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]
| Rule 34 | |
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| Portuguese | Regra 34 |
| Directed by | Julia Murat |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Léo Bittencourt |
| Edited by |
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| Music by |
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Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Portuguese |
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
edit- Sol Miranda as Simone[2]
- Lucas Andrade as Coyote
- Lorena Comparato as Lucia
- Isabela Mariotto as Nat
- Babu Santana as André
- MC Carol as Nill
Production
editDevelopment
editRule 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
editFilming 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
editRule 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
editCritical response
editIndependent 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. 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
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 75th Locarno Film Festival | Golden Leopard | Rule 34 | Won | [12][13] |
| 24th Festival do Rio | Best Director | Julia Murat | Won | [14] | |
| Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival | Best Actress | Sol Miranda | Won | [15] | |
| Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de Habana | Jury Special Prize | Rule 34 | Won | [16] | |
| Panorama Coisa de Cinema | Special Mention | Won | [17] | ||
| APC Jury Special Prize | Won | ||||
| Festival des Trois Continents | Special mention to the actress | Sol Miranda | Won | [18] | |
| MixBrasil Festival | Best actress | Won | [19] | ||
| 2023 | Zinegoak - Bilbao's International GayLesboTrans Film and Performing Arts Festival | Best actress | Won | [20] | |
| Best Feature Film | Rule 34 | Won | |||
| Mezipatra Queer Film Festival | Main Jury Special Mention | Won | [21] | ||
| Queer Lisboa | Best Feature Film | Won | [22] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Young, Neil (14 August 2022). "'Rule 34': Locarno Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c Blaney, Martin (13 August 2022). "Brazil's 'Rule 34' wins top prize at Locarno Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Concorso internazionale: Regra 34 (Rule 34)". Locarno Festival. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Rule 34". Busan International Film Festival. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Cinema International: Rule 34". Kolkata International Film Festival. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ "Regra 34; Júlia Murat" [Rule 34; Julia Murat] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Imovision. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Wayna Pitch date le Léopard d'or 2022". Boxoffice Pro (in French). 8 November 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Lodge, Guy (13 August 2022). "Provocative Brazilian Film 'Rule 34' Wins the Top Prize at Locarno Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (13 August 2022). "Locarno Film Festival Winners: 'Rule 34' Takes Golden Leopard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "And the Prize Winners at Festival do Rio in 2022 are…". Festival do Rio. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "48ª edición / 2022 | Festival de Huelva" (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Longa-metragem 'Regra 34' recebe o Prêmio Especial do Júri no Festival de Havana". Trace.tv Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 December 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Festival des 3 Continents - 44e édition". Festival des 3 Continents. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Premiados 2022 | 30º Festival MixBrasil | 2022". old.mixbrasil.org.br. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "zinegoak | historico". Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Palmarés Queer Lisboa 27 - Notícias - Festival QUEER". queerlisboa.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 May 2024.
