Rule 34 (film)

Last updated

Rule 34
Rule 34 film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Portuguese Regra 34
Directed byJulia Murat
Written by
  • Gabriela Capello
  • Julia Murat
  • Rafael Lessa
  • Roberto Winter
Produced by
  • Julia Murat
  • Tatiana Leite
Starring
  • Sol Miranda
  • Lucas Andrade
  • Lorena Comparato
  • Isabela Mariotto
CinematographyLéo Bittencourt
Edited by
  • Beatriz Pomar
  • Julia Murat
  • Mair Tavares
Music by
  • Lucas Marcier
  • Maria Berlado
Production
companies
  • Esquina Filmes
  • Bubbles Project
  • Still Moving
Distributed by
  • Imovision (Brazil)
  • Wayna Pitch (France)
Release dates
  • 10 August 2022 (2022-08-10)(Locarno)
  • 19 January 2023 (2023-01-19)(Brazil)
  • 7 June 2023 (2023-06-07)(France)
Running time
100 minutes
Countries
  • Brazil
  • France
LanguagePortuguese

Rule 34 (Portuguese : Regra 34) is a 2022 drama film co-written and directed by Julia Murat and starring Sol Miranda. The film is named after the Internet phenomenon Rule 34. It follows a young law student who develops a passion for defending women in abuse cases. At the same time, her own sexual interests lead her into a world dominated by violence and eroticism. [1]

Contents

A co-production between Brazil and France, the film premiered at the 75th Locarno Film Festival on 10 August 2022, where it won the Golden Leopard for Best Film. It was released theatrically in Brazil on 19 January 2023 by Imovision and in France on 7 June 2023 by Wayna Pitch.

Cast

Production

Development

Rule 34 is the third feature film by Brazilian director and screenwriter Julia Murat. The film's title refers to the so-called Rule 34, an Internet maxim which asserts that Internet pornography exists concerning every conceivable topic. [3] The project was part of the 2019 Berlinale Co-Production Market. [4] Murat wrote the screenplay along with Gabriela Capello, Rafael Lessa and Roberto Winter. [1]

Filming

Filming took place in 2019. However, the pandemic caused a 10-month delay in post-production. Lacking the funds to complete the film (due to the cessation of cultural funding under former President Bolsonaro), Murat received a grant in July 2021 as part of the Gothenburg Film Festival. [4] Funding was provided by the festival's Audiovisual Fund, set up at the initiative of the Swedish government to protect democracy around the world. The film was also funded by FSA and Visions Sud Est. [1] [5]

Release

Rule 34 premiered at the 75th Locarno Film Festival on 10 August 2022, [6] where it won the Golden Leopard for Best Film. [4] It was also screened in the World Cinema section of the 27th Busan International Film Festival on 8 October 2022 and at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival on 22 December 2022. [7] [8] It has been screened at over 50 festivals worldwide, earning more than 10 awards. The film was released theatrically in Brazil on 19 January 2023 by Imovision and in France on 7 June 2023 by Wayna Pitch and in Germany by Busch Media. [9] [10]

Reception

Critical response

Independent Swiss journalist Michael Sennhauser described Rule 34 as "a playful, cleverly argued film with a clear provocative twist" and commented that, as with the competition entry Tengo sueños eléctricos, which received three awards in Locarno, the film "clearly plays a role" that there is a female director behind the work. "Precisely because it [the film] moves in this area where personal freedom only works as long as they mutually agree that encroachment is negotiable", stated Sennhauser. [3] Neil Young of Screen Daily dubbed it a "surprise winner". It is "a fascinating and ambitious third feature film" and "a sensual, intimate character study" by Murat. Newcomer Sol Miranda put on a "strong central performance" by a "multifaceted black woman [...] in bustling Rio de Janeiro." With her play, she penetrates the didactic tendencies of the screenplay and the theoretical treatises disguised as dialogue. Young, however, criticized the "stylistically conventional" images by cinematographer Leo Bittencourt in comparison to the red-hot topics dealt with, which are kept "pervasively flat in TV style" and would therefore hardly lose their impact on the small screen. The climax of the film is the final 75-second shot of Simone's real-life meeting with her online follower. Lead actress Miranda shows a "convincing range of emotions" and the close-up is reminiscent of Greta Garbo in Queen Christine (1933), Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday (1980) and Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985). [1] The French newspaper Le Monde called the film "a complex, powerful and sensual portrait of a woman, the like of which has rarely been seen in cinema". [11]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef(s)
2022 75th Locarno Film Festival Golden Leopard Rule 34Won [12] [13]
24th Festival do Rio Best DirectorJulia MuratWon [14]
Huelva Ibero-American Film FestivalBest ActressSol MirandaWon [15]
Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de HabanaJury Special PrizeRule 34Won [16]
Panorama Coisa de CinemaSpecial MentionWon [17]
APC Jury Special PrizeWon
Festival des Trois ContinentsSpecial mention to the actressSol MirandaWon [18]
MixBrasil FestivalBest actressWon [19]
2023Zinegoak - Bilbao's International GayLesboTrans Film and Performing Arts FestivalBest actressWon [20]
Best Feature FilmRule 34Won
Mezipatra Queer Film FestivalMain Jury Special MentionWon [21]
Queer LisboaBest Feature FilmWon [22]

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References

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  2. Kas, Ligia (19 January 2023). "Sol Miranda é protagonista de "Regra 34", filme que explora liberdade e desejo". Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 Sennhauser, Michael (13 August 2022). "Regra 34 von Júlia Murat" [Rule 34 by Julia Murat]. Sennhauser's Film Blog (in German). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Blaney, Martin (13 August 2022). "Brazil's 'Rule 34' wins top prize at Locarno Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  5. Marie de la Fuente, Anna (1 August 2022). "Brazil's 'Rule 34' Drops Trailer Before Locarno Main International Competition Bow (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  6. "Concorso internazionale: Regra 34 (Rule 34)". Locarno Festival . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  7. "Rule 34". Busan International Film Festival. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. "Cinema International: Rule 34". Kolkata International Film Festival. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. "Regra 34; Júlia Murat" [Rule 34; Julia Murat] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Imovision. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  10. "Wayna Pitch date le Léopard d'or 2022". Boxoffice Pro (in French). 8 November 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  11. "Julia Murat : " "Règle 34" est une œuvre au croisement du sexe et de la politique "". Le Monde.fr (in French). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  12. Lodge, Guy (13 August 2022). "Provocative Brazilian Film 'Rule 34' Wins the Top Prize at Locarno Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  13. Ntim, Zac (13 August 2022). "Locarno Film Festival Winners: 'Rule 34' Takes Golden Leopard". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  14. "And the Prize Winners at Festival do Rio in 2022 are…". Festival do Rio. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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  17. Cinema, Coisa de (11 November 2022). "XVIII Panorama Coisa de Cinema anuncia vencedores; confira a lista". XIX Panorama Internacional Coisa de Cinema (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 24 April 2024.
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  20. "zinegoak | historico" . Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  21. "Mezipatra announced the winners of the 24th edition. The South Korean transgender film captured the jury's attention". Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  22. "Palmarés Queer Lisboa 27 - Notícias - Festival QUEER". queerlisboa.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 May 2024.