatic quality is furthered in that the protagonist utters not a single word in the course of the movie. An extension of this is that, while some characters are named in the credits, no names are used in the film itself.
. At the closing ceremony on 11 September 2010, the film won the Special Jury Prize, and Best Actor (the Volpi Cup
), for Vincent Gallo
's wordless performance as a Muslim
insurgent, in addition to the CinemAvvenire Award for Best Film In Competition (voted by a non-statutory youth jury). Gallo was not present to receive his award, which was accepted on his behalf by Skolimowski, who urged the actor to come out of hiding in the audience and take the stage. It was the first time in the Festival's history that two major awards had been bestowed on a single film. At a press conference, Jury President Quentin Tarantino
revealed that he had asked Festival head Marco Mueller to break the rules in order to honor the film, a change that will carry on into future editions of the Festival.
The film went on to win the Golden Astor for Best Film and Best Actor, and the Argentine Film Critics Association Critic's Prize at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina
(Latin America
's most relevant competitive festival) and to screen in Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival
, Festival do Rio
, Tokyo International Film Festival
, London International Film Festival and was selected as the closing film of both the Seville Festival of European Cinema and the 22nd edition of the Polish Film Festival in America in 2010. The film took the top prizes at the 2010 Polish Film Awards
in Warsaw and swept the top awards at the 2011 Polish Film Festival
in Gdyńia.
Wins
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as history of cinematography, and it has universal achievements, even though Polish movies tend to be less commercially available than movies from several other European nations....
political thriller film
Political thriller
A political thriller is a thriller that is set against the backdrop of a political power struggle. They usually involve various extra-legal plots, designed to give political power to someone, while his opponents try to stop him. They can involve national or international political scenarios....
directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
Jerzy Skolimowski
Jerzy Skolimowski is a Polish film director, screenwriter, dramatist and actor. A graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź, Skolimowski has directed more than twenty films since his 1960 début Oko wykol...
, starring Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
and Emmanuelle Seigner
Emmanuelle Seigner
Emmanuelle Seigner is a French actress, former fashion model, and singer, best known as the wife of Academy Award winning director Roman Polanski, and for her roles in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly , and Frantic...
.
Plot
A man, captured in the desert by AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces, finds himself transported to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He manages to escape into the vast frozen woodland, a world away from the desert home he knew. In order to survive he kills some of those who stray into his path and forages for food both from nature and from those he encounters. A woman gives him shelter, treats his wounds and feeds him before sending him back out into the wilderness. He departs on a white horse and, as the first shoots of spring are seen through the snow, appears to die.
Cast
- Vincent GalloVincent GalloVincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
as Mohammed - Emmanuelle SeignerEmmanuelle SeignerEmmanuelle Seigner is a French actress, former fashion model, and singer, best known as the wife of Academy Award winning director Roman Polanski, and for her roles in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly , and Frantic...
as Margaret - Zach CohenZach CohenZach Cohen is an Israeli actor who was born November 6, 1977 in Tel Aviv. He has a starring role in the Israeli horror film Another World directed by Eitan Reuven.-Filmography:*The West Wing as Yossi...
as American Contractor 1 - Iftach Ophir as American Contractor 2
- Nicolai Cleve BrochNicolai Cleve BrochNicolai Cleve Broch is a Norwegian actor of theatre and film. He rose to national fame playing one of the leading roles in the 2002 drama series Lekestue, which aired on NRK in 2002. He is also known for playing the protagonist in Buddy, a romantic comedy from 2003. Other major film credits...
as Helicopter Pilot 1 - Stig Frode Henriksen as Helicopter Pilot 2
- David PriceDavid Price (actor)David Price is an American film and television actor and musician who lives and works in Poland. Originally from Big Sur, California, he is the son of Esalen Institute co-founder Dick Price.-Music:...
as Interrogating Officer - Tracy Spencer Shipp as Young Soldier in SUV
- Mark Gaspersich as Head of Pursuit Team
- Phil GossPhil GossPhil Goss is a television personality in Poland on TVN Lingua.He graduated from Wabash College with a major in political science and a minor in speech rhetoric...
as Military Doctor - Klaudia Kąca as Woman on a Bicycle
- Dariusz Juzyszyn as Logger
- Raymond Josey as American Soldier
- Robert Mazurkiewicz as Hunter
- Janusz Woitarowicz as Margaret's Husband
- Paweł Baranek as Drunk Farmer 1
- Marcin Gałażyn as Drunk Farmer 2
- David Jefferson as American Soldier
- Donnell Knox as American Soldier
- Geo D. Olivier as American Soldier
- Kamil Ruszecki as Soldier
- Stanisław Marek Łukasik as Soldier
- Jérôme Dassier as SUV Driver
- Gier Marring as Fisherman
Production
Essential Killing was shot in Israel, Poland and Norway from December 2009 through to February 2010.The film saw the Polish director reunite with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Jack Thomas, CBE is a British film producer, founder of the Recorded Picture Company. He was the producer of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he received a European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World...
, who previously produced his feature The Shout
The Shout
The Shout is a 1978 British horror film directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, based on a short story by Robert Graves which was adapted for the screen by Michael Austin...
in 1978, which went on to win the Grand Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Skolimowski had been searching to replicate the conditions of his previous film, Four Nights with Anna
Four Nights with Anna
Four Nights with Anna is a 2008 Polish drama film directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. The film won Polish Academy Award for Best Director and Best Cinematography...
, most of which was filmed near his home in the Polish Masurian forests. He had heard of rumored (and later revealed ) CIA use of the nearby Szymany
Szczytno-Szymany International Airport
Szczytno-Szymany International Airport is a currently inoperative Polish regional airport located in the village Szymany, some 10 km from the center of the city of Szczytno in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in the North of Poland. It is the only airport in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship...
Airfield for flights carrying prisoners from the Mid-East. Subsequently, Skolimowski skidded off the road during winter while driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Noticing he was two kilometers from Szymany, it occurred to him that the same could easily happen to a prisoner transport and, from this, he found the initial inspiration for the Essential Killing scenario.
He shared a draft script with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Jack Thomas, CBE is a British film producer, founder of the Recorded Picture Company. He was the producer of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he received a European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World...
who encouraged him to think beyond the modest local production Skolimowski had initially envisioned and the project grew, with Thomas as a producer, into a multi-national coproduction made under challenging circumstances:
"In general, the working conditions were very difficult. Most of the movie was filmed at -35 ° in the high mountains, where you can not get even with a SnowcatSnowcatA snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. Snowcats are often referred to as 'trail groomers' because of their use for grooming ski trails or snowmobile trails...
. We had to practically climb to the set: the entire crew has suffered much about the situation, it was certainly the most difficult film I ever did. Vincent GalloVincent GalloVincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
has had the most thankless task of all, having to run barefoot in the snow at those temperatures."
Aware of the potential political overtones of the film, Skolimowski initially nearly dismissed the project as being "too political", he strove to make it non-political:
"The political aspects of the situation didn’t interest me: to me politics is a dirty game and I don’t want to voice my opinions. What is important is that the man who runs away is returning to the state of a wild animal, who has to kill in order to survive. "
The film is deliberately non-specific as to locations:
"I don't even say whether the film starts in Afghanistan, Iraq or maybe some other place, whether it's an American military base, where the prisoners are kept, whether it's situated in any of those countries. I don't say whether the plane which is landing somewhere in Europe is really landing in Szymany, in Poland. "
As was also true with his protagonist's identity:
"In the facial features of Vincent Gallo there is something that is difficult to identify. Nobody knows where he is. I was hoping that even if Vincent will not be received as a native Arab or Muslim, and so it will always be different, neither here nor there. Besides, it could be someone like John Walker LindhJohn Walker LindhJohn Phillip Walker Lindh is a United States citizen who was captured as an enemy combatant during the United States' 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. He is now serving a 20-year prison sentence in connection with his participation in Afghanistan's Taliban army...
, the famous Californian who was Taleb and joined Osama bin Laden affiliates. "
This enigmatic quality is furthered in that the protagonist utters not a single word in the course of the movie. An extension of this is that, while some characters are named in the credits, no names are used in the film itself.
Festivals and awards
Essential Killing received its world premiere In Competition on September 6, 2010 at the 67th Venice International Film Festival67th Venice International Film Festival
The 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
. At the closing ceremony on 11 September 2010, the film won the Special Jury Prize, and Best Actor (the Volpi Cup
Volpi Cup
The Volpi Cups are the principal awards given to actors at the Venice Film Festival. Formal acting awards were introduced in the second festival . Initially they were called Great Gold Medals of the National Fascist Association for Entertainment. The name Volpi Cup was introduced the following year...
), for Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
's wordless performance as a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
insurgent, in addition to the CinemAvvenire Award for Best Film In Competition (voted by a non-statutory youth jury). Gallo was not present to receive his award, which was accepted on his behalf by Skolimowski, who urged the actor to come out of hiding in the audience and take the stage. It was the first time in the Festival's history that two major awards had been bestowed on a single film. At a press conference, Jury President Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
revealed that he had asked Festival head Marco Mueller to break the rules in order to honor the film, a change that will carry on into future editions of the Festival.
The film went on to win the Golden Astor for Best Film and Best Actor, and the Argentine Film Critics Association Critic's Prize at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
(Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
's most relevant competitive festival) and to screen in Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
, Festival do Rio
Festival do Rio
The Festival do Rio is an international film festival in Rio de Janeiro.-History:The festival was the result of a 1999 merger of two previous film festivals, the Rio Cine Festival and the Mostra Banco Nacional de Cinema....
, Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
, London International Film Festival and was selected as the closing film of both the Seville Festival of European Cinema and the 22nd edition of the Polish Film Festival in America in 2010. The film took the top prizes at the 2010 Polish Film Awards
Polish Film Awards
Polish Film Awards: Eagles are a series of awards given annually since 1999 by the Polish Film Academy.-Awards:* Best Film – since 1999* Best Actor – since 1999* Best Actress – since 1999* Supporting Actor – since 2000* Supporting Actress – since 2000...
in Warsaw and swept the top awards at the 2011 Polish Film Festival
Polish Film Festival
The Polish Film Festival is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk, now held in Gdynia, Poland....
in Gdyńia.
Wins
- 67th Venice International Film Festival67th Venice International Film FestivalThe 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
- Special Jury Prize
- Coppa Volpi for the Best Actor: Vincent Gallo
- CinemAvvenire Award: Best Film In Competition
- 25th Mar del Plata Film FestivalMar del Plata Film FestivalThe Mar del Plata International Film Festival is an international film festival that takes place every November in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina...
- Golden Astor for Best Film
- Silver Astor for Best Actor: Vincent Gallo
- ACCA Award (Argentine Film Reviewers Association): Best Film in the International Competition
- 13th Polish Film AwardsPolish Film AwardsPolish Film Awards: Eagles are a series of awards given annually since 1999 by the Polish Film Academy.-Awards:* Best Film – since 1999* Best Actor – since 1999* Best Actress – since 1999* Supporting Actor – since 2000* Supporting Actress – since 2000...
- Eagle for Best Film
- Eagle for Best Director: Jerzy Skolimowski
- Eagle for Best Music: Paweł Mykietyn
- Eagle for Best Editing: Réka Lemhényi/Maciej Pawliński
- 36th Polish Film FestivalPolish Film FestivalThe Polish Film Festival is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk, now held in Gdynia, Poland....
- Golden Lion for Best Film
- Best Director: Jerzy Skolimowski
- Best Cinematography: Adam Sikora
- Best Music: Paweł Mykietyn
- Best Editing: Réka Lemhényi/Maciej Pawliński
- 11th Sopot Film Festival
- Grand Prix