Breaking Glass Pictures has announced the North American release of the awarding winning festival favorite Jesús by writer-director Fernando Guzzoni (Dog Flesh, La Colorina). The Chilean drama will open theatrically in New York City on September 1, followed by other U.S. cities, including New Orleans on September 8, and on DVD/VOD on September 19.
Described as a film that “investigates the darkest side of adolescence, raising a number of moral questions without providing easy answers” (Variety), Jesúsheld its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, and went on to play numerous festivals, including San Sebastian, Miami and Cleveland. Jesúsheld its U.S. premiere at the “Neighboring Scenes” Series held by the Film Society of the Lincoln Center and Cinema Tropical in New York City.
Based on true events, Jesús follows eighteen-year-old Jesús, who is trapped in a dead-end cycle of drugs, sex, apathy, and an obsession with violence. Living in a small flat with his widower father, Hector, where the TV covers up their inability to communicate, is not helping matters. After his band loses a competition, he and his friends get drunk and head out, looking for a thrill. They finally find it in a cemetery: a young defenseless boy crosses their path, and violence ensues.
Soon, the attack is national news, and the police are searching for those responsible. Desperate to avoid the authorities as well as his friends, Jesús has no choice but to turn to his father for help. But, when the flesh of your flesh is rotten, will you go to any extent to protect it, or will you cut it loose? If this event makes Jesús and Hector closer than ever, it will also tear them apart forever...
The film is starred by Nicolás Durán (The Stranger, No Filter) in the leading role of Jesús, and Pablo Larraín-favorite Alejandro Goic (Neruda, The Club) as his father Héctor. Guzzoni earned a reputation as one of Chile’s “directors to watch” after his debut feature film Carne de perro (Dog Flesh), which was written in the Cannes Festival Résidence and won the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Director’s prize in 2012. Carne de perro also received the Ingmar Bergman Award (Gothenburg), Best First Film (Havana), Best Actor (Punta del Este), Rail D’Oc (Toulouse).
