Damsel
UW Cinematheque 821 University Ave., UW Vilas Hall, Room 4070, Madison, Wisconsin
press release:
USA | 2018 | DCP | 113 min.
Director: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner; Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, David Zellner
This wildly unpredictable Western comic odyssey tells the story of an ill-equipped dandy (Pattinson) who braves the American wilderness of the 1870s to rescue his beloved (Wasikowska) from outlaws. Filled with gorgeous widescreen vistas and infused with a healthy dose of gallows humor, Damsel is the brainchild of the Zellner brothers (Kumiko the Treasure Hunter) who co-wrote, co-directed, and co-star.
Premiere Showcase is the Cinematheque’s effort to bring the boldest and most exciting new cinema back to the big screen. Crafted with the same curatorial acuity we bring to our repertory series, Premiere Showcase presents exciting new work by contemporary directors that would otherwise have no theatrical venue in the area. Our selections for this calendar include two acclaimed films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival: the Zellner Brothers’ Western comedy Damsel and Panos Cosmatos’ visionary revenge fantasy Mandy, starring a delightfully unhinged Nicolas Cage. Also in September, Casting is a new German movie that exposes the sometimes harmful casting process for a remake of a Fassbinder classic. Plus, Egyptian filmmaker Tamer El Said will appear in person to discuss his meta-film about filmmaking In the Last Days of the City, and our annual collaboration with Madison’s Asian-American Media Spotlight brings two films to the Cinematheque: Miao Wang’s documentary Maineland and the contemplative drama August at Akiko’s.
All Cinematheque screenings are free and open to the public.