The Vintner's Luck (film)
Encyclopedia
The Vintner's Luck is a film directed and co-written by New Zealand filmmaker Niki Caro
. It is loosely based on the novel The Vintner's Luck by New Zealander Elizabeth Knox
and had its international première at the Toronto International Film Festival
in September 2009. This is the second time Caro has worked with New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes
, who was nominated for an Academy Award at age 13 for her role in Caro's international breakthrough Whale Rider in 2002.
Co- writer Joan Scheckel previously collaborated with director Niki Caro
on her award-winning film Whale Rider.
), an ambitious young peasant winemaker and the three loves of his life – his beautiful wife Celeste (Keisha Castle-Hughes
), the proudly intellectual baroness Aurora de Valday (Vera Farmiga
) and Xas (Gaspard Ulliel
), an angel who strikes up an unlikely but enduring friendship. Under his guidance Sobran is forced to fathom the nature of love and belief and in the process grapples with the sensual, the sacred and the profane – in pursuit of the perfect vintage.
The film was shot in New Zealand, Belgium, and France - including in the medieval castle of Berzé
.
says ..."a film about humanity and spirituality, Caro directs this film with an exquisite sense of detail. Gorgeous in all facets of visual detail, "The Vintner’s Luck" is also a fascinating romantic melodrama, and at its core, comprises a cast that is spot on". Peter Brunette
of The Hollywood Reporter
said "It's difficult to believe that the same director who made the simple and affecting Whale Rider in 2002 ...is responsible for The Vintner's Luck, an overblown work of amazing silliness". Justin Chang, writing in Variety
, says "Caro never finds the emotional pulse of the story", but praises the "lyrical widescreen cinematography". Kate Rodger of 3 News
says ”For me, The Vintner’s Luck was a gorgeous collection of imagery, sound and movement, with moments of intoxicating beauty...". "
Niki Caro
Niki Caro is film director, producer and screenwriter who was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her 2002 film Whale Rider was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals....
. It is loosely based on the novel The Vintner's Luck by New Zealander Elizabeth Knox
Elizabeth Knox
Elizabeth Fiona Knox, ONZM, is an award-winning New Zealand writer. She has authored eight novels, an autobiographical trilogy of novellas, a fantasy duet for young adults, and a collection of essays...
and had its international première at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
in September 2009. This is the second time Caro has worked with New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Keisha Castle-Hughes is a New Zealand film actress who rose to prominence at the age of eleven when playing Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the 2002 film Whale Rider...
, who was nominated for an Academy Award at age 13 for her role in Caro's international breakthrough Whale Rider in 2002.
Co- writer Joan Scheckel previously collaborated with director Niki Caro
Niki Caro
Niki Caro is film director, producer and screenwriter who was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her 2002 film Whale Rider was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals....
on her award-winning film Whale Rider.
Awards
The Vintner's Luck premiered as an Official Selection at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival. Since its first screening, it has won multiple awards, including:| Year | Award | Winner/Nominee | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Qantas Film & Television Awards | Vera Farmiga Vera Farmiga Vera Ann Farmiga is an American actress and director. Farmiga made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise. This was followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series UC: Undercover... |
Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film | |
| Grant Major | Best Production Design in a Feature Film | |||
| Beatrix Pasztor | Best Costume Design in a Feature Film | |||
| Denis Lenoir Denis Lenoir Denis Lenoir is a French cinematographer, whose credits include Uprising, The Clearing, and Thursday.-Filmography:*So Undercover *Tous les soleils *La belle endormie *Carlos... |
Best Cinematography | |||
| George Ritchie | Best Visual Effects in a Feature Film | |||
| 2011 | 44th Annual WorldFest - Houston International Film Festival 2011 | Niki Caro Niki Caro Niki Caro is film director, producer and screenwriter who was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her 2002 film Whale Rider was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals.... |
Gold Remi Best Directing | |
| - | Special Jury Award: Best Foreign Film | |||
| 2011 Sedona International Film Festival | - | Best Period Film |
Plot
The passionate tale of Sobran Jodeau (Jérémie RenierJérémie Renier
Jérémie Renier is a Belgian actor. He lives in Paris, France. His film debut was in the critically praised La Promesse , directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. He became better known to worldwide audiences in Brotherhood of the Wolf and L'Enfant...
), an ambitious young peasant winemaker and the three loves of his life – his beautiful wife Celeste (Keisha Castle-Hughes
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Keisha Castle-Hughes is a New Zealand film actress who rose to prominence at the age of eleven when playing Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the 2002 film Whale Rider...
), the proudly intellectual baroness Aurora de Valday (Vera Farmiga
Vera Farmiga
Vera Ann Farmiga is an American actress and director. Farmiga made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise. This was followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series UC: Undercover...
) and Xas (Gaspard Ulliel
Gaspard Ulliel
Gaspard Ulliel is a French film actor and model. He began appearing in made-for-television films during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and then began to be known as a film actor in France, as well as starring in the title role in the thriller Hannibal Rising.-Life and career:Ulliel was born in...
), an angel who strikes up an unlikely but enduring friendship. Under his guidance Sobran is forced to fathom the nature of love and belief and in the process grapples with the sensual, the sacred and the profane – in pursuit of the perfect vintage.
The film was shot in New Zealand, Belgium, and France - including in the medieval castle of Berzé
Berzé-le-Châtel
Berzé-le-Châtel is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.The trouvère Hugues IV de Berzé was the ruler of Berzé-le-Châtel in the early 13th century....
.
Cast
- Jérémie RenierJérémie RenierJérémie Renier is a Belgian actor. He lives in Paris, France. His film debut was in the critically praised La Promesse , directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. He became better known to worldwide audiences in Brotherhood of the Wolf and L'Enfant...
as Sobran Jodeau - Keisha Castle-HughesKeisha Castle-HughesKeisha Castle-Hughes is a New Zealand film actress who rose to prominence at the age of eleven when playing Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the 2002 film Whale Rider...
as Celeste - Gaspard UllielGaspard UllielGaspard Ulliel is a French film actor and model. He began appearing in made-for-television films during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and then began to be known as a film actor in France, as well as starring in the title role in the thriller Hannibal Rising.-Life and career:Ulliel was born in...
as Xas - Vera FarmigaVera FarmigaVera Ann Farmiga is an American actress and director. Farmiga made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise. This was followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series UC: Undercover...
as Baroness Aurora
Reception
The film has received polarized responses since the Toronto Film Festival. Paul Fischer of Dark HorizonsDark Horizons
Dark Horizons is a movie centric website owned and written by Garth Franklin of Sydney, Australia. Dark Horizons is dedicated to news, interviews, rumors, and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects. The focus initially was almost exclusively related to science...
says ..."a film about humanity and spirituality, Caro directs this film with an exquisite sense of detail. Gorgeous in all facets of visual detail, "The Vintner’s Luck" is also a fascinating romantic melodrama, and at its core, comprises a cast that is spot on". Peter Brunette
Peter Brunette
Peter Brunette was a film critic and film historian. He was the author of several books, including biographies of Italian directors Roberto Rossellini and Michelangelo Antonioni...
of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
said "It's difficult to believe that the same director who made the simple and affecting Whale Rider in 2002 ...is responsible for The Vintner's Luck, an overblown work of amazing silliness". Justin Chang, writing in Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, says "Caro never finds the emotional pulse of the story", but praises the "lyrical widescreen cinematography". Kate Rodger of 3 News
3 News
3 News is the television, internet and radio news service of New Zealand's TV3. Its flagship bulletin, which airs every evening at 6:00pm, is anchored by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Carolyn Robinson and Simon Shepherd are weekend and substitute anchors...
says ”For me, The Vintner’s Luck was a gorgeous collection of imagery, sound and movement, with moments of intoxicating beauty...". "