German writer-director Tilman Singer makes his feature debut with LUZ, starring breakout actress Luana Velis as the title character. Julia Riedler and Jan Bluthardt offer a strong supporting base.
“A rainy night. A dazed and numb young cab driver, Luz, drags herself into the brightly lit entrance of a rundown police station. Across town in a nightspot, Nora seductively engages police psychiatrist Dr. Rossini in a conversation. Nora is possessed by a demonic entity, longing for the woman it loves – Luz. She tells the Doctor about her old schoolmate Luz’s rebellious past at a Chilean school for girls. Increasingly drunk on her story, Rossini turns into an easy prey in Nora’s hands, but he’s soon called away to the police station to examine Luz. Supervised by his colleagues, the doctor puts Luz in a state of hypnosis that initiates a series of flashbacks, unfolding the events leading to her arrival. But the entity that has taken control of the doctor wants something more. Bit by bit it slips into Luz’ reenactment and makes old memories come to light.”
Called “An arresting first feature…strikingly controlled in every aspect” by Variety, LUZ premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival 2018, and has recently screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival and New Horizons International Film Festival, and is in official selection for Fantastic Fest and Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.
