Immersed in the eternal volcanic charm of Ischia, which lazily overlooks the Gulf of Naples, a true outsider of the Tyrrhenian Sea — much larger than Capri, more relaxed than Amalfi, and decidedly less ‘jet set’ than Positano — we had the opportunity to spend some time with the crew and friends of Electra, the first feature film by Bahraini director Hala Matar.
Abigail Cowen, Maria Bakalova, Jack Farthing in “Electra”, 85 min, 2024, copyright Hala Matar, courtesy Hala Matar
Perched on the heights of the Aragonese Castle, the Ischia Film Festival takes place splendidly every year within the fortress, facing the intense and hypnotic blue of the Mediterranean. Bringing Italian and international films to the island since 2003, it could be described as one of the world’s most cinematic open-air cinemas. Eclectic and dense, this year’s edition included a selection of captivating short films — like Elegy for a Village by Chinese director Weipeng Huang, or the Danish film Ivalu, directed by Anders Walter — alongside an incredible selection of feature films, including Juniper, starring the incomparable Charlotte Rampling, the Iranian film Cold Sigh, and the true surprise of the 2024 international independent scene, Electra. The Bahraini director, based in Los Angeles, Hala Matar, already widely recognized for her work with music videos (Interpol, The Voidz, and Poolside), fashion commercials (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Moncler, Kenzo, Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake…), short films, TV, and even (why not?) art curating — Matar runs the exhibition space of designer Dries Van Noten in LA — thus makes her electrifying and thrilling European cinematic debut.
Maria Bakalova, Jack Farthing, Daryl Wein, Abigail Cowen in “Electra”, 85 min, 2024, copyright Hala Matar, courtesy Hala Matar
What happens when you lock a depressed rock star who is dying to get back on stage, his exuberant artist girlfriend, the anthropomorphic characterization of his Bulgari snake necklace, and a strange couple consisting of a journalist and a photographer who are not who they claim to be, in an Italian countryside estate? Everyone has secrets, some more than others, and the villa spares no one. Electra, starring Maria Bakalova (Oscar-nominated for Borat 2), Jack Farthing (Spencer), Abigail Cowen (Fate: The Winx Saga), and Daryl Wein (Something from Tiffany’s), who also co-produced and co-wrote the film, stands at the prophetic gates of a genre yet to be defined. At the crossroads of what could be a thriller, a comedy, a tragedy, a tragicomedy, a perfume commercial, a music video, a TV series, and a myriad of other genres and subgenres, the film is: however, none of these. A fun movie that transports the audience into a very intimate situation, where one feels strangely enveloped by the omniscient plot and a hint of anthropophagy.
Jack Farthing, Maria Bakalova, Abigail Cowen, Daryl Wein in “Electra” 85 min, 2024, copyright Hala Matar, courtesy Hala Matar
Written in a month, filmed in less than three weeks, Electra’s wild adventure takes shape through Hala Matar’s fascination and unconditional love for Italy and the divine event of being offered an incredible Renaissance villa in the Roman countryside, where she managed to shoot her distorted dream. Electra could be a prophecy trapped between space and film, the product of an Italian mythical wave made of grand music, Mannerist frescoes, high fashion clothes, and breathtaking landscapes. The splendid villa, the absolute protagonist of the film, hosts the four extravagant characters, high on LSD, in what should have been a pleasant picnic, but turns out to be decidedly more eventful than expected. The visual narrative is an exponential pilgrimage into the characters’ flaws and fears, flirting with baroque absurdity and colorful nostalgia; it starts and ends with the same phenomenal effect of subtle audacity. Sonically, the story marries the villa’s echoes and lets the characters resonate with each other in a beautiful play of singularities and repetitions. Brilliantly performed by all four actors, who masterfully capture the paradoxes of their respective characters in a fun yet surprisingly dramatic way, the film epitomizes entertainment.
Jack Farthing, Abigail Cowen, Maria Bakalova, Guicciardo Sassoli de Bianchi Strozzi in “Electra”, 85 min, 2024, copyright Hala Matar, courtesy Hala Matar
An homage to Italy and cinema, Electra has a bit of The Talented Mr. Ripley (Anthony Minghella), a bit of Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola), a touch of Fellini’s dreamlike style, a bit of Godard’s holistic vision, and certainly a lot of Hala Matar. Among the incredible original soundtrack, performed by an entire orchestra, combined with specific pop melodies, the cinematography, the screenplay, the cast, the spectacular costumes (a true feast for the eyes thanks to Hind Matar), and the set, Hala Matar did not want to make a boring film, and she succeeded. Before its public release by the end of the year, Electra will continue to travel to festivals: the first stop was the Santa Barbara Film Festival, then the Ischia Film Festival, where it unsurprisingly won the “Best Set Design” award (Alessandro Cicoria), with upcoming events yet to be announced. Be prepared and watch carefully.
Lidia and Yasmine Helou
is a contemporary art magazine since 1980
NO COMMENT