User:Gapolania/Sandbox2
| River | |
|---|---|
 Worldwide theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Aurelio Sinca |
| Written by | Aurelio Sinca |
| Screenplay by | Natanael Todou |
| Produced by | Aurelio Sinca Eusebio Conti |
| Starring | Elodie Masarnù Alberto di Mentio Luca Pavionini Cristiano Bolca Maria Teofila Sagèse Gervasio Sal |
| Cinematography | Luca Eusoni Caspar Levantè |
| Edited by | Marta Umbro-Sentèra |
| Music by | Antonio Masarnini |
Production company | Cinema Nassea |
| Distributed by | Sintra |
Release dates | |
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | Gapolania |
| Languages | Vespasian, Chanuche |
| Budget | €1.4 million |
| Box office | €6.7 million |
River (Fiume) is a 2021 Gapolanese folk horror film written and directed by Aurelio Sinca and starring Elodie Masarnù, Alberto di Mentio, Luca Pavionini, Cristiano Bolca, Maria Teofila Sagèse and Gervasio Sal. It follows an elderly couple, Betta and Salvador, who, during their 50th anniversary on a boat trip, meet a secluded Chanuche village, witnessing a series of paranormal events.
A Gapolanese production, the film tackles several important issues, with some of them relatively controversial in the republic, such as women's role in society, history of colonial-indigenous relations, neopaganism and sex activity among the older people. The film was entirely shot on location in the governorate of Fangaria, including the Bagnura National Park. The governorate funded nearly half of the movie's predicted budget, aiming to increase its tourism output. The music was composed by Antonio Masarnini, a Jossian-Gapolanese compositor.
River was released on 18th March 2021 in Jossia and Gapolania by Cinema Nassea and worldwide on 5th May 2021 by Cinema Nassea and VINTULI Group. It grossed over 6.7 millions €, being one of the best-selling Gapolanese films in the history. It received mostly positive review from critics, with many praising its unique, eerie atmosphere and Masarnù's performance.
Plot
Betta and Salvador are a couple of retired bankers from Nestaia celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. While planning on their party, they find a leaflet stuck under their doormat from an unknown tourist company advertising a boat trip to Bagnura, a densely forested and swamped area of the country with hundreds of wild rivers cutting the landscape. Attracted by a possibility of an adventure, they decide to cancel the family meeting and buy the tour. The address written on the leaflet leads them to a small town named Fuoio, laying on two sides of a wide, lazy river. Meeting Gabo, the company's guide designated to them, they learn that they can be either given a slow, peaceful trip by a ferry to another town 20 kilometres away or they can be given a wooden boat and sail there independently. Hesitant, they choose the latter option and, after inspecting the boat, enter the waters.
Initially calm journey is disrupted when a group of alligators surround the boat during the stop. Cautiously backing away, Betta and Salvador witness the animals runaway, afraid of a distinct, eerie noise heard in the deep forest. Salvador, worried about their well-being, tries to call the tour guide and arrange a pick up but his smartphone has no reception. They calculate they are about a halfway to their finish location, needing only a few more hours to end the trip. Betta doesn't seem startled by the encounter with the predators and happily takes control of the wheel. Seemingly hypnotized by the bizarre sounds reaching them from the woods, she carelessly takes a wrong turn on a river fork, turning right instead of left. The couple wanders deeper for a few more hours until the sunset comes - they conclude they are lost and need to go back. Looking for a place to rest, they arrive at a small, secluded village. As they step their feet on the ground, they are greeted by a group of indigenous people, staring at them blankily. Finally, an elderly woman named Oma, reaches out to them, inviting them for a dinner.