Pluto Film Secures Alicia Scherson’s Tribeca Title ‘Summer War’
Berlin-based Pluto Film has secured worldwide sales rights to Chilean psychological thriller ‘Summer War’ (‘Guerra de Verano’), ahead of its market debut at the Marché du Film in Cannes and its world premiere on the 25th.e Tribeca Film Festival in June.
The fifth feature from acclaimed director Alicia Scherson (“Play”), “Summer War” is her second adaptation of a novel by Chilean author Roberto Bolaño, “The Third Reich.” She first adapted his novel “Una Novelita Lumpen” into her 2013 drama, “Il Futuro.”
Featuring an international cast including Canadian Dan Beirne (“Fargo”), Lux Pascal (“The Prince”), David Gaete (“Victory or Death”) and Aline Kuppenheim (“Chile ’76”), “Summer War” is set in 1989 Chile, when military dictator Augusto Pinochet is on his way out. It follows Udo Berger (played by Beirne), an obsessive, nerdy champion of Wargame, a wildly popular board game. While on holiday with his girlfriend Ingrid (Pascal) in a Chilean seaside resort, a fellow tourist mysteriously disappears. While Ingrid wants nothing to do with the case, Udo stays where he becomes entangled with an enigmatic local who turns out to be a master of the board game.
“Alicia Scherson’s adaptation of Roberto Bolaño’s ‘The Third Reich’ is a haunting meditation on obsession and the invisible forces that control human behavior,” said Daniela and Benjamin Cölle, managing directors at Pluto Film. “With the hypnotic Chilean coast serving as a haunting stage, this rigorous mystery is exactly the kind of elevated cinema that resonates with global festival audiences. It fits perfectly within our lineup and further cements Scherson as one of the most important voices in contemporary Latin American cinema.”
The deal was concluded between Daniela Cölle and producer Isabel Orellana of Araucaria Cine.
Reflecting on Pluto Film’s plans for the project, Orellana said: “They understood how to position this Bolaño adaptation not only as an arthouse film, but also as a dark, cynical psychological thriller. Their strategy perfectly reflects Alicia Scherson’s exploration of one man’s obsession and the dangerous blur between game and reality. I’m excited to work closely with them to bring this unique arthouse thriller to a global audience.”
A co-production between Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Italy, “Summer War” is produced by Araucaria Cine, Nadador Cine, Le Tiro and OvePossibile, in collaboration with Estudio en Llamas (Spain), Punta Fina Studios (Mexico) and 1976 Productions (Canada).
It was originally titled ‘1989’ when it passed through the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Europe-Latin America co-production forum. “Most of my films show a more female perspective; it was a challenge to immerse myself in the world of a man, someone obsessed with war games,” Scherson said at the time.
In addition to Orellana, Juan José López, Pedro Barcia and Nicolás Grosso also serve as producers. Executive producers include Gabriele Guidi, Lautaro Bolaño, Scherson, Enrique Rubio Dosamantes, Rosa Clemente, Francesca Moino and Nicolas Comeau.
The Cannes Fim Festival takes place from May 12 to 23. The Tribeca Festival takes place from June 3 to 14 in New York City.
